Humpback whales off the coast of Maui: guaranteed sightings

Do you want to see humpback whales breaching just a few meters away from you off the coast of Maui?

97% success rate, 3%… you get to repeat the experience!

Here, I'll tell you how to live one of the most incredible (and fleeting) experiences of your life.

Whale season in Hawaii

From December to May, the waters surrounding the Hawaiian archipelago become the meeting point for thousands of humpback whales during their mating and calving season.

And while it's possible to spot them around all the islands, the Auau Channel, between Molokai, Lanai, and Maui, is the best spot for sightings.

Fun facts about humpback whales

• Both sexes are capable of vocalizing. However, only males ‘sing’ to attract females.
• To do so, they dive down to great depths.
• These songs can last up to half an hour.
• When they surface, they leave behind a characteristic slick of calm water.
• If they raise their tail fluke vertically above the water, it means they're building momentum to dive into the deep.
• The maximum time they spend holding their breath, and therefore submerged, is 45 minutes.
• They have two blowholes on top of their head to blow air.

How to go whale watching in Maui

During peak season, it's possible to spot them right from shore. But for us, December hadn't started yet, so there were only a few whales in the area.

Plus, we spent almost all our beach time enjoying some snorkeling. With our heads underwater, no matter how much we could hear their songs, it was pretty tricky to catch them surfacing, don't you think?

So we went with the most popular option:

Booking a whale watching boat tour in Maui.

And among the many options, we chose:

Pacific Whale Foundation

Why with them?

• They have a 97% success rate for sightings.
• They invest a large part of what you pay into ocean conservation and protection.
• They offer a wide variety of prices and tour types (budget, zodiac raft, sailboat, VIP, photography, sunrise…)
• They offer a 10% discount when booking online.
• They depart from two different ports in Maui: Lahaina and Maʻalaea.
• They receive unbeatable reviews from their guests.
• They guarantee whale sightings, or you get to go again for free (valid for one year).

What more could you ask for?

Our experience

Price

Since it was late November 2016 (right on the edge of peak season, but not quite there yet), we could only book the only tour available on that date for whale watching: Whale Watch Discount, for a total of €70/2 people.

This tour lasted 2 hours and departed from Maʻalaea Harbor at 12:30 PM.

Arriving in Ma’alaea

The Pacific Whale Foundation office is located in a sort of quiet, open-air shopping plaza next to an aquarium at Ma’alaea Harbor.

Nearby, there is a huge, free parking lot for customers. I've marked it on the map at the bottom of the page.

We had to arrive there 45 minutes before departure to check in and fill out our details. They also gave you the option to rent binoculars.

Shortly after, the marine biologist who kept us entertained for the rest of the trip guided us to the boat.

Setting sail

Despite the strong wind, almost all of us headed to the upper deck, hoping to easily catch any cetacean movement on the horizon.

A few people stayed sheltered on the lower deck, facing the stern as we moved away from the harbor.

Mic in hand, the biologist stood at the bow next to the captain and started sharing all kinds of interesting facts about humpback whales, their mating season, breeding habits…

Whales… doing their own thing

15 minutes.

It had been 15 measly minutes since we left land…

First, the people on the lower deck screamed.

The biologist abruptly cut her speech short.

She let out something like a muffled gasp.

And the rest of us turned around as fast as we could.

To see…

A whale with half its body out of the water, crashing down sideways into the sea. Meanwhile, another one had already breached and re-entered right next to it, leaving behind some white foam on the surface.

A sight I couldn't have imagined seeing live in my wildest dreams.

It was fleeting. I don't even know if it lasted a full second. I saw it, though the people on the lower deck were the ones who truly experienced it in all its glory:

2 humpback whales breaching half their bodies right at the stern of the boat.

It was so unexpected that nobody captured it. Dozens of cameras, zero proof.

From then on, we saw them spouting air and showing part of their backs as they swam around the area.

One of them flicked its tail to dive. We didn't see the other one again for the rest of the day.

30 minutes into the tour had passed…

We spent the next hour and a half trying to spot other whales, with little luck. They even dropped a microphone into the sea to listen to their singing, but no such luck.

There were no more whales near the coast.

However, if you just want to hear them, all you have to do is listen carefully while snorkeling on Maui's beaches. And if you don't believe it, prick up your ears while watching our recap video.

Conclusion

• Was the tour worth it just for that 'second' of whales breaching above the water?
• Of course.
• Would I go with Pacific Whales Foundation again?
• Without a doubt, although I'd try to do it in peak season and at sunrise.
• Any downsides?
• Me, for being totally foolish.
• Why's that?
• I let the frustration of missing the exact photo take away some of the thrill of the experience. Never again.

Can you think of any other questions to ask me? Drop them in the comments, and I'll reply in a flash. 🙂

The Maui PDF guide

Want to download all the info from this blog on what to see in Maui and, even better, how to do it in a PDF?

54 pages to help you organize your custom route and enjoy Maui at your own pace.

Interested? Then click here and grab the guide for just €1.95.

Useful links

• Official website with all the Pacific Whales Foundation whale watching tours.
• Hotels in Maui.
• International flight deals to Hawaii: Trabber, eDreams and Momondo.
• 5% discount on your travel insurance with IATI.

Want to know more about what to do in Maui?

• The best snorkeling beaches in South Maui, whale song included. 😉
• 7-day Maui road trip.
• Guide to planning a DIY trip to Maui.
• A nightmare before dawn at Haleakala.
• The full description of our experience at O’hoe Gulch and Pipiway Trail.
• 3 days and 2 nights exploring the Road to Hana.

And if you're thinking about visiting other Hawaiian islands, don't miss our Kauai itinerary recap, our favorite island in the archipelago, or how to decide which Hawaiian island is right for you.

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