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Zodiac Raft Whale Watching: Witness Magnificent Humpback Whales in Their Natural Habitat
4.9
483 Ratings
Kailua-Kona
Experience the thrill of witnessing magnificent humpback whales in their natural habitat on a Zodiac raft. Get up close and personal with these 40-foot giants as they migrate and even come right under the boat!
Experience the thrill of witnessing magnificent humpback whales in their natural habitat on a Zodiac raft. Get up close and personal with these 40-foot giants as they migrate and even come right under the boat!
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- 74-425 Kealakehe Pkwy - Join us for an adventure to see our seasonal Humpback whales as they come home to Hawaii to calf and mate during the winter months. Our twin powered Zodiac boats can cover lots of ground as we leave the harbor and venture out to find these majestic beauties. Scanning the horizon for any blows, splashes, or flukes as your…
- 74-425 Kealakehe Pkwy - Join us for an adventure to see our seasonal Humpback whales as they come home to Hawaii to calf and mate during the winter months. Our twin powered Zodiac boats can cover lots of ground as we leave the harbor and venture out to find these majestic beauties. Scanning the horizon for any blows, splashes, or flukes as your captain will engage all guests with an informative narrative about the Humpback whales. Bring along any camera you have to take breath taking photographs from 100 yards away. Relax for a short snack break when you have a chance to because the whales always seem to know when the cameras are down. Its a three hour tour but packed full of action from start to finish.
What's Included
- Rafting expedition
- Beverages and snacks included
- Local taxes covered
- Rafting expedition
- Beverages and snacks included
- Local taxes covered
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop off
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop off
Additional Information
Seeing 40 foot (12 meter) whales from a 24 foot (7 meter) Zodiac raft creates unforgettable memories! Adhering to Hawaiian Marine Park regulations of maintaining at least 100 yards (90 meters) distance from these grand creatures, you get an up-close view of the traveling humpback whales. It’s not rare for them to exhibit curiosity about the raft and swim directly beneath it!
- Minimum age is 4 years
Seeing 40 foot (12 meter) whales from a 24 foot (7 meter) Zodiac raft creates unforgettable memories! Adhering to Hawaiian Marine Park regulations of maintaining at least 100 yards (90 meters) distance from these grand creatures, you get an up-close view of the traveling humpback whales. It’s not rare for them to exhibit curiosity about the raft and swim directly beneath it!
- Minimum age is 4 years
Location
Captain Zodiac Snorkeling and Whale Watching tours
Kealakehe Parkway
Captain Zodiac is located at 74-425 Kealakehe Parkway, suite #16. We are in the Honokohau Marina and small boat harbor located approximately 5 miles south of the Kona Airport and approximately 2 miles north of the town of Kailua-Kona. Meet at our office in the Gentry's Kona Marina parking lot.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(483 Ratings)
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Guide65813330763
Mar 16, 2026
Whale watching on a Zodiac - Enjoyed the whale watching experience
Review provided by Tripadvisor
50britneyg
Mar 12, 2026
Saw lots of wildlife and had a good time. - We saw spinner dolphins, 6 whales, wedgies and boobies (birds) we also picked up trash out of the ocean and brought a baby octopus and crab on board that was released. Captain was full of knowledge and jokes 😃. I forgot their names but one has lived on the island for 10 years and the other was on /off for 10 years. Had a good time and we'll worth the money we paid!
The boat wasnt too bumpy, although the next few days my butt felt like I was riding a bike forever 🤣
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Explorer58439682809
Mar 10, 2026
Whales, Sharks and Speedboats! - Great crew and a bucket list experience. There was a real National Geographic moment on our trip i which a deceased sperm whale was floating a bit off the coast. We were able to watch sharks feeding and saw trained divers getting into the water to observe. Highly recommend this trip over the slower boats that cant go as far with the time allotted.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vickir_b
Mar 9, 2026
Ashley and Alex are the best! - Ashley and Alex were so great. They educated us while finding SO many whales. You can tell they truly care about the species and we learned a lot, but we also got to see so many breaches! We saw flips and turns, spouts and tails... it was amazing! We saw 6 or 7 different whales, including a baby who was quite playful! The zodiac ride is not for the faint of heart-- it's bumpy but FUN and we loved our experience. We would do it again, most definitely!!
Review provided by Viator
Robync325
Mar 6, 2026
So much fun - Awesome ride with Capt. Gabe and Michelle. Saw a few whales and a lot of spinner dolphins. We had a couple of people who ‘lost their cookies’ but Gabe and Michelle were very sensitive, had them move to the back of the raft and navigated the choppy seas as smoothly as possible. If you’re prone to sea sickness, take something prior so you can truly enjoy the natural beauty of the ocean and the wealth of information provided by captain and crew.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jamiell6515it
Mar 5, 2026
Zodiac whale trip is super! - We lived this whale boat excursion. It was a small and intimate group and the guide was so enthusiastic and knowledgable! All theses life was pointed out with details- truly a worthwhile trip!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jenna_b
Mar 5, 2026
10/10 would do again! - The boat ride is physical and by no means a luxury expedition (the zodiac is in great shape, but you’re hanging on to the side of a raft, not in a cushy seat). BUT Captain Ashley and Alec 100% gave a luxury expedition with their collective knowledge and overall experience. We saw several humpbacks and had a great experience wrapping up with a beautiful sunset as we headed into the marina.
Review provided by Viator
Q2734schollyr
Mar 4, 2026
Thrilling Ride! - I loved our whale watching tour. Captains Ashley and Alec were very knowledgeable and accomodating to everyone on board. Riding on a zodiac was thrilling and bumpy. Just make sure that is the kind of ride you are looking for. I wish I had taken dramamine before the ride but that is totally my fault. They knew exactly where to go to find the whales and it did not dissapoint. If I was to go again, I would take dramamine and maybe a glove to avoid rope burn. All in all, I have no regrets and very much recommend this experience to everyone that doesn't have medical concerns that would make the trip more difficult. I especially appreciate the staff's dedication to and love for these beautiful animals.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paul_s
Mar 3, 2026
Highly recommend! - The crew, Shelby and Alec were awesome. Very informative and super friendly with a great sense of humor. If I do this again I want these 2.
Review provided by Viator
T957swlindak
Mar 15, 2026
Disappointed turns to gratitude - Went on the captain zodiac whale watching tour several years ago and it was the highlight of our trip to Kauai. Unfortunately the weather this year did not cooperate so we were all disappointed when it had to be canceled. However we're thankful that the staff was concerned enough about our safety that it was canceled. We received a refund so that helped soothe our disappointment.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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