Booking choice: The Malolo two-stop trip, 5 to 5.5 hours from Ma'alaea Harbor. Book this Compare the options below
Many visitors book a Molokini trip hoping to swim with turtles, then wonder why the crater has so few. The answer is geography: the turtles stay closer to Maui.
This guide explains the difference between the two stops, which trips include both, and what to do if turtles are the main thing you want.
The quick answer
Book a two-stop trip if you want turtles. Turtles are uncommon at Molokini; they gather at the reefs along the Makena coast known as Turtle Town, which many Molokini trips visit as a second stop. If turtles are all you want, a shore kayak to Turtle Town skips the boat ride entirely.
Do you see turtles at Molokini Crater?
Not often. Molokini is known for fish and visibility, while the green sea turtles tend to stay closer to Maui's shores.
Molokini sits about 3 miles out in an open channel, a different setting from the reefs along the Makena coast. So if the crater is your only stop, treat a turtle as a lucky bonus rather than the plan. More on the crater itself in the Molokini Crater guide.
What is Turtle Town?
Turtle Town is the name for reefs off the Makena coast of South Maui where green sea turtles are often seen, and it is the second stop on many Molokini tours.
Names vary by boat. The eco-friendly naturalist tour calls its second stop Turtle Arches, and one Kihei raft lists a shoreline turtle site. This site does not claim these are the same spot; they are turtle sites along the same stretch of coast.
The kayak tour from Makena Landing Park paddles about 1.5 miles to reach Turtle Town, which gives a sense of how close to shore it is.
Get both stops with meals: the Malolo goes from Ma'alaea to Molokini and Turtle Town, with breakfast and a deli lunch.
Book thisIs a two-stop or a one-stop trip better?
A two-stop trip is better if turtles matter to you; a one-stop trip gives you more time at Molokini itself.
Two-stop trips usually do Molokini first and Turtle Town second, conditions permitting. One-stop trips stay at the crater, which suits people who care most about the fish and the clarity.
Length matters too. The Kihei rafts fit both stops into about three hours because the ride is short, while the Ma'alaea catamarans take five hours or more and add meals, shade and space to move around. If you have a whole morning and want a relaxed day, Ma'alaea works; if you want to be back by late morning, look at Kihei.
| Trip | From | Length | Stops |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kihei raft with Turtle Town | Kihei Boat Ramp | 3 hours | Molokini, then Turtle Town, about an hour each |
| Malolo two-stop trip | Ma'alaea Harbor | 5 to 5.5 hours | Molokini + Turtle Town |
| Eco-friendly naturalist tour | Ma'alaea Harbor | 5 hours | Molokini + Turtle Arches |
| Performance sail | Ma'alaea Harbor | 5 hours | Molokini only |
| Two-hour Molokini trip | Kihei Boat Ramp | 2 hours | Molokini, or Turtle Town if the weather says no |
| Turtle Town kayak | Makena Landing Park | 3 hours | Turtle Town only, no boat |
Can you see Turtle Town without a boat trip?
Yes. A guided kayak tour leaves from Makena Landing Park and paddles about 1.5 miles across Makena Bay to Turtle Town, with snorkel stops.
It is the turtle half of a Molokini day on its own, without the open-water crossing. The listing sets the minimum age at five. You give up the crater, so it suits people who want turtles first and are happy to skip Molokini. It also suits anyone who would rather not spend time on a boat at all.
Paddling takes some effort, so check the listing for what it includes before you book.
No boat ride and no channel crossing: a guided paddle across Makena Bay straight to the turtles.
Book thisWhat happens if Molokini is too rough?
The captain moves to a backup site. Several listings state that Molokini is weather permitting, and name the alternative.
The two-hour Kihei trip lists Turtle Town as its alternative when Molokini is not possible. The afternoon trip from Ma'alaea lists Molokini or Coral Gardens, with the captain choosing on the day based on conditions, so Coral Gardens is the afternoon alternative rather than a guaranteed stop.
The state notes that currents around Molokini get stronger with the afternoon winds, which is why morning trips have the better chance at the crater.
What are the rules around sea turtles?
Do not touch, chase, feed or crowd a turtle. Watch from the surface, give it room to come up for air, and follow the distance your crew asks for.
- Float, do not dive down on top of a resting turtle.
- Keep your hands to yourself, even if a turtle swims close.
- Do not block a turtle's path to the surface.
- Listen to the briefing: the crew explains the rules for the site you are at.
Short on time? The Kihei raft spends about an hour at Molokini and about an hour at Turtle Town, all in three hours.
Book thisWhat time of day is best to see turtles in Maui?
There is no reliable time-of-day rule for turtles that this site can vouch for. What is reliable is that mornings tend to bring calmer water for the trip itself.
On two-stop boat trips you reach Turtle Town after Molokini, usually later in the morning. The state notes stronger currents around Molokini with the afternoon winds, so the timing of most trips is set by the sea, not by the turtles. The kayak tour to Turtle Town is also a morning-length outing of about three hours. More in the best time to snorkel Molokini.
What is the best snorkeling on Maui?
It depends on what you want to see. This site does not rank Maui's snorkel spots; it can say that Molokini is known for clarity and fish, and Turtle Town for turtles.
If you want both in one morning, a two-stop trip covers them. If you want a long crater stop, a one-stop trip suits you better.
People also ask whether Lanai or Molokini is better. This site does not cover Lanai trips, so it cannot compare them fairly; it only covers Molokini, Turtle Town and the sites the listed trips visit.
Fish at the crater, then turtles nearer the shore: two stops from Ma'alaea with breakfast and a deli lunch.
Book thisFrequently asked questions
Is Lanai or Molokini better for snorkeling?
This site covers Molokini and South Maui trips, not Lanai, so it does not compare the two. For Molokini, the draw is clear water and fish inside a protected crater.
Can you touch sea turtles in Maui?
No. Do not touch, chase or feed turtles; watch from the surface and follow the distance your crew asks for.
Is Turtle Arches the same as Turtle Town?
Operators use different names for turtle sites along the Makena coast. One tour calls its second stop Turtle Arches; this site does not claim it is the same spot as Turtle Town.
Do all Molokini trips stop at Turtle Town?
No. Some trips are Molokini only, and others add Turtle Town or another turtle site as a second stop. Each listing states its stops.
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Choose your trip
Free cancellation on every option, and every trip is weather permitting.
Molokini & Turtle Town with Meals (Malolo)
Two stops with breakfast and a deli lunch
Kihei Raft to Molokini & Turtle Town
- Safety briefing and fitted snorkel gear at the ramp
- About one hour at Molokini, then about one hour at Turtle Town
- Sandwiches, soft drinks, water, towels and sunscreen
