Humpback Whale Watching
You’re in a kind of trance, contentedly staring out at what seems like a million square miles of cobalt blue. You’re on a boat with a dozen strangers, each laden with binoculars and cameras and quietly sipping bottles of water while scanning the horizon. Suddenly the captain shuts down the engine and points starboard.
Tips: If you choose to take a boat trip, ask if you boat is equipped with hydrophones. You'll be able to hear the whale's beautiful and haunting "singing".
At first you see nothing… then, wait… wow. Maybe it’s a burst of water from a blowhole. The graceful arch of a back. A gargantuan tail. Or, for the very lucky, a full breach.
Why is it that for thousands of visitors, the highlight of a Maui vacation is the sight of the humpback whale? Maybe there’s an unspoken bond with the mighty creatures. After all, they’ve come to this place for the same reason you have… to escape less temperate climates and frolic in Maui’s warm waters.
Indeed, Maui is widely considered one of the world’s best places to see whales – and plenty of them. More than 3,500 humpback whales visit Maui’s waters each winter. If you’re visiting anytime between December and May, you’re likely to spot more than one of these graceful giants.
There are many vantage points from which to watch from shore, and several charter companies offer tours throughout the day departing from Maalaea and Lahaina Harbors.
» See Itineraries built around this experience.
