Get close to the whales!

Come kayak and watch up close as the Humpback Whales play, breach and give birth to their calves in the warm Hawaiian waters.

We get up close, observe the whales and also enjoy a wonderful snorkeling location, all in a fun packed 4 hour kayak snorkel adventure.

Wintertime only!

Each Winter the majestic whales travel thousands of miles from the Alaskan coastline and bask in the warmth of the Hawaiian waters and we are lucky enough to have a front row seat!

The tour runs from December 26th to March 31st, every single year.  Trips before and after the season dates can be requested.

Adults only on this advanced paddle.

Being a longer tour and featuring more paddling distance than most of our other offerings, we do limit the Whales tour to those aged 12 and over only.

If you have kids that are under age 12, please check out our Discovery tour, which departs just a few miles away in Olowalu or down South in Makena.

Our Whales tour checks in at 7:15am and usually wraps up after the included lunch around 11:00am.

Over the course of roughly 4 hours we'll travel all over Ma'alaea Bay looking for Whales to get up close with.  Additionally, after checking out the humpbacks, we'll snorkel at the Coral Gardens of Maui.

All of this fun is in a setting of privacy that you only get with Maui Eco Tours kayak snorkel excursions. 

Experience counts when looking for Whales.

Our full time guides Chris, John, Lake and Deja will get you closer to the action than any other type of tour on the water.  

Getting out and getting close to the whales involves experience with the conditions and tendencies of the whales.  Trust our guides to get you the best experience.  

Furthermore, only our staff will get right in the water and show you all of the underwater spectacles themselves.  They anchor the boats, gear you up, point out marine life and regail you with fun stories, tales of yesteryear and Hawaiian legend all through the tour.  

Service is the difference and we pride ourselves on our reputation for personal attention and first class service.

Do tread lightly please.

Sure you could jump on a big gas guzzling whale watching boat, but why?

We'll get closer to the humpback whales and we'll do it in a completely environmentally friendly way.

Our kayaks are a zero emissions way to see nature and more importantly they don't disturb the marine life or their environment.

Even better, our kayaks allow us to access some unique spots that you normally can't get to.

Let us show you the whales like you've never dreamed of!

Whales all around!

We'll go out searching for as many Humpbacks as we can find. Then we'll zoom over to get close to the action.  

You'll want to be at attention and alert, for at any moment a humpback may breach the surface to the left, right, behind you...who knows where they'll pop up next!?

The beautiful water lapping around your kayak will calm and relax you as we wait for the next whale appearance.

Don't forget our green friends.

Despite the enormous popularity of the humpback whales, our guests favorite thing to see is always the friendly green sea turtles that grace the waters of Maui.

We guarantee that you will get up close and personal with these inquisitive and unique characters as well.  

Watching them come to the surface and gasp in a big gulp of air is always fun to see.

Even better though, is jumping in the water and getting right up close to the big guys!

Beautiful Hawai'i.

Stunning scenery and unspoiled beauty is what Hawai'i is all about!  

From the beautiful sunrises and sunsets, to the dramatic volcano backdrops, lush foliage and did we mention humpback whales...don't miss it.

Coasting around the bay it's hard to know where to look!  There's Haleakala in one direction, the West Maui mountains in another.  And all of that is just the backdrop!

Crystal clear snorkeling.

Some of the clearest snorkeling waters in Hawai'i are located in the coral gardens of Maui.

We'll show you all the stunning underwater sights and marine life living there, firsthand, with guided snorkeling.  

Nothing is as exceptional as being in the water along with our extremely experienced staff, and having them show you things normally missed by those snorkeling on their own.

Adult relaxation.

If you don't have kids, or are just getting a break from your own, it's nice to not be around other people's little ones.

On the Whales tour you'll relax and enjoy the sights amongst other adults.

If you have kids that aged 12 or over, they're welcome to join.  If you have younger ones, don't miss the Discovery tour!

Whales like the morning!

We get going early to enjoy calm waters, easy paddling and a quiet atmosphere.

The majestic humpbacks love to bask in the early morning sun, splash around and play.  We'll be there for all of it!

Just 20 minutes from Lahaina and 25 minutes from Kihei.  You'll meet us onsite at Mile Marker 11.5 off Highway 30 (Papalaua Park),  for a 7:15 am check-in.

Time to hit it!

Once you arrive we'll get you outfitted with all the latest snorkeling equipment, paddling life jackets and drybags to hold your small valuables (wallet, car keys, cameras, etc).  

All the gear you'll need is included.

Once everyone is ready, our guide takes you through a comprehensive 15-20 minute safety and instructional briefing.

We'll cover proper paddling techniques and snorkeling tips, as well as safety reminders and helpful hints on getting in and out of our kayaks when we stop to do some snorkeling.

Launching at Papalaua beach park is generally quite nice, as the beach is sandy and flat.

Each of the kayaks in the group paddles out past the surf break line (which is virtually non-existent in the morning) and waits for the guide to rendezvous with the group.

Once everyone is on the water and gathered together, the guide will lead you out off the coastline to begin the search for whales. Generally the initial paddling segment is about 20-30 minutes in length, but it all depends upon what the whales are up to.

The entire tour features the dramatic backdrop of the 10,000 foot Haleakala Volcano in the distance and of course, the central Maui seacliffs and West Maui mountains up close.  

As the sun peeks over the edge of the volcano, dramatic lighting begins to illuminate the clear waters directly below.

As we kayak around getting close to different whales, you'll see turtles on the surface staring back at you while you're enjoying a private atmosphere and getting some great exercise!

The wonderful warm morning sun on your face feels amazing as you paddle against phenomenal beauty, through 78 degree Hawaiian waters, breathing in the sweet sounds and scents of Maui.

Wanna' get wet?

Once the group has its fill of Humpback Whales, we'll paddle over to Coral Gardens to jump in and check out the marine life living below.

Upon arriving there, the guide will connect all the kayaks and safely drop an anchor in a sandy patch so that everyone may relax and get their mask and fins on, and put their valuables in the drybags prior to entering the water.

Everyone who wants to, gets in the water and is free to snorkel on their own if they so desire.

The most fun will be had if you stay close to our guide in the water, as he or she will be pointing out unique marine life, snapping underwater photos, and leading the way to the best regions along each reef.

At Coral Gardens, as on the Seacliffs tour we'll see tons of turtles, eels, octopus, a plethora of colorful tropical reef fish, and even the occasional small white tip reef shark.

Lunch time!

All of our tours wrap up with our unique beach snack lunches consisting of grilled chicken skewers, fresh fruits and a selection of fruit juices.  

They are individually prepared and packaged each morning to ensure freshness and quality when it's time to eat. Our offerings are beach snack lunch style, of a light to moderate quantity and provided complimentary.  

We do recommend that "big eaters" pack some additional rations if they are so inclined, as space limits the physical quantity of our lunches. In addition, we also request that all of our guests bring a bottle of water for themselves, as hydration is always an important element to a fun day here on Maui.