Makena Turtle Town: Kayak & Snorkel with Sea Turtles Maui

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/7

Duration3h

GroupUp to 10

LanguagesEN · DE +1

Mobile ticketAccepted

Paddle Out to Where the Sea Turtles Actually Are

You kayak from Makena out to a protected reef, snorkel alongside Hawaiian green sea turtles and rays for two separate stretches, and paddle back—all in three hours with a guide, full gear, and a snack included. The small-group limit means you're not jostling for position, and the early start catches the calmest water. Bring a towel and plan to be back by mid-morning.

Step-by-step itinerary

Kayak and snorkel with sea turtles

Kayak along south Maui’s calm waters
Arrive at Turtle Town
Snorkel among Hawaiian green sea turtles
Observe rays, octopuses, dolphins, and eels
Enjoy a light snack and water

The Experience

The kayaks sit lined up on the sand at Makena, and you're in one within minutes—no long briefing, no fuss. You push off into water so clear you can see the bottom twenty feet down, and the paddling itself is easy, the kind of thing that doesn't tire you out before the real part starts. South Maui's coast slides past, and after maybe thirty minutes you're at Turtle Town, a protected reef where the water changes color and suddenly there's a guide pointing down. There. A Hawaiian green sea turtle, just moving through its day, unbothered by the handful of snorkelers floating above it.

The snorkeling happens at two different spots, and the turtles aren't the only thing down there—you'll see manta rays gliding like underwater blankets, octopuses tucked into the reef, eels poking out, sometimes dolphins if you're lucky. The whole tour runs three hours, which is long enough to feel like you've actually been somewhere but short enough that kids don't start losing it halfway through. Groups stay under ten people, so it never feels crowded, and the guides have lifeguard and CPR training, which matters when you're in the ocean with children. You get the kayak and snorkel gear, a bottle of water, and a light snack—nothing fancy, but enough to keep you going.

The tour starts at 7am, so you're checking in at 6:45am when it's still quiet on the beach. That early start is actually the thing that works—the water's calmest in the morning, and you're done by mid-morning, which leaves the rest of your day open. The tour's been voted Maui's favorite for twenty years, which you notice when you see the same families coming back, kids who snorkeled here five years ago now old enough to paddle their own kayak.

What’s included

Your tour includes kayak and snorkel equipment, life jackets, bottled water, a light snack, and a professional guide trained in lifeguard, CPR, and first aid. You'll visit two snorkel sites and paddle through calm, protected waters before returning to Makena in the morning.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by maui kayaks

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Hawaiian green sea turtles without arranging your own boat or gear—the small group size and early timing are what make the reef feel uncrowded and the water stay calm.