Three Tiki Sailing's Waikiki turtle snorkel tour is a 2-hour, 11 am sail on the trimaran Hokulani from Ala Wai Harbor to Turtle Canyon, with gear, vests and in-water lifeguards included for $99 per adult. It suits families and beginners who want a short, supervised reef stop. The drawback is crowding: one reviewer saw several boats at one turtle.
Highlights
$99 adult and $84 child direct; $89 on Tripster and $115 on Greetwell, as of October 2026.
Departs 11:00 am daily per the Magpie listing, with check-in 20–30 minutes before.
Snorkel mask, fins, snorkel, inflatable life vests, in-water lifeguards and guides are included.
Turtle guarantee: if nobody on board sees a turtle, you may get one free return trip within 7 days, subject to availability (Tripster listing).
BYOB with a large iced cooler; bottled water included; onboard restrooms.
What to Expect
You check in at the Three Tiki booth at 95 Holomoana St, Ala Wai Boat Harbor, 20–30 minutes before the 11:00 am departure and give the full names of each traveler.
The crew escorts you to the Hokulani, fits snorkel gear and vests, and stows your canned drinks in the cooler.
The boat heads to Turtle Canyon, a reef off Waikiki where green sea turtles gather; the crossing is short enough that most of the 2 hours is split between the reef and the sail home.
At the reef you snorkel with in-water lifeguards; flotation vests are inflatable and the crew helps with equipment.
After the snorkel the crew hoists the sails when the wind allows and returns along the coast with Diamond Head and the skyline in view.
You are back at the harbor about 1:00 pm.
What's Included
Snorkel mask, fins and snorkel
Inflatable flotation vests
In-water lifeguards and guides
Complimentary bottled water
Cooler with ice for BYOB canned drinks
Onboard restrooms and shaded seating
What's Not Included
Gratuity (15–20% customary per operator FAQ)
Food
Drinks beyond water (BYOB, cans only)
Harbor parking (paid)
What to Bring
Swimwear and towel
Reef-safe, non-spray sunscreen
Sunglasses and camera
Valid photo ID
Canned drinks if you want them; space for extra gear is limited
Restrictions and Requirements
Basic swimming skills required
Not recommended for people with heart conditions or other medical issues
Not wheelchair accessible; guests must step aboard with minimal assistance
Infants must sit on laps; pets not allowed, service animals welcome
No glass containers
Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation with a full refund up to 24 hours before the tour; no refund inside 24 hours or for no-shows. Checked October 2026 on Magpie (Three Tiki Sailing listing). Greetwell applies a 48-hour window for groups of 6 or more on this operator's cruises.
Three Tiki Sailing, Ala Wai Boat Harbor, 95 Holomoana St, Honolulu, HI 96815, next to the Prince Waikiki hotel
Check-In
20 minutes before departure per Magpie (10:40 am for the 11:00 am sail); Tripster says 30 minutes
Parking and Getting There
Paid parking at Ala Wai Boat Harbor; walking distance or short rideshare from most Waikiki hotels
Ratings from every source we could find
Google
4.9
790 reviews
Google Maps — Summarized by Our Team
General Waikiki turtle snorkel sentiment applies.
Last checked 2026-09-15
Ratings and review counts are checked periodically and may not reflect same-day changes on each platform.
What the Reviews Say
We read 1 full review (Greetwell/Google, September 2026, a snorkel trip) and the platform's summary of other reviews on Greetwell's Three Tiki's Sailing listings, including one summarized complaint about the snorkel site. Collected October 2026.
What Reviewers Praise
Turtles seen on most snorkel trips(1 of 1 review we read, plus the platform summary)
The September 2026 reviewer saw many turtles and fish at the reef; the Greetwell summary says most snorkel trips spot sea turtles and some see dolphins.
— Greetwell (Google), 5★, September 2026: saw many turtles and fish while snorkeling and called it a highlight of the trip.
Crew helps with gear and keeps watch(1 of 1 review we read, plus the platform summary)
The reviewer named three crew members; the summary describes the crew as safety-conscious and helpful with equipment at the snorkel site.
— Greetwell (Google), 5★, September 2026: the captain and two crew were named for making an anniversary trip memorable.
What Reviewers Complain About
Crowded snorkel site and murky water(1 report (summarized on Greetwell) · outside operator's control · most recent: date not shown)
One reviewer described several boats clustered around one turtle at Turtle Canyon with poor visibility. Turtle Canyon is shared by many Waikiki operators, so crowding at 11 am is plausible on any trip.
— Greetwell (Google), star not shown, undated: several boats around a single turtle and murky water.
Sailing portion shorter than expected(1 report (summarized on Greetwell) · outside operator's control · most recent: date not shown)
The same reviewer was disappointed that only one sail was used on the return. The operator's listings say sailing is weather-permitting.
About the Operator in General
Three Tiki Sailing's 4.9 from 790 Google reviews on Greetwell covers its snorkel, sunset, whale and charter products together; the unlabeled breakdown shows 715 five-star and 8 one-star reviews.
Our Verdict
Tripreviewall's Take
For $99 (or $89 via Tripster) this is a reasonable first snorkel for families, because lifeguards are in the water, vests are included and the turtle guarantee offers a free return if nobody sees one. Experienced snorkelers will find the reef stop short and, at 11 am, shared with other boats. Pick it for the supervision and the 2-hour length, not for solitude or long bottom time.
Book This Tour If…
You or your children are new to snorkeling and want lifeguards in the water
You want a 2-hour trip that fits a late-morning slot (11:00 am departure)
You want a turtle guarantee with a free return trip if none appear
You like a BYOB boat with restrooms and shade for the sail back
Skip This Tour If…
You want an uncrowded reef; 1 reviewer reported several boats around one turtle
You want more than one snorkel site or long water time
You have a heart condition or need a wheelchair-accessible boat
You cannot swim; basic swimming skills are required
Tips From Reviewers and Operator Notes
Compare prices: $89 on Tripster, $99 direct and $115 on Greetwell for the same trip in October 2026; the operator site also listed a 20% promo code.
Bring non-spray reef-safe sunscreen; the Tripster listing specifies non-spray.
Arrive 30 minutes early to be safe; the two listings disagree between 20 and 30 minutes.
Note the turtle guarantee at check-in: a free return within 7 days applies only if nobody on the boat spots a turtle.
Tip 15–20% in cash; the operator FAQ calls it customary.
Assessed by the Tripreviewall editorial team, last reviewed October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Three Tiki Waikiki turtle snorkel tour?
The Waikiki Sail and Snorkel Tour costs $99 per adult and $84 per child on the operator's own website as of October 2026. Resellers vary: Tripster lists $89 (marked down from $99) and Greetwell lists from $115 per person. Gratuity and parking are extra on all channels.
What time does the Waikiki turtle snorkel sail depart?
The turtle snorkel sail departs at 11:00 am daily according to the Magpie listing, with check-in 20 minutes earlier at the Three Tiki booth at 95 Holomoana St. Tripster recommends arriving 30 minutes before departure. The tour lasts up to 2 hours, returning around 1:00 pm.
Is snorkel gear included on the Three Tiki turtle tour?
Yes, snorkel gear is included: mask, fins and snorkel, plus inflatable flotation vests. In-water lifeguards and guides accompany snorkelers at Turtle Canyon. Bottled water and an iced cooler for your own canned drinks are also provided, while food, gratuity and parking are not.
What is the turtle guarantee on this Waikiki snorkel tour?
The turtle guarantee, as described on Tripster, means that if nobody on the tour spots a sea turtle, guests may receive one free return tour within 7 days, subject to availability. The operator's site states that wildlife appears when it pleases, so the guarantee covers a return trip, not a refund.
Can I cancel the Waikiki sail and snorkel tour?
You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the tour on the Magpie listing; cancellations inside 24 hours and no-shows are not refunded. On Greetwell, groups of 6 or more need 48 hours' notice. If the operator cancels for weather, you receive a full refund. Checked October 2026.
Is the Turtle Canyon snorkel tour suitable for children?
The tour is described as family-friendly for all ages, with child pricing of $84 direct. Infants must sit on laps, basic swimming skills are required to snorkel, and the boat is not wheelchair accessible. Lifeguards in the water and inflatable vests make it one of the more supervised Waikiki snorkel options.
Contact
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