ALOHA!
So perhaps the #1 reason to choose to visit Maluaka Beach is because it’s called the Turtle Town of Maui for a reason!
You can increase your chances of swimming with turtles on Maui by snorkeling at Maluaka Beach!
Of course, while it is called turtle town, sea turtles are wildlife (marine life) so there is no guarantee, but it’s a snorkeling spot on Maui to try if swimming with turtles is at the top of your list of things to do on Maui.
If you’re lucky, you might even see a turtle popping its head out of the water, so you can also come here for a chance to see turtles without getting in the water too.
The best snorkeling at Maluaka Beach is considered to be over to the left side as you’re facing the ocean (south side of the beach).
Side note!
Things to buy on Amazon for your adventures!
I am an Amazon Associate. I may earn a commission.
- Lightweight quick-dry hiking shorts (comfortable shorts that are good for movement!)
- for women: hiking shorts | for men: hiking shorts
- Lightweight quick-dry hiking pants
- for women: hiking pants | for men: hiking pants
- capris for women
- Some of the best outdoor travel brands:
- When you fly: If you have an iphone, you can put an airtag tracker in your luggage so you can better keep track of it! Buy just one, or buy a pack of 4. (Read the reviews!) This also makes a good travel gift!
But even aside from snorkeling and swimming with turtles, Maluaka Beach can be a good beach for hanging out at.
While people do visit Maluaka Beach, so you likely won’t have the beach to yourself, it’s generally less visited than the resort area beaches. So going to Maluaka Beach can be a way to get away from the beach crowds of Wailea or the beach crowds of Kaanapali!
You can get a clear view of the other part of Maui from Maluaka Beach too.
You can also bring a picnic lunch, and there are some picnic tables so you can eat with those ocean views!
If you drive a bit further south than Maluaka Beach, you might find a Jawz fish tacos food truck along the side of the road, maybe just past Oneuli black sand beach.
If you don’t see it there, there’s a good chance there will be a Jawz food truck in the Makena Beach parking lot.
You can get it “to-go” (which likely just means a piece of foil to cover your plate), and then eat it at Maluaka Beach!
If you’re on Maui during whale season, there are lots of spots around Maui that you can try your luck at seeing whales from shore.
And Maluaka Beach can also serve as a comfortable spot from which you might be able to see some whales swimming off in the distance!
This is one of the many spots on Maui I’ve seen whales.
Bring your binoculars to see them better!
Maluaka Beach is located in South Maui, and it’s a pretty easy drive to get to this part of Maui.
If you’re staying in South Maui’s main resort area of Wailea, it’ll be maybe a 10 minute drive. If you’re staying in West Maui‘s main resort area of Kaanapali, then it’ll be about an hour drive.
Can you get to Maluaka Beach by bus?
The nearest bus stop to Maluaka Beach is near the Shops of Wailea.
Maluaka Beach is around 3 miles from the bus stop. So depending on whether or not you think a 6 mile round trip walk is walking distance, you may or may not consider Turtle Town to be accessible by bus!
What the people of Maui want you to know about Maluaka Beach
No lifeguards on duty
Ocean dangers include:
- strong current
- high surf
- dangerous shorebreak
- man-o-war / jellyfish
- waves break
- sudden drop-off
- sharp coral
- slippery rocks
More of Hawaii marine life
If you’re interested in snorkeling at Maluaka Beach, then you may also be interested in this marine life in Hawaii:
- Hookipa Beach turtles in Maui
- Hookipa Beach seals in Maui
- Punaluu black sand beach turtles on the Big Island
- Waikiki turtles in Oahu
Know before you go! Know what it is when you see it!
- humuhumunukunukuapua’a (Hawaii state fish… it’s not as hard to pronounce as you might think!)
- Hawaiian white-spotted toby (cute little Hawaiian pufferfish!)
More below about what a trip to Maluaka Beach can be like!
🐢🌴
Top Maui tours
Read the reviews at partner website Viator!*
- Turtle town snorkeling tour (with photo and video)
- Lahaina ATV adventure tour
- Horseback riding tour with Hawaiian cowboys
Things you might want to pack for your Maui vacation
Read the reviews on Amazon! I'm an Amazon Associate.*
- For women: Search for a rash guard for swimming and you won't have to worry as much about putting on sunscreen!
- Search for a rash guard for men
- Water shoes for snorkeling if you won't be wearing fins, or just generally for the beach!
- Cheapo waterproof phone case so you can capture pictures of colorful fishies swimming underwater!
- I always have a camera float attached to my phone case that I put around my wrist
- Snorkeling set: mask and fins
- Fins allow you to propel further faster (aka see more in less time and energy!)
- Go cheap if you accept that you need to come up for air frequently: regular swimming googles. They are not as fashionable but if you get swimming goggles, make them the clear kind so you won't be seeing dimmed colors of the colorful fishies!
- If you are able, I recommend trying out the mask at your local lake (in summer) or pool so you will be good to go in Hawaii when there's actually stuff to see!
- Travel-friendly turkish towel for the beach (lightweight compared to regular beach towels)
- For women: Teva walking sandals (one of the best sandal brands for the outdoors, perfect for lots of walking around outside - that's not a lava field!)
- For men: Teva sandals
- For women: Merrell hiking shoes (one of the best outdoor shoe brands, perfect for walking over rugged terrain like lava fields!)
- For men: Merrell hiking shoes
- Moisture-wicking tech t-shirt for women perfect for hiking and hot days when you'll be outside a lot sweating
- tech-t-shirt for men
- For more ideas, do a search for hiking clothes or swimming clothes!
*As a Viator partner and Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission.
📌 Save this post for later! Save on Pinterest! 👈📌
For a good chance of seeing turtles without getting in the water, also have a look at the turtle beach near Paia where you might see seals too!
And now…
A bit more of what you might see with a visit to Maluaka Beach!
aka PHOTOS!
These pictures were taken in January 2020.
There’s a north end and a south end that you can arrive at Maluaka Beach to. Which side you come from may more or less depend on what you were doing before! There’s no entry fee or parking fee at Maluaka Beach, as of the time I went.
North…
South…
You’ll find a beach path at either end.
North end…
South end…
The south end (to the left side of the beach as you’re facing the ocean) is where you’ll find the bathrooms and outdoor showers to rinse off the sand and salt water.
This end is also where you’ll find the picnic tables and the spot where you can do some whale watching from a bit higher than sea level.
And again, it’s on this side of the beach that could be better for a chance to see turtles.
And that’s a bit about one of the top snorkeling beaches to swim with turtles in Maui on your own from shore!
See some snorkeling essentials for Hawaii to pack for your trip to Maui!
See more beaches in South Maui:
- Natural area reserve snorkeling spots
- The kind of black sand beach
- The hidden cove
- The hidden hippie beach
HAPPY (HOPEFULLY) SWIMMING WITH TURTLES IN SOUTH MAUI!
