15 Sea Turtle Tours on Maui, Compared

1.Maui Snorkeling Adventure to Molokini and Turtle Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,221 reviews · 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $159Our pick

Start early at Māʻalaea Harbor for a 5.5-hour catamaran trip to Molokini and a second stop at Turtle Town or Coral Gardens. The crew supplies gear, floatation aids, breakfast, lunch, and safety help. You may also see whales in season. Crew members Brandon and Nick have earned special praise for their friendly service.

“This is an early morning excursion with check in by 6:45 am. It’s about a 30 minute drive from Kaanapali resort area… so make sure to give yourself time to get there. Parking is next to the harbor…. U can park at the Ocean Aquarium, but you’ll have to trek down to the harbor and it is down a ways. Breakfast was awesome with hot food options! Lunch was great and also had hot food options! Plenty of drinks options too! Got to see whales; dolphins; and sea turtles on the way to the snorkling spots- turtle town and molakini. The Calypso has slides and was a great big triple…”

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2.Turtle Town Snorkel with Photo and Video

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,916 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $129Top rated

Meet guides such as Joe or Robbie at Makena Landing Park for a small-group swim toward Turtle Town. Zephyr Maui supplies snorkel gear, instruction, and life jackets, then captures photos and raw video as you look for turtles, fish, octopus, and other sea life. The outing lasts about two hours and requires participants to be at least seven.

“Great experience. We saw plenty of turtles and other creatures. Our guide Joe was phenomenal! He made the whole experience really great”

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3.Maui Snorkel Adventure: Molokini Crater and Turtle Cove

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,433 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $198

Leave Maalaea at 8 a.m. aboard Reef Explorer, a fast custom super raft limited to 35 people. Snorkel fish-filled Molokini Crater, then seek Hawaiian green sea turtles at a quieter cove. Guides such as Esteban, Jade, Cat, and Ryan help with gear and adapt stops to sea conditions. Lunch, snacks, drinks, and flotation gear are included.

“Definitely recommend - This was a high quality experience with expert tour guides! I would book again.”

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4.Molokini and Turtle Town Snorkeling aboard Pride of Maui

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,124 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $203

Spend about five hours aboard Pride of Maui, a spacious Maxi Power Catamaran, snorkeling at Molokini Crater and Turtle Town. You’ll get equipment, breakfast, hot lunch, drinks, crew instruction, and an open bar after snorkeling. Conditions can change, so Turtle Town may be replaced or canceled for safety.

“Great experience! Crew was the best! Had all the equipment you need onboard and was in great condition.”

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5.Makena Turtle Town Eco Adventure in Maui

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,020 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $99Best value

Paddle from Makena Landing to Turtle Town with a guide such as Andres or John, then snorkel at two sites among Hawaiian green sea turtles and reef fish. The three-hour beginner-friendly trip includes kayaks, life jackets, snorkel gear, water, and a snack. Groups are capped at 10, and whale sightings are possible in season.

“Amazing and relaxing adventure that was timed well and overseen by our awesome guide Andres! Tour was safe and enjoyable; a great value for the cost!”

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6.South Maui: Molokini & Turtle Town Snorkeling Tour with Meal

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 838 reviews · 5h 30m · from $159

Spend 5.5 hours aboard a Malolo catamaran from Maalaea Harbor, snorkeling at Molokini and Turtle Town, with breakfast, lunch, gear, flotation devices, and lifeguards in the water. Crew members such as Captain Steve and Captain Carlos have earned praise for clear instruction and friendly service. Whale sightings are possible in season.

“Great activity, we traveled to two locations and the guides helped us find the best spots and gave guidance. The onboard photographer was great at getting family shots and they had food available after stops.”

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7.Molokini Crater and Turtle Town Snorkeling From Kihei

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 765 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $179

Meet at 7 am in Kihei for a three-hour boat trip to Molokini Crater and Turtle Town. You’ll receive fitted snorkel gear, flotation equipment, snacks, drinks, and a light sandwich lunch. Crews such as Matt, Lucia, Alex, and Sarah help with safety and wildlife spotting. Hotel pickup is not included.

“Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Equipment was new and clean. Took us to some unbelievable and unforgettable snorkeling with eels, sharks, turtles and amazing fish and coral”

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8.Molokini & Turtle Town Snorkel & Waterslide Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 693 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $196

Leave Maalaea at 6:30 a.m. aboard the 53-foot Lani Kai II for Molokini Crater and Turtle Town. Captain Greg, Captain Paul, and the crew provide gear, breakfast, lunch, flotation aids, and a 20-foot waterslide. You may see turtles, reef fish, whales in season, octopus, and eels during this five-hour outing.

“Awesome. We booked last minute and I’m glad they had availability. The whole crew is Awesome! Withney was great and so friendly. I would totally go back. You won’t regret it! 💕”

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9.Road To Hana Black Sand Beach Waterfalls & Turtles Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 595 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $165

Ride Maui’s winding Hana Highway in a small group of up to 11 with stops at Pua’a Ka’a, Keanae, Wai’anapanapa’s black sand beach, Wailua Valley, and Ho’okipa for possible turtle sightings. Oscar is often praised for his humor and island stories, but guide quality and van comfort can vary.

“Here's my honest review of this tour. The PROS: 1. The driver, who was a fill-in for the regular driver, arrived on time and was very nice. He tried to keep the 9 of us engaged as much as he could by asking us questions about our favorite superheroes, super powers, cartoons, etc. It seemed silly at first, but we had a lot of laughs while answering his questions. 2. The Black Sand Beach stop was beautiful. It was also a little crowded, but we were able to find a spot on the sand. The sand is hot, so bring something to sit on. We did not swim as the…”

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

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

Start early at Makena Landing with guides such as Kyle, Curtis, Marc, or Michael. Paddle a clear-bottom kayak over shallow reefs, then snorkel with turtles and tropical fish. The three-hour, small-group tour suits beginners and families, with snacks, water, gear, and an optional regular kayak for guests over 220 pounds.

“Kyle was an incredible guide. Knowledgeable and safety-focused, while still making sure everyone had a good time. We had a couple challenging group members, and Kyle handled them impeccably. He made sure their actions did not harm the wildlife, or ruin the other kayakers’ experience, without ever making them feel singled out. He also had tremendous recommendations for where to eat after, and it wasn’t until the end of the day that my wife and I realized that breakfast and dinner were both Kyle recommendations—thank you Kyle!”

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11.Maui Snorkeling Boat Tour to Turtle Town Aboard Quicksilver

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 542 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $99

Cruise from Ma‘alaea Harbor aboard Quicksilver, a double-decker catamaran with a waterslide and shaded seating. You’ll snorkel at South Maui Turtle Town or Coral Gardens, with the captain choosing the site each morning. Gear, flotation aids, drinks, lunch, restrooms, and crew instruction are included. The boat returns after about 4.5 hours.

“Overall a good experience, saw turtles . Unfortunately, the surf/currents were a challenge. Boat had to anchor a ways away from snorkeling area and it was quite a swim to get there. 1 member of our group became fatigued and has to be brought back by crew assistance. Thank goodness they were there. I would still recommend, but watch the weather/surf.”

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12.Molokini and Turtles Luxury Yacht Snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 477 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $263

Spend about five hours aboard Pride of Maui’s climate-controlled luxury yacht, Elua, with Captain Justin and crew. Snorkel at Molokini Crater and Turtle Town when conditions allow, then enjoy breakfast, an onboard barbecue lunch, warm showers, and an open bar. The boat carries no more than 40 people and welcomes ages 8 and up.

“Amazing time, so incredible. The crew was great and super helpful. The snorkeling was amazing and we even saw whales on the ride back.”

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13.Eco-Friendly Molokini & Turtle Town Tour with Meals

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 464 reviews · 5 hours · from $199

Spend five hours snorkeling Molokini crater and Turtle Arches from Maʻalaea Harbor. Pacific Whale Foundation’s crew provides instruction, optical masks, flotation gear, breakfast, lunch, and reef lessons. You may spot turtles, octopuses, eels, seabirds, and seasonal whales, though sea life and the second snorkel stop depend on weather.

“Captain T and his amazing crew did an excellent job! Everything was so good prepared and organized. Everyone of the crew knew in each second what to do! We also received a lot of biological information during the boating. I think this was one of my best organized trips ever! Only two things to improve from our point of view: -) we’ve been over 100 people… for an natural event… snorkeling should be calm and relaxing but it felt like swarming with snorkeler. -) we had a photographer on board - she did a great job, but it was really expensive! It would be great to know the price before…”

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14.Turtle Town Kayak and Snorkel Tour

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

Paddle about 1.5 miles across Makena Bay with a small group of no more than 10 people, then snorkel around Turtle Town with guides such as Tyler, Jake, John, and Rabbit. Gear, instruction, snacks, drinks, and a dry bag are provided. The 7:15 AM trip usually offers calmer water.

“The activity was amazing. We really feel the island and we got the chance to see turtles, fishes and marine life. At the end the guide told us to come at 7 am and it was definitely worth it. He was kind and he told us a lot about the island. It was like kayaking with a friend. Definitely recommend!”

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15.Turtle Reef Kayak Tour of Makena, Maui

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

Launch from historic Makena Landing, paddle calm coastal water, and snorkel above Turtle Town with a guide such as Tyler, Jake, or Jeremiah. The 7:15am trip welcomes ages 5 and up and usually offers the best visibility and reef activity. Single and double kayaks, snorkel gear, refreshments, and safety support are included.

“Tyler was a great guide.we saw a lot of turtles and fish. Thanks for the opportunity to kayak and snorkeling.”

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