Here’s a great idea, take your next snorkeling trip in Hawaii to the next level! Add more thrill to your snorkeling experience by combining it with a kayak tour. Mr. C and I took a week-long vacation in Maui, Hawaii and we knew it wouldn’t be complete without a snorkeling tour. After some research, we found a kayak AND snorkel tour in Maui by Maui Kayak Adventures. It was a three-hour adventure full of fun, surprises, and swimming with sea turtles and other marine life!
The weather was not on our side during our entire trip. Luckily, our tour was not cancelled. However, we were advised a day before our tour that our location had to be changed to Olowalu Turtle Garden because of the weather.
Our morning did not look promising. It was dark and gloomy and when we reached the shore, it started raining. Our guide asserted that he wouldn’t push us to go further than what he thinks is safe for us. At that point, we already felt at ease.
Small Group Kayak and Snorkel Tour in Maui
Being in a small group is one of the things I liked about Maui Kayak Adventures. It’s easier to explore and to know more about the area. Our group consisted of three couples. Each couple were given their own kayak, paddles, lifevests, and snorkeling gear. One pair at a time, our guide helped us get into our kayaks and on the water.
The waves became stronger as we went farther away from the shore. It was thrilling! We got nervous at first because we are not professional swimmers but our guide always kept on checking out for us.
Little or no experience in kayak and snorkeling?
Another great thing about this tour is that they are beginner-friendly! If you have little or no experience in kayaking, there’s no need to worry. You will enjoy it as much as others would. It was only our second time to kayak but we did surprisingly well. It’s a lot easier than our first kayak experience. Maybe it helped that our guide briefed us on how to paddle and letting us go on our own but still maintaining a safe distance from us. We were more relaxed and had better teamwork this time, yay! 🙂
By the time we reached the snorkeling spot or the turtle cleaning station, the sun was out and the waves had already calmed down. We had 1.5 hours to snorkel around the area. Our guide kept on diving and searching for sea turtles and interesting marine life. He always finds something fascinating so we didn’t go far from the group. There were sea urchins, bright-colored fishes, reefs, and a vibrant red coral. Since we were at a turtle cleaning station, we also witnessed several small black fish feeding at the shell of a turtle. The whole snorkeling experience was amazing!
By the time we had to go back to the shore, we saw from afar, a blow from a whale. It was very far from us but we could see the whale flipping its tail several times. You might get lucky and see a whale up close!
Expect nothing less of excellent customer service
Maui Kayak Adventures provide digital photography for free. Our guide was so diligent in taking photos of us and the marine life. Few hours after the tour, we already received the link to download our photos!
We couldn’t have asked for a better guide (and photographer). Curtis was helpful at all times and we could really see how passionate he was with his work! He was very informative about Hawaii and its marine life. We appreciated his enthusiasm all throughout our tour. After the tour, he even suggested his favorite local spots and food stops.
Prices:
Group Kayak Tour: $89/person
Private Kayak Tour: $149/person
For prices and more info about their other tours, click here.
Tips for Kayak and Snorkel Tour:
1. Check your email and/or phone regularly for tour updates
The tour could be relocated depending on the weather forecast. In our case, we were advised the afternoon before the day of our tour that our location has changed.
2. If you’re going to bring sunglasses, choose a cheap pair that you are willing to lose
Unfortunate circumstances happen like accidentally losing grip on your things while getting in or out of the boat. It happened to us and it’s a big regret! Learn from our mistake, leave your expensive sunnies!
3. Consider the season during your tour
You might want to make your tour even more special with humpback whales. Schedule your tour at the middle of the whale season for a higher chance of seeing these magnificent creatures! Based on Maui Whale Watching, majority of the whales could be seen during January to March.
Thanks to Maui Kayak Adventures for accommodating us on our visit to Maui and for sharing this amazing experience! As always, all opinions are my own.
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Kayak and Snorkel Tour in Maui | Kayak and Snorkel Tour in Maui | Kayak and Snorkel Tour in Maui | Kayak and Snorkel Tour in Maui
Looking for more activities in Maui? Check my posts on the evening we spent in a traditional luau and tips on whale watching in Maui! 🙂
I love to snorkel and I love to kayak and why haven’t I though of doing them both at the same time!? Great idea! The underwater life in Maui looks great just to bad the whale was not on the same spot of your snorkeling spot! That would have been the ultimate snorkeling experience!
Indeed! We were too early for the whale season. It would have been easier to spot a whale during this tour if we were there during January.
Oh my goodness! That rainbow! The water! The turtles…it’s all so perfect and beautiful! This looks like just my kind of excursion (except for the sea urchins lol I’m scare to death of those!)
You would love it! Check this tour next time you visit Maui! 🙂
Ahhh yay for gray sky days turning into gorgeous rainbows! Looks like such a fun adventure! I would love to do something like this with my husband. Maui is on our bucket list and I love snorkeling. Definitely showing this to him… hint hint 😉
You should do this with your husband, it’s so much fun! Hope he already agreed to it. 😉
It’s good to know that this tour is beginner friendly because although it’s not that I haven’t snorkeled or kayaked before, I haven’t done it enough times to be confident about it. Your pictures are amazing ! And although you say that the weather wasn’t on your side, your picture with the rainbow is absolutely breathtaking !
I wasn’t confident at the start either but it all changed several minutes after! 🙂 Yup, the rainbow was a great bonus at the end.
I love kayaking so this would definitely be up my street. It is great that they provide free digital photography. I guess they think you will share and that spreads the word but nevertheless, that is a real result.
I don’t know snorkeling and Kayaking but as this place is beginner’s friendly, I would love to try it for. Though the weather was gloomy and dark with clouds, you have taken beautiful pictures, specially the rainbow one. As Maui Kayak Adventures gave digital photography for free, it is so wonderful and a nice deal.
Swimming with Turtles sounds to be very exciting. You must have had a great time ! 🙂
We did! Check this tour next time you will be in Maui. 🙂 You’ve definitely enjoy it!
Maui reminds me of the movie Moana movie!!! Haha!
This is just like paradise! To kayak in a pristine water and have a rainbow atop your head! Whoa!
Love those underwater scenes!
Wow great photos – I can’t believe they are free too! I did snorkeling the last time I was in Maui too. The water was so clear and I saw lots of turtles!
Wow! Looks like such a fun trip! Also, great photography and beautiful pictures!
This looks like an amazing trip. My husband and I love kayaking and your pictures are making me long for summer so we can get some of that in.
We totally fell in love with Hawaii. We wen’t there for a wedding and didn’t want to go back to Oahu! Wish we had more time to go do some kayaking like you did. It seemed sooo much fun … can’t believe that magical rainbow photo and how clear is the water for your photos!
Great honu pictures!!! We didn’t get to kayak on our trip and we ALWAYS kayak everywhere. So glad you got to have such a great experience despite that weird Hawaiian weather.