Whale Watching: Eye-Level Encounters in Maui

Experience eye-level whale watching on a 2-hour eco-raft tour from Lahaina, Maui. Join Hawaii Ocean Rafting, voted TripAdvisors Traveler’s Choice, for an unforgettable adventure.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • 1223 Front St - Experience Maui’s exclusive Hawaiian-owned eye-level Whale Watching and Dolphin Search Tours aboard our intimate, low-to-water eco-rafts.
    Escape the crowds and enjoy comfortable seating in a small group while taking in breathtaking views of Hawaii’s humpback whales or Maui’s playful dolphins.
    December-April: Each winter, the…
What's Included
  • Plan to get wet! This is a low to water boat- ocean spray and light rain can occur during tour.
  • Snacks
  • Hydrophone to listen to whale songs
  • Life jackets are provided for emergencies but are not required to be worn during the tour.
  • Type of encounters vary in the wild- Up close sightings not guaranteed
  • Whales or Dolphins (Based on option…
What's Not Included
  • Not suitable for pregnant persons or those with back/neck injuries.
  • Tour leaves promptly. Must arrive 30 minutes prior to board or will miss the tour.
  • Hotel pick-up and drop off
  • BYOB (Plastic or Cans Only)
  • Whales or Dolphins (Based on option selected at check out)
  • Gratuities
  • Upclose wildlife encounters are not guaranteed as animals are in…
Additional Information

Experience eye-level whale watching or summer dolphin watching aboard our low-to-water, small group zodiac rafts.
Owned by Native Hawaiians and recognized as TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice, Hawaii Ocean Rafting has been offering Maui’s original ocean rafting adventures for over 30 years.
Our small group tours provide a delightful, family-style whale…

Location
1223 Front St
Front Street
MANDATORY CHECK-IN 30 minutes prior to start time at tour operator Hawaii Ocean Rafting location. Park on near Lahaina Cannery and check-in at 1223 Front St., Dive Maui Shop, located next to Snorkel Bobs. No refunds for late arrivals. Due to closed roads & traffic, plan additional travel time.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(2777 Ratings)
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Victornybi
Jul 16, 2026
Awesome all around! - Captain Jack and Nicole were awesome! Saw so many dolphins, and right up close!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Margaret_c
Jul 16, 2026
Dolphin Eco Raft Tour - We had the best experience on our dolphin watch tour. We took our three kids - 6, 9 and 11. We preferred a tour like this - smaller boat and more personalized experience. Our tour guides were wonderful and had a lot of marine biology experience. We were able to see a lot of bottlenose dolphins, including a juvenile. Snacks and drinks were included. Would recommend to anyone.
Review provided by Viator
Donald_r
Jul 16, 2026
See dolphins close-up! - What a great experience. Two adults and 6 younger cousins. Everyone loved the boat ride, water, and seeing lots of dolphins up close and personal. A really fun time for all.
Review provided by Viator
Maham_c
Jul 15, 2026
The dolphin search boat... - The dolphin search boat tour was super fun and Jack made the experience even better! We saw many dolphins!!
Review provided by Viator
Alesha_g
Jul 14, 2026
Dolphins, Sea Turtles, and Snacks! - My husband was working so I went solo and enjoyed meeting other people on the boat! We saw sea turtles within the first 5 minutes of the boat ride and dolphins within the first 15 minutes. It was amazing to see the dolphins up close and hear so many facts about them from our guide. The boat traveled a long distance so we got close to other islands and learned a lot about Hawaiian history and culture. The guides took my picture several times, which was kind of them! We had chips, watermelon, and cookies for snacks, which was delicious! I plan to take my husband and kids on our next visit!
Review provided by Viator
Z6855mtirisv
Jul 13, 2026
Entertaining 2 hours with dolphins - Beautiful encounters with a great many dolphins, some right by the boat. Highlight: dangling a leg in the water while the dolphins swim alongside. High-energy Captain Jack and personable Nicole provided lots of valuable information!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nisha_b
Jul 12, 2026
Dolphins and Views - We took the 2 hour dolphin search. We had the best time on the boat taking in the scenery. We got to see so many dolphins. We got to see a baby dolphin with its mama and my kids loved that. Captain Jack and Brie made the ride fun and we learned some fun facts about Dolphins and the island. We had the best time!
Review provided by Viator
266rebeccag
Jul 6, 2026
Amazing amount of dolphins! - Best boat trip ever. Captain Jack and Nicole were so knowledgable and the amount of dolphins was amazing! I have never seen so many. We also got an island lesson, great snacks, fun conversation and even saw sea turtles! Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jessicakf5334ue
Jul 4, 2026
Great dolphin watching tour - We had a great time on our dolphin watching tour. We saw tons of dolphins. The crew was super knowledgeable, attentive and fun. We were pleasantly surprised with all the snacks we received during the ride - it was an added bonus.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mit
Jul 3, 2026
Amazing experience!! Must do activity - Amazing experience. Very nice service and we saw 200 dolphins. Very professional and helpful to my mom who is 85 years old
Review provided by Viator
From $85
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).