Maui Whale Watching Tours: Raft vs. Catamaran (Personal Review)

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How To Choose the Best Maui Whale Watching Tours for Your Maui Vacation

In my humble opinion, a whale watching tour is the #1 activity I would recommend to visitors to Maui during the winter months. I have been on both a large catamaran tour and a small raft tour, and they both offer stunning viewing opportunities from the west side of Maui in the Kaanapali area.

Are you trying to choose between a raft tour and a catamaran tour for your Maui whale watching trip? Here is a quick verdict to help you decide.

If you want a relaxing cruise with a cocktail in hand, book a catamaran. But if you want a close to the action excursion that puts you right at eye level with a breaching humpback, a raft is unbeatable.

Below, we break down our exact first-hand experience on both vessels so you can choose the perfect whale watching tour for your itinerary.

What It’s Like on a Maui Catamaran Whale Watching Tour

A Maui catamaran tour is the safest experience for families with small children, seniors, and those with motion sickness.

Boarding the Catamaran

Many Maui catamarans, including the one I took, use a beach boarding process. So the catamaran pulls right up to the beach and you wade in the water a bit to get onto the catamaran. We were staying in Kaanapali, and it was very convenient. We were able to basically walk out of our condo down the beach to the meeting spot and get on the boat.

The crew members are there to help with anyone who needs a hand wading in the water. Many people, myself included, chose to take off our flip flops to get on the boat as it was easier to walk in the water. There is a small set of stairs to board the catamaran as well.

There are times when the boarding process might change due to weather. So there may be a disclaimer on your tour that in certain weather conditions, you may have to meet the boat at a dock instead.

Stability of a Catamaran Tour

The catamaran whale watch in Maui is the most stable option. While they can vary in size, the catamaran tour we did was 65′ long so it was quite a spacious boat. There is space for 49 passengers.

Catamaran Whale Watch Amenities

The catamaran tour also has the most amenities for a whale watching trip. There are two bathrooms in the 65′ long catamaran. There is also seating available both “inside” the boat and outside on the deck.

Our catamaran had a bow trampoline which we sat on for a long portion of the trip. The trampoline puts you right above the water, so you may get splashed! I did find laying back on the net quite enjoyable and relaxing, but it was not possible to have the best views of whales from this position.

Many catamarans also have a bar with drink service (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). Depending on the tour, the drinks might be included as part of the package or you may have to pay extra for them. Most of these tours are about two hours long so I did not find it necessary to purchase drinks. You can also bring a water bottle on board.

Moving around on the catamaran whale watch is easy. While we sat on the trampoline net for some of the time, we were able to move to different spots on the boat. Many people were moving around when we saw whales off in the distance.

The Verdict

The catamaran whale watch is more of an enjoyable luxury sail. While we did see whales, they were far away from us. At times, everyone was crowding to the side of the boat where the whales were, so if you were on the other side, you might not get a great view.

However, when whales were off in the distance breaching out of the water, they were far enough away for everyone to see them.

I don’t think I got great photos on the catamaran tour. It is better to have a nice camera with a zoom lens on this tour I think.

What It’s Like on a Maui Raft Whale Watching Tour

A Maui raft tour is the most up close and personal experience you are going to have with whales.

We chose Ultimate Whale Watch & Snorkel for our raft tour. I highly recommend this small business. They offer whale watching during the winter months and snorkel tours during the summer months. We visited in March, which is the tail end of whale watching season. Even so, we saw so many whales that day that I lost count. I am not exaggerating when I say it was one of the best days of my life!

We chose the 2-hour VIP tour, which is $125 per person. These tours take place in small inflatable rafts. You are so close to the water that you can put your hands and feet in it. There is only space for 12 people. So, no matter what side of the boat you are on, you are going to get to see whales! They say “every seat is a front row seat,” and that is so true. You will have a dedicated seat on one side of the boat. There were many encounters where the whales were right in front of us. At other times, the whales will be on the other side of the boat, and you are able to stand up and see the activity. This small group atmosphere allowed for a more intimate experience.

In our small group, there was a captain and a first mate. They were both well-educated in whale behavior and offered insights into what we were experiencing. There was also a hydrophone that could be used to listen to the whales singing underwater. Whales are protected in Maui waters, and the team ensures that they follow the law. There were even times when they cut the motor because whales swam within 100 yards of us. At the very end of our tour, we were “stuck” there because whales kept coming up to our boat, and by law, we could not start the motor and leave. I don’t think anyone on the tour minded, though!

Boarding the Raft

Our raft tour changed last minute due to the weather. Apparently, sometimes they will pick you up right on the beach in Kaanapali. But the day before our trip changed and our boarding moved to the Maalaea Harbor in Lahaina, Maui. This is about a 15 minute drive from Kaanapali so it wasn’t an issue for us. There is also a bathroom at the dock if you need to use one before boarding the raft.

Stability of a Raft Tour

The raft is smaller and closer to the water than a catamaran. So you do feel the rocking of the boat much more. I am not sure how rough the ocean gets but it was very pleasant when we visited. We also booked the early morning tour because the water off Maui is supposed to be calmest in the morning hours. No one on the boat had any issues with seasickness.

Amenities of a Raft Tour

The difference between a catamaran whale watch and a raft whale watch is in the amenities. It’s a small boat with space on both sides for everyone to sit on a long bench. There is a covered area which is mostly where the captain drives the boat and somewhat over the center of the boat. There are no bathrooms. Since this is an eco-friendly tour they had water in a large igloo as opposed to plastic water bottles. We brought our own Hydroflask bottles so we had something to drink. Honestly, we were so busy enjoying the whales that the two hours flew by and I was not thinking about drinking water at all.

The Verdict

The small raft tour meant we regularly had close encounters with whales. They swam under our boat, and they breached right next to us. They looked at us watching them. We were encouraged to tap on the side of the raft. These curious creatures will swim up to you to investigate. As a result, we had a tour that lasted over 2 hours, and I lost count of all the whales we saw up close.

I got much better pictures on the raft tour than I did on the catamaran tour, but I was unprepared for different reasons. I had a large camera and long lens which was unnecessary. I got the best photos and videos right from my phone. I also did not have my GoPro and an underwater arm for it which I could have used.

Raft Tour or Catamaran Tour? How to Choose?

Maui Raft Whale Watching Tours Quick Facts

• Pickup location can vary due to ocean/weather conditions
• Smaller boat if you are prone to seasickness
• Whales were very curious about the raft, swimming right up to us, under our boat
• “Front row seat” views, smaller group
• No amenities on boat

Maui Catamaran Whale Watching Tours Quick Facts

• Pickup on Kaanapali Beach
• Larger boat, more stable on the water, more people
• Whales were further away
• Large boat so you may have to move from one side to another to see whales
• Bathrooms, drinks, shaded seating

Essential Maui Whale Watching Tips & Logistics

The Best Time of Year for Maui Whale Watching

The best months to schedule a whale watch are from December to April, but whales can be seen in Hawaiian waters as early as November. The best location to see whales is the west side of Maui, as this is a protected area for them. These waters are consistently calm and less windy than other Hawaiian Islands, resulting in frequent humpback whale activity. You can even see whales jumping out of the water from the beach or a lanai. Many of these tours offer guarantees to see whales so if you do not see any, you can book a tour on another day.

When to Book a Maui Whale Watching Tour

I booked 2-3 weeks in advance. There were some sold-out tours, but as long as you are flexible and don’t need to go out on a certain day, you will be fine. Some sites like Viator will tell you exactly when these tours book. When I checked the tour we did, it says it books up 34 days in advance on average.

Morning vs. Afternoon: When to Book

Morning Tours (7:00 AM – 10:00 AM): This is the best time for both rafts and anyone worried about seasickness. The ocean is usually glassy and calm, making it much easier to spot whales in the distance.

Afternoon Tours (12:00 PM – 3:00 PM): The trade winds typically kick up by noon, creating whitecaps and choppy water. This makes the raft ride much bumpier and wetter, though it can make for an exciting catamaran sail.

Sunset Tours (4:30-6:30pm): You will see an incredible sunset on the water. Whales remain active in the evening. May include a buffet-style dinner.

Our experience: We booked an early morning tour, which departed from the Lahaina Harbor at 7 am. I had researched in advance and read that early morning tours often offer calmer waters and better visibility. I found that to be true, as the boat was gently rocking in the ocean. I was also worried about seasickness (which no one experienced), but just to be on the safe side, I thought that drinking a cup of coffee and waiting to eat breakfast later was a safe choice.

What to Pack for Your Tour

📸 Camera or 📹: I made the mistake of bringing a heavy DSLR camera. I thought it would be better for the zoom and the quick shutter speed. However, I ended up putting it away. I kept missing the shots, and the whales were SO CLOSE to us that I didn’t need the zoom. I ended up using my iPhone 12 and got the best pictures and videos with it.

🤳 GoPro: I wish I knew about this in advance. You can bring a GoPro with a long selfie stick and put it in the water. The tour guides were doing this themselves. I am sure they get amazing footage of underwater shots, and I would bring one if I go again in the future.

🧢 Hat and sunscreen: There will be some coverage, but this is Maui, and the sun is strong. You probably are not used to the tropical sunrays. Don’t ruin your vacation with a bad sunburn!

What side of Maui is best for whale watching?

The west side of Maui is widely considered the best for whale watching. This area, particularly off the coast of Lahaina and Kaanapali, offers ideal conditions for humpback whales. The waters here are calmer and more protected, creating a perfect environment for whales to breed, give birth, and nurse their calves. The Auau Channel between Maui, Lanai, and Molokai is especially popular among these majestic creatures. The shallow, warm waters provide excellent visibility for observers, and the mountainous backdrop of West Maui creates a stunning setting for whale watching.

While whales can be spotted from various locations around the island, the west side consistently offers the highest chances of multiple sightings and spectacular displays of whale behavior. Many of these tours offer guaranteed sightings during prime whale watching months.

Seasickness on a Maui Whale Watching Tour

If you are worried about getting seasick, book an early morning tour. We went out on the 7 am tour. We had a cup of coffee and drove to the harbor. After the tour was over, we had breakfast. I did not feel sick at all, but I was a little worried about it, and I am glad I went on an empty stomach. It is also warm and sunny early in the morning, so we had great weather.

Lahaina Strong

The community of Lahaina suffered a devastating fire in 2023. They are still healing. Many areas in Lahaina are still closed, and there is still damage. There were photos of the victims along the road. This was a traumatic event for those who live on Maui and those who knew someone who died or lost their home. I don’t think it is realistic to expect people to stop visiting such a beautiful place. However, I believe in being a responsible tourist and a respectful person.

Many people who live on Maui will not want to talk about the fires, and it’s important to respect that. Lastly, consider donating to the Maui United Way https://www.mauiunitedway.org/ or another organization. They are helping residents rebuild after that devastating fire. I donated online, which is secure and easy. There were also some people selling “Lahaina Strong” shirts to support the victims. People in Hawaii are so friendly and share the aloha spirit with all of us. The least we can do is to help out in any way we can to rebuild this beautiful historic town for future generations.

Planning the Rest of Your Maui Itinerary?

Whale watching is just one piece of the puzzle when planning the perfect Hawaiian vacation. To make sure you don’t miss any of the island’s top highlights, check out our other first-hand local guides:

• The Ultimate Road to Hana Guide: Avoid the common tourist mistakes and find the hidden waterfalls with our complete breakdown of What to See on the Road to Hana.
• How to Spend One Week in Paradise: Maximize your time on the island with our step-by-step 5-Day Maui Itinerary.
• Beyond the Beaches: Looking for the best luaus, snorkeling spots, and sunset views? Read our master list of the best Things to Do in Maui.