Aloha! If you are here today is probably because you are planning a trip (or maybe just thinking about it) to the Hawaiian islands, and I can’t wait to inspire you to do so! If beautiful beaches, green and volcanic scenery, and sea turtle encounter are what you are looking for, Maui island is right for you! I have created a full Maui travel guide with everything you need to know to enjoy this island to the fullest.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Where are located the hawaiian islands?
The Hawaiian islands are composed of eight major islands: Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Big Island, Lanai, Molokai, Niihau, and Kahoolawe. Overall the archipelago has much more isles and atolls, but they are uninhabited. The Aloha state, located 2’000 miles West of the California coasts right in the middle of the Pacific ocean, has 1,4 million residents. English and Hawaiian are the two official languages. Each island is different and unique to the other with its scenery.
When to visit the Hawaiian islands?
The Hawaiian islands can be visited all year round offering nice temperatures between 20°c and 35°c. However, some periods of the year are more propitious to visit with notably less risk of tropical storms. Consequently, I strongly advise you to visit the archipelago between May and June. In my opinion, this is the best time of the year to discover the islands as the weather is mostly dry and not too hot. Above all, the locals and the rest of the US are not on summer break just yet. Therefore, most of the famous places are not too crowded at this time.
“In case you cannot visit the Hawaiian islands during this period, just try to avoid April (spring break) as well as July and August (summer break).“
How long to stay on Maui?
Alright, to discover the top attractions of Maui, I strongly recommend staying on the island for at least six days. Indeed, there are various things to do, so you won’t get bored for sure. Of course, if you can slowly travel, I would highly suggest spending two weeks on Maui to experience all the secret parts and hidden gems.
However, if you have limited time available, you might cut your trip to four full days, but be prepared that it may be not relaxing at all. Moreover, keep in mind that Maui is the one island (with a Big island) where it might take time to go from one place to another due to the shape of the island.
Where to stay on Maui?
Due to the butterfly shape of the island, you can easily stay at one single place during your stay. This option is the best deal in case you are going to rent a car or is willing to take public transportation to explore the island. Accordingly, I highly advise you to stay at Kihei, which is located in the middle of the island. In this way, you can conveniently visit the rest of the island with short rides.
In terms of accommodations, Maui offers different possibilities such as hotels, luxury resorts, and Airbnb depending on your budget.
What to do on Maui?
As mentioned, Maui has so much to offer with lots of diverse activities and different types of landscapes! Thus, throughout the next paragraphs, I share the must-dos you should visit during your trip to this heavenly island.
Iao Valley state park
Maui travel guide
Located on the West side of Maui, Iao Valley State Park represents the lush and green landscapes of the island. You will be immersed in a tropical forest with an incredible view of the Needle mountains. A short hiking loop is available to discover the area in its entirety.
“You should take your swimsuit because there is a river that runs through the park where you can swim.“
PRICE
US$ 5 per person
US$ 10 per vehicle for parking
OPENING HOURS
7:00 am to 6:00 pm
LEVEL
easy
0,6 miles / 1 km
Waihee ridge trail
Maui travel guide
The best way to explore the West Maui mountains is by hitting the Waihee ridge trail. This wonderful hike will lead you through the green luxuriant mountains. On top of that, Waihee Gorge can be observed along the way.
“There is a small picnic area at the end of the trail if you want to have lunch!”
PRICE
free access
free parking spots available
OPENING HOURS
open 24h/24
LEVEL
moderate
5 miles / 8 km
Haleakala national park
Maui travel guide
Haleakala National Park is an awe-inspiring wonder of Maui. Indeed, the place is home to the world’s largest dormant volcano that stands at 10’023 feet / 3’050 meters above sea level. How amazing is that?
To discover this fantastic geothermal land, the park offers different hiking trails for every level. I highly recommend hiking the Halemaua Haleakala trail (part of the Sliding sands trail) which brings you downhill into the crater. Furthermore, I suggest you book a sunrise tour if you have time. Check the details here. Otherwise, if you are not an early bird, the sunset is just as amazing on the top.
“As the park is high in altitude, I advise you to drive slowly to reach the top and even do several stops along the way to get your body acclimated.“
PRICE
US$ 30 per vehicle
US$ 15 for hikers/walk-ins only
OPENING HOURS
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
LEVEL
difficult
7,5 miles / 12,2 km
Pipiwai trail
Maui travel guide
Pipiwai trail is part of the Haleakala National Park (East side) and offers an easy hike through a bamboo forest. On top of that, stunning waterfalls will await you at the end of the trail.
“Your ticket for Haleakala National Park is valid for three days, which allows you coming back to the park and works for both Pipiwai trail and Halemaua Haleakala trail.“
PRICE
US$ 30 per vehicle
US$ 15 for hikers/walk-ins only
OPENING HOURS
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
LEVEL
easy
4 miles / 6,5 km
Hookipa beach park
Maui travel guide
As mentioned, Maui is the most famous island of the archipelago for encountering green sea turtles. Thus, Hookipa Beach Park is a reference for this. Hundreds of green sea turtles are usually laying on the North shore beach. So you will most likely observe them get out of the water slowly to come to lay on the beach, on any given day.
“If you want to experience this amazing moment (almost) alone, I highly recommend visiting the beach in the early morning.”
PRICE
free access
free parking spots
OPENING HOURS
8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Road to Hana
Maui travel guide
Alright, so a trip to Maui is not complete without hitting the famous road to Hana. You will experience beautiful stops along the way such as botanical gardens, waterfalls, or black beaches. In other words, this is the most sinuous drive of the island with different interest points along the way surrounded by a tropical atmosphere.
“Keep in mind that there is no gas station on the road. The last one is located at Hana with a higher price compared to the ones from the rest of the island. Therefore, I advise you to fill in the gas before hitting the road to Hana, like at Kapaa for instance.“
waianapanapa state park
Maui travel guide
Located along the road to Hana, Waianapanapa State Park is home to one of the most famous black sand beaches of Maui.
“Because the place is super touristic, I advise you to visit the beach early in the morning.”
PRICE
US$ 10 for vehicle
US$ 5 for hikers/walk-ins only
OPENING HOURS
7:00 am to 6:00 pm
Where to eat on Maui?
Maui is filled with great food options for every budget and every taste. Here are my favorite places on the island!
- Lava Rock, located at Kihei, (Hawaiian restaurant $) – perfect for a typical night with an ocean view!
- Thai food by pranee, located at Hana, (Thai restaurant $) – amazing for a break on the road to Hana!
- Maui Thai bistro, located at Kihei, (Thai restaurant $$) – great for a Pad Thai night!
- Duke’s beach house, located at Kaanapali (American restaurant $$$) – perfect for a brunch with an ocean view!
What Bucket list activities can you do on Maui?
Maui is the ideal place to check once-in-a-lifetime activities off your bucket list! Indeed, during our stay on the island, we experienced an amazing adventure: kayaking and swimming with sea turtles in the open sea!
Check out the others bucket list experiences we did during on journey through the Hawaiian islands here.
Kayaking and swimming with green sea turtles
Animal lovers be ready to have an unique experience along the coasts of Maui! In fact, if you want to do a special encounter with green sea turtles, I have the perfect activity for you!
That is to say, my hubby and I did a guided kayak tour with Maui Kayak Adventures in order to swim with green sea turtles near the reef. It was such a great experience!
More details about this amazing adventure coming soon. Stay tuned!
In conclusion
To summarize, although Maui is better known for resorts and honeymoons, it is also the perfect place to enjoy beautiful beaches combined with lush scenery and geothermal landscapes. Most importantly, the island is a great location for animal lovers who want to encounter notably with green sea turtles (dolphins and whales are also present in the Hawaiian waters)!
Indeed, I had the chance to visit this paradise island in May 2019 with my hubby and it was one of our favorite travels. That is to say, I hope I have inspired you to visit Maui someday soon and you will enjoy it as much as we did.
Moreover, you should click here to check out all my posts related to the Hawaiian islands.
Finally, feel free to contact me if you have any questions. It would be a great pleasure to share with you.!
Sending you lots of love,
