Maui Nui is the flagship Hawaiian breeding and calving area, especially around the Auau Channel between Maui, Lanai and Molokai. It is one of the easiest high-success winter humpback trips anywhere in the world.

Best Months

Discover where and when to observe Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the wild. 32 observation spots worldwide: Maui Nui / Auau Channel, Hawaii, USA, Hervey Bay / K'gari, Australia, Dominican Republic - Samana Bay / Silver Bank, Newfoundland - Iceberg Alley / St. Vincent's, Canada, Abrolhos Bank / Caravelas, Brazil. Interactive migration map and travel tips.

February: 95%
September: 94%
January: 92%
March: 92%
July: 92%
August: 92%

32 Observation Spots Worldwide

Maui Nui / Auau Channel, Hawaii, USA - 95% (Feb, Jan, Mar)
Hervey Bay / K'gari, Australia - 94% (Sep, Aug, Oct)
Dominican Republic - Samana Bay / Silver Bank - 92% (Mar, Feb, Jan)
Newfoundland - Iceberg Alley / St. Vincent's, Canada - 92% (Jul, Aug, Sep)
Abrolhos Bank / Caravelas, Brazil - 92% (Sep, Aug, Oct)
Ile Sainte-Marie / Antongil Bay, Madagascar - 92% (Aug, Sep, Jul)
Vava'u, Tonga - 92% (Aug, Sep, Oct)
Skjervoy / Northern Norway fjords, Norway - 90% (Dec, Nov, Jan)
Johnstone Strait / Broughton Archipelago, British Columbia, Canada - 90% (Aug, Jul, Sep)
Husavik / Skjalfandi Bay, Iceland - 90% (Aug, Jul, Sep)
Exmouth / Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia - 90% (Sep, Aug, Oct)
Puerto Lopez / Isla de la Plata, Ecuador - 90% (Aug, Sep, Jul)
Rurutu, French Polynesia - 90% (Sep, Oct, Aug)
Bahia Malaga, Colombia - 90% (Sep, Aug, Oct)
Pacific Mexico - Bahia de Banderas / Revillagigedo Archipelago - 88% (Feb, Mar, Jan)
Stellwagen Bank / Cape Cod, USA - 88% (Aug, Jul, Sep)
Saint-Gilles / Saint-Pierre, La Reunion - 88% (Aug, Sep, Jul)
Moorea, French Polynesia - 88% (Sep, Oct, Aug)
Boa Vista / Sal shelf, Cape Verde - 85% (Apr, Mar, May)
Niue - 85% (Aug, Sep, Jul)
Western Antarctic Peninsula / Gerlache Strait - 84% (Jan, Feb, Dec)
Kerama Islands / Okinawa, Japan - 82% (Feb, Mar, Jan)
South Georgia / Scotia Sea - 82% (Jan, Feb, Dec)
Monterey Bay, California, USA - 82% (Jul, Jun, Aug)
Gulf of Chiriqui / Coiba fringe, Panama - 82% (Sep, Aug, Oct)
Hallaniyat Islands / Dhofar, Oman - 78% (Feb, Mar, Jan)
Quirimbas Archipelago, Mozambique - 78% (Sep, Aug, Oct)
Aleutian Islands / Gulf of Alaska, USA - 75% (Aug, Jul, Sep)
Southern Ocean - East Australian sector - 60% (Jan, Feb, Dec)
Southern Ocean - Southwest Indian Ocean sector - 58% (Jan, Feb, Dec)
Southern Ocean - West Australian sector - 56% (Jan, Feb, Dec)
Southern Ocean - Central South Pacific sector - 55% (Jan, Feb, Dec)