Whale Watching in Maui

These beautiful animals arouse great curiosity among tourists but they have a deep 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 have a reputation for being fierce and unpredictable animals but that is no obstacle for thousands of people around the world to join a cruise to see these beautiful creatures up close in their natural habitat.

Because of its warm and shallow waters, Maui is an excellent place for whale watching. That is why there are several boat tours on the island that go deep into the Pacific to offer tourists the chance to see these animals up close and thus fulfill a dream.

During the boat ride you will enjoy breathtaking views of the coast of Maui and learn many curiosities about these majestic creatures from the captain.

When the time comes, he will lead 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 emanating from its blowhole and, if you are lucky, a spectacular jump.

For better visibility, some cruises provide images from a webcam and even have a hydrophone, an underwater microphone with which to record their mesmerizing songs.

Get your camera ready and keep your eyes peeled because seeing them up close (either from the deck or in the cabin) is a thrilling experience you won't forget.

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

In addition, unlike the larger boats used on whale watching cruises, the boats used on this excursion allow you to move faster in the water, making it possible to spend more time whale watching and less time on the road.

This whale watching boat tour departs from Lahaina's historic harbor and travels through the Auau Channel to enjoy these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat and up close.

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The stunning acrobatics that whales perform in the water can often be seen on land with binoculars from miles away.

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

If you want to see these imposing animals at close range, cruise tours are the best option - the experience is fantastic and very authentic!

This type of whale watching tours in Maui usually last approximately 2 hours.

My advice is to choose an early morning or late afternoon tour to sail when the sea is calmer and avoid the midday heat.

Although humpback whales can be sighted from any island in Hawaii, the shallow waters of the Auau Channel between Maui, Lanai and Molokai is one of the best places on the planet for whale watching.

For this reason, Maui is an ideal destination to see these creatures during your island vacation.

Each winter**(December through May**), humpback whales travel from the cold waters of Alaska to Hawaii to breed, give birth, feed and care for their calves. However, the arrival of the first whale of the season usually occurs between August and October.

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

The objective of this tour is to see humpback whales, an endangered species that can weigh between 25 and 40 tons, but they are probably not the only animals you will see, as spinner dolphins and seabirds such as albatrosses and boobies also appear frequently.

Before the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii was transferred 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 the whale-watching excursions in Maui depart from the historic port of Lahaina.

After the tour, I recommend exploring the whaling past of this city and visiting places like Lahaina Lighthouse (the oldest lighthouse in the Pacific) or the Whale Center of Hawaii (admission is free and in this museum you can see very interesting exhibits about whales).

If your dream is to see whales up close in Maui you are in luck because you will find several options at quite reasonable prices between 40 and 60 euros approximately.

To go on a whale watching excursion, I recommend taking a waterproof camera and small binoculars.

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