Gallery: Catalina Chamber of Commerce
Santa Catalina Island, often called Catalina Island, or just Catalina, is an island off the coast of Southern California. just 22 miles (35 km) south-southwest of Los Angeles. The east end of the island is located at 33 degrees, 18'10"N, 118 degrees, 18'58"W.
Catalina is part of the eight Channel Islands archipelago. The eight islands that make up the archipelago are divided into two groups — the Northern Channel Islands and the Southern Channel Islands. Catalina Island is one of the four Southern Channel Islands.
Avalon, Catalina Island’s main town, is only one square mile in size and everything is within easy walking distance. In fact walking is the preferred mode of transportation.
Getting Around Catalina
When you arrive on the island many hotels provide a courtesy shuttle while other hotels provide free baggage service. Be sure to ask when you make reservations. Taxi service is available to all locations in Avalon, and cabs meet each arriving boat.
There is also a taxi stand in the center of town that will take you anywhere you want to go. Trolley service operates along two scheduled routes regularly in the summer and on weekends in the off season.
To enjoy the hills above the town, do what the locals do and drive a golf cart. Golf cart rentals are abundant in town and you can easily explore the mountain terrain around Avalon in an hour or so.
You can also rent a bicycle to go exploring or take a sightseeing tour in a comfortable motor coach or open-air tram. If you want to venture beyond Avalon, shuttle bus service or charter taxi van service is also available from Avalon to the Airport in the Sky, Two Harbors, and the interior campgrounds.