If you are choosing a week, the counts make the decision for you.
Tours: mid-December to early April · Best month: February| Month | Whales counted (average) |
|---|---|
| January | 739 |
| February | 866 |
| March | 272 |
Counts drop by more than two-thirds from February to March. If your trip is in late March or April, book a boat rather than counting on shore sightings.
McGregor Point, Papawai Scenic Lookout, the Wailea Oceanside Path and the Kāʻanapali Beach walking path.
Maui and Los Cabos share the same winter peak. Juneau is the summer counterpart. See the calendar.
February. Shore counts averaged 866 whales in February from 2024 to 2026, the highest of the season.
From mid-December to early April. The first whales arrive in November, and a few linger into May.
Different, not better. Maui is for breeding whales in winter: breaching, mothers and calves. Juneau is for feeding whales in summer. If you can only go one time of year, that decides it.
Where this comes from (checked November 6, 2026). Whales do not read calendars; seasons shift year to year.