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Whale Watching from Lahaina Harbor
4.5
Full view

Whale Watching from Lahaina Harbor

By Pacific Whale Foundation
Recommended by 91% of travelers
This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher
See one of the ocean’s most majestic creatures up-close by taking a whale-watching excursion that offers a whale-sighting guarantee—if you don’t spot whales you can go again for free. Plus, throughout the tour, learn from a guide about the whales’ lives, ecosystems, and threats. Along the way, you can also enjoy the perks of a boat ride including panoramic views and additional marine life sightings.
from
$82.65
per adult
from
$82.65
per adult
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 65 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
English
Highlights
  • Embark on a whale-watching tour from the historic whaling village of Lahaina
  • A guide enhances the trip by sharing details and stories along the way
  • Get an opportunity to capture up-close photographs of whales
  • Enjoy a catamaran cruise through Maui’s picturesque waters
  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
  • Fuel surcharge
  • Live commentary on board
What's not included
  • Gratuities
  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Drinks
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Departure details
  • 612 Front St, Lahaina, HI 96761, USA Across the street from Banyan Tree Park Check-in 45 minutes prior to departure tour time
Return details
  • Returns to original departure point
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 15807P10
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Children 4 and under are always free but need to be accounted for on the booking
  • Please check in 45 minute prior to your departure
  • Collapsible wheelchairs may be accommodated if the passenger can walk onto or be assisted onto the vessel
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 65 travelers
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
What you can expect during your visit
  • Regular temperature checks for staff
  • Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
  • Temperature checks for tour participants upon arrival
  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
  • Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
  • Face masks required for guides in public areas
  • Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
  • Gear/equipment sanitized between use
  • Face masks required for travelers in public areas
  • Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Community
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  • Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
How much is Whale Watching from Lahaina Harbor?
Whale Watching from Lahaina Harbor price starts from $82.65. Discover and book Whale Watching from Lahaina Harbor on Tripadvisor
What is the Whale Watching from Lahaina Harbor cancellation policy?
Whale Watching from Lahaina Harbor cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book Whale Watching from Lahaina Harbor on Tripadvisor
Which company provides Whale Watching from Lahaina Harbor?
Whale Watching from Lahaina Harbor is hosted by Pacific Whale Foundation. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Pacific Whale Foundation on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Whale Watching from Lahaina Harbor on Tripadvisor
How much time do I need for Whale Watching from Lahaina Harbor?
On average, this experience will take approximately 2h. Discover and book Whale Watching from Lahaina Harbor on Tripadvisor
If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 15807P10
About the operator

Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator.

By: Pacific Whale Foundation
2,008
Amwebster
Amwebster
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Take a swim on the wild side of Molokini!
Wild side of Molokini- awesome! We loved this 6 hour trip. Bri, Collin and Capt Joe were great guides. Educating us…
cathyb953
cathyb953
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The Perfect Sunset Cruise!
Absolutely loved this sunset cruise!! It was the peaceful, chill night on a catamaran that actually sails that we w…
700debit
700debit
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Magical sunset sail
This was so magical! When they put up the sails, turn off the motor, and cue the mellow playlist? I could die happy…
141clayc
141clayc
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PacWhale Dinner Cruise
Dinner cruise was very enjoyable. The staff and service was great. Food was good and the sunset views are spectacul…
FrequentFlier778568
FrequentFlier778568
00
Excellent
This sunset sail was excellent! The vessel was very nice, and the appetizers and drinks were very good! The crew wa…
soonermel2003
soonermel2003
00
Sunset
Everyone was friendly including the other passengers. Beautiful sunset. I also liked the musician. My family and I…
Dufferdog
Dufferdog
00
Amazing snorkeling location and tour.
Such a great day. The snorkeling was amazing. Lots of fish and turtles. The crew was fantastic. The lunch wa…
stevesE776PG
stevesE776PG
00
Lahaina sunset sail
Captain and crew showed us a wonderful time and what a beautiful sail and evening we had. Would like to thank you a…
mommamiller73
mommamiller73
00
PWF is well worth the money.
I have toured with PWF 4 times now. I have done the snorkel excursion to Molokini and Turtle Town 3 times now and I…
Curious26240647755
Curious26240647755
00
Worth the experience, and worth doing it again.
Amazing snorkel experience and crew. Cant say enough compliments to this company. I would schedule again with them.…
bkoxen
bkoxen
00
Sunsetless Cruise
Check in was efficient. We were not at full capacity; however, the crew was organized during the boarding process.…
kcwpg
kcwpg
00
Pacific Whale has upped their game
Great trip! Pacific Whale has upped their game. Everyone was super friendly. No shortage or food as previously me…
davidlind
davidlind
00
Family Snorkeling
We did a full family (all 7 of us) day of snorkeling at Molokini Crater. The naturalists onboard were so helpful, p…
LovesToTravel2856
LovesToTravel2856
00
Sunset and Celestial Cruise was awesome!!
The Sunset and Celestial Cruise was awesome. Speaker Harriet Witt was awesome!! I was hoping to speak with her be…
DS618
DS618
00
Cancelled on very short notice!
We were really looking forward to an adults only sunset sail from Lahaina harbor, only to get a call that very morn…
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
365 reviews
Excellent
298
Very good
37
Average
16
Poor
6
Terrible
8
OMB
Apex, NC36 contributions
Whale watching in Hawaii in January is fantastic
Jan 2023
In May 2022, my wife and I went whale watching in Alaska and were disappointed. We discovered the whales were not that active in Alaska because they had just traveled all the way from Hawaii where they breed in the winter. So when planning our 2 week vacation to Hawaii for January 2023, I booked PacWhale Eco-Adventures’ Small Group Whalewatch Lahaina Tour in hopes of seeing more active whales. That tour was canceled, but we ended booking the 2 hour, 10:00 AM Whalewatch Sail Lahaina Tour on the vessel Ocean Spirit. Communication with PacWhale Eco-Adventures was excellent prior to our arrival in Maui. We knew exactly when and where to meet and what to bring. It helped that we had a beautiful sunny day for our tour along with calm waters. My wife and I ended up in a perfect spot on the front of the boat. We saw numerous blows and tail fins as whales dove. One whale surfaced right in front of the boat, eliciting a big “WHOA” from passengers and crew. However, the highlight of the trip was a tail slapping contest between 2 males. Just off the bow of the boat, a male slapped his tail 13 times in succession. A minute later, another male reared back and slapped his tail 11 times in a row. On my video of the 2nd male slapping his tail, one can hear the captain say “You know what this means. No refunds. The captain’s getting paid today.” Every passenger on the boat had to agree with him. That up close view of the tail slapping contest exceeded all expectations. Members of the crew came around a couple times during the tour to give us water and keep us hydrated. One of the crew even offered to take a picture of my wife and I toward the end of the tour. We thoroughly enjoyed our 2 hour excursion on the Ocean Spirit.
Written January 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paula
United States157 contributions
You Don’t Want to Miss This
Administrative items first: Some of their guided tours can be purchased at a discounted rate online. Once you’ve signed up, ensure you read the details in the email confirmation; it provides parking locations which may or may not be where check in occurs. We parked across from the Maria Lanakila Church on the corner of Dickenson St. and Wainee St.; it is paid parking and requires a 3-5 min walk to the check in location. The check in location, which is also a gift/souvenir shop, then directs you to another location near the boat where you’ll wait for further instructions.

They do have binoculars for rent and take a photo of your group when boarding. The photo is available once you debark the boat, for a price.

Now for the whale watching. WoW! What a GREAT experience. The boat seemed to be newer and very well taken care of. There was plenty of unassigned seating available and once the boat was outside of the harbor, guests were authorized to stand up and walk around. We lucked out; literally 15 minutes into the ride, just outside the harbor, we encountered a mother and baby humpback whale. What an incredible opportunity to see them! After some time, we continued along our way in search of more and we sure did find them! Many were seen far in the distance when they would exhale… you could see the mist from miles away. Not long after that, we came across another mother humpback whale, her baby, and 2 dolphins just enjoying each others company; the dolphins swam right up to the boat! At one point, one of the crew dropped a microphone/receiver in the water so we could hear the whales and it was a unique experience. The speaker system seemed to work very well so hearing the details, instructions, and marine biology facts was easy to hear; this isn’t always the case on boats.

If you enjoy wildlife, I highly recommend participating in this tour, and even more so, with the Pacific Whale Foundation, who seem to genuinely care for these creatures and the environment. The Captain and crew were professional, knowledgeable, and really positively amplified the trip! The organization even offers a guarantee that you’ll see a whale OR you can return, at no additional cost, within a year to try your luck again. Fret not, they boast a 97% sighting success rate during their season!!
Written April 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MplusA
Fayetteville, AR74 contributions
Whale of a time!
The staff was great. Nothing felt rushed and they clearly were invested in giving us the ultimate experience. We weren’t lucky enough to have whales come within 100 ft (only the whales can make that happen), but we got as close as legally possible and the whales put on a show. Specifically, the calf was breaching and spy hopping constantly. It made for wonderful memories and some fun photos. We absolutely loved it. We did the whale watcher deluxe and were served lunch, which was pretty good, and one complimentary alcoholic beverage (more available for $). We heard the whale songs with the hydrophone and learned a ton about whale behavior. Overall, it greatly exceeded my expectations and I highly recommend the relatively smaller setting allotted by the whale watcher deluxe option.

Don’t forget, you get a free reschedule if your don’t see a whale, so it’s low risk and high reward!
Written March 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Simona
Czech Republic3 contributions
Don't expect too much!
Dec 2022
The photograph that advertises the trip is misleading. You don't get to see the whales this close at all. Only a few minutes before boarding they tell you that the closest you will get to the whales is 100 yards. And you are offered binoculars that you can rent for 10 USD. You cannot really use it, the boat movements make it impossible. Go whale watching on Cape Cod, if you get a chance. The whales there love the attention, they come very close to the boat and they are accompanied by dolphins who jump out of the water in two's and three's.
It is understandable that here on Maui whales mating or giving birth need extra protection and establishing a marine sanctuary is a good step. But they should tell you in advance what the conditions are and what you can and cannot expect. That said, the boat was nice and clean and the crew was knowledgable and trying very hard to make the best out of it.
Written December 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John G
Thank you for coming out with us whale watching, although we're sorry you were disappointed with the experience. It is true that the closest we can get is 100 yards per regulations in place to protect the humpback whales and not infringe on their natural behavior. We support and have fought for such rules. With that said though, the whales do often come near the vessels and "Mug" them, at which point they can't move until the whales are 100 yards away. You just never know what to expect and every trip is unique. We hope that you'll return during prime whale season January-March when there are more humpback whales in our waters, as these amazing giants of the see are incredible to witness. Happy Holidays to you and thank you for your feedback.
Written December 13, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Alicia Ludescher
Peosta, IA403 contributions
Morning Whale Watching
Mar 2022
I am from the Midwest, so naturally when I came to Hawaii, I ensured it was during whale watching season. I wasn't going to waste the trip by any means. Whale watching was one of the priorities of our trip. I booked the Ultimate Whale Watch with Experts from Lahaina Harbor. For $120 a person, I was a little surprised that the boat was so small; however, I would later come to realize the size of the boat probably helps move from site to site more swiftly as the whales do not remain stationary as you can imagine. We rented a pair of binoculars for $10 which was a smart thing to do. We were able to see the distant whale activity very well. In addition to guaranteed whale activity, we were also provided with a breakfast of: yogurt parfait, pastries and fruit with coffee and water. Three hours was plenty of time for the tour. We moved from many sites as well as moved alongside some whales unexpectedly. We did not see any whales breach (jump from the water) on our tour, but that's not necessarily something you can predict. Our guides were quite knowledgeable, answering questions and providing all sorts of education regarding whales, their habits and their migration patterns. There was also an underwater microphone that allowed us to hear the whales "sing."

If I had to make a recommendation to someone considering a tour or tours with PacWhale I would say if your between tours or cost is an issue, book the snorkeling tour during whale season. You will for sure see whales on any tour plus you get to snorkel. A win-win!

The only issue was the confusion at the Harbor. There wasn't a designated person working for PacWhale directing people. There are multiple tours with PacWhale that depart early in the morning, so there was quite a bit of confusion and chaos moving people around. The photographer ended up directing people which of course wasn't his job. I feel hiring someone to direct tours in the morning would help alleviate this issue.
Written March 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LG
6 contributions
PacWhale Eco-Adventures Whalewatch Sail Deluxe/Lahaina.....AMAZING!
Dec 2022
This tour was fantastic! We were on a catamaran with about 30 people. Within 5 minutes of leaving the dock, we saw a whale that breached 8 times! It was exhilarating. Within a few minutes we came upon a group of three adults whales, one baby and 2 dolphins. It was the most amazing hour of our lives. Not only did they come extremely close to the boat, but we saw tail slapping, fins above the water, breaches, etc. Our Captain mentioned we should never go on another whale watch cruise as we will not be this lucky again. The crew was great and they supplied water, soft drinks and juice. We paid for a lunch that did not disappoint. There was plenty of food and it was really delicious. There were 2 bathrooms onboard also. One member of the crew had a microphone and narrated what we were seeing. She answered tons of questions and was very personable. I would highly recommend this activity if you are visiting Maui!
Written January 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lynn R
Moncton, Canada3 contributions
Excursion not honoured.
Mar 2023
We booked this excursion and we’re told to be on the dock at 11:30am. We arrived there at 11:20 and waited 30 min and no one contacted us. We asked and were told that the boat had already departed. The operator of the company Eco Tours told us to contact Trip Advisor and they would refund the cost of the excursion.
How do I do this? I am still travelling and am having trouble contacting Trip Advisor. I would appreciate your help.
Lynn Rowe
Written March 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John G
Aloha Lynn, I'm sorry you missed the excursion. I don't know if your Trip Advisor mentioned to check-in 30 minutes prior for this trip that departed at 12:30, but it should've if not. In any case, I will go into the TA system and request a refund for your booking from my end. My guess if that it will take probably 5 days or more to process.
Written March 13, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Karen M
Madison, WI158 contributions
Great whale experience from Lahaina
Apr 2022
The whole trip was my favorite part. The boat is comfortable, the captain (Chris) was very good and had a good voice over the speaker, the naturalist aboard was informative and crystal clear on the speaker, the crew was efficient, and we had lots of whale sightings. We were on a Pacific Whale Foundation trip a # of years ago. This year our hotel suggested a less expensive tour, but we indicated we preferred this one because the boat was comfortable and the information provided was what we wanted. We weren't sorry. Comparing our catamaran to some of the smaller, more cramped boats out at at the same time was really no comparison.
Written April 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MeT1nT2
Battle Creek, MI215 contributions
Great whale watching! And a few tips
We took the afternoon trip — and saw lots of whale activity. We saw moms teaching their babies, breeches, and whales going right under the boat. We went on a fairly calm day… forecast said moderate winds. My wife took Dramamine to be safe but no one on the boat seemed sea sick.

We did NOT need our layers but not a bad idea to bring them. It was a sunny afternoon.

TIP: don’t get binoculars, we did but didn’t really use them.

We went early February, so peak season… but afternoon watching was great.

If scheduling— allow time for finding parking and expect to pay.
Written February 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MGRK
Atlanta, Ga104 contributions
A unique experience
We’ve seen whales from Alaska to Hawaii to the Antarctic and are never not amazed by these fantastic creatures. This whale watching trip was a chance to introduce our young grandchildren (8 and 5) to an “Experience”. The small expedition ship is safe for young kids with many safety features in place. The Naturalists were informative, giving lots of information in a direct, easy to comprehend and entertaining fashion. The highlight for us was the sonar whale song display. As it was our grandson’s birthday, he was-told the whales were singing the birthday song to him. I heartily recommend this trip to anyone visiting Maui.
Written January 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Whale Watching from Lahaina Harbor provided by Pacific Whale Foundation