2-Hour Ma'alaea Humpback Whale Watching Cruise for up to 6 Guests

Recommended by 100% of travelers

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Maui, USA

2 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Witness humpback whales in Maui on this small boat ride that gets you up close to the whales. Set out from Maalaea Bay with a professional captain and naturalist who steer the 42-foot Boston Whaler past Molokini Crater, McGregor Point, and Sugar Beach in pursuit of these majestic mammals. Enjoy panoramic views along the way, and snacks and drinks are included on this intimate sea excursion.

Embark on a whale watching excursion with a small group
Sail the Pacific Ocean in comfort with a professional crew
Snacks and drinks are included and a $10 stipend for the general store
A marine naturalist is on board to help spot whales

What's Included

Professional captain, crew and marine naturalist guide
Snacks

Light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages
$10 stipend per guest to use at the Ma'alaea General Store before departure
Restroom on board
Binoculars provided for whale viewing

Alcoholic Beverages

BYOB welcome - bring your own beverages (cans or plastic only)
Gratuities

A 20% tip for the crew is customary and greatly appreciated if you enjoyed your experience.

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Maalaea General Store & Restaurant
132 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI 96793, USA
Check in at the Maalaea General Store, 132 Maalaea Road Maalaea Harbor, Maui

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Maalaea (Pass By)

Maalaea General Store & Restaurant

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Maalaea Harbor (Pass By)

Maalaea Bay (Pass By)

McGregor Point and Lighthouse (Pass By)

Molokini Crater (Pass By)

Sugar Beach (Pass By)

Haycraft Park (Pass By)

Coral Gardens (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed

Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Therese_B

Captain Spencer and Gabriel were amazing! We saw whales the entire time we were with them. They gave us background on whale behaviors and in many cases explained how the mother was teaching her new baby. It was absolutely beautiful. We highly recommend!! (They also have snorkeling excursions available)

Reviews

4.9

based on 20 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

This was the highlight of...

Lopa_H, Feb 2026

This was the highlight of our week on Maui. Sam and Ben were fun and knowledgeable. It was a windy and rough day, but they handled the boat beautifully. No one felt sick due to the waves, but we all got wet, so dress appropriately! We saw whales breeching up close and got plenty of pictures.

This Capt and his mate...

joe_z, Mar 2025

This Capt and his mate were first class all day. They took every effort to show they truly cared about us and getting LOTS of whale sightings. True professionals. If you plan on taking a whale sightings tour, do not pass this team up!

Exceptional and breathtaking

Therese_B, Feb 2025

Great!...

Robert_D, Feb 2025

Great! Very smooth mechanics for making the arrangements. And a very positive outcome…best way To see whales.

Double Breach!!!

Connie_L, Feb 2025

So worth the $$. Captain Greg and his 1 st mate we're fantastic. Very kind and welcoming. We saw lots of whales and at the end a spectacular double breach!!!

Highly recommend.

Nanette_D, Jan 2025

Spencer and Konou were great. They were so knowledgeable and not only did we see lots of whales but we learned so much. The boat was great. Super stable even for someone with motion sickness. Can’t recommend enough.

Simply Awesome and Luxurious!

Erik_M, Jan 2025

From the start Capt. Spence and his first mate were welcoming and made us feel like Ohana. We saw whales within 10 mins and were lucky enough to be able to parallel a “competition pod” for well over 30 minutes - we experienced multiple breaches, rainbow blows, and lots of tales up close and personal ( from a safe distance). The boat is also awesome - a new 42 ft luxury Boston Whaler that was so smooth it felt we were on a lake at times even in some chop. Definitely worth the extra money not to be on a crowded boat - we will be back on our next trip for sure! Thank you again!

Great experience!

Angela_F, Dec 2024

We saw whales first thing even though we are in very early whale season. A mother, very young calf, and their guardian. The calf was so little and cute. Ryan and staff were great as well. The boat was nice and comfortable.

Best whale tour we’ve taken

Linda_S, Mar 2024

Captain Ryan and first mate Micah made this small group humpback whale tour a blast. We ended up just my husband and I as guests and had Ryan, Micah and an entire beautiful bay of whales completely to ourselves. The guys were fun and knowledgeable and the Boston Whaler boat was beautiful.

WHALE LOVER: A great boat, hoped for more, what I’d do next time.

Kristen_S, Feb 2024

This was lovely. I was originally scheduled to go on a different whale watch with different people but they had to cancel because of weather here. Apparently that’s not unusual but they were already full for the remaining days we were in Maui so I was panicking because to find an option to go whale watching because I’m obsessed. This was a desperate splurge but the boat and captain and crew were absolutely lovely. We definitely saw whales but was it the quantity or action I hoped for? No but still we found whales and caught flukes, fin waves,, one big breach, and a lot of their backs just in the water. They never got close and aren’t allowed to go within 100 yds of them but if you’re lucky, they can surround you or go to you. Whales are in charge. Weather was super choppy which made it difficult to spot but we were successful and had a good, wet time. We went mid Feb mid day. And if I had to do it all over again, I would have booked an early am or sunset tour as that’s when it’s best. If you’re a whale enthusiast like me, I’d consider booking first day of your trip and possibly booking a backup that you can cancel later if you need to. Happy 🐳 Watching!

Whale watching with Kim & Mika

Diane_M, Jan 2024

Our captain, Kim, and first mate, Mika, were great! Friendly and knowledgeable about the whales. We saw a number of whales, including a close up encounter with a calf and its mother. The calf was learning how to breach, and swam under the boat and back around to mom. So awesome! The Boston Whaler boat with only 5 passengers (limited to 6) plus crew was great. We could easily walk all around the boat to get the best view of the whales. Highly recommend the experience.

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