9 Whale Watching and Snorkeling Trips in Maui to Build a Morning Around

1.Kayak & Turtle Town Snorkel(Turtles Guaranteed) + Whale Watching

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 196 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $119Our pick

Paddle a tandem kayak from Olowalu with a guide such as Payson, Alec, Billy, Gene, or Robbie. Watch for whales, then snorkel at a turtle cleaning station with quality gear, life jackets, and optional photos and video. Groups cap at 10, and turtles are guaranteed or you get a refund.

“The excursion was prematurely canceled due to rough seas. But they calmed down by the time we would have launched. Several other excursions went forward with thier trip.”

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2.Whale Watch and Turtles Snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 122 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $138

Spend about 3.5 hours from Maalaea Harbor watching humpback whales, snorkeling Maui reefs, and enjoying a BBQ lunch aboard Pride of Maui. The roomy catamaran carries up to 75 people, offers gear and restrooms, and serves beer, wine, and mai-tais after snorkeling.

“The captain was very competent and had a vast knowledge of whale biology. The all female crew were accommodating and customer service oriented. The food was good and plentiful, as were the drinks. One thing that applies to all tour operators, they want you to arrive 1/2 hour early. We do and then we stand in line for a half hour in the sun waiting to check in. And, you don't need to download the QR coded tickets, as they have a roster with our names printed. I'd suggest getting to check-in 10 minutes prior to departure.”

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3.South Maui: Whale Watch Kayaking and Snorkel Tour in Kihei

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 93 reviews · 3 hours · from $118

Paddle a sit-on-top kayak from Makena Landing with a guide such as Jake, Kyle, or Madison, watching for humpback whales before snorkeling among turtles, reef fish, and coral. The three-hour tour suits active beginners, with instruction, gear, snacks, water, and juice included.

“Keelan was really nice, helpful and fun. We had a lot of fun in the ocean. Def will recommend him if my friends or family come here to visit.”

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4.Ultimate 3.5 hour Whale Watch & Snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 87 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $195

Set out from Lahaina at 9 a.m. aboard a stable, rescue-style boat for about four hours of whale watching and snorkeling near Lanai or Maui. Captains such as Jill, Kacey, Emma, Sarah, and Lilly share clear wildlife guidance while you look for humpbacks, dolphins, turtles, tropical fish, octopus, and more.

“This was an incredible experience that brought us up close and personal with humpback whales in a way we never expected. The boat does not sit high off of the water so every single guest had a direct view of the whales. We visited in February and got to see baby humpback whales, whale tails emerging as they dove deep, pectoral fin slaps whales use to communicate, and endless spouts. We were even lucky enough to see a full breach! It was beautiful to see these massive animals all around us while surrounded by the gorgeous Maui skyline. At one point, we could hear a whale song through the boat…”

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5.Makena Whale Watching and Snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 68 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $106Best value

Start at Makena Landing at 7:00am for a three-hour kayak and snorkel outing with a professional guide. Paddle quietly near humpback whales, then snorkel among green sea turtles and tropical fish. The private activity is limited to 10 people and includes gear, water, and snacks.

“Highly recommend! We were lucky enough to see several whales playing and breaching. Incredible! We also saw many turtles while snorkeling. Our guide, Andres, took tons of pictures and videos and was very knowledgeable about where to go. We felt like we were in great hands. We had an amazing adventure and will definitely do this again!”

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6.The Best 2.5 Hour Molokini Snorkel Tour & Whale Watch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 57 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $169

Join Blue Water Rafting at 10:30 a.m. for a 2.5-hour Molokini and whale-watching trip. A fast rigid-hulled inflatable carries up to 24 people, with about an hour for snorkeling and 90 minutes for the ride and whale search. Ben, Brandon, Angela, Charlie, Tim, and other crew members have guided recent trips.

“Once we started our trip was very cool, we ride the boat trough very beautiful water, super clean and suddenly we saw whales, mom and a baby it was so cool and finally we ended up over a very special place, where you will be able to swim and see lots of beautiful fish. I love swimming so I enjoyed every second of it. Boat captain and his helper were very friendly!”

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7.Ultimate Maui Whale Watch Snorkel Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 36 reviews · 4 hours (approx.)

Set out from Makena at 7:15 am for four hours of kayaking and snorkeling, with two turtle-filled stops, whale and dolphin watching, gear, pineapple, and a marine-certified guide such as Griff. The small group caps at 10 people.

“Our guide Griff was fantastic. Very knowledgeable and friendly. Unfortunately, there were only a few whales to be seen. But we were able to get nice pictures of sea turtles when snorkeling. Kind of hard to predict what you will see but had a great time overall.”

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8.Kayak, Whale Watch and Snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 5 reviews · from $125

Paddle from Olowalu Beach with Maui Adventure Tours, then snorkel in clear reef water and watch for humpback whales in season. Guides Wes and Roger Red are known for warm service. The 3-hour-30-minute outing costs $125 and is limited to 10 people.

“This tour was absolutely amazing! Wes and Roger “Red” gave above and beyond, great customer service. This was my wife and I first time kayaking and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The snorkeling was life changing! We saw turtles swim by us, a baby shark, and schools of fish. Please book this tour!!!”

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9.Coral Gardens Snorkel & Whale Watch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $119

Sail from Maalaea Harbor with Sail Maui for three hours of coastal views, humpback whale watching during whale season, and snorkeling at sheltered Coral Gardens. Your fare includes gear, reef-safe sunscreen, lunch, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The English-language tour is wheelchair accessible.

“We had the most amazing time with Sail Maui. They had a great crew that were very friendly and knowledgeable. The boat was very nice and clean. Lunch was terrific. Sailing and snorkeling were amazing. Honestly, we didn't want to get off the boat.”

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