Whale Watching in Maui

These beautiful animals arouse great curiosity among tourists, but they have a profound meaning in Hawaiian culture and are treated with great respect as they are believed to be guardians of the family.

The best way to see them up close is to take a whale watching cruise in Maui. I'll tell you everything you need to know!

Whales are known for being fierce and unpredictable animals, but that doesn't stop thousands of people around the world from joining a cruise to see these beautiful creatures up close in their natural habitat.

With its warm, shallow waters, Maui is an excellent place for whale watching. That's why there are several boat tours on the island that venture out into the Pacific to offer tourists the chance to see these animals up close and fulfil a lifelong dream.

During the boat trip, you will enjoy breathtaking views of the Maui coastline and learn many interesting facts about these majestic creatures from the captain.

When the time comes, he will take the group to an ideal spot for whale watching. Pay attention because at any moment you may see a fin emerging from the water, a jet of water spouting from its blowhole and, with a bit of luck, a spectacular leap.

For better visibility, some cruises provide images from a webcam and even have a hydrophone, an underwater microphone that records their mesmerising songs.

Get your camera ready and keep your eyes peeled because seeing them up close (whether from the deck or in the cabin) is an exciting experience you will never forget.

Whale watching in the open ocean is a fascinating experience in itself, but doing so from a small boat is even more so, as it creates a very intimate viewing atmosphere that conveys the feeling of being alone with the whales.

In addition, unlike the larger boats typically used for whale watching cruises, the boats used on this excursion allow you to move faster through the water, which means you can spend more time watching whales and less time travelling.

This whale watching boat trip departs from the historic port of Lahaina and travels along the Auau Channel to enjoy these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat and up close.

The impressive acrobatics performed by whales in the water can often be seen from land with binoculars from miles away.

However, I can assure you that nothing compares to the adventure of going out to sea to watch whales from a boat in their own habitat.

If you want to see these impressive animals up close, cruise tours are the best option. The experience is fantastic and very authentic!

Although humpback whales can be spotted from any Hawaiian island, the shallow waters of the Auau Channel between Maui, Lanai and Molokai are one of the best places on the planet to see whales.

This makes Maui an ideal destination for seeing these creatures during your island holiday.

Every winter (December to May), humpback whales travel from the cold waters of Alaska to Hawaii to breed, give birth, feed and care for their young. However, the first whale of the season usually arrives between August and October.

On the other hand, every year Maui organises a Whale Festival with exhibitions and parades in February, during the height of the season. So it can be a good time to take a whale watching cruise on the island.

The aim of this tour is to see humpback whales, an endangered species that can weigh between 25 and 40 tonnes, but they are unlikely to be the only animals you will see, as spinner dolphins and seabirds such as albatrosses and boobies also frequently appear.

Before the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii was moved to Honolulu, the city of Lahaina was the capital of the archipelago and one of the most important whaling ports in the Pacific.

Today, many of Maui's whale watching excursions depart from the historic port of Lahaina.

After the tour, I recommend exploring the town's whaling past and visiting sites such as Lahaina Lighthouse (the oldest lighthouse in the Pacific) or the Hawaii Whale Centre (admission is free and the museum has some fascinating exhibits about whales).

For a whale watching excursion, I recommend bringing a waterproof camera and a small pair of binoculars.

As you will be spending a lot of time outdoors, don't forget to wear a light waterproof jacket, sunscreen and a hat. Remember to also bring some motion sickness medication in case you need it during the tour.