Maverick Helicopters South Rim Helicopter Tours
are PRICED to Move!
Especially the 50-Minute Tour.
But DON'T RSVP 24 Hours BEFORE Your Flight Date
or Seats Will Be SOLD OUT...
Maverick Helicopters, which exclusively uses the deluxe ECOSTAR 130, offers a pair of South Rim tour options that are typically priced under market rate, especially the 50-minute deluxe flight. How do they do it? Volume. Plus the fact that the company is dedicated to offering MASSIVE value during these inflationary times.
Let me first state: South Rim (Tusayan, AZ) helicopters DON'T fly below the rim and land on the bottom. It's been banned by the National Park Service (NPS) since forever and I can assure you it won't change. The Grand Canyon is a crown jewel of the Park System and the powers-that-be are 100% uninterested in the Park's vibe ruined by non-stop, boundaryless air traffic.
Can't Do This
Further, there are no flights from the South Rim to Las Vegas or the Skywalk, etc. The distance between the two rims and the South Rim and Sin City is too far (e.g. out of range) for helicopters. If you are visiting the South and want to get to Vegas/West Rim, jump back in the car and start motoring westward for approximately 5+ hours. Will there ever be a connecting flight? I strongly doubt it and wouldn't hold my breath waiting for one.
So what's Maverick got available at the South Rim? Two options: a 30-minute and 50-minute tour. Both flights take off from Maverick's awesome new lodge-like private terminal at the south end of Grand Canyon National Park Airport. There' plenty of overly plush leather chairs and couches to hangout in, plus a tasty cafe-snackbar and a comprehensive souvenir area in the center (it's actually one of the best in northern Arizona). There's four private helipads from which tours depart. And, just like your city's airport, you can watch choppers depart and land out via a bank of over-sized picture windows. Remember, you have to check in 30-mins prior to flight time. Tip: during winter, grab a couch or lounge chair near the fireplace!
Offerings
The 30-min. tour is best for budget travelers. There are multiple departures during the a.m. and the p.m. throughout the day. Typical flight plan is to take off from Grand Canyon National Park Airport a.k.a. South Rim then straight north over Grand Canyon Village and the rim itself and BINGO you're flying right-smack-dab in open Grand Canyon airspace. It's breathtaking and the views are STUPENDOUS. Make sure you get the cellphone fully charged because you're going to want to take pics and vids of this ride. The helicopter continues on, over the Colorado River, until it reaches the North Rim, before doing a U-Turn and making the return segment back to the Maverick terminal.
The 50 min. does everything the 30 min. does except instead of going direct to the North Rim, you bear right over Kaibab National Forest until you get to the East Rim and the Desert Watchtower monument before turning left and flying into the chasm. It's a moment you'll never forget. And the views are PHENOMENAL: you'll fly over the section where the Colorado and Little Colorado River meet (you can see the rapids) until you reach the North Rim, wherein, you'll bear west and follow its ridge before turning south and back to the terminal. Tip: Be on the ready for wild-buffalo sightings on the North Rim. They're out there on the North's isolated pasturelands.
By the time you've finished the 50-min., you'll have seen up to 75 percent of the National Park. That's quite an accomplishment considering the Park is composed of more than one-million acres. Heck, you can even see the Vermillion Cliffs in the far horizon up by the Utah border. ATTN.: Here's a recommendation...if you can afford the 50 min. tour, you take it. It's the best value and you'll pay just $30 more to upgrade from the 30 min. tour and get MAX airtime! I can't be more adamant on this point but you've got to do what works best for you.
100% EcoStar
Maverick is the only tour company where the helicopter fleet is entirely composed of ECOSTAR 130 choppers. That's a big deal. Why? Because the 130 is 25% larger than your conventional helicopter. Plus it's designed from tail to nose for sightseeing. The cabin is climate-controlled (perfect for summer and awesome for winter), and seating is stadium-style. Each 130 comes with a 180-degree wraparound windshield and glass doors so every bucket-seat has great views. You also get your own headset and with it you can communicate with the pilot or other members in your group. Lastly, these "birds'' are super quiet so you can actually hear each other as you marvel over the Canyon.
The Grand Canyon is one of the most popular National Parks in the U.S. That means that there's a ton of visitors every month of the year to experience it. This also means that helicopter tours are in high demand. To make sure you get the tour you want on the date you want to try it, you've got to book at least a week in advance (even more during peak summer months). You'll also get the better price doing it in advance AND online. Ordering over the Internet is super easy and I recommend doing it that way to ensure you get the best online rate. Once you've successfully booked, you'll get an email with your confirmation letter that has all the specifics. You can print and pack it with you or (and I recommend this) you can leave on your phone. So let's get you airborne....
Book a Maverick South Rim Grand Canyon 30-min. or 50-Min. Helicopter Now!
Make it a GRAND day!
