5 Canoes & Kayaks in Maui Worth Booking

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

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

Meet at Makena Landing at 7 a.m. for a three-hour clear-bottom kayak and snorkeling trip with Ohana Ocean Adventures. Guides such as Kyle, Curtis, Marc, and Michael lead small groups over Turtle Town reefs, where you may see turtles, fish, rays, seals, and winter humpback whales. Snorkeling is optional, and no prior experience is required.

“Kyle gets a five star review. He was very patient with my mom helping her get back in the kayak. Tour was great. Kyle talked about the area and pointed out some different fish. We saw lots of turtles. Busy area with other tours but the turtles seemed to enjoy the spectacle of finned people. Kayaks get a two star rating. Wide and clunky, hard to paddle because the paddle hits the sides. It’s scratched so you can’t see much of the bottom anyway and even if you could, you might get seasick which brings me to remind you to take your Dramamine before you go! Wish we did! Also…”

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2.Turtle Town Kayak and Snorkel Tour

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

Paddle about 1.5 miles through Makena Bay with a small group of up to 10 people, then snorkel among Hawaiian green sea turtles, reef fish, and coral. Guides such as Tyler, Jake, John, and Jeremiah offer calm instruction for beginners, with early morning departures best for gentler water.

“We saw several humpback whales up close, a pod of dolphins and one sea turtle. We were enjoying the close encounters with the whales so much that we never bothered with the snorkeling. John, our guide, suggested that this was an unusually eventful trip. It seemed like we were with whales almost the entire time. We got to see a calf playing near its mom and a male singing right beneath us. John was informative, and clearly very passionate about the whales, ocean life, and Hawaiian culture. He was usually encouraging, and he spent a lot of time making sure we were prepared for the challenges of kayaking.”

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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 with a CPR-certified guide, then snorkel above Turtle Town’s reef. Single and double kayaks, safety gear, snacks, and drinks are included. The 7:15am trip welcomes ages 5 and up and usually offers the best visibility, calmer water, and livelier reef activity.

“This was so much better than I could have ever imagined. Jeff was awesome and super knowledgeable. We lucked out and got to spend a ton of time with a mama and baby whale before snorkeling. We would go back in a heart beat! Don’t sleep on this tour! And ask for Jeff!”

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

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

Meet at 7:15 am in Makena for a two-hour private paddle with guides such as Aqua and Sky. Learn SUP skills, look for sea turtles, coral, fish, and possibly monk seals, hear about Maui’s culture and geology, and receive digital photos afterward. Equipment, life jackets, storage, showers, and changing rooms are included.

“My boyfriend and I had the best time paddle boating with Sky. Right off the bat he was so friendly and warming making us feel comfortable with our private tour with him. He went out of his way to explain everything to us in depth and took many nice pictures of us on his go pro. He even let us stay over time so we had time to snorkel a little and look around underwater. Highly recommend this tour to everyone of all ages!”

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

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

Paddle Maui’s Alalakeiki Channel in a clear-bottom kayak with Gabriel, Jason, and their family team. You’ll see coral and marine life through the hull, with optional snorkeling, rash guards, dry bags, sunscreen, water, and snacks provided. The calm, patient instruction suits beginners, families, and nervous swimmers.

“We all enjoyed the kayaking, the snorkeling, Jason’s dad jokes, and the education about the marine life on Maui and surrounding islands. Great adventure!”

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