Sail out to a sunken volcanic crater and snorkel its clear, fish-filled water. Every
bookable Molokini trip compared: sailing catamaran or fast raft, Maalaea or Kihei, and why the morning
boat matters.
Sail, motor or raftWhich boats really sail, spelled out
Real guest ratingsLive Viator & Tripadvisor figures
Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before, on every tour here
Secure checkout on ViatorMobile ticket, instant confirmation
Tours
Choose your Molokini snorkel sail
The Four Winds II morning, the trip that carries the "Molokini Sail and Snorkel Adventure"
name, in the centre. Beside it, a true sailing catamaran and the naturalist-led two-stop trip with turtles.
Sail Maui's performance catamaran Paragon II, with a light breakfast, buffet lunch, beer and wine on board. The pick if you want the sails up and a smaller crowd, not just a motor ride.
What's included
Snorkel at Molokini Crater (about an hour in the water)
Light breakfast with local coffee, buffet lunch and drinks
Snorkel gear, flotation and reef-safe sunscreen
Maximum of 49 guests on board
Not included: hotel transfers, harbor parking, tips
A 55-foot glass-bottom catamaran from Maalaea with a naturalist, breakfast, lunch and drinks. The classic family morning, with a sheltered backup reef if Molokini is rough.
What's included
Morning snorkel at Molokini Crater, conditions permitting
Tropical breakfast, lunch, water, soda, beer, wine and juice
Mask, snorkel, fins, optical masks, sea boards and flotation
Glass-bottom viewing room and snorkel instruction
Not included: hotel transfers, parking, towels, wetsuit top, SNUBA, tips
Pacific Whale Foundation's 54-foot catamaran: Molokini, then Turtle Arches for sea turtles, with fish ID and learn-to-snorkel classes, breakfast and a BBQ lunch.
What's included
Two snorkel stops: Molokini Crater and Turtle Arches
Fitted gear including optical masks, flotation and a guided reef tour
Continental breakfast and BBQ lunch, with vegan burgers
Soft drinks, juice and one adult alcoholic drink
Not included: hotel transfers, harbor parking, tips
Every trip here snorkels the same crater. What differs is the boat (a sailing catamaran, a big
power catamaran or a fast raft), the harbor you leave from, the number of stops and how much food and comfort
comes with it.
Children pay less on most trips. None of these tours includes hotel transfers: you
drive to Maalaea Harbor (metered parking) or Kihei Boat Ramp (free parking). Every tour cancels free up to 24
hours ahead.
The crater
Half a volcano, sunk in the sea: Maui's clearest water.
Molokini is a crescent-shaped volcanic crater about 2.5 miles off Makena on Maui's south coast. It
erupted roughly 230,000 years ago; today only the rim shows above the water, 161 feet at its highest,
curving round a sheltered bay. Inside that bay the reef has been protected as a Marine Life
Conservation District since 1977, and the islet itself is a seabird sanctuary you cannot land on.
With no river runoff and deep ocean on every side, the water is famously clear.
The honest part: Molokini is popular, and on a calm morning you share it with a dozen or more boats. It
is also exposed. When the trade winds or swell pick up, captains skip the crater and take you to a
sheltered reef such as Turtle Town instead. It happens often enough that the best advice is simple: book
an early departure, early in your stay, so you can rebook if the sea says no.
250
Marine species recorded around the crater, including
38 hard corals. Visibility is often over 100 feet.
Marine Life Conservation DistrictSeabird sanctuaryBack WallTurtle Town
Molokini from above: boats moor inside the crescent.
01
Does the boat really sail?
Only some do. Mornings are calm, so most motor out; sailing cats hoist the sails when the wind comes up.
02
Is the crater guaranteed?
No. The captain decides on the day and switches to a sheltered reef if Molokini is rough.
03
When should I go?
Early morning. Four Winds' own site says afternoon trips rarely make it to the crater.
04
Who might skip it?
Anyone prone to bad seasickness, or strong snorkelers who hate crowds: try a small raft to the Back Wall.
The day
How a Molokini morning unfolds
A typical five-hour catamaran trip from Maalaea. Rafts from Kihei follow the same pattern, faster.
01
Harbor check-in
Park, check in at the slip and board. Breakfast and a safety and snorkel briefing on the way out.
6:30 to 7:30 AM
02
Into the crater
Moor inside the crescent and snorkel for about an hour over coral, with reef fish all around.
Mid-morning
03
The turtle stop
Most trips move on to Turtle Town, Turtle Arches or Coral Gardens to look for green sea turtles.
Late morning
04
Lunch and the sail home
Lunch on deck, then back to the harbor as the wind builds: the best sailing of the day.
Getting there, ages and prices, conditions and what to bring: one tab each.
Maalaea Harbor (catamarans): a short drive from Kihei and Wailea, further from West Maui. Metered parking, paid by card or QR code.
Kihei Boat Ramp (rafts), 2800 S Kihei Rd: free parking above the ramp, about 15 minutes by boat to Molokini.
No tour on this page includes hotel transfers, so plan to drive or take a taxi.
Arrive 30 to 45 minutes early: most boats leave on time and cannot wait.
Guests report cars towed at Maalaea when the meter ran out, so pay for the whole trip.
Prices on this page are Viator from-prices per adult; children pay less on most trips.
Catamarans welcome young children with life vests; rafts often set minimum ages (8 and up on Redline's short trip).
Meals are included on the five-hour trips; the two-hour rafts include gear only.
SNUBA, wetsuit tops and photos are paid extras on some boats.
Crew tips are not included; 15 to 20% is customary.
Molokini is a Marine Life Conservation District: no fishing, collecting or feeding fish, and no touching coral.
You cannot land on the islet: it is a state seabird sanctuary.
Stay 100 yards from humpback whales; boats cut engines when whales come close.
The captain decides whether conditions allow Molokini on the day.
Some boats (Pride of Maui) do not allow full-face snorkel masks.
Mineral sunscreen only (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide): Maui County law since 2022.
A rash guard or light long-sleeve top for sun and warmth.
A towel (not supplied on every boat), a hat and sunglasses with a strap.
A light layer for the ride home, when the wind picks up.
Seasickness tablets taken before you board, and cash for tips.
Stop 1Inside the craterThe sheltered reef in the crescent, shallow enough near the rim to see the coral clearly.
Conditions permittingThe Back WallThe outer face of the crater drops to around 250 feet; rafts drift-snorkel it on calm days.
Stop 2Turtle TownLava reefs off Makena where green sea turtles feed and rest.
Stop 2Turtle ArchesPacific Whale Foundation's second stop, with lava arches and turtles.
BackupCoral GardensA sheltered reef along the west Maui coast, used when Molokini is too rough.
Winter bonusHumpback whalesDecember to April, often seen from the boat on the way out and back.
Where the day happens
Molokini location
Molokini Crater, off south Maui
About 2.5 miles off Makena, Maui, Hawaii
You cannot drive to Molokini: every visit starts at a harbor. The big catamarans leave from
Maalaea Harbor on the isthmus between west and south Maui, the rafts from Kihei Boat Ramp
on South Kihei Road, much closer to the crater. Your voucher names the exact slip or check-in desk,
which differs by operator.
Maalaea: 101 to 300 Maalaea Rd, metered parking
Kihei Boat Ramp: 2800 S Kihei Rd, free parking
Check-in usually 30 to 45 minutes before departure
4.7★★★★★ 858 reviews · Four Winds II Molokini sail and snorkel live Viator & Tripadvisor figure
★★★★★
This was our favorite experience on our trip! The boat and crew were lovely. The snorkeling experience was a first for many in our family and it was perfect!! My kids can't stop talking about it.
★★★★★
A gorgeous sail to Molokini, with loads of humpback whales seen en route and dolphins to greet us going back. The snorkeling was perfect in terms of crystal clear waters brimming with colorful fish.
★★★★★
Two snorkel spots with lots to see. We swam with sea turtles at the second one and saw a lot of wildlife. The naturalists on the boat were so engaged with the kids.
★★★★★
They had a lot of gear to help first time snorkelers. They even had a selection of prescription masks (total game changer).
★★★★★
There were 4 snorkeling stops and we were never rushed at any of them. Our captain was extremely informative giving us information about each area we stopped at. Molokini is the highlight of course.
★★★★★
What a wonderful day sailing and snorkeling to Molokini reef. Great crew! Good food. Beautiful day! Definitely recommend smaller sailing vessel. More personal.
★★★★★
Our family had a great morning snorkel trip on the Four Winds. We had an added surprise of seeing many whales on our way to Molokini. The food was really good as well.
★★★★★
I'm not the best swimmer at age 70 but they had all kinds of options. Flotation belts, life jackets and a few paddle boards were available. Also the staff in the water as life guards.
★★★★★
Great experience! Crew and food were great. Snorkelling was fun. The bonus whale watching was awesome!
Here in winter?
Add a whale watch too
Snorkel tours see whales by luck. A dedicated whale watch goes looking for them, for a
fraction of the price, and suits anyone who would rather stay dry.
Whale Watching on the Quicksilver from Maalaea
★ 4.6 · 1,668 reviews · 2 hours
From December to April, thousands of humpback whales come to Maui's warm, shallow waters to breed and calve. This two-hour trip on a power catamaran from Maalaea goes looking for them, with a hydrophone to hear the whale song, commentary from the crew, a shaded cabin and restrooms on board.
A Molokini trip is Maui's classic morning on the water: a boat ride past the West Maui
Mountains and Haleakala, an hour or so in the clearest water in the islands, a turtle stop and lunch on
deck. Here is how to choose the boat, what the price buys and how to give yourself the best chance of a
perfect day.
What Molokini is, and what it isn't
Molokini is the rim of an extinct volcano, a crescent of rock that rises from deep water between Maui and
the uninhabited island of Kahoolawe. The open side of the crescent faces away from the prevailing swell, so
the inside is often calm, and the reef there is one of the most protected in Hawaii: no fishing, no
collecting, no fish feeding since 1977. It is not a beach and not a place you can walk on. You snorkel
from a boat moored to one of the permitted buoys inside the rim, usually for about an hour, and then move on.
Turtles are more reliable at the second stop than inside the crater.
Sail, motor or raft?
"Sail and snorkel" is the name everyone searches, but the boats are very different. Sailing
catamarans such as Sail Maui's Paragon II and the Alii Nui carry sails and use them when the wind
allows, which on a Molokini morning usually means the ride home. Big power catamarans like the Pride
of Maui and the Malolo are stable, roomy and serve hot lunches, but never raise a sail. The Four Winds
II, the boat behind the "Molokini Sail and Snorkel Adventure" listing, is a glass-bottom catamaran
built for families. And the rafts from Kihei are fast, small and wet: 15 minutes to the crater, often
the Back Wall too, but little shade, and no toilet on the two-hour trips.
The honest small print: no operator can promise Molokini. When the wind, swell or
current are too strong, the captain goes somewhere sheltered instead, and several 2026 reviews on the
bigger boats describe exactly that. It is a safety call, not a scam. Book the earliest trip you can, early
in your holiday, and treat the crater as the likely plan rather than a guarantee.
What the price really buys
Viator prices for Molokini run from about $147 for a two-hour raft to about $306 for a luxury sail with
an open bar. The five-hour catamaran mornings in the middle, from $160 to $235, include breakfast, lunch,
drinks and all the gear. On top of that, budget for parking at Maalaea (guests report around $3 an hour),
a crew tip and any extras like SNUBA or a wetsuit top. The cheapest boats carry the most people; the dearer
ones buy you space, better food and, on the sailing cats, the sails.
Breakfast and lunch are included on the five-hour catamaran trips.
Making the most of the morning
Pick the first departure, park with time to spare and put mineral sunscreen on before you board. Take
seasickness tablets early if you need them. In the water, swim away from the ladder crowd, look down the
sand channels for rays and eels, and let the crew point out what you are seeing. Save some energy for the
second stop, where the turtles are, and stay on deck for the ride back when the wind fills the sails.
Mineral sunscreen, a rash guard and a towel: the Molokini kit.
Straight answers to what visitors ask most about Molokini snorkel and sail trips.
How much does a Molokini snorkel tour cost?
On Viator in 2026, Molokini trips run from about $147 for a two-hour raft from Kihei to about $306 for a luxury sailing catamaran with an open bar. Most five-hour catamaran mornings from Maalaea with breakfast and lunch cost $160 to $235. Harbor parking and crew tips are extra. See the price guide.
Do Molokini "sail and snorkel" tours actually sail?
Partly. Molokini trips leave early, when the sea is calm and the trade winds are light, so most boats motor out and raise the sails, if at all, on the way back once the wind builds. Sailing catamarans such as Sail Maui's Paragon II and the Alii Nui sail when the wind allows; big power catamarans and rafts never do.
Is Molokini guaranteed on a snorkel tour?
No. The captain decides on the morning. If wind, swell or current make the crater unsafe, boats go to a sheltered spot such as Turtle Town or Coral Gardens instead, and the tour still runs. Several 2026 guests on the Four Winds, Pride of Maui and Malolo report exactly this. Morning trips have the best odds. Read morning vs afternoon.
Which is better for Molokini: Maalaea or Kihei?
Kihei Boat Ramp is much closer: rafts reach the crater in about 15 minutes, with free parking, but the ride is bumpy and the two-hour rafts have no restrooms. Maalaea Harbor has the big catamarans, with shade, restrooms, meals and a smoother but longer ride; parking is metered. Compare them in Maalaea vs Kihei.
Can you land on Molokini?
No. Molokini is a Hawaii State Seabird Sanctuary and landing is prohibited without permits. The water around it has been a Marine Life Conservation District since 1977, so fishing, collecting and feeding the fish are banned too. You snorkel from a boat moored inside the crescent.
What will I see snorkeling at Molokini?
Clear water, often with 100 feet or more of visibility, over a reef with about 250 marine species: yellow tang, butterflyfish, parrotfish, triggerfish, moray eels and sometimes reef sharks. Sea turtles are more reliable at the second stop (Turtle Town or Turtle Arches), and humpback whales are often seen on the way from December to April.
Do I need to be a good swimmer to snorkel Molokini?
No, but you should be comfortable in open water. Every tour here provides flotation belts or vests, and the catamarans add noodles, sea boards and lifeguards in the water. The crater is deep, so non-swimmers should stay close to the boat and use a flotation aid. Rafts need you to climb a ladder back aboard.
What should I bring on a Molokini snorkel tour?
Mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide (Maui County has banned the sale and use of non-mineral sunscreen since October 2022), a rash guard, a towel, a hat, a light layer for the ride back, seasickness tablets if you need them and cash for tips. Gear is provided. See what to bring.
Is Molokini good for kids?
Yes, on a catamaran. The Four Winds II, Pride of Maui and Pacific Whale Foundation boats have life vests for young children, restrooms, shade and food. Rafts from Kihei often set a minimum age (Redline's two-hour trip takes ages 8 and up), so check before you book. Read Molokini with kids.
Can you see whales on a Molokini tour?
In winter, often. Humpback whales are in Maui waters roughly from December to April, with most between January and March, and the channel between Maalaea and Molokini is one of the best places to see them. Boats must keep 100 yards away. For a dedicated trip, the two-hour whale watch from Maalaea starts at about $50.
Can I cancel my Molokini tour?
Yes. Every tour listed here cancels for a full refund up to 24 hours before on Viator. If the operator cancels for weather, you are offered another date or a refund.
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