15 Kayak Trips on Maui to Build a Day Around

1.Maui Clear Kayak and Snorkel Tour: Swim with turtles (Makena)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 551 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $130Our pick

Paddle a clear-bottom kayak from Makena Landing to Turtle Town, then snorkel above shallow reefs with turtles and tropical fish. Guides such as Kyle, Curtis, Marc, and Michael keep the small group safe and engaged. The three-hour morning tour includes equipment, snacks, water, and optional snorkeling.

“Glass bottom kayak to turtle town is a must do bucket list item! We did this mid November and still nice enough to enjoy. Curtis was our guide, he was so knowledgeable, funny and very safe. We had a memorable time snorkeling with the magnificent turtles. Don’t forget to bring a waterproof disposable camera, we missed bringing one.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Turtle Town Kayak and Snorkel Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 345 reviews · 3 hours · from $120

Kayak about 1.5 miles across Makena Bay with a guide, then snorkel at turtle and reef sites. South Pacific Kayaks supplies boats, safety gear, snorkel equipment, snacks, and drinks. The 7:15 AM trip usually offers calmer water, while winter and spring outings may include humpback whales.

“Fantastic!! Saw lots of turtles and had a great guide!”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Turtle Reef Kayak Tour of Makena, Maui

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 328 reviews · 2 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $121

Paddle 1.5 to 2 miles from historic Makena Landing, then snorkel over Turtle Town with a guide such as Tyler, Jake, or Jeremiah. Choose a single or double kayak, look for turtles and seasonal whales, and book the 7:15am trip for calmer water and clearer reef views.

“Jake was a fantastic guide . He filled our tour with tidbits of Maui which enhanced our experience. We saw a whale up close and personal. Well worth the money !!”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Private Stand Up Paddle Boarding Tour in Turtle Town, Maui

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 293 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $169

Start at 7:15 am in Makena for a private two-hour paddle with guides Aqua or Sky. You’ll learn SUP basics, look for sea turtles and coral, hear about Maui’s ocean and geology, and receive digital photos. Boards, safety gear, instruction, and storage are included.

“Sky was an outstanding guide: fun & knowledgable, great at giving tips & education about the island, wildlife & water all at once. We saw several sea turtles & had a couple come say hello. This was a perfect morning activity for us! We have been paddle boarding before so we were able to use more time exploring but I’m confident it would be a great experience for first timers as well.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Clear Kayak Tour with Pontoons and Optional Snorkeling-Unlimited

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 224 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $134

Set out from Olowalu Beach at 8:30 a.m. with Jason, Gabriel, and their family-run crew. You’ll paddle clear kayaks over Maui’s reefs, with pontoons available for stability, then choose optional snorkeling. Equipment, snacks, water, rash guards, and dry bags are provided.

“Gabriel was a great guide, he made sure people were safe by checking on them often. He knew a lot about the reefs and the islands.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Kayak & Turtle Town Snorkel(Turtles Guaranteed) + Whale Watching

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 196 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $119

Launch from Olowalu with a guide and a group capped at 10. Paddle tandem kayaks along West Maui, watch for whales, then snorkel at a turtle cleaning station. Guides including Payson, Alec, Billy, Gene, Jon, and Robbie provide coaching, history, and optional photos and videos.

“Make sure you verify that your tour is taking place with the tour operator. Zephyr “cancelled “ our tour but did not notify us or Viator so we wasted 2 hours driving to the designated meeting point and then searching for them. We tried to contact Zephyr directly and got no response. After we contacted Viator demanding a refund we did get a call and they agreed to refund our money. Incredibly frustrating and disappointing experience as we were so looking forward to this.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.South Shore Turtle Kayak and Snorkel Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 184 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $118

Spend about 2.5 hours kayaking from Makena Beach, looking for turtles, fish, coral, and seasonal whales before snorkeling for roughly 45 minutes. Guides such as Tyler, Cody, and Rabbit offer calm instruction, local stories, and help for first-timers. Equipment and light refreshments are included.

“Cody, was great. Patience and fun. Better than expected. We were on the Kaanapali side and wished I had known the location. We took off from Wailea side. Not convenient, but Uber did take us and it was not cheap. But we found it. So it’s a lesson learned. I had booked it online before I arrived. Next time I will make sure I book on the side we are staying. This was my error! Turtles, fish and much more were fun to see. Plus the kayak adventure was super.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Lahaina Kayak and Snorkel Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 175 reviews · from $89Best value

Paddle calm West Maui waters from 505 Front St. with a guide such as Ryan, Marc, Mike, or Tree, then snorkel near the reef for about 45 minutes. Look for green sea turtles, fish, monk seals, rays, and occasional sharks. Kayak gear, snorkel equipment, water, and snacks are included.

“Our guide Mark was positive, informative, and very helpful. Although he was late, he made up for it with his personality. Love the experience he helped provide. Enjoyed every moment, as did my family. The snack provided was a granola anRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Kayak Whale Watch and Snorkel Hawaiian Islands Whale Sanctuary

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 175 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $119

Paddle from Olowalu Beach Reserve to Turtle Reef, snorkel among tropical fish and Hawaiian green sea turtles, and listen for humpback whales through an underwater hydrophone from December to April. Guides such as Lance, Wes, Red, and Wesley lead the outing. No kayaking experience is required.

“Our guide was super friendly and a wealth of information! We enjoyed snorkeling even though the waters were a bit murky. Over all the experience was well worth it.!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Premium Turtle Town Kayak and Snorkel Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 113 reviews · 3h 30m · from $151

Paddle about two miles along Makena’s coast with South Pacific Kayaks, then snorkel two prime Turtle Town sites. Guides such as Miah, Tyler, John, Jake, and Steve are praised for calm instruction, marine-life knowledge, and helping beginners. Winter trips may add whale watching.

“Jake from South Pacific was our guide. He was very knowledgeable, friendly and patient with us having never kayaked or snorkeled before . We enjoyed the experience and would definitely recommend”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Kayak and Snorkel: Maui West Shore

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 104 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $118

Paddle about 1.5 miles along Maui’s West Shore, then snorkel for roughly 45 minutes over reefs near Ukumehame Beach Park. Guides such as Cody, Jeremiah, Tyler, and Jake provide instruction and local insight. Kayaks, life jackets, snorkel gear, and light refreshments are included.

“Cody was an awesome tour guide and very good at explaining everything needed for a first time kayaker. The 2.5 hours seemed a lot longer on the water and snorkeling. Cody really knew where the spots when trying to see some sea turtles. I would definitely book again.”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Turtle Town Clear Kayak & Snorkel Tour (8am-11am)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 100 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $130

From Makena Landing, paddle a clear kayak toward Turtle Town and Maui’s large coastal reef, then snorkel among sea turtles and colorful fish. Guides such as Kris, Chris, Macarena, Kim, and KP provide patient instruction and safety help. The three-hour morning tour includes gear, water, and up to 10 people.

“Just being out on ocean was so serene. Chris was great guide and extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Loved it!!!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Whale Watch Kayaking and Snorkel Tour in Kihei

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 93 reviews · 3 hours · from $118

Join a guide such as Jake, Kyle, or Madison for three hours on a sit-on-top kayak from Makena Landing. Paddle at eye level with Maui’s winter humpback whales, then snorkel among turtles, reef fish, coral, and perhaps an octopus or moray eel.

“Keelan was really nice, helpful and fun. We had a lot of fun in the ocean. Def will recommend him if my friends or family come here to visit.”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Maui South Shore Premier Kayak and Snorkel Tour from Makena Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 73 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $151

Start at 7 a.m. from Makena Beach for a guided kayak and snorkel outing with up to 10 people. Paddle with guides such as John, Jake, Rabbit, or Scuba Steve, then snorkel for turtles, reef fish, coral, and possible winter whales.

“Our instructor was amazing, down to earth, knew so much information about Hawaii and had many stories to tell us along the way!! The trip was perfect even with a few hiccups we had a long the way. My son got to scared to snorkel so I had to stay in the kayak with him and the group left to see an amazing coral reef. I was saddened by it , but the instructor was great and accommodating. The whole group made my son feel welcomed and he even got see a urchin even though he didn’t snorkel and that was the highlight of the trip! Would love to go…”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Ultimate Maui Kayak Snorkel Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 72 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

Meet at 7:15 am at Makena Landing for a three-hour kayak and snorkel outing. Your guide provides gear, safety instruction, and local insight as you paddle to a sandy anchoring spot, then snorkel among coral, fish, and Hawaiian green sea turtles.

“10/10, guide was knowledgeable, helpful, and informative. You could tell he had a deep respect for the nature and culture of Hawaii. Got to see tons of wildlife, saw 4-5 turtles. My wife and I have never snorkeled before, and we had a blast. One of our favorite excursions on the island.”

Check availability →Read our full review