When is the best time of year for whale watching?

Humpback whales migrate to Maui every winter! We begin whale watching tours December 1st and continue whale watch in January, February and March, ending in month of April! During the summer months we snorkel and dolphin watch departing from Lahaina Harbor, Maui!

What is the best time of day for whale watching?

Maui’s humpback whales are active all day and even at night! This means no matter the time of day, whale activity will only be based on their random behavior. If there were a better time to go whale watching, that trip would be so desireable it would probably be a special price! But because the time does not matter for whale activity, we offer tours from sunrise to sunset, from Lahaina, Maui!

Can we snorkel with whales?

Humpback whales are protected in Maui and we are not permitted to swim, snorkel with whales or approached them closer than 100 yards. So how do we get the epic close encounters? Close encounters are purely the choice of the whale, and many times they choose to come toward our boats. On those special occasions, we stop the boat for the whales safety and enjoy the view of Lahaina, Maui!

Best place to whale watch on Maui?

The best place to whale watch on Maui is Lahaina, Maui. Because the majority of humpback whales spend their time in the Maui Nui Basin, whale watching from Lahaina Harbor is the closest location to whale activity. Our tours depart from Lahaina Harbor, every day, sunrise to sunset!

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Q: What is the best weather for whale watching?

Lucky for us, you can whale watching in any weather due to whale activity not being altered my the weather. Even though the weather may not affect the whales activity, it can affect our whale watch ing efforts, which is why we reschedule or refund tours where the weather interferes with the safety or enjoyment of the whale watching tour. Lahaina Harbor has one of the mildest weather climates on Maui and makes it one of the best places to whale watch.

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Whales are protected in Hawaii so we do not approach humpback whales closer than federal regulations.
Swimming and/or touching whales is not permitted. Whales may choose to come to our vessels on their own.

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Whale Watching Maui Tours with Smallest Groups!

Every seat is a front row seat on our whale watching tours! Our small group rafting vessels host small groups of guests so you get up close and personal with Maui’s whales, dolphins, turtles, tropical fish and other marine life! Since 1982 we strive for every whale watching tour to be unforgettable.
We can’t wait to share Maui’s ocean adventures with you!

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We're Locally Owned and Operated.

Since 1982, we have been dedicated to sharing our knowledge and experience of Maui's ocean through ultimate whale watch and snorkel tours, snorkeling and supporting education and research. Our goal is to encourage eco-friendly decisions and appreciation of the Hawaii paradise we are a part of. We're proud to welcome visitors from Washington, California, and all over the world.

Support Our Whale and Marine Research.

We donate our vessels, time and resources to whale researchers that are working to better understand Maui’s marine environment and in turn protect and advocate for it. Check out our blog to learn more about our ongoing research projects and how to support them.

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Be a Part of Our Ohana whale watching!

Our team of captains, naturalist and marine biologist are all about sharing their love and knowledge of the ocean and Lahaina and Lanai’s amazing creatures with you!
We can’t wait for you to become a part of our lahaina whale watching and Maui dolphin watching ohana!

Reviews

“One of the coolest experiences I have ever had. We got great encounters with whales.They crew was very knowledgeable, friendly, and very fun. If you want a great experience on the water choose Ultimate!!!!” Steve B. Afton, Minnesota
“We had a close encounter with a 30-ton Humpback Whale...We also saw about a dozen breaches by whales, a giant school of spinner dolphins and a gigantic turtle all on the same 2 hour tour. I highly recommend these guys” Marposp Vancouver, Canada
“We have been on many whale watch trips, but have never experienced what we saw on this one. The large humpback male whale noticed us and came over to our boat to show off. He swam around and under our boat! Rockcl Denver, Colorado

Rated #1 Whale Watching Maui Tours with Smallest Groups.

Every seat is a front row seat in our whale watching tours! Our small group rafting vessels host small groups of guests so you get up close and personal with Maui’s whales, dolphins, turtles, tropical fish and other marine life! We want your whale watching tour to be unforgettable!

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Ultimate Pro Tip:

Plan to bring a waterproof GoPro with a selfie stick for unforgettable underwater video of your trip!

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The Closest Ultimate Whale Watching Tours Encounters in Maui.

We specialize in photographic, non-threatening close encounters with Dolphins, Whales & Turtles in Lahaina, Hawaii! During our Maui whale watching tours and private charters, we have hosted film crews from National Geographic, BBC Wild- life, and other elite marine life photographers!

Because humpback whales are protected in Maui, we do not approach humpback whales closer than 100 yards or swim with whales or dolphins, but we still find ourselves having unique close encounters as these marine mammals love approaching our small, low to the water, friendly rafting vessels! Join us for our seasonal Whale Watching on Maui tours from December to April and snorkel year-round, departing from Lahaina Harbor, Maui!

Private Boat Charters in Maui. Custom for You!

Book a private boat charter for any occasion for you and your family or friends! Whale watch, snorkel, dolphin watch, bachelor and bachelorette parties, wedding parties, memorials and special occasions, departing from Lahaina Harbor, Maui!

Maui’s Dolphins, Tropical Fish and Sea Turtles!

When we’re not whale watching, we’re Snorkeling Maui and Lanai and dolphin watching departing from Lahaina Harbor, Maui! We’re ranked #1 for Maui’s whale watching and dolphin watching be- cause of our low to water rafting vessels and marine naturalist crew know where to encounter marine mammals and turtles!

sea turtle experience on boat tour in Maui

Frequently Asked Questions

Short answer: (December to mid April). Humpback whales migrate to Maui from Alaska every winter! We begin Maui whale watching tours December 1st. This is the beginning of the humpback migration. Juvenile humpbacks population and there surface activity is highest at the beginning of the seasonal migration. The humpback migration trickles into the Hawaiian islands peaking in February and March, then will begin to trickle out. Be advised these humpback whales can swim ther population is not static. In between the islands of Lanai and Maui is protected water that is a hot spot of whale activity. some days in the peak, the local population decreases, then the next day whales every where again.

Maui’s humpback whales are active all day and even at night! This means no matter the time of day, whale activity will only be based on their random behavior. If there were a better time to go Lahaina whale watching, that trip would be so desirable it would probably be a special price! But because the time does not matter for whale activity, we offer tours from sunrise to sunset, from Lahaina, Maui!

Lucky for us, you can whale watch in any weather due to whale activity not being altered my the weather. Even though the weather may not affect the whales activity, it can affect our whale watching efforts, which is why we reschedule or refund tours where the weather interferes with the safety or enjoyment of the Maui whale watching tour. Lahaina Harbor has one of the mildest weather climates on Maui and makes it one of the best places to whale watch.

Still have more questions? We’re happy to help!

We can’t wait to chat all things, Maui, Whale Watching and Snorkeling!