Maximum Snorkeling in Makena
4 hours, 3 Snorkels, 2 seat kayaks, 1 Awesome Kayak/Snorkel Tour
The most complete tour
The Xplorer tours the phenomenal Makena coastline for an industry leading 4.5 hours. We get maximum private snorkeling through the use of our sleek, environmentally friendly kayaks. Paddling distance can be over 5 miles and we snorkel with the marine life 3 different times! No other tour will show you more marine life, bar none.
Advanced & Adults Only
Due to the longer nature of the tour, we do limit the Xplorer to those aged 16 and over only. If you have younger kids, please check out the Discovery tour which also departs from Makena Landing. Xplorer gets going at 7:15am and runs all the way until 11:00am. Over the course of roughly 4 hours we'll snorkel 3 times, all in a setting of privacy that you only get with Maui Eco Tours kayak snorkel excursions. At the end of the tour we wrap up with a light and healthy island style lunch of grilled chicken, fresh fruit and juices, all enjoyed right along the sand. Also, vegetarian and vegan selections are available by request.
Guides are the Difference
Our 2 full time guides Chris and John will show you all of the underwater spectacles themselves, as we are the only snorkeling outfitter that always gets right
in the water with you. They anchor the boats, gear you up, point out marine life and regail you with tales of yesteryear and Hawaiian legend all through the tour. Service is the difference and we pride ourselves on personal attention and first class service.
Tread Lightly
Unlike the big gas guzzling power boats that visit Molokini and the Makena coastline, we'll show you all the underwater highlights and above water scenery in a completely environmentally friendly way. Our kayaks are a zero emissions way to see nature, don't disturb the marine life or their environment and allow us to access some unique spots that you normally can't get to. Let us show you how we do it at Maui Eco Tours. We guarantee you'll love it!
Whales
A Winter Treat
Joining us December throught March? Expect to see the stunning, gigantic, humpback whales like you never dreamed! They're incredible!
Turtles
They're everywhere!
Come see the majestic green sea turtles! We see them everyday and get up close and personal to these beauties! Go face to face with 'em!
Scenery
Beautiful Hawai'i
This is what Hawai'i is all about! Beautiful sunrises and sunsets, dramatic volcano backdrops, lush foliage and warm pineapple breezes!
Makena
Crystal Clear Waters
The clearest waters in Hawai'i are located in Makena, Maui. On the Xplorer we show you all the stunning underwater sights of South Maui.
Distance
Maximum Paddling
We're talking more than 4+ miles of paddling here! Come get your groove on, work up a sweat and get refreshed at each of the three snorkeling stops!
Adults
Mature Relaxation
If you don't have kids, or perhaps you are just getting a break from your own, it's nice to not be around other people's kids. Come relax with other adults.
The early bird gets the...
We like to get fired up early, as the earlier we get on the water, the better the conditions and the more wildlife we'll see. As with all our tours, you'll meet us onsite, in this case at Makena Landing for a 7:15 am check-in. Makena Landing is just 10 minutes from Wailea, 15 minutes from Kihei, and about 1 hour from the Lahaina resort areas. Once you arrive we'll get you outfitted with all the latest snorkeling equipment, paddling life jackets and drybags to hold your small valuables (wallet, car keys, cameras, etc). All the gear you'll need is included. Once all guests are outfitted, our guides take you through a comprehensive 15-20 minute safety and instructional briefing that covers everything from proper paddling techniques and snorkeling tips to safety reminders and techniques on getting in and out of our kayaks at the snorkeling stops.
- Itinerary*
- 07.15Check-In
- 07.30Instructions
- 07.45Launch
- 08.00Paddling
- 08.351st Snorkel
- 09.00Paddling
- 09.352nd Snorkel
- 10.00Paddling
- 10.353rd Snorkel
- 10.50Paddling
- 11.10Lunch
- 11.20Trip Finished
- * All times approximate
Let's hit it!
Launching at Makena is generally quite calm, as the Makena coastline is among the calmest and warmest all around Maui. Each 2 person kayak paddles out past the small rolling surf and waits for the guide to rendezvous with you. Once everyone is on the water and gathered together, the guide will lead you to the first of our 3 snorkeling stops. Generally each paddling segment is about 20-30 minutes. The entire Xplorer tour features the dramatic backdrop of the 10,000 foot Haleakala Volcano. As the sun crests the edge of the volcano, dramatic lighting begins to illuminate the crystal clear snorkeling waters below. As we paddle from stop to stop, you'll see turtles on the surface, perhaps dolphins or whales in the distance all while enjoying a private atmosphere and getting some great exercise!The whole time heading North you'll be keeping your eyes open for the Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins. In the Winter, the Xplorer trip often gets detoured to check out the incredible Humpback Whales up close. Can you feel the wonderful warm morning sun on your face as you paddle against phenomenal beauty, through 78 degree Hawaiian waters, breathing in the sweet sounds and scents of South Maui?
Put that snorkel gear on!
At each of the three snorkeling locations, our guide will connect all the kayaks together and safely drop an anchor in a sandy patch so that everyone may relax and get their mask and fins on, and put their valuables in the drybags prior to entering the water. Everyone who wants to, gets in the water and is free to snorkel on their own if they so desire. That said, the most fun will be had if you stay close to our guide in the water, as he'll be pointing out unique marine life, snapping underwater digital photos, and leading the way to the best regions along each reef. On Xplorer we'll be seeing tons of turtles, eels, octopus, a plethora of colorful tropical reef fish, and even the occasional small white tip reef shark.
Anybody hungry?
Food. It's an essential element to any activity requiring physical exertion, and Xplorer tour is certainly no exception. All of our trips depart from beach parks, stay on the water for the duration of the trip and usually cover some unique and inordinate terrain areas, all of which combines to make environmentally friendly food service a difficult task to be sure. To that end, we've exclusively partnered with a premier, owner operated catering company to provide a sensational island style lunch of grilled chicken skewers, fresh fruits and a selection of fruit juices. Also, if you're a vegetarian, vegan or have any other special dietary needs, we've got you covered. Just give us at least 24 hours notice and we can make most any of your wishes come true! Our lunch selections are individually prepared and packaged each morning to ensure freshness and quality when it's time to eat. Our offerings are beach style, of a light to moderate quantity and provided complimentary on the Xplorer. We do recommend that "big eaters" pack some additional rations if they are so inclined, as space limits the physical quantity of our lunches. In addition, we also request that all of our guests bring a bottle of water for themselves, as hydration is always an important element to a fun day here on Maui.
Get ready for maximum snorkeling and paddling with Maui Eco Tours!
How do we make reservations?
Online or by Phone
You are able to reserve the Xplorer online or by calling us at (808) 891-2223.
We recommend making reservations at least 7 days in advance.
Season of Operation
The Xplorer operates year round, seven days a week and runs once per day at 7:15am.
Cancellation Policy & Weather
Tours are non-refundable if cancelled under 48 hours
With our regular retail reservations, our cancellation policy is 48 hours. Up until 48 hours until trip check-in time, you may make any changes or cancellations that you like, all without any penalty. All you have to do is email or call us.
For specially discounted dates, the reservation is non-refundable regardless of circumstance.
Weather
If we cancel a tour due to weather, you will not be charged, irrespective of the type of reservation you made. We make all the determinations about weather cancellations however, so please don't make the mistake of deciding you're not going to come because you think the weather might not be acceptable, as you will be charged if the trip goes out.
If you ever have a question about the weather conditions, please email or call us to be sure.
Call Maui Eco Tours at (808) 891-2223.
What is included in the price?
All of the following is included in the price.
- Kayaks with performance back supports
- Fiberglass, featherable paddle
- Extrasport, USCG Approved paddling life jacket
- NRS waterproof drybag to hold valuables
- Mask, silicone snorkel & fins in a mesh sack
- Full beach lunch, with an option for vegetarian
- Instruction covering:
- Paddling
- Snorkeling
- Ocean safety
- Kayak launching and landing
- Kayak entry/egress techniques
- Guided snorkeling at the various snorkeling locations
- Assistance during launching and landing at beaches
- Full guide service throughout the tour
What's not included?
- Gratuity for your guide
- Bottled water
- Towels
- Prescription snorkel masks
- Wetsuits
- Sandals or water shoes
What should we bring with us?
We recommend you bring:
- Swimsuit
- Water shoes or Sandals (flip-flops are fine)
- Towel
- Bottle of Water
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Hat
- Disposable Underwater Camera
Can we bring our own snorkel gear?
Absolutely!
You are welcome to bring anything you'd like and that certainly includes snorkeling gear. We recommend you bring anything of your own that you'd like to use and if you're missing any essential gear, we'll fill in the gaps for you.
How long of a drive is it?
It all depends upon where you're coming from.
The tour departs from Makena Landing which is approximately 10 minutes from Wailea, 15 minutes from Kihei, 60 minutes from Lahaina, 70 minutes from Ka'anapali and about 75 minutes from Kapalua.
What is the minimum age to participate?
Sixteen (16) years old.
On the Xplorer tour our minimum age is 16 years old, give or take a few months here and there if need be.
Will we see dolphins?
Hopefully!
In the Makena region the dolphins aren't there all the time, however we do run across them about 50% of the time. If they are out there, you can count on our guides to spot them and point them out for you!
Do we snorkel at "Turtle Town"?
Right next to it, you bet!
The location that has garnered the affectionate moniker of "Turtle Town" is actually a general region in Makena Bay. The exact point that most people associate with it has to do with an anchorage spot that many large, crowded, tour boats use to offload hundreds of guests into the water.
We like to avoid crowds. That's sort of "our thing".
We do snorkel in the general vicinity of "Turtle Town", but our small, non-motorized kayaks allow us to get into spots that the big boats simply can't go and thus we see the best scenery, in a private setting, and avoid the ruckus caused by the dozens of big tour boats.
For more detail and a visual view of where our snorkeling takes place, check us out in Google Maps!
Is there a maximum height/weight to participate?
Not a precise number, no.
We have kayaks that can accomodate up to 550 lbs of weight and the tallest of tall people and thus this isn't a huge concern.
Escapade is one of our more athletic tours and you should be in good physically fit condition if you're planning on participating.
Is lunch included? What about breakfast?
Yes and No.
All of our tours include a full beach lunch of grilled chicken skewers, fresh fruits and a selection of fruit juices. In addition we can accommodate vegetarian, vegan or other special requests with at least 24 hours notice.
We do not provide breakfast and we recommend you have a small breakfast before joining us in the morning.
How difficult is this adventure?
Advanced, and sometimes quite physical.
Kayaking is very much like Alpine Skiing in that it uses muscles that aren't generally used in everyday life, even for active people.
That being the case, we recommend you choose a tour based upon your previous experience. If you've not kayaked or snorkeled before, or are not in reasonably good physical condition, the Xplorer really isn't a great choice for you.
Previous experience isn't a must, but it certainly always helps. The most important thing is that you're prepared for and excited about a more advanced kayaking tour, which is an accurate description of the Xplorer.
I'm not a good swimmer, can I still go?
If you'd like, yes!
We frequently have guests join us that aren't great swimmers and even some that don't swim at all!
The key thing is that you can't be afraid of the water. We do require guests to wear Life Preservers during the kayaking portions of the trip and many guests choose to continue wearing them during the snorkeling as well.
So even if you're not a great swimmer, you can participate, just so long as you're not afraid of the water and/or ocean.
What are the group sizes?
Usually 4-6 people.
A unique thing about the Xplorer with Maui Eco Tours is that we guarantee your group will have no more than 10 guests per guide and we prefer to have groups of no more than 6 people per guide so as to maintain a sense of privacy and personal attention.
If you have a group larger than 8-10, worry not, as we are able to do much larger groups all at once by simply adding additional guides.
What time will we be done?
Around 11:15am
The tour generally ends around 11:00-11:20am. That said, it can run a bit longer if we don't get out on time, so it's important to arrive on time for the 7:15am check-in.
If for some reason you need to run off immediately when we retun to shore (around 11:00 am), you are able to leave at that time and take your lunch with you as they are all individually packed lunches.
Xplorer compared to the Escapade?
Very similar tours actually.
The biggest differences between the Escapade and the Xplorer are the physical location on the island and Escapade features only 2 snorkeling stops.
Other than those characteristics, both are advanced, adults only and showcase the best kayaking and snorkeling that Maui has to offer.
Do we have wetsuits for rent?
No.
We find that most all guests don't need wetsuits and thus we don't actually offer them. The water temperature fluctuates a bit depending upon the season, but it is usually in the upper 70's or low 80's
That said, if you are someone that gets cold easily or you simply would like to wear a wetsuit, most all of the local dive shops do rent and sell such equipment.
We always recommend Maui Dive Shop as they have the most locations and excellent service.
I wear glasses, how do I snorkel?
A prescription optical mask.
Due to the enormous range of potential prescriptions we don't offer optical snorkel masks.
As we do with wetsuits, we recommend you visit any of the local dive shops to rent a prescription mask. They will be able to get you just the right fit and optical power so that you best enjoy the sights that are seen on our tours.
I have a question that's not answered here...
Great! Let's hear it!
You can email us directly, or you may also phone us at (808) 891-2223.
E-mail is the best way to contact us and get the most complete and thorough response to your questions.
Quick Facts
- Check-in at 7:15am
- Groups of 10 or less per guide, guaranteed.
- Participants must be at least 16 years old
- Includes a full safety/instructional briefing
- All snorkel & paddle gear provided
- 3 sensational snorkeling locations
- Healthy lunch included
- Vegetarian/Vegan available by request
