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Kona Whale Watching Cruise

Name: Kona Whale Watching Cruise
Brand: Kona Snorkel Trips
Price: 139.87 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (9217 reviews)

Search for seasonal humpback whales aboard a fast retired Navy SEAL boat

5.0 stars• 9.2K reviews

Duration

2 hours

Ideal For

Up to 18 people

Includes

Drinks, snacks

Highlights

Set out aboard Orca to search the Kona coast for humpback whales migrating to Hawaii's warm waters to mate, give birth, and nurse their young. This fast retired Navy SEAL boat can cover more coastline as you watch for a spout or flipper in the clear blue water.

Cruise the Kona coast aboard the fast-moving Orca
Search for seasonal humpback whales in Hawaii's warm waters
Watch for spouts and flippers that may reveal nearby whales

What's Included

Drinks
Snacks

Important details

Ages 3+ only
A parent or guardian must accompany anyone under 18
Complete the digital waiver before arrival
Expectant mothers and people with regular back or neck issues are not permitted
This boat is not suitable for people with impaired mobility
This boat is not recommended for ages 75 and older
Arrive by check-in; arriving 15 minutes late forfeits your seat
If requested at check-in, present the card used for your booking and matching valid photo ID
Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed

Cancellation Policy

Refundable tickets: full refund or free rebooking up to 48 hours before start. Non-refundable tickets: no refund; rebooking up to 48 hours before start. With the Flexible Cancellation Upgrade, refundable tickets canceled up to 12 hours before start receive a 50% refund. No refunds or rebooking for no-shows or late arrivals. If the operator cancels, receive a full refund or reschedule based on availability.

Product ID: V5YDSS

FAQs

Bring sun-protective clothing, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a camera with a zoom lens. Shade is limited, so wear a sun-protective shirt over swimwear.

Expect sea spray while underway on Orca. Storage space is limited, so leave most belongings on land and bring a small dry bag for essentials.

A limited supply of binoculars is available to rent for the whale watch.

Review summary

5.0

Excellent

9.2K reviewsGoogle Maps

If manta ray encounters are on your bucket list, this is the operation to book. Reviewers consistently rave about getting up close with mantas, spinner dolphins, sea turtles, and even the occasional sandbar shark. The wildlife sightings sound genuinely spectacular, not just lucky one-offs. The crew gets called out by name constantly, with guides like Tori, Adam, Ty, Amy, and Shari earning praise for being knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and great at keeping groups engaged and safe. That personal touch seems to elevate the experience well beyond a standard boat tour. With nearly perfect ratings across thousands of reviews and zero consistent complaints to speak of, the pattern here is hard to ignore. The manta ray night snorkel in particular gets described as a trip highlight by almost everyone who does it. If you're on the Big Island and on the fence, the overwhelming consensus is pretty clear: just go.

What people are saying

Amy, Tori, Adam, thank you for the most amazing night with manta. This is definitely the highlight of the whole trip. Highly recommended.

Ivy Zhang

September 2, 2026

Amy, Tori, Adam, thank you for the most amazing night with manta. This is definitely the highlight of the whole trip. Highly recommended.

Ivy Zhang

September 2, 2026

Meeting details

Kona Snorkel Trips, 74-381 Kealakehe Parkway Suite E, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Experience provided by Kona Snorkel Trips

Book with confidence

No hidden fees
The price you see is the price you pay. Nothing is added at checkout.
A real concierge team
Questions, changes or special requests? Our concierge team sorts it out with the operator for you.
Flexible cancellation
Most experiences refund in full when you cancel within the cancellation window.