Maui Eco-Raft Tour: Eye-Level Whale or Dolphin Watching - Lahaina
Recommended by 97% of travelers
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Maui, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Get an up-close look at marine life on this tour, which trades in a typical sightseeing boat for a low-to-the-water Zodiac raft that offers superior views. Keep an eye out for dolphins in the summer or whales in November and May, or simply take in the scenery while listening to live narration from a naturalist guide.
- Maximize your chances of spotting marine life on a guided tour
- Snacks and beverages are included on dolphin tours
- Enjoy expert narration and listen to whale songs with a hydrophone
- Choose from multiple departure times and tour lengths to fit your schedule
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.
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.
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Lahaina
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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
- Mobility is required to board the vessel unassisted due to the boarding location and safety protocol.
- 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
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 2,846 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
The dolphin watching tour was great, with a ton of dolphins to see. The site needs to warn male customers that they need to use sun screen on their heads as hats will fall off while riding. Also, need to have a runner on the dock where you board the boat or something else to keep your feet from badly burning from the scorching cement.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
So glad you had a great time on the dolphin watch! We appreciate you supporting our small Maui business. During our pre-boarding safety briefing I did warn everyone not to take their shoes off until just before boarding the boat.
You have to take your shoes off before going on the raft boat. We saw lots of dolphins - was wonderful. And we sat in the shade but you could sit in a sunny place.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Life is more fun when you're barefoot! Glad you had a great time on the dolphin watch. Mahalo for supporting our small Maui business.
The whole experience was awesome. The crew was very entertaining and knowledgeable. They really had to work hard to find the dolphins, but they did. They stuck around a little longer just to make sure everybody had a chance to learn about the dolphins and experience the whole venture. Highly recommend this to anyone.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
So glad you had an awesome time on the Dolphin watch! Our staff love to share their knowledge (and dad jokes) about Maui's wildlife and history. Mahalo for supporting our small business and joining our ohana.
Fantastic boat ride and we were lucky enough to see bottle nose dophins. Our crew was fantastic. The ride was smooth and coast line was beautiful. Lots of flying fish, too! Yummy snacks included. Our 8 and 4 yr olds loved it. Perfect length of time. Would highly recommend and would definitely do it again.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Mahalo for joining us for a wonderful morning in Maui! Stoked that you and your kids all had a great time with our crew and the bottlenose dolphins!
This was a highlight! The snorkeling at Lanai was better than Molakini. There were snacks on board, friendly guides, and the absolute highlight was being up close with the dolphins!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Stoked you had a blast on our snorkel and dolphin watch! We love showing off Maui's wildlife to our guests. Mahalo for supporting our small business.
This was the highlight of our trip! Zach and JJ were amazing and kept the boat ride so fun and informative. We got to see 300 dolphins, and it was absolutely incredible! I highly highly recommend the boat ride, you are right on the water so the dolphins are just feet away. So cool!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
So glad we were able to make this the highlight of your trip! Mahalo for choosing Maui and Hawaii Ocean Rafting!
Boat ride was fun and the dolphins where even dinner family love them kids love the ride experience can’t wait to come back
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Mahalo for joining us! We look forward to welcoming you back to Maui!
Zach and JJ were very knowledgeable and we actually saw lots of dolphins on our return trip ! We will definitely book a whale watch trip in January with them !
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Stoked you had a great trip with Zach and JJ! We can't wait for you to come back in January for a whale watch. Mahalo for choosing Hawaii Ocean Rafting!
We sat with a pod of dolphin, including a baby! Captain Jack and Bree were wonderful! Highly recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
We're so happy you had an amazing adventure on our morning Dolphin watch. Aren't the baby dolphins so adorable? Mahalo for joining our Maui ohana.
The whole experience was great! Don’t hesitate.. just book it! You will not regret it!we might even do it a second time🤗🤗
Response from Host, Jul 2026
So glad you had such a great dolphin adventure! Mahalo for supporting our small Maui business.
We had a very nice excursion this morning. The crew took us to a safer spot to board as the waves were “sporty.”
We snorkeled by cliff house and saw at least one turtle along with coral and tropical fish. The crew took good care of us and were very friendly and gracious.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Mahalo for the review and for hanging in for the "sporty" conditions! Glad you folks had a nice morning with us on Maui!
We had the best experience on our dolphin watch tour. We took our three kids - 6, 9 and 11. We preferred a tour like this - smaller boat and more personalized experience. Our tour guides were wonderful and had a lot of marine biology experience. We were able to see a lot of bottlenose dolphins, including a juvenile. Snacks and drinks were included. Would recommend to anyone.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
So happy your whole family enjoyed our dolphin watch tour. Our staff love to share their knowledge and passion for Maui's wildlife. Mahalo for joining our ohana.
What a great experience. Two adults and 6 younger cousins. Everyone loved the boat ride, water, and seeing lots of dolphins up close and personal. A really fun time for all.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
So glad you and your family had a great time on the water with us! Sounds like the dolphins were feeling curious! Mahalo for choosing Maui!
The dolphin search boat tour was super fun and Jack made the experience even better! We saw many dolphins!!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Stoked you had a great time searching for dolphins with Jack! Mahalo for choosing Maui and Hawaii Ocean Rafting!
My husband was working so I went solo and enjoyed meeting other people on the boat! We saw sea turtles within the first 5 minutes of the boat ride and dolphins within the first 15 minutes. It was amazing to see the dolphins up close and hear so many facts about them from our guide. The boat traveled a long distance so we got close to other islands and learned a lot about Hawaiian history and culture. The guides took my picture several times, which was kind of them! We had chips, watermelon, and cookies for snacks, which was delicious! I plan to take my husband and kids on our next visit!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Stoked your dolphin watch was so exciting! We hope to see you and your family on your next trip to Maui. Mahalo for supporting our small business.
We took the 2 hour dolphin search. We had the best time on the boat taking in the scenery. We got to see so many dolphins. We got to see a baby dolphin with its mama and my kids loved that. Captain Jack and Brie made the ride fun and we learned some fun facts about Dolphins and the island. We had the best time!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
We are so glad to hear that you had a great dolphin tour with Captain Jack and Bree! The only thing cuter than a dolphin is a baby dolphin! Mahalo for choosing Maui and Hawaii Ocean Rafting.
Amazing experience. Very nice service and we saw 200 dolphins. Very professional and helpful to my mom who is 85 years old
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Glad to hear you and your mom had an amazing time out on the water and our dolphin friends did not disappoint. Thanks for choosing Maui and Hawaii Ocean Rafting!
The dolphin cruise was very interesting and educational. I've been on several dolphin cruises in the Gulf Coast and have never seen this many dolphins on one cruise!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Stoked that your dolphin tour was awesome! We get a little spoiled by the Hawaiian Spinner dolphins. Their pods can grow as big as 200+ individuals. Mahalo for joining us during your trip to Maui.
We loved the tour and the captain and crew were really great! Highly recommend this as part of your Hawaii experience!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
So glad you had a great dolphin tour! Mahalo for supporting our small Maui business.
We saw hundreds of dolphins but even if we hadn’t seen any—the boat ride alone was worth the cost! Beautiful scenery and a fast, fun boat ride!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
So glad you had a beautiful dolphin watch excursion. Maui's coastlines are breathtaking and the dolphins are pretty cool too! Mahalo for supporting our small Maui business.
Had a wonderful time on this whale watching tour and even saw a whale breach! Went with our family and everyone enjoyed this tour. Boat was easy to find. Would take this tour again!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
So glad you had a great time on our whale watch. Mahalo for supporting our locally-owned Maui business.
Great experience with Jack and the crew, and we enjoyed the trip! We joined the Dolphan watch on 6/19, and we've seen so many!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Glad you had a great experience on our Dolphin watch! Mahalo for supporting our small Maui business.
My daughter and I had a great time! We saw LOTS of dolphins! The only reason this isn’t a five star review is because of the ride back. We went very fast and the raft was like a rollercoaster. My back is now aching from being thrown around. I suggested that they mention the possibility of this before booking. Otherwise, the tour was great!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Glad you had an awesome time and the dolphins made an appearance! Being on the ocean is the best!
Yes we state on Viator and our website that the eco rafts do not allow persons with back or neck injuries or pregnant on the tours, it is also an agreement everyone has to check when they fill out the waivers- we do our best to communicate that the eco rafts are adventure style and not suitable for everyone. A slower style sailing catamaran may be a great fit for your next ocean adventure!
Best whale your ever! We’ve been on quite a few whale watching adventures over the years but this one was amazing. The eye-level view from the made this tour unique. The guides were knowledgeable and engaging. Do yourself a favor and book this tour.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Awesome! So glad your adventure was amazing. Mahalo for supporting our small Maui business
We saw bunch of whales, I have experienced so much sighting in the past. Guides were very Informative they kind of knew where the action is happening and were very knowledgeable on marine eco system.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
So glad you had an amazing time on our whale watch! Our team loves to share their knowledge and passion for Maui's wildlife. Mahalo!
This was fun and beautiful. The hosts were kind and very hospitable. They gave us snacks and sodas which was appreciated
It was past whale season, which was unfortunate. Lots of dolphins, however. I wouldn’t give this 5 stars bc it wasn’t something extraordinary compared to some of my other activities, but it was 4 stars worthy.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Glad you had a good time on our dolphin watch. Mahalo for supporting our small Maui business.
If you are a senior, raft may be a challenge to get in and out of. Staff is very helpful and they do warn you on their website. Wear only slip on shoes because they prefer you remove your shoes before boarding. Loved seeing the dolphins and hearing the whales. The scenery is so beautiful and the guides were very knowledgeable. I would definitely go on this tour again!
Response from Host, May 2026
Stoked you had a great time seeing dolphins and hearing whales on our tour. Mahalo for supporting our small Maui business.
Whale season ends May 15, it’ll be unlikely you see any after April. We unfortunately saw no whales, but there were two dolphins and the boat ride was a nice time.
Response from Host, May 2026
So glad you had a nice time on the dolphintour and that the bottlenose dolphins were entertaining. Mahalo for supporting our small Maui business.
Our eco-raft tour was truly one of the most amazing experiences we’ve ever had. Seeing a humpback whale with her baby so close was absolutely breathtaking and something we will never forget. The crew was extremely professional, friendly, and knowledgeable, and they made the entire experience feel safe, exciting, and special. You could really tell how much they care about the ocean and the animals. We are so grateful for this incredible memory and would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Maui!
Response from Host, May 2026
So glad that you an amazing experience on our whale watch! Our staff love to share their passion and knowledge for Maui's wildlife with our guests and leave you with great memories. Mahalo for supporting our small local business.
We did the 8 AM tour on May 11th, and it was an amazing experience from start to finish. Captain Henore and the guide were incredibly patient, informative, and made sure everyone had a great view of the whales and dolphins while explaining everything along the way.
Even though it wasn’t peak whale season, we were lucky enough to spot a whale and so many dolphins! We got to sail alongside them for quite a while, giving us plenty of time to take pictures and enjoy seeing them up close, it was truly unforgettable.
As an added bonus, we even spotted a turtle while nearing the shore. The entire experience felt very well organized and definitely worth the money. I would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Maui! A big thank you to Captain Henore and the team for such a memorable experience.
Response from Host, May 2026
Stoked that you had such an amazing experience seeing whales, dolphins, and turtles with us! Not every tour gets to see all those animals. Mahalo for joining our Maui ohana.
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