Maui Private Paddleboard Whale Watch: All Skill Levels

Paddle at your own pace among humpback whales

A private paddleboard whale-watching tour on Maui's Wailea-Makena coastline in the Hawaiian Humpback Marine Mammal Sanctuary, customized to your group's skill level. You paddle alongside humpback whales up close, with a guide leading every stroke. Beginners get a lesson before heading out, and mixed abilities are encouraged.

What’s included

• Use of snorkeling equipment.
• private guide in English.
• paddleboard lesson for beginners.

Times

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• Every day 06:45 07:15

Information

Paddle among humpback whales on Maui's Wailea-Makena coastline with a private guide who customizes the pace to your group's abilities. Beginners welcome.

Group Private 6 similar group tours ›

Live guide English

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. See the exact address

Book up to 13h before

Ages Adult (18 to 90 years) · Child (5 to 17 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

Cancellation and refunds Free 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.

Good to know

Moderate physical effort Public transport nearby Not recommended with heart problems Not recommended with back problems

More information The exact meeting point address, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

Traveler reviews

4.89 ★★★★★ Exceptional 9 verified traveler reviews

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The experience

Makena Landing sits at the heart of where humpback whales winter in Hawaiian waters, and a paddleboard puts you at their level instead of watching from a boat. The tour is private, which means the guide sets the pace to match your group: faster if you're strong paddlers, slower if someone is finding their rhythm. A lesson comes first for anyone new to the board, so you're stable and confident before you leave the shore. Children from age 5 can join, and mixed skill levels work because the guide stays with you the whole time.

Two hours on the water is long enough to paddle the coastline and search for whales without eating up your whole day. You'll have snorkeling equipment with you if the whales move on and you want to drop in and look below the surface instead. The operator runs these tours with what they call a small footprint (eco-conscious and ocean-loving), so the group stays small and the whales stay undisturbed.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 17 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

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.

When do humpback whales come to Maui?

Humpback whales visit Hawaiian waters during winter, roughly January through March, which is when these tours operate and when you have the best chance of seeing them.

What's the Wailea-Makena coastline like for paddleboarding?

Wailea-Makena is a pristine stretch on Maui's south shore where the whales gather, and it's protected as the Hawaiian Humpback Marine Mammal Sanctuary, so the waters are calmer and the marine life more abundant than many other spots.

Do I need paddleboarding experience to book this tour?

No. The tour includes a lesson for beginners, and the guide customizes the pace to your group's abilities, so mixed skill levels work fine.

Operated by Paddle On! Maui Private Tours. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago