A crescent-shaped volcanic crater 2.5 miles off Maui's south shore, protected as a marine reserve since 1977.
Float over coral in clear blue water with schools of yellow tang, then look for green sea turtles at the second stop.
The wind, spelled outWhich trips really reach the crater
Ten boats, one tableRafts, catamarans and sailboats side by side
Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before, on every tour here
Gear includedMask, snorkel and fins on every boat
Tours
Choose your Molokini snorkel tour
In the centre, the classic half day from Ma'alaea on a big catamaran with breakfast, lunch and two stops. Either side,
the quickest raft from Kihei and a sailing catamaran with an open bar. Every card opens a full tour page.
A 35-foot raft leaves the Kihei Boat Ramp and reaches Molokini in about 15 minutes, so most of the two hours is snorkel time. No meals or towels, and riders must be 8 to 65.
A triple-decker catamaran with two slides, a glass-bottom room, breakfast and lunch, heading for Molokini and Turtle Town. Big and busy, with up to 149 guests aboard.
What's included
Molokini, then a second stop chosen by the captain
A wide sailing catamaran from Ma'alaea with breakfast, lunch, an open bar and a photographer, snorkeling Molokini and a turtle site. The premium pick, capped at 65 guests.
Three questions sort it out. How much of your morning do you want on the water? Do you need meals, shade and a
restroom, or just the fastest ride to the reef? And how much does it matter that you actually snorkel inside the crater?
Snorkel gear is included on every boat; parking at Ma'alaea and Kihei is not. Children's tickets
(usually ages 4 to 12) cost less on the big catamarans. Every listing says the captain may move the snorkel site for wind or swell.
Before you book
The crater is the plan. The wind decides.
Every Molokini trip sells the same picture: the crescent from the air, turquoise water inside, boats on the moorings.
What the listing cannot sell you is the weather. Maui's trade winds usually build from late morning, and once the channel
whitecaps, captains take their boats to sheltered reefs along the coast instead. The price stays the same.
That is why departure time matters more than the boat. Four Winds says its morning trips reach the crater about
90% of the time and its afternoon trips rarely do. The $100 afternoon seat is honest about it in its own title: "Molokini or
Coral Gardens". Guests on full-price morning boats report missed crater days too, mostly in summer swells. Book early in your
stay, so a blown-out day can be rebooked.
1977
The year Molokini became a Marine Life Conservation District. No fishing,
no feeding the fish, no anchoring, and nobody lands on the islet: it is a state seabird sanctuary.
Big catamaranRaftSailing catamaranLuxury yacht
Inside the crater the reef starts about 10 feet down and the water is often clear for 100 feet or more.
01
Morning or afternoon?
Morning. Afternoon boats usually snorkel Coral Gardens because of the trade winds.
02
Raft or catamaran?
Rafts are fast and small but bumpy. Catamarans bring meals, shade, restrooms and room for kids.
03
Can I stand?
No. The reef sits below standing depth, so the boat's flotation gear is your friend.
04
Who should skip it?
Anyone with heart or serious back problems, and, on the rafts, pregnant travelers and kids under the age limit.
Your morning
How a Molokini trip runs
Two hours on a raft from Kihei, three to five and a half on a catamaran from Ma'alaea. This is the shape of it.
01
Early check-in
Ma'alaea boats check in between 5:45 and 7:30 AM; Kihei rafts 30 minutes before departure. Pay for parking first: cars get towed.
30 to 45 minutes before
02
The crossing
Breakfast and a safety talk on the big boats, spray and speed on the rafts. In winter, humpback whales on the way.
15 to 60 minutes
03
Snorkel the crater
The boat ties up to a mooring inside the crescent and you swim over coral with reef fish, eels and the odd octopus.
About 45 to 60 minutes
04
Turtles and lunch
Most two-stop trips move to the Makena coast for green sea turtles, then serve lunch on the way back.
Seasons, prices, ages and what to bring: one tab each.
All year: the boats run daily, weather permitting. The water is coolest in late winter, when a wetsuit top helps.
November to May: humpback whale season, peaking from January to March. Most morning boats slow down for them.
Summer: south swells and hurricanes passing to the south can close the crater for days at a time.
Every day: the trade winds usually pick up from late morning. Earlier is calmer.
Afternoon snorkel, Molokini or Coral Gardens: from $100.
2-hour raft from Kihei: from $144; 3-hour raft with two stops: $194.
Big Ma'alaea catamarans with breakfast and lunch: $160 to $233.
Sailing and luxury boats: $213 to $318.
On top: parking (about $1 to $3 an hour at Ma'alaea), a crew tip, and extras like wetsuits ($10 on the Calypso) or SNUBA.
Big catamarans: child tickets from 4 (Four Winds from 3), infants listed on most.
Rafts: Makena Coast from 5, Redline 8 to 65. Both ask that you climb a vertical ladder out of the water.
You cannot stand anywhere you snorkel. Flotation belts, noodles and sea boards are free on the big boats.
Not for anyone with heart problems or a serious medical condition; rafts add back and neck problems and pregnancy.
Mineral sunscreen only (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide): Maui County has banned the rest since October 2022.
A towel: most boats do not lend them.
A rash guard or light jacket for the windy ride back, and a dry layer for the early check-in.
Motion-sickness tablets taken before boarding, and cash for the crew. Full list in what to bring.
From KiheiAbout 15 minRafts from the Kihei Boat Ramp, the closest launch to the crater.
From Ma'alaea45 to 60 minThe big catamarans and sailboats, with breakfast on the way out.
VisibilityUp to 150 ftOn calm mornings inside the crescent. Afternoons are murkier.
Fish speciesAbout 250Many found only in Hawaii. Look for yellow tang, butterflyfish and moray eels.
Turtles10 ft awayNOAA's viewing distance for green sea turtles. Never touch them.
Refund24 hoursFree cancellation up to a day before, on every Viator listing here.
Where it happens
Where the boats leave from
Two harbors, one crater
Ma'alaea Harbor, 101 Ma'alaea Rd, and the Kihei Boat Ramp, 2800 S Kihei Rd
Molokini sits in the channel between Maui and Kaho'olawe, about 2.5 miles off Makena. The big boats leave from Ma'alaea
Harbor on the isthmus between the West Maui Mountains and Haleakala; the rafts launch from the Kihei Boat Ramp, much closer to
the crater. None of the trips here include hotel pickup, so drive or take a taxi, and pay for parking before you walk to the boat.
Ma'alaea from Lahaina or Ka'anapali: about 30 to 45 minutes by car
Kihei Boat Ramp from Wailea: about 10 minutes
Ma'alaea parking: pay by QR code with a card; towing is enforced
Timing, what guests wish they had known, the rules at the crater and the fine print.
The first boat of the day: the calmest water and the clearest view. The 6:30 AM Malolo and Elua departures are the earliest here.
January to March: the peak of whale season, with humpbacks on the crossing most mornings.
Early in your trip: if the crater is blown out, you still have days to rebook.
Skip the afternoon if Molokini itself is the point. Book it if you just want a cheap, easy snorkel.
Arrive 45 minutes early at Ma'alaea: parking, the check-in line and finding your slip all take longer than you think.
Big boats seat first come, first served. Board early if you want shade or a spot at the front.
Rent the $10 wetsuit top if you get cold easily. Water is warm, but the wind on deck is not.
Seasick-prone? Take the tablet an hour before boarding, not once you feel ill.
Full-face snorkel masks are banned on Pride of Maui and the Ali'i Nui. Use the boat's gear or your own regular mask.
Molokini is a Marine Life Conservation District: no fishing, no feeding fish, no taking coral, shells or sand.
Nobody lands on the islet. It is a state seabird sanctuary, with wedge-tailed shearwaters nesting on the slopes.
Stay 10 feet from turtles and 100 yards from whales. Do not stand on or touch coral.
Commercial boats tie up to permitted day-use moorings; anchoring in the district is banned. Since 2024 operators also collect a $1 ocean stewardship fee per guest.
Every tour on this page cancels free up to 24 hours before.
If the operator cancels for weather, Viator offers a new date or a full refund.
If the boat sails but skips the crater, you do not get money back: the snorkel site is always weather permitting.
Guests in July and September 2026 report missed crater days after wind and hurricane swell. Plan a backup morning.
South Maui
Clear water, an old volcano and a reef full of fish.
Pick the boat, then pick the earliest morning you can.
4.6★★★★★ 2,234 reviews · Molokini & Turtle Town on the Calypso Viator & Tripadvisor rating
★★★★★
Great fun. Boat is large and comfortable with loads of ladders so despite the large tour size, everyone gets in and out of the water quickly. Crew is amazing, good sailors and great hosts/coaches for snorkeling.
★★★★★
Incredible experience overall! Only 11 of us on the boat, quick ride over to the reef and plenty of time in the water to see all of the fish!
★★★★★
We LOVED our day on Ali’i Nui catamaran. The snorkel trip to Molokini Crater was fabulous. Could see for 100ft clear water.
★★★★★
We had a 5 and 9 year old. Our 9 year old did great. Our 5 year old used one of the floaties you can lay on and look down into the ocean.
★★★★★
If you visit Maui you have to snorkel at Molokini crater and this cruise was a great one!! They took us behind the crater and pointed out turtles to us.
★★★★★
I've never snorkeled before, but Lucia and Matt made sure I knew what to expect, AND they had prescription goggles for people blind like me!
★★★★★
The wind and weather conditions changed, preventing us from snorkeling in the first location. But that didn't stop the Captain from finding us an alternative spot that was fantastic.
★★★★★
The boat is suitable for all ages, glass bottom for the little ones and sea board for the non-swimmers to see beautiful corals and fishes.
★★★★★
They explained history, geology, and a little biology. And they were fun. The number of fish species observed was simply amazing.
Same harbor, another evening
Add a sunset dinner cruise
Snorkel in the morning calm, come back on another day for the sunset. Two separate trips, one harbor.
The morning belongs to the reef; the evening can belong to the view. The Calypso's sister cruise leaves the same harbor near sunset with a plated dinner, drinks and island music. Book it for a different day from your snorkel trip: after an early start and five hours of sun, most people are done by 3 PM.
Molokini is the most famous snorkel spot in Hawaii, and around 300,000 people a year go to see it. The trips look the
same in the photos. They are not. Here is how to read them.
What the crater is
Molokini is the rim of an old volcanic cone, half sunk in the 'Alalakeiki Channel between Maui and Kaho'olawe. What sticks out
of the sea is a thin crescent about 0.4 miles across and 161 feet high. The open side faces the reef, and the curved wall shelters
the water inside from the wind and the swell. That shelter, and the lack of streams or sand washing in, is why the water is so
clear: on calm mornings you can see well over 100 feet.
The state made the crater and about 77 acres around it a Marine Life Conservation District in 1977. You will see around 250
species of fish on a good day, many found only in Hawaii, over 38 kinds of hard coral. Feeding them is banned, and so is landing:
the islet is a seabird sanctuary. In the Second World War the U.S. Navy used the islet for target practice; today it is one of the
most protected reefs in the state.
The turtles are rarely at the crater itself. The second stop on the Makena coast is where most people meet them.
Why the morning wins
Maui's trade winds blow from the northeast and funnel through the gap between the West Maui Mountains and Haleakala, right
across the channel the boats use. They usually build from late morning. Captains will not tie up inside an exposed crater in
whitecaps, so afternoon trips run to Coral Gardens, a reef under the cliffs on the way to Lahaina, which stays calm. It is a good
snorkel. It is not Molokini, and some guests feel short-changed. Book a morning trip if the crater is the point.
The honest small print: "Molokini" in a tour title is a plan, not a promise. Even the raft titled "Molokini
Guaranteed" moves or cancels when conditions turn, and no boat refunds the difference if it snorkels elsewhere. Book early in your
stay and keep a second morning free.
Raft, catamaran or sailboat?
A raft from Kihei gets you to the crater in about 15 minutes and back in two hours, with 24 people or fewer. It is bumpy, has no
restroom worth the name, and the age limits are strict. A big catamaran from Ma'alaea takes 45 minutes to an hour each way, but it
feeds you twice, has slides, shade and a toilet, and carries enough flotation for any swimmer. Sailing boats like the Ali'i Nui and
Four Winds sit between the two: fewer people than the biggest boats, a slower ride, and the sails up when the wind allows.
Our Ma'alaea or Kihei guide goes boat by boat.
Rafts from Kihei: the shortest ride to the crater, and the bumpiest.
In the water
The reef inside the crescent starts about 10 feet below the surface and slopes away into the blue, so nobody touches bottom.
That is fine: the boats hand out flotation belts, noodles and boards, and the crews watch from the water. Look for yellow tang,
Moorish idols, butterflyfish and the occasional whitetip reef shark resting on the sand. Use mineral sunscreen only, keep your fins
off the coral, and give turtles at the second stop 10 feet of space.
A sea turtle at the second stop of an Ali'i Nui morning.
Straight answers to what people ask most about snorkeling at Molokini.
How much does a Molokini snorkel tour cost?
On Viator in 2026, a 2-hour raft trip from Kihei starts at $144 and the big Ma'alaea catamarans with breakfast and lunch run $160 to $233. Sailing and luxury boats cost $269 to $318. The cheapest seat, $100, is an afternoon trip that usually snorkels Coral Gardens instead. The full breakdown is in the price guide.
Is Molokini guaranteed on a snorkel tour?
No. Every operator lists Molokini as weather permitting, and captains pick the site on the day. Four Winds puts it plainly: "We can never guarantee a snorkel location." If the wind is up, boats switch to sheltered reefs like Coral Gardens, and the price stays the same. If the operator cancels for weather, Viator gives you a new date or a full refund.
Is it better to go to Molokini in the morning or the afternoon?
Morning, clearly. The trade winds usually build from late morning, and Four Winds says its morning boats reach Molokini about 90% of the time while afternoon trips rarely do. Book the earliest departure you can face. Details in morning or afternoon.
Should I leave from Ma'alaea or Kihei?
Kihei if you want the shortest ride: rafts reach Molokini in about 15 minutes. Ma'alaea if you want a big catamaran with meals, shade, restrooms and slides; the crossing takes 45 minutes to an hour. Compare them in Ma'alaea or Kihei.
Can non-swimmers go to Molokini?
Yes on the big catamarans, which carry flotation belts, noodles and sea boards with viewing windows, and stay with you in the water. The water in the crater is deeper than you can stand in. Rafts are a poor fit: guests must climb a vertical ladder back on board, and Maui Reef Adventures says its trip is not recommended for non-swimmers.
How old do kids have to be for a Molokini tour?
It depends on the boat. Calypso, Malolo, Pride of Maui and the Ali'i Nui sell child tickets from age 4 and infant tickets below that, Four Winds from 3, Maui Reef Adventures from 4, the Makena Coast raft from 5 and the Redline raft from 8. See Molokini with kids.
What should I bring on a Molokini snorkel trip?
A towel, a mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide (Maui County bans the rest), a rash guard or light layer for the ride home, cash for the crew tip, and motion-sickness tablets if boats bother you. Most boats supply masks, fins and snorkels. Full list: what to bring.
Will I get seasick going to Molokini?
Possibly. The channel gets choppy once the wind picks up, and reviewers on rafts, sailboats and big catamarans all mention seasick passengers. Take a non-drowsy tablet before you board, sit low and in the middle, and pick an early departure. The Calypso sells Dramamine on board, two tablets for $5.
Can you see whales on a Molokini tour?
In season, very likely. Humpback whales are in Hawaiian waters from about November to May, with the peak from January to March, and most morning boats watch them on the way. Boats must stay 100 yards away. More in the 2026-27 whale season post.
Can you land on Molokini?
No. Molokini is a state seabird sanctuary and entry onto the islet is prohibited. You stay in the water or on the boat. The crater has also been a Marine Life Conservation District since 1977: no fishing, no feeding the fish, no taking coral or sand.
What does SNUBA at Molokini cost and how deep do you go?
SNUBA is sold on board on Pride of Maui and Four Winds, at an extra charge paid to the boat. You breathe through a long hose from a tank on a float, down to about 20 feet, with no certification; the usual minimum age is 8. See SNUBA or scuba.
Can I cancel a Molokini snorkel tour?
Every tour on this site cancels for a full refund up to 24 hours before departure when you book on Viator. Booked direct, some operators ask for more notice: Redline Rafting wants 48 hours for small groups and 72 for six or more.
Ready to book
Pick your boat, catch the calm.
Snorkel gear on every boat, and free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every tour.
Quickest to the crater
★ 4.92 hoursFree cancellation
