Winter Whale Watching Adventure in Kauai
Kauai, USA
Winter Whale Watching Adventure in Kauai
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Kauai, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
What's Included
Meeting and Pickup
Itinerary
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.7
based on 355 reviews
John_F, Mar 2026
Very proffesional, Captains commited to finding whales even thus late in the season, Late March. Also guarantee for another trip id no whales, which we used.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Aloha,
Really appreciate you pointing that out—our captains put in the work every trip, especially late in the season when the whales start getting a little harder to track down.
Glad you were able to take advantage of the redo and get back out there—that’s exactly why we offer it 🤙
Mahalo for joining us, and hope we get to have you out again soon!
Michele_D, Mar 2026
We were in Kauai toward the end of March and we did 2 tours with Captain J’s one a snorkeling tour up the NaPali coast and one a whale watching. Both were fantastic. We had rough conditions going up the coast and our captain did fantastic with it all. On the whale tour we were on the tail end of them being in the area, so it was a search, but we found some as well as dolphins. It was a beautiful day. On both trips we were lucky to have great captains and we happened to have Matt as well and he was wonderful. Very informative and helpful at the same time. We would go out with Captain J again. We highly recommend them for your next tour.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Aloha,
Sounds like you got a little bit of everything—classic Napali adventure conditions and a successful whale hunt to top it off 🤙 That’s the kind of combo we love to hear about.
Late-season whales can definitely turn into a bit of a search mission, so stoked the crew was able to track some down for you (and dolphins too—bonus!). And yeah, when the ocean decides to show off, having a skilled captain makes all the difference.
We’ll be sure Matt hears this—he’s awesome at keeping things fun while making sure everyone’s taken care of.
Mahalo for joining us on both tours, and we’d be pumped to have you back out again anytime!
Roger_K, Mar 2026
Captain Jack’s was very well organized and on time. Captain Andrew and deckhand Matt were very engaging and knowledgeable on whales!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
So stoked to hear you had a great time out there! Andrew and Matt really know how to make the experience fun while sharing tons of awesome knowledge about the whales. Mahalo for joining us—we hope to have you back out on the water again soon! 🐋
Randy_A, Mar 2026
Bring sunscreen and your Camera!
Captain Andrew and First mate Matt were awesome!
Captain Andrew made sure we were all safe and heading us in the right direction to see some whales.
First mate Matt, was our guide, full of knowledge and always open to talk to everyone. Both were great!!!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Aloha,
Mahalo for joining us! Stoked you had a great time out there.
We’ll be sure to pass the kind words along to Captain Andrew and Matt—they’ll really appreciate it.
Hope to have you back out on the water again soon 🤙
Mahalo,
Captain J’s Kauai Offshore Adventures
Nicolle_R, Mar 2026
We had such a fantastic experience with this tour! Although we didn’t see any whales in the morning despite Ryan’s best efforts, the team went above and beyond and rebooked us at no cost with Andrew and Jeff. That trip was absolutely incredible—we saw five whales (including a baby!) and dolphins. Andrew was so kind and even kept us out longer than scheduled to make sure we had the best experience possible. Seeing the whales and dolphins was truly magical. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Aloha,
Mahalo for joining us and for the recommendation—we love hearing when it all comes together like that!
Stoked you were able to get back out and have such an incredible experience. We’ll be sure to pass the kind words along to Ryan, Andrew, and Jeff—they’ll really appreciate it.
Hope to have you out with us again sometime 🤙
Mahalo,
Captain J’s Kauai Offshore Adventures
Nicholas_J, Mar 2026
Super cool experience! Saw whales and dolphins! The captain the crew were great to talk to! Enjoyed the entire thing.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Aloha,
Mahalo for the awesome review! So glad you got to see both whales and dolphins—that’s always a win 🙌
We’ll be sure to pass the kind words along to the captain and crew. Stoked to hear you enjoyed the whole experience!
Hope to have you out with us again soon 🤙
Mahalo,
Captain J’s Kauai Offshore Adventures
Jennifer_B, Mar 2026
We had so much fun, saw lots of whales, and had a great time on this excursion! Would definitely recommend!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Aloha,
Mahalo for the awesome review! 🤙 We’re so happy you had such a fun time out there and got to see lots of whales—can’t ask for better than that! 🐋
Really appreciate the recommendation, and we hope to have you back out with us again soon for another adventure! 🌊
Mahalo,
Captain J’s Kauai Offshore Adventures
Michael_M, Mar 2026
It was great! It was the end of the season, but we got lucky and saw a mother and her baby. Baby did a few jumps for us!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Aloha,
We love a late-season surprise! 🐋✨ So stoked you got to see a mama and her baby—and even better that the little one put on a show for you!
Mahalo for joining us and for sharing your experience. Those moments are exactly what make it all so special.
Hope to have you back out with us again soon!
Warmest aloha,
Captain J’s Kauai Offshore Adventures 🌊🐋
Melinda_G, Mar 2026
We had a great time. The staff was caring and helpful. The boat was comfortable and we saw whales! I like how the captain would turn the boat side to side so everyone got the best view. Would definitely recommend.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Aloha,
Mahalo for the awesome review! We’re so glad you had a great time and felt well taken care of by the crew—that’s what we’re all about 🤙
Love that you noticed the captain working the boat to give everyone a great view… and even better that the whales showed up for you!
We really appreciate the recommendation and hope to have you back out with us again soon.
Warmest aloha,
Captain J’s Kauai Offshore Adventures 🌊🐋
Nita_S, Mar 2026
The sun wasn't out and there were occasional misty rains, so we were a little worried about this excursion, but we had a great time. We saw bottled nose dolphins and spinner dolphins as well as a small humpback whale family and a sea turtle.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Aloha,
We love hearing this! Sometimes those misty, overcast days turn into the best adventures out there 🌧️➡️🌊
So awesome you got to see bottlenose dolphins, spinner dolphins, a humpback family and a sea turtle—that’s a full lineup! Mahalo for trusting us even with the iffy weather, and we’re so glad it turned into such a great experience.
Hope to have you back out with us again soon!
Warmest aloha,
Captain J’s Kauai Offshore Adventures 🌊🐋
Gail_K, Mar 2026
It was awesome. The crew was awesome. We saw several different dolphins. A mom and baby whate. I'd go again great mysic too
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Aloha,
We love this—short, sweet, and full of good vibes! 🤙 So stoked you got to see dolphins and a mama and baby whale… that’s a pretty special day out there!
We’ll be sure to pass the kind words along to the crew—they’ll be hyped to hear it. And hey, glad the music was hitting right too 😄
Can’t wait to have you back out with us again!
Warmest aloha,
Captain J’s Kauai Offshore Adventures 🌊🐋
Toni_R, Mar 2026
So much fun. We sat in the front of the boat, so it was like a ride at Disneyland. Loved it. Saw a mother whale and her baby. Captain Andy and Matt were awesome.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Aloha,
Mahalo for the awesome review! 🤙 Sitting up front definitely turns it into a full-on ride—we love that you embraced it!
Seeing a mama whale and her baby is such a special experience 🐋💙 and we’re so glad Captain Andrew and Matt made it even better for you.
Hope we get to have you back out with us again for another adventure!
Mahalo,
Captain J’s Kauai Offshore Adventures 🌊
MargheritaRita_R, Mar 2026
Wonderful experience that everyone should try! Jeff and NoNo were excellent!! Lots of mama’s and babies. So interesting to watch them interact.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Aloha!
Mahalo for the great review! We’re so glad you had a wonderful time out on the water with Jeff and NoNo. Seeing the moms and babies interacting is always such a special experience. Hope we get to have you back out with us again someday! 🤙
Peter_A, Mar 2026
Great opportunity to see some whales. We were able to get fairly close and watch some whales jumping out of the sea. Amazing experience.
Crew of boat all very nice and competent. All arrangements easy to make.
Some points to be aware, it is an open boat so be prepared to get wet! They do give a dry bag to store all electronics etc in. The sea was a bit rough on the return journey but no one was sea sick, just a bit bumpy.
Definitely worth doing.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Aloha, mahalo for coming out with us! There’s nothing quite like seeing whales up close out on the open ocean. Glad you enjoyed the adventure and that the crew took good care of everyone along the way.
Mahalo for the recommendation!
Mike_S, Mar 2026
Captain Andy is the best. He makes the whole experience fun. Today we saw a school of 5 Blainville Beaked whales and that was super rare. Made our day!!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Aloha, mahalo for coming out with us! Spotting Blainville’s beaked whales is incredibly rare — what an awesome day on the water. Captain Andrew will be stoked to hear you had such a great trip.
Mahalo for joining us!
Shelly_N, Mar 2026
The viator site didn’t tell us anything about how early to arrive so we didn’t see the times until the boat company sent us the wavers.
The Captain and first mate Matt were amazing! Both were very knowledgeable and entertaining , made it such a fun time.
We would totally recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Aloha, mahalo for the recommendation! We’re glad you had a fun trip with Captain and Matt — they’re a great team out on the water.
For future guests, please arrive 45 minutes before departure to allow time for check-in. Check-in closes 15 minutes prior to the tour, and guests must be present for the safety briefing. Parking is in the gravel lot at the end of Waialo Road.
If you book through Viator, all arrival instructions can be found under the “Meeting & Pickup” section of your booking details. Mahalo!
Diane_P, Mar 2026
Fun trip to watch the whales swim around us. Enjoyed the boat ride and the guides were knowledgeable.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Aloha, mahalo for joining us! Nothing beats being out on the water when the whales decide to cruise by. So glad you enjoyed the ride and the crew — hope to see you back out again sometime!
Jeff_V, Mar 2026
A good experience. Be flexible because the whales don’t always show up. Take appropriate medicine for sea sickness if you even think you might get sea sickness. Enjoy the ride and enjoy getting something to eat and drink at Kauai Island Brewery Co.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Aloha, mahalo for coming out with us! Whale watching always keeps things exciting since the whales run the show, but that’s part of the adventure. Glad you enjoyed the time on the water — and ending the day with food and drinks at Kauai Island Brewery is never a bad plan.
Ronald_O, Mar 2026
Viator information led us to believe we needed to arrive at 8a. Actual tour operator left at 7;45. We missed the tour. Tour operator refused to refund ANY money, or even rebook at a later time. VERY DISSATISFIED
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Aloha, our check-in instructions clearly state that guests should arrive 45 minutes before departure and that check-in closes 15 minutes prior to the tour. Guests must be present for the safety briefing, and once that window has passed we’re unable to check guests in or reschedule the trip.
This information is provided in the booking details and confirmation instructions if reviewed prior to booking and arrival. If you have questions about your tour ahead of time, please contact Viator directly as they can assist with details related to your booking. As a third-party booking, we do not have authority to modify or reschedule those reservations. However, if you miss your tour, we are always happy to help you book a new trip directly with us if availability allows. Mahalo.
Matthew_A, Feb 2026
This is amazing! Captain Andrew and Matt were very knowledgeable about the whales and their migration. We saw more whales than by far expected. We did not see and full jumps but that is the anomaly not the standard. They beat standards! Strongly suggest you request them as a crew
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Aloha, mahalo for the awesome review! We’re so glad you had such a great time out there with Captain Andrew and Matt. They’ll be stoked to hear you enjoyed the trip and all the whale activity.
Mahalo for joining us and for the recommendation!
Saybl_S, Feb 2026
We were lucky and saw some whales you may not always see them but it was a great boat ride regardless. Nice and relaxing being on the water.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Aloha, mahalo for coming out with us! Nothing beats a day on the water with good vibes, fresh ocean air, and a little surprise from the wildlife. We’re so glad you enjoyed the ride and hope to see you back out there again soon!
Irina_L, Feb 2026
It was a wonderful experience and Captain Andrew and Matt were extremely professional, trying to do everything to find whales. They are so intuned with these whales, their behavior and habits! It was amazing to see whales from
Different angles. Absolutely recommend this excursion.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Aloha, mahalo for the wonderful review! We’re so glad you had a great experience. Captain Andrew and Matt will be happy to hear your kind words. Watching these incredible whales from different angles really is something special.
Mahalo for joining us and for the recommendation!
Virginia_P, Feb 2026
They canceled my reservation because there weren't enough paying customers. That is poor customer service. They only let me know the morning of my trip. BUT.... then I got an email that said it was canceled because of weather! It was a perfect sunny day. So which is it?
Response from Host, Feb 2026
we do cancel trips when there is very low passenger capacity. In this case, the cancellation was driven by a combination of low capacity and ocean conditions. On days with strong winds and larger swells, we are unable to safely operate trips with only a small number of guests onboard. For that reason, low-capacity trips cannot proceed in windy or higher-swell conditions, even if the weather appears sunny on land.
The cancellation notice referenced weather because ocean conditions were a contributing operational factor, not because of rain or cloud cover. We apologize for the confusion caused by the wording and for the late notice on the morning of your trip.
Cathy_S, Feb 2026
Matt and Andrew were a good combination of informative and humorous. They were able to show us several dolphins and gave us a little bit of a history. Totally worth the tour five stars all the way.!!!
Jolynn_p, Feb 2026
Highly recommend this tour. Captain Andrew and Matt were incredibly knowledgeable and funny. We had a great time!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Aloha! 🌺
Mahalo for the awesome recommendation! We’re so glad you had a great time with Captain Andrew and Matt — they love keeping it fun and informative out there. Hope to see you back on the water again soon!
— The Team at Captain J’s Kauai Offshore Adventures
Tom_C, Feb 2026
Great experience with Andy and Matt. Very knowledgeable and got to see lots of whales. If you get sea sick, take some motion sickness tablets before you get on board as it can be quite rough. For all non US people, remember to bring some cash to tip the guides.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Aloha!
Mahalo for the great review! We’re so glad you had an awesome time whale watching with Captain Andrew and Matt and got to see plenty of action out there
We appreciate the helpful tips for future guests, too! Hope to have you back on the water with us again soon.
— The Team at Captain J’s Kauai Offshore Adventures
Cheryl_M, Feb 2026
Captain Andrew and First Mate Matt were enthusiastic and got the crowd excited with their choice of 70's rock and their banter. Very informative and service oriented --- they wanted to make sure everyone's questions were answered no matter the question. Provided some additional advise on places to visit, timing of visit and places to eat.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Aloha!
Mahalo for the great review! Captain Andrew and Matt will be stoked to hear it. We’re glad you enjoyed the energy, knowledge, and island tips. Hope to see you again!
— The Team at Captain J’s Kauai Offshore Adventures
DavidG, Feb 2026
We were not expecting to get a thrill ride along with the whale watching. Some of us really enjoyed the waves, while others did not. The captain was very kind and I enjoyed the snacks.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Aloha, and mahalo for joining us and sharing your feedback. We’re glad you enjoyed the captain’s hospitality and the snacks, and we appreciate you taking the time to let us know about your experience. Mahalo, Captain J’s Team
John_S, Feb 2026
On the positive side, we had great luck seeing several whales, some quite close. But the swell was quite large and several people, including me, got very seasick, which made the experience quite unpleasant. They never should have taken us out there in the first place.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Aloha, and mahalo for your feedback. We’re glad you were able to see whales, but we’re truly sorry to hear that the ocean conditions made the experience uncomfortable. Guest safety and comfort are very important to us, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with our team.
Aaron_B, Feb 2026
Matt and Andrew were amazing! They were both entertaining and knowledgeable. We found the whales and was able to stay with them for over an hour.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us—we’re so glad you had an amazing time with Matt and Captain Andrew and got to spend so much time with the whales. Aloha from the Captain J’s team!
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