Maui is the perfect place if you’re looking for a luxurious and exquisite experience, and whale watching in Maui is an adventurer’s match made in heaven!
The second-largest Hawaiian island, also famously termed “The Valley Isle,” is one of the most beautiful spots.
It’s also home to several world-famous beaches and is famous for holding the best tours for whale watching, cruise services, and marine life.
1. Whale Watching in Maui: 12 Incredible Tours
Humpback whales, a type of the biggest mammal globally, are found in almost every big ocean on our globe.
They have soft tummies & a dark back; their dorsal fin has a slight hump in front, and the name “Humpback.” They own gigantic pectoral fins, which can be a size of almost 16 feet long on average.
The best whale-watching Maui season must be the winter since you can enjoy it throughout without sweat.
January to May are the months in which most tourists visit, but to avoid crowds, you can see November and December, which are the best since they have two major long holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
2. Top Tours to Explore
2.1. Pacific Whale Foundation
They have the best Maui whale-watching tours to offer in Hawaii.
They guide you and share the history knowledge of whales with you alongside an interactive question and answer session between the certified Marine Naturalists and the tourist group.
They share every detail possible for tourists to understand Humpback whales and have a long list of variations on tours for whale watching Maui.
While doing all this, your ears would be pleased by the satisfying sound of whales singing, using underwater hydrophones while fancying the luxurious catamaran along the coastline.
Check out more here.
2.2. Redline Rafting
The best part about this raft, capable of being filled with air, is that it brings the tourist the closest they can to the water. This is a perfect match if you are staying near Makena or other South Maui locations.
This tour is your perfect match if you’re looking for full-on speed thrill rafting while watching whales.
Although you’re planning to go with your elder ones with back issues or younger ones under the age group of 8, this is not advisable.
However, you can still raft with others apart from the restricted criteria by keeping the specified standards for people on the cruise.
2.3. Pride of Maui
This two-hour-long journey includes diving and snorkelling in the fascinating coral reefs of Maui. It is mainly revolving around Molokini Crater and the Turtle Reef.
And come on, who are we kidding? People are willing to do anything to witness this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
They include complimentary hotel transportation services, food, and beverages. They also organize boat trips with certified Naturalists and small groups that help the tourists understand humpback whales watching Maui and Humpback whales.
The best and most beautiful part of whale watching Maui about this whole experience is that your boat will have a sheer glass bottom that will be used to see everything underwater clearly.
The ship also contains a bar, open deck space, and a water slide, making it a beautiful, relaxing, and luxurious experience!
2.4. Hawaiian Paddlesports
This paddling tour is a match made in heaven for all the energetic people who want to be active while watching whales.
The kids would enjoy this the most as they can be enthusiastic while witnessing the Humpback whale’s beautiful sightings.
A wide number of tour types is available here, like a kayak, which is estimated to be accessible for about 100 yards.
However, you must be extremely cautious since the whales often swim close right beneath the boat or alongside it, which sounds fun and dangerous. But with a little bit of care, this experience is worthwhile overall.
2.5. Kaanapali Ocean Adventures
This is one of the most scenic tours for whale-watching Maui. First, you have to book your private yacht before going further.
If you’re looking for photography or your own sacred and personal space while enjoying whale-watching Maui, this one-in-a-kind experience is your perfect match.
This cruise for whale watching Maui is truly beyond exquisite! Here, you can fancy cute baby humpback whales that are learning to cut through the water and have close encounters.
If you’re going with your family and need your own space, this private yacht tour can hold up to 32 people simultaneously. It’s available from December to April.
2.6. Ali I VIP Whale Tour
This royal tour takes only a limited number of tourists on board, so they can make the most of their time Humpback whale watching Maui and other marine sites.
It’s a small yet sweet tour only offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
This service is one of the most famous attractions; thus, tourists love it too. Here, you get to see the magnificent giant mammals up close.
You also get to please your ears by listening live to their beautiful whale songs using high-quality hydrophones, which play simultaneously alongside melodic slow island tracks.
2.7. Kayak and Whale Watching Tour
If you’re looking for a reasonable price for small group-ed or private kayak tours, this is the right place. The best part is they provide complimentary digital photography.
They are among the top 5 certified Eco Tour holders, with all their guides certified as Marine Naturalists. Here you get to go whale watching or snorkelling.
2.8. Blue Water Whale Watching Maui and Rafting
This journey revolving around Lahaina is a short yet magnificent tour that makes a not missing stop at Molokini.
You get to witness the beautiful flora and fauna studded sea caves, turtles, the cute spinner dolphins, and all the spellbound sights of Molokini Crater along Kanio Coast.
Our main course, Bluewater Whale, will be the final stop, watching with Rafting. They are one of the oldest and most renowned in the Whale managing business in Maui.
The ride to the Kanio Coast will be one of a kind. The reefs there are so colourful that they speak for themselves as one among us.
2.9. Kayak and Whale Watch Private Tour
This very tour is one of the best winter-season whale-watching experiences. Here, you get the beautiful humpback whale-watching Maui returning, making this tour full of life and unique.
Their guide interprets the whale’s behaviour and puts the guests in such a spot where they can enjoy whale watching at its best.
Witnessing these beautiful giants in their natural dwellings is so spectacular that you’ll never forget it. The Kayaks put the tourists on the whales’ level to hear the whales sing without using a hydrophone.
The cutest thing here is that most baby humpback whales come near Kayaks, and intimate encounters are what you should be looking for!
2.10. Makena Whale Watching and Snorkel
This 3-hour whale-watching Maui and snorkelling tour is one of the most renowned and customer-loved ones.
You get to come through the clean water in a kayak and treat your eyes to a wholesome view of humpback whales.
Further, you get ready for the cherry on top of this tour, snorkelling! Get drenched in the sea and fancy the beautiful tropical aquatic animals, marine flora, and fauna settled in a sacred reef.
This is a perfect match since it has a limited number of people at once, so you can experience the things at most.
2.11. Lahaina Whale Watch Sail Deluxe Tour
This 3-hour cruise Lahaina Harbour tour is a luxurious premium experience run by certified, experienced marine naturalists and biologists from the Pacific Whale Foundation to make this tour fun and knowledgeable.
Every trip is one of a kind here, and here you get to witness the heart-warming view of mother whales interacting with baby calves and look out for their mating behaviour. This view will undoubtedly melt your heart.
I like listening to whale songs using a high-quality underwater Hydrophone. Here, whale sightings are guaranteed.
They also provide lip-smacking buffet-style meal services made by experienced chefs, complimentary alcoholic beverages being the cherry on top of this tour.
2.12. West Maui Whale Watching and Snorkeling Excursion
This Kayak and snorkel adventure tour to watch Maui’s humpback whales gives you a different perspective to see that magnificent place with boat tours.
If you follow and do as your guide tells you to, it’s guaranteed that you’ll witness the giant mammals. They even include complimentary snacks and beverages.
Closing Thoughts
After witnessing this beautiful, once-in-a-lifetime whale-watching experience of Maui, you dive into the endless ocean and snorkel in crystal clear water with tropical fishes, cute sea-green turtles, and more.
Oh, and did we forget the fascinating marine flora and fauna of West Maui? Yes, all these things are just right there in one place!
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology
