Makena Coast Charters

Our Review: Makena Coast Charters

Makena Coast Charters runs 8 tours out of Wailuku with an average quality score of 87.8/100, and their top offerings punch well above that average. This is a South Maui operation built around two things: getting you to Molokini Crater and getting you close to whales. They do both exceptionally well.

Their Molokini Crater & Turtle Town Snorkeling 3 Hours scores a perfect 100/100. That's the highest-rated individual tour from any Maui provider in our database. The raft-style boat means smaller groups, faster transit, and more time in the water at the crater. The Molokini Crater Snorkel & Bonus Whale Watching Adventure (98/100) and Whale Watching Cruise from Maalaea Harbor (98/100) round out a top three that any operator would envy.

The catalog gets more interesting in the middle. The Discover the Magic of Coral Garden's Turtle Town tour (94/100) takes you to a stretch of reef where green sea turtles congregate in numbers you won't see from shore. The Sunset Sailing on a Floating Tiki Bar (87/100) is exactly what it sounds like, and it works because Makena Coast doesn't overthink it.

The private charters (80 and 57) pull the average down, but that's a scoring artifact. Private charters are harder to rate consistently because every booking is different. The group tours are where this company's reputation lives, and those scores speak for themselves.

Who This Operator Is Best For

Snorkelers who want to experience Molokini Crater without being shoulder-to-shoulder with 100 other people, and whale watch enthusiasts visiting during season (December through April). If Molokini is on your list, book with Makena Coast first.