Humpback whales off the coast of Maui: guaranteed sightings

Would you like to see humpback whales breaching just a few feet away from you off the coast of Maui?

97% success rate, 3%... repeat experience!

Here's how to have one of the most amazing (and fleeting) experiences of your life.

Whale season in Hawaii

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

And, although they can be seen around all the islands, the Auau Channel between Molokai, Lanai , and Maui is the best place for sightings.

Interesting facts about humpback whales

• Both sexes are capable of vocalizing. However, only males "sing" to attract females.
• To do so, they dive to great depths.
• These songs can last up to half an hour.
• When they emerge, they leave behind a characteristic grease stain.
• If they position their tails perpendicular, protruding from the sea, it means they are gathering momentum to disappear into the depths.
• The maximum time they can spend without breathing, and therefore submerged, is 45 minutes.
• They have two holes on their heads through which they expel air.

How to see whales in Maui

During peak season, it is possible to spot them directly from the coast. However, for us, December had not yet begun, so there were few whales in the area.

In addition, we spent almost all of our time on the beaches enjoying snorkeling. With our heads underwater, no matter how much we listened to their songs, it was quite difficult to see them come to the surface, don't you think?

So we opted for the most common option:

Book a whale watching boat tour in Maui.

And among the many options, we chose:

Pacific Whales Foundation

Why with them?

• They have a 97% success rate in sightings.
• They invest a large portion of what you pay in the conservation and protection of the oceans.
• They offer a wide variety of prices and types of tours ( budget, motorboat, sailboat, VIP, photography, sunrise, etc.).
• They offer a 10% discount when you make your reservation online.
• They depart from two different ports on Maui: Lahaina and Maʻalaea.
• They receive excellent reviews from their customers.
• They guarantee whale watching, or you can repeat the experience for free (valid for one year).

What more could you ask for?

Our experience

Price

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

This tour lasted 2 hours and departed from the port of Maʻalaea at 12:30 in the morning.

Arrival in Ma'alaea

The Pacific Whales Foundation office is located in a kind of open-air shopping center with very little activity, next to an aquarium, in the port of Ma'alaea.

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

We had to arrive 45 minutes before the tour departure to confirm attendance and fill in our details. They also gave you the option of renting binoculars.

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

Start of the trip

Despite the strong wind, almost all of us travelers gathered on the upper deck, hoping to more easily spot any cetacean movement on the horizon.

Some people took shelter on the lower deck, facing the stern of the ship as we sailed away from the port.

Microphone in hand, the biologist stood at the bow next to the captain and began to tell us all kinds of facts and interesting details about humpback whales, their mating season, breeding...

Whales... very much their own

Fifteen minutes.

Fifteen 15 miserable minutes since we left land...

First, those on the lower deck shouted.

The biologist abruptly interrupted her speech.

He uttered something like a stifled exclamation.

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

To see…

A whale with half its body out of the water, falling sideways into the sea. Meanwhile, another had already come out and gone back in next to it, leaving behind some white foam on the surface.

An image that I would never have imagined seeing live and in person.

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

Two humpback whales sticking half their bodies out of the water at the stern of the boat.

It was so unexpected that no one captured it. Dozens of cameras, zero evidence.

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

One of them positioned its tail as if to dive. We heard nothing more from the other one for the rest of the day.

Thirty minutes of the excursion had passed...

We spent the next hour and a half trying unsuccessfully to spot other specimens. They even put a microphone in the sea to listen to their song, but no luck.

There were no more whales on the coast.  

However, if you just want to hear them, all you have to do is listen carefully while snorkeling off the beaches of Maui. And if you don't believe it, listen closely while watching our video summary.

Conclusion

• Was the trip worth it for that 'second' of whales above the water?
• Of course it is.
• Would you do it again with Pacific Whales Foundation?
• Without a doubt, although I would try to do it in the middle of the season and at dawn.
• Any negative points?
• I myself, who am completely foolish.
• How so?
• I let my anger at not having taken a photo at the exact moment take away some of the thrill of the experience. Never again.

Can you think of any other questions to ask me? Leave them in the comments, and I'll answer them in a jiffy. 🙂

The Maui Guide in PDF format

Would you like to download aPDFwith all the information contained in this blog about what to see in Maui and, even better, how to do it?

54 pages that will help you plan your personalized itinerary and enjoy Maui at your own pace. 

Interested? Then click here and get the guide for only €1.95.

Useful Links

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

Want to learn more about what to do in Maui?

• The best snorkeling beaches in southern Maui, complete with whale songs.
• 7 day tour of Maui.
• Guide to organizing a trip to Maui on your own.
• Nightmare before dawn at Haleakala.
• The full description of our experience at O'hoe Gulch and Pipiway Trail.
• 3 days and 2 nights discovering the Road to Hana.

And if you're thinking of visiting other Hawaiian islands, don't miss our summary of our route through Kauai, our favorite island in the archipelago, or how to decide which Hawaiian island is perfect for you.

Map