Maui Eco-Raft Tour: Eye-Level Whale or Dolphin Watching - Lahaina
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Maui, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Off Lahaina, Maui, enjoy eye-level whale watching from December to April, or dolphin watching and coastal sightseeing during the summer months. Travel aboard a small zodiac raft for unobstructed views, marine naturalist narration, and hydrophone listening to whale songs in season. Tours depart from 1223 Front Street in Lahaina, with snacks included on dolphin tours for an intimate and eco-friendly ocean experience.
- Experience eye-level whale watching from a zodiac raft
- Take a dolphin watching tour during the summer season
- Enjoy marine naturalist narration and listen to whale songs with a hydrophone
- Small group setting ensures close encounters and family-style fun
What's Included
- Marine Naturalist Narration
- Hydrophone to listen to whale songs
- Life jackets are provided for emergencies but are not required to be worn during the tour.
- Plan to get wet! This is a low to water boat- ocean spray and light rain can occur during tour.
- SnacksDolphin Tour includes snacks and beverages
- Available shade varies on boat. Please bring sun protection: hat, sunglasses and reef safe sunscreen
- Whales or Dolphins (Based on option selected)
- *Type of encounters vary in the wild- Up close sightings not guaranteed
- Tour Operator: Hawaii Ocean Rafting
- Not suitable for pregnant persons or those with back/neck injuries.
- Tour leaves promptly. Must arrive 30 minutes prior to board or will miss the tour.
- Hotel pick-up and drop off
- BYOB (Plastic or Cans Only)
- Whales or Dolphins (Based on option selected at check out)
- Gratuities
- Upclose wildlife encounters are not guaranteed as animals are in the wild.
- No Spray Sunscreen Permitted - Reef Safe Rub-on Sunscreen Only
- Physical Mobility Required for Boarding due to boarding location
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 1223 Front St, Lahaina, HI 96761, USA
MANDATORY CHECK-IN 30 minutes prior to start time at tour operator Hawaii Ocean Rafting location. Park on near Lahaina Cannery and check-in at 1223 Front St., Dive Maui Shop, located next to Snorkel Bobs. No refunds for late arrivals. Due to closed roads & traffic, plan additional travel time.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Meet for this seasonal Maui whale-watching raft tour at the designated meeting location on Front Street in Lahaina. Keep in mind when booking, guests must be three years of age or older—no babies are allowed on the raft. For safety reasons, this tour is not suited for pregnant individuals.
Once you check in and get on your low-water raft, it’s time to search for migrating humpback whales. This raft provides an awesome eye-level view of the water so you can spot whales easily as you cruise. Plus, your marine-naturalist guide tells you about the whales and the Hawaiian ecosystem, too. Hear Maui facts and listen to real whale sounds on a hydrophone. The raft is stopped at any sight of a whale for great photo ops and views.
This Maui whale-watching raft tour ends by taking you back to shore on Lahaina.
Once you check in and get on your low-water raft, it’s time to search for migrating humpback whales. This raft provides an awesome eye-level view of the water so you can spot whales easily as you cruise. Plus, your marine-naturalist guide tells you about the whales and the Hawaiian ecosystem, too. Hear Maui facts and listen to real whale sounds on a hydrophone. The raft is stopped at any sight of a whale for great photo ops and views.
This Maui whale-watching raft tour ends by taking you back to shore on Lahaina.
1
Lahaina
2
Maui
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Most travelers can participate
- No Infants
- No Pregnant Persons or children under 3 permitted
- Food Allergen Warning (Required Disclosure): Due to the nature of onboard food preparation and handling, we cannot guarantee that any menu item will be free from allergens. All meals or snacks served on this vessel may contain or come into contact with gluten, tree nuts, peanuts, shellfish, fish, soy, eggs, dairy, and wheat. If you have a known food allergy, please notify our team in advance and bring any required allergy medication (such as an EpiPen). We strongly recommend guests with severe allergies consult a physician prior to participating in the charter. We are not responsible for allergic reactions due to undeclared or cross-contact allergens.
- No children under 3
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 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
Featured review
Tamara_H
This was an absolutely amazing experience! There are so many places to choose from, but we were told this one was highly recommended and we now see why. Small group, in a boat low to the water so we could easily maneuver to be safely near where the whales went — obviously keeping a distance to not interfere with them. The tour was fun, safe and informative. Truly a highlight of our visit to Maui. Captain Darryll was awesome! We also had an opportunity to meet one of the owners the day before, and were very impressed with her knowledge.
Reviews
4.9
based on 2,686 reviews
Nat_K, Mar 2026
The staff was super nice and knowledgeable. We saw a lot of whales, and they were very close! We had so much fun!!
Sheila_H, Mar 2026
Great Experience. We went out at 8:00 am and saw a lot of whale activity. Guides were very knowledgeable. Perfect way to start the day!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Stoked you had a great whale watch! Mahalo for supporting our small Maui business.
Jenmifer_B, Mar 2026
From booking to checking in with Mandy to JJ & Captain CJ is a a really smooth experience. The vibes were great. CJ & JJ shared information & experiences in a way that I really appreciated.
Thank You ~ Mahalo for guiding us to a Magical Mystical experience with the humpbacks ✨🐋🐋🐋✨
& the Magic of Maui ✨🌺🌈💚🏞️🌅✨
Andrea_M, Mar 2026
Captain Jack and Nicole were phenomenal! We saw so many whales, including babies! They are very knowledgeable about whales, the ocean, culture, etc. I highly recommend booking with them! It was a great experience and we will definitely be returning the next time we’re in Maui!
Theresa_F, Mar 2026
Even though our trip was canceled due to bad weather. The team was super nice. Asked us to reschedule and tried to accommodate any way they could. We were not able to reschedule as we are at the end of our stay.
Brittany_K, Mar 2026
Capt T and Bri were absolutely amazing. Knowledgeable. Patient. Kind and helpful. We had the best morning with them and the whales.
Lindsay_A, Mar 2026
This tour was excellent! We went March 16, 2026, immediately following the massive Kona Low storm that caused flooding and closures throughout Maui (and all the islands). The weather had been terrible the days leading up to it, and we thought it would be canceled. But thankfully, the storms let up just in time for us to go out on the water, and we're so glad because this was our ONLY excursion that week that wasn't canceled. This was definitely the highlight of our trip. Captain Jack was a knowledgeable and experienced guide. We saw whales within minutes of leaving the dock, and then saw them pretty much the entire 2 hours of our journey, including babies learning how to breach and 10 males fighting over a female. At one point there were multiple whales on both sides of the boat and we didn't know where to look! The marine biologist Meredith shared tons of interesting information about the whales, and we learned a lot! Jack and Meredith were both super kind, professional, and engaging. As you're planning your trip, they told us that February usually has the most whales present, but March usually has more breaches as the newborn babies are gaining strength and learning how to breach before their long migration. I definitely recommend this tour!
Corey_B, Mar 2026
Fantastic experience. Boarding group is by order of check in, so plan accordingly if you are picky about your seat on the boat (although there was not a bad seat on the boat). Captain Jack and Nicole were outstanding. Would highly recommend this experience.
Stefanie_H, Mar 2026
Great experience! Highly recommend! Captain Jack and Nicole were wonderful. We saw many whales up close.
Wendy_S, Mar 2026
So much more than expected. Dolphins, whales, whale sounds, sunset, rainbow…absolutely awesome. Captain Jack and Olivia were amazing and super helpful, knowledgeable, and fun!
Eva_L, Mar 2026
The staff was really nice and knowledgeable. The boats only contains a few people (~10) so you can see very well. The captain of the boat was very respectful towards the whales, didn't approach them. They came to us on their own. It is a great experience, makes you feel tiny facing these huge animals.
Lori_B, Mar 2026
Fabulous tour. They are not joking about seeing as many whales as they can find. Captain Jack and Olivia were fabulous as they navigated the sightings while also providing detailed information. We would have loved to spent the day on the trip with the two of them.
Patrick_C, Mar 2026
I can’t give a rating because unfortunately our tour was cancelled due to poor weather.
We were happy though that the tour provider called us early enough so we didn’t have to drive in the bad weather.
So thanx to Jason
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Shoot, your one star review reflects poorly on us, even though we cancelled and refunded your tour due to the storm. If you meant for this to be a positive review, please adjust your rating to reflect our customer service, or remove the review since you did not have a whlae watch experience with us, mahalo!
Joan_E, Mar 2026
Comfortable boat that got us out to see the whales. It was a fun outing but would have preferred to spend our time on a kayaking whale watch tour.
Suzanne_M, Mar 2026
Maui Eco-Raft Tour: Eye Level Whale Watch continues to deliver another magical season of whale watching! My husband and I were on this whale watch last year and we had to bring our family this year to experience these breathtaking wildlife encounters. Cy and Capitain H did a wonderful job of finding numberous very active whales. We witnessed at least 25+ breaches by adult as well as baby whales - no exageration. We even had a rare sighting of a manta ray. This was truly a magical experience!
Natalie_N, Mar 2026
Amazing experience! Whales were all around us! The crew was great too!! Well worth the money and a the memories will last a lifetime.
Vanessa_H, Mar 2026
WOW! This tour worked hard to make sure we saw an abundance of whale activity. We were treated with the best tour. Whales literally crossing our boat within a few feet. Spectacular experience!
Christine_K, Mar 2026
Captain H and Bree were great hosts. They kept us busy with great views and lots of information. Boat was comfortable I would come back again.
Matthew_k, Mar 2026
There was an amazing amount of whale activity on our tour. We saw several whales breach and even saw a couple sharks near the boat. The tour guides were super knowledgeable and friendly. I highly recommend this experience.
Arnold_G, Mar 2026
Excellent experience. We saw a lot of whale activity. C.J. and Olivia were very knowledgeable. It was well worth the money.
Michael_P, Mar 2026
Wonderful experience with knowledgeable guides (Captain Jack and Si). This was our first whale watching tour.
Judi_H, Mar 2026
We had a great experience! The boat was very comfortable and the staff was very nice and knowledgeable. And we saw lots of breaching whales 🐳 up close & personal!
Janica_P, Mar 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
If you’re even thinking about booking the Maui Eco-Raft Tour: Eye-Level Whale or Dolphin Watching – Lahaina. DO IT!!!
This was hands down one of the most unforgettable experiences of our lives — and that’s saying something, because we do this tour every single year when we come to Maui.
We always book with this company, and we always hope to head out with Captain Henore. Year after year, they exceed our expectations. It’s become one of our favorite Maui traditions.
Captain Henore and his first mate Cy (who had just gotten engaged — congratulations again!) were absolutely phenomenal. Knowledgeable, fun, professional, and clearly passionate about what they do. You can tell they truly love the ocean and genuinely want every guest to have an incredible experience.
And the whales… oh my goodness. We witnessed over 25 whale breaches — no exaggeration. At one point, there was so much action we didn’t even know where to look. The absolute highlight was a brand-new baby calf learning how to breach. He tried FIVE times, and every attempt had the whole raft cheering. Watching that little one practice and splash down right in front of us was something I will never forget.
The surprises didn’t stop there — we also had the extremely rare experience of seeing a manta ray on the same trip. The crew told us how unusual that sighting was, which made it even more special. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
Being eye-level with these magnificent whales on the eco-raft makes the experience intimate and powerful. You hear the blow, feel the spray, and truly grasp their size and beauty in a way you just can’t from a larger boat.
Maui Eco-Raft Tour: Eye-Level Whale Watch continues to deliver magic year after year. Incredible staff, breathtaking wildlife encounters, and memories that last forever.
We’ll be back again next year — just like always. 🌊🐋
Jerome_B, Mar 2026
Top notch business Jack and Jess are absolutely the best we saw a lot of whale activity they definitely did not disappoint if you get the chance definitely do this!! Thank you!!
CHERYL_K, Mar 2026
Great experience! Matt and Bri were fun, professional, and knowledgeable. Their love of the whales was apparent. We were even able to hear one of the whales sing. They were respectful of distance from the whales, yet we were lucky enough to have had close breaching! Matt as Captain was also fabulous with making sure both sides of the raft had great viewing opportunities. I would not hesitate ! Also do note: there is a cover which means you are not sitting on the sun AND if it were raining, it would still be a comfortable experience.
Chris_B, Mar 2026
Sugar Rush... During our evening excursion, the baby whales were tail slapping and playing hard while the mommas calmly watched on. This was a fun and enjoyable way to spend our evening together as a family!
Lea_W, Mar 2026
This was one the coolest things that we did while in Maui!! The crew was knowledgeable and made sure that we saw humpback whales and we did!! A whale even swam underneath our boat!!! Definitely a must do if you’re in Maui during the humpback whale migration season!!! 🐳🌊
Wendy_N, Mar 2026
Captain H & Bree were awesome. Saw quite a few whales incl mama & calf. Had one breach right by the raft. So much fun will defin be back!
Dolores_B, Mar 2026
They really were very knowledgeable. We really enjoyed the trip and seeing the whales. We would recommend you to anyone.
Kyle_B, Mar 2026
What a great experience! We saw lots of whales and the crew was so knowledgeable. They did a great job of making this an unforgettable experience!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We are so happy our whale watching raft was an unforgettable experience for you in Maui. Our crew and naturalists are so knowledgeable, and we are happy you enjoyed learning about the North Pacific humpback whale population.
From $85.16
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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