Maui: Turtle Reef Kayak Tour Of Makena

Tour guide went above and beyond in making the trip accessible to all. I had a great time!

We had done this same tour back in 2023. It was magical then. It was horrible this time. In 2023, our guide was amazing: he took us to spots were only we kayak and snorkel but also to spots where other groups were found. He had a lot to say about local culture, the ocean, lava tubes, and wildlife. This time we got treated narratives about reverse racism, the halves and have knots, female escorts, and a number of other wildly inappropriate topics. The guy also phoned it in in terms of spots where we would snorkel. But probably the worst part was his offer to take photos for us: after charging us about $100 he gave us a pile of images and videos that were completely useless (I’ve posted an example). In fact, much of what he sent us were images of other people in our tour not even us. Unfortunately, you can ignore the glowing review I left in 2023. I would never do this tour again.

This was an amazing trip! Tyler was our guide and took us to some great spots along the coast. We saw several turtles and learned about Hawaiian history from Tyler. I would highly recommend South Pacific Kayak s and Outfitters for your kayak trip!!!

Absolutely a fantastic kayaking and snorkeling experience for the whole family. Our girls , 10 and 11 along with my husband and I made sure that this tour was on our list of things to do based on our experience 3 years ago. Our guide Miah who was the dad of our previous guide made the morning fun and we had a great time all around. There were so many turtles at one point, I didn’t know where to look. Such a great morning to spend on the ocean with a great company. We had the option to purchase a great package of photos from our trip and they are the highlight of the week. Looking forward to when we return. Book this trip - you won’t be disappointed.

A great experience. Our guide, Tyler, was knowledgeable and friendly. His orientation and guidance was thorough. He took us to the best spots to snorkel and see the fish and turtles. He was even able to help some of our group get back into the kayaks as that can be tricky. Overall, it was a delightful morning!

Enjoyed the massive turtle population, great tour. Awesome weather. Thank you Mia! Definitely will be back.

This was a great experience! We went on the 10:30 tour but still had calm waters and lots of turtles. Jeremiah was a great guide. He explained everything down to the basics so that I felt comfortable even with no kayak or snorkeling experience. The kayaks were very fun and sturdy and Jeremiah shared a lot of great stories and facts along the way. The snorkeling site had so much to look at and Jeremiah was super patient as I figured out the snorkeling portion. Overall, an awesome experience.

Tyler was the best! Knowledgeable home grown and a whole lot of fun!

After a location change and a few times of rescheduling due to weather, we were lucky enough to get out on our last chance before heading back home. Tyler was amazing!!! He took time for us beginners, explained everything beforehand, and got us over our fears! We had a rough start to our first time on the island, but Tyler made our entire trip absolutely special. Next time we’re on Maui, we will be hoping for another trip with Tyler!

Great kayaking spot. Saw many turtles and a pod of dolphins. Very easy paddle to snorkeling spot. Our guide Tyler was outstanding, very patient and knowledgeable.

Rabbit was our tour guide and he was fantastic! He used his humor and experience to make everyone feel comfortable and enjoy the activity! Thank you so much Rabbit!

It was fun, exciting, and we saw lots of whales in the kayaks and turtles snorkeling. Our guide Mia was outstanding. Good instructor, good marine knowledge and a clever sense of humor.

Jake was an amazing instructor and guide our family of first timer kayakers. We saw several fish turtles when visiting the "cleaning station." Guide provided drinks, snacks and snorkel gear as well. Thank you Jake, for the experience. Highly recommend!

Our guide, Rabbit, was great! He handled the different comfort levels of the group seamlessly, making it a very enjoyable experience for all. Additionally, he might be a whale whisperer! Definitely worth it!

Had a beautiful time kayaking today with Tyler. Small group. Saw whales and turtles. Nice and relaxing. Highly recommend

There were many guides. Most seem great. Our guy was nice but disappeared a couple of times early on so we were last to get in the water. He also didn’t use appropriate language with the little, teen and grandma. We didn’t say anything but probably should have. However he knew allot and helped get salt water out of my eyes (after my husband capsized us before I was ready) and helped me get back in the boat when I was done. Very reassuring that he knew his stuff.

Tyler was an excellent guide. He gave us once in a lifetime experience where we swam with a turtle. This was our first time kayaking and after this experience we are confident to make many more kayaking adventures. We would recommend Tyler 100%.

Our tour guide Justin was very knowledgeable, caring, and experienced in insuring we had a safe and enjoyable experience. We were all excited to see whales and turtles.

Breathtaking memorable experience with a fantastic guide Jeremiah. Whale watching while kayaking and snorkeling with turtles.

We went out with Tyler for kayaking and snorkeling in Makena. It was us (four friends), plus two couples, all in double kayaks. Tyler was friendly and knowledgable, and got us to Turtle Town before any other group got there. He was great about helping us get back in the kayaks after snorkeling, too! Great experience for all of us.

This was such an amazing experience! The guide was professional, friendly, knowledgeable, and just overall a great guy. He put our safety first at all times and kept us out of the tough current which was great because we were all first timers and we had our 5 year old daughter with us. He knew all the interesting history of the island and the best spots for snorkeling which made it an enjoyable experience from beginning to end. It was my daughter's first time kayaking and snorkeling and you would have thought she had done it for years! He was so great with her and even let her ride on the front of his kayak paddling so she could feel like Moana the Wayfinder lol! Needless to say, she will never forget it. She enjoyed his company so much that she ditched mom, dad, and the grandmas for his kayak the rest of the way. Since both of our moms were in their 60's, we were worried how they would do on the excursion but they did great! It was very doable and even relaxing. This was our favorite experience on the island and I cannot stress enough how amazing the guide was for us. We will 100% be returning to do this again with him!

Great experience! Make an amazing memory. The great guide will help you feel secure , safe and have fun!

This was my first snorkeling experience on a kayak and my partner and I had Tyler as our guide and it was the most incredible experience. Tyler was so helpful for newbie’s with snorkeling as well as had a wealth of knowledge to share about Maui and its history. This is the trip you’re gonna want to book. 10/10 RECOMMEND!

Great experience! Our guide Jake was amazing! He was knowledgeable and fun. He prepared us with a thorough lesson including tips and tricks for kayak success. We felt safe and comfortable on the water. Jake also shared interesting cultural facts about Hawaii that made our experience even more special. We highly recommend using Maui Eco tours. You won’t regret it!

Rabbit was an excellent guide! He was polite and kind especially to my youngest son who was nervous about the water at first. This excursion was the highlight of our trip!

Be prepared for a little workout, you are kayaking in the ocean. I'd recommend a long sleve T. Went out with my wife and 6yr old and had a great time. The whales were out in full force, maybe 20 yards out. Our guide Rabbit was awesome, knowledgable and attentive. He's good at coaching first timers up. After we went to the bay and saw 10+ turtles. It was a great day! I'll do it again.

Jake was a fantastic guide . He filled our tour with tidbits of Maui which enhanced our experience. We saw a whale up close and personal. Well worth the money !!

The trip was amazing! We got to see and hear a few humpback whales. We had the best time and enjoyed snorkeling as well……..

Tyler was a great guide, emphasizing fun and safety. It was an amazing morning of fun, sun, water and aloha!

This was fabulous trip. Love the kayaking, most of us experienced but Jake still explained the safety rules where we going. He knew exactly where to go to see the turtles. I was planing to just stay in kayak, but when I realized what we would see, quickly joined the group. The turtles were gentle swimming with us. High the recommend.

My Giude Jake was awesome!!! Very knowledgeable not just about Kayaking but about the area and its history. He made sure we were all comfortable and safe and had our own FUN!

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

Great tour and great experience. We saw so many turtles and different kinds of fish. Tyler was awesome! He had such a good understanding of the area and his love for the area definitely showed. I would definitely book with him again.

Our family greatly enjoyed our kayaking and snorkeling adventure with Jake as our guide. He was very patient with us which was very much appreciated since it was our first time trying this activity. Highly recommend this experience when visiting Maui. We were fortunate to see the beautiful marine life. (Ex. -Sea turtles, octopus, dolphins) Jake took some awesome pictures of our experience. Thank you!!!

We did the guided kayak tour and our guide was Jake! This young man was exceptional and the tour was amazing! Jake provided great safety information and was very knowledgeable about Hawaii, marine life, etc. He took us to a location that was abundant with turtles and we even saw a white tip shark (which apparently is rare in the area). Great exercise, great views, and great guide! Highly recommend this adventure!

This was such a cool experience. I had my 10 year old daughter with me, my best friend, and mom. Three of us had never kayaked before and Tyler was so patient and helpful. My daughter had never snorkeled either and he really took his time to explain it to her. You could tell he just genuinely wanted everyone to have a great experience. It was so amazing to see the turtles! Overall such a great and memorable experience!

Kyle was a great guide. The Tour was amazing. The Turtles didn’t disappoint either. Relaxed and easy excursions.

We were so fortunate to have the best weather—warm, sunny and very little wind. Our guide Tyler was friendly and knowledgeable. We saw so many turtles, too many to count. We also saw a sizeable eagle ray and colorful fish. My husband and I had the best time kayaking and snorkeling. I would highly recommend this experience and I would absolutely do it again.

I booked this tour when my original snorkeling tour got cancelled. I'm SO GLAD for that cancellation! Tyler, our guide, was GREAT! My husband and I were beginners at kayaking and snorkeling. In fact I didn't even plan to snorkel. But Tyler was great, he was so patient with us, persuaded us to snorkel and I'M SO GLAD HE DID! My husband and I had a great experience seeing turtles and fish up close and being IN the water! We lucked out with a small group (only one other couple) and beautiful weather. Tyler did a great job balancing his time between couples, the other couple was much more experienced (and younger!) than we were. I definitely recommend this tour, ask for Tyler, he was wonderful!

Tyler was a wonderful guide! He knew all the right spots to go, based on conditions, and because of this we saw quite a few sea turtles and sea life. He also made the experience feel unique for our small group and kept us away from the masses. Highly recommend booking this tour!

Excellent tour guide, Tyler, did a great job locating great sites for snorkeling. He was very kind, provided great instructions for kayake use.

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!

The experience was above and beyond our expectations. Tyler was an amazing guide. He has a strong love for what he does and an appreciation and pride for Maui culture. The ocean in his happy place. You can tell he respects sea life. Very knowledgeable. He got us close to whales but not too close - safety and respect for these great creatures. Also took us to a spot teeming with sea turtles for snorkeling. All in all, he delivered an outstanding experience

Our guide Jeremiah did such a good job and had a great sense of humor. His instructions on safety were very clear. We saw so many whales while kayaking. This was the most memorable excursion of my Maui trip!

Miah was an experienced, knowledgable guide. He captured phenomenal pictures of our trip and could speak to a variety of topics about Hawaii. We had a blast!

Our guide was so great! He was patient even when we showed up late due to a road closure. He was engaged with all of us. Bravo

We had the best experience on our turtle reef kayak tour! Our guide was very experienced and was friendly from the beginning! The other people that were reserved for the morning trip did not show up so we had a private tour with the instructor. Niko was awesome! He explained everything in detail, provided functioning equipment, and guided us to a perfect spot to see turtles, fish, reef, and sea urchins. Our trip lasted around 1.5hrs and we saw so much! Would highly recommend doing this tour before doing any others! Niko even suggested local spots to eat and was very easy to get along with.

Our guide, John, was knowledgeable and entertaining. He made sure everyone on the tour was comfortable and included. He shared the history of the area we were kayaking in, and made sure we all appreciated the beauty of the experience. He was well versed in Hawaiian culture and an excellent guide. We saw one fairly large honu swimming while we were en route to our first snorkel spot, but conditions were murky so we didn’t spot any others. Nonetheless, John made the trip a success and we’d definitely recommend his tour!

We had a great time on the kayak/snorkel tour. We had never snorkeled and our guide Jeremiah was so helpful as well as fun and knowledgeable with lots of information and facts about the islands. We saw lots of turtles fish and beautiful reefs. I would highly recommend this tour and our guide Jeremiah.