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The landscapes that stood in for Isla Nublar were not conjured by set designers. The cliffs, waterfalls, botanical gardens, and open valleys that made the Jurassic Park films feel convincingly prehistoric are real places, and most of them are on islands reachable by commercial flight. The decision to film primarily in Hawaii was deliberate: the islands' volcanic geology, dense tropical vegetation, and dramatic coastal formations create a natural environment that no studio backlot could replicate at the same scale. The result is a travel destination built into the films themselves, which is why fans have been making pilgrimages to Kauai and Oahu since the first film's release in 1993.
The franchise extended its geographic reach as the films multiplied. Jurassic World: Dominion $D +0.60% added Malta and British Columbia to the location catalog, which gave the series a wider global footprint than the Hawaii-centric original trilogy. Universal Studios Hollywood, where several of the most technically complex interior scenes were shot, brings the franchise to Southern California in a way that makes it accessible to tours. The range of ways to experience these locations varies considerably: some are accessible by a short walk, others require a helicopter, a charter boat, or a studio tour reservation.
