Snorkeling in Maui at Makena: Kayak to Turtle Town

Paddle out and drop into the water where the turtles are.

Snorkeling in Maui starts at Makena Landing with a guided kayak paddle around Makena Bay to Turtle Town, where you swim and snorkel in calm, clear water alongside sea turtles. The tour runs about three hours and includes a quality kayak, snorkel equipment, a certified guide, and light refreshments. Choose between a 7:15am departure for the best visibility and reef activity, or 10:30am if you prefer a later start. Note that the morning tour requires swimmers to be at least 16 years old, while the earlier one welcomes ages 5 and up.

Step-by-step itinerary

Kayak and snorkel at Makena Bay

• Launch from Makena Landing
• Explore Makena Bay by kayak
• Swim and snorkel in Turtle Town

The experience

Makena Landing sits on a stretch of Maui coast famous for cattle ranching history, and it's where this paddle begins. You launch from the beach with a guide who handles the technical setup, then paddle roughly 1.5 to 2 miles around the bay. The water here stays calm and clear most days, which is why Makena Bay earned its reputation for snorkeling. The reef comes alive with fish, and sea turtles drift through regularly enough that spotting them is the rule, not the exception.

Once you reach the snorkeling zone, you slip into the water with gear that's already fitted to you. A certified guide stays with the group, and the pace is set by what you want to do: float and watch, dive deeper to see the reef structure, or simply drift and let the turtles pass by. The underwater world here is tropical and active without being chaotic. You're in a bay, not open ocean, so the conditions stay manageable even if you've never snorkeled before.

The 7:15am tour departs when the light is still low and the reef life is most active, with visibility that stretches farther than it does later in the day. The 10:30am option suits anyone who wants to sleep in, though the water warms up and the crowds build by then. Both tours include the kayak, snorkel equipment, a PFD, a dry bag if you need one, and light refreshments to carry you through the paddle back. Guides carry CPR and First Aid certification and bring years of ocean experience. They know where the turtles congregate and how to position the group so everyone gets a clear view.

What’s included

• Quality touring kayak in single or double configuration.
• snorkel equipment, personal flotation device and dry bag.
• guide-assisted launch and landing.
• light refreshments.
• CPR and First Aid certified guide with years of ocean experience.
• beach safety instruction.
• local taxes.

Options for this experience

2 options

7:15am DepartureGuide in English · 07:00Guests aged 5 and up, departing at 7:15am

10:30am DepartureGuide in English · 10:30Only guests aged 16 and over can book this tour, departing at 10:30am

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00 and 10:30

Book up to14h before

AgesAdult (5 and older) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by South Pacific Kayaks & Outfitters

Is this one for you?The 7:15am departure gives you the calmest water, the most active reef life and the best visibility. It's the tour time the operator calls the best experience. Choose 10:30am if you want to sleep later and you're 16 or older, though the water will be warmer and the reef less active by then.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the difference between the 7:15am and 10:30am departures?

The 7:15am tour offers ideal weather conditions, more active reef life, and better visibility, and it's open to ages 5 and up. The 10:30am departure is only available to guests 16 years and older, and the water tends to be warmer and busier later in the day.

Do I need snorkeling experience to join this tour?

No, the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You get a beach safety talk and instruction before paddling out, and the guide stays with your group in the water to help you feel comfortable.

What exactly is Turtle Town?

Turtle Town is the snorkeling zone within Makena Bay, world-famous for consistent sea turtle sightings and a healthy reef. You paddle to this area and then enter the water to swim and snorkel among the turtles and tropical fish.

How far do we paddle?

The paddling distance is approximately 1.5 to 2.0 miles around Makena Bay. The pace is leisurely, and the water stays calm, so even first-time kayakers find it manageable.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes a quality kayak (single or double), snorkel equipment, a personal flotation device, a dry bag if needed, guide-assisted launch and landing, light refreshments, and a certified guide with CPR and First Aid training. Local taxes are also included.

Can I bring my young child?

Yes, the 7:15am tour welcomes ages 5 and up, and specialized infant seats are available. The 10:30am departure is for ages 16 and older only.