8 Best Things To Do in Maui

Paradise beaches, quaint villages, party nights and dreamy landscapes to escape to for adventurous hiking and sightseeing adventures; it 's impossible to get bored on Maui. Want to know everything there is to do on Maui? I'll tell you all about it!

With over 1900 kilometres of coral reefs surrounding the Hawaiian coastline, Maui's pristine waters hold a natural underwater treasure trove of green turtles, tropical fish, sea urchins, dolphins, manta rays and whimsical lava and coral formations that will leave you in awe.

One of the best snorkelling spots on Maui is Molokini Island, located off the southwest coast of Maui. It's a large volcanic cone that is extinct but so full of life that the island was named a State Marine and Bird Conservation District.

A place like this is a must see at all costs but it can only be reached by boat, so my recommendation is to book a Maui snorkelling experience which includes the boat trip, a full continental breakfast, deli lunch on board to refuel and of course snorkelling equipment and an instructor. So all you have to worry about is enjoying yourself.

During your trip to Hawaii I'm sure you'll want to attend a traditional luau party on the island - they are so much fun and joy! Considering that they are held for all sorts of reasons (birthdays, weddings, christenings...), why not celebrate your trip to Hawaii in style and toast to the many more to come?

Book a luau experience in Maui, put on your best clothes and live a magical experience at sunset.

What are luau parties?

A Hawaiian luau party revolves around the dance, music and cuisine of the islands, but its significance goes beyond that, as it has quite an interesting origin.

When you arrive at the luau party, you will be greeted with a lei necklace of flowers and cocktails to make you comfortable.

At the sound of the conch shell, the imu ceremony will begin and the delicious kalua pig will be brought out of the underground oven. From there you'll enjoy a spectacular feast of Hawaiian food while watching a Samoan fire dance show and other live Hawaiian music performances with plenty of hula dancing.

Travelling to Hawaii is a once in a lifetime experience for every traveller. Despite being a small archipelago in the middle of the ocean, the enormous diversity, beauty and grandeur of each of the islands that make it up is impressive.

To explore the beauty of the island and its precious enclaves, the best thing to do in Maui is to join a tour that allows you to experience the magic of this place to the fullest. Take out your camera because you'll be amazed to see the variety of landscapes that fit in such a small space!

Quad biking around Kahālāwai

A quad biking tour of Maui is a great way to explore the western part of the island, which is home to a mountain range covered in lush vegetation.

Known as Kahālāwai or House of Water, you'll get a glimpse of its highest peak, an ancient volcano, aboard a 4WD vehicle.

Get your adrenaline pumping!

Discover Maui off-road

Experience an authentic off-road adventure as a passenger or driver and discover some of the island's treasures.

If you book an off-road tour of Maui you can choose between two different routes:

• A coastal tour, which takes you to Kaanapali Beach and Lahaina.
• A wetlands tour on the west side, which includes a drive through the Pu'u Kukui Hydrographic Account Reserve.

Horseback riding on Maui

If you're looking for an equally nature-filled, but slightly more leisurely experience, then I recommend booking a Maui horseback ride.

For two hours you'll ride through the west side of Mahui, on a gentle climb through coastal scenery to the picturesque petting zoo.

Don't worry if you've never ridden a horse before, as no experience is required and you'll always be accompanied by an instructor guide.

Tour East Maui's jungle on foot

Of course, if transport isn't your thing, because walking is your thing, a Maui hiking tour is sure to be the perfect plan for you.

You'll discover the magical corners of the East Maui rainforest on foot, but the road to Hana will be travelled by courtesy transport, to avoid any unforeseen or imprudent incidents.

At the end of the tour you'll enjoy a swim in a spectacular spot and a lunch that will definitely taste great after the hike.

Admire Maui from a different point of view

And if you already know the island inside out, why take a kayak tour to admire its landscapes from the Pacific Ocean?

This adventure doesn't require any experience and will allow you to learn about the native marine animals, as well as the history and way of life of West Maui thanks to the explanations of the local guide who will accompany you.

One of Hawaii's biggest tourist attractions is its paradisiacal beaches. They come in all colours (white, red, black sand...) and all have crystal clear waters that invite you not only to take a dip but also to practice all kinds of water activities such as surfing, snorkelling, windsurfing or kayaking.

Maui's beaches are the ideal place to relax and disconnect from everything. If you were to ask me which are the coolest beaches on this island for sunbathing and having a great time, I would tell you that you can't miss them:

• Makena Beach: the biggest in South Maui and with great views of the islands of Molokini and Kahoolawe.
• Wailea Beach: considered the best beach in the United States.
• Polo Beach: ideal for snorkelling and swimming.
• Kaanapali Beach: in West Maui where you can attend the Puu Kekaa ceremony at sunset to commemorate the deed of King Kahekili.
• Puamana Beach County Park: a beach with waves perfect for beginner surfers.

And if you're in the mood for a more complete plan and want to be guided by the experts, a tour of the island of Maui, which of course includes incredible beaches such as Hookipa, known as the windsurfing capital, or Wainapanapa, famous for its black sand, is a must for you.

If the underwater world is your thing and you're not satisfied with snorkelling and scuba diving, you can take advantage of your trip to Maui to take a tour on the Atlantis submarine in Maui and explore the waters of the Pacific.

You'll explore the incredible life under the sea, discovering the amazing flora and fauna that lurks in the depths of the Pacific Ocean and have a once in a lifetime experience. I wouldn't think twice.

With all there is to do on Maui it can sometimes be difficult to plan your schedule so you don't miss out on anything on the island. That's why you can't forget to include some sightseeing in your trip to Hawaii to see Maui's quaint little towns.

There are many interesting places to explore but I recommend three:

Lahaina

This port city was once the most important city on Maui and the capital of Hawaii as it was the centre of government for the Hawaiian monarchy until the mid-19th century and a prominent whaling settlement.

The best way to see Lahaina is to take the Lahaina Historic Trail, which runs through the city ' s main historical and cultural attractions.

Hana

Visiting Hana in East Maui is like taking a trip back in time to a place where you can feel that traditional Hawaiian atmosphere and the true aloha spirit of Hawaii.

Just the drive to town (known as the 'Road to Hana') is worth it in itself because you'll pass through spectacular scenery, but once you're there there are some incredible sights to see such as Wailua Falls, Waiʻanapanapa State Park and Honokalani Black Sand Beach. To find out which are the most spectacular waterfalls in Maui you can check out our post Visit Maui's best waterfalls.

Wailuku

Nestled at the foot of the West Maui Mountains and surrounded by the rainforests of the sacred Iao Valley is Wailuku, the capital of Maui County.

A quiet town steeped in history and full of fantastic sights such as Kaahumanu Church (the oldest church on the island), the Bailey House Museum and the Market Street area, where you can wander among the shops, art galleries and cafes. A hike here can be a great plan.

During your stay on the island, one of the most exciting and fun things to do on Maui is to take a helicopter ride over the island and get a bird's eye view of spectacular sites such as the beautiful green Halawa Valley, Maui's Honokohau Falls, Iao Valley State Park, Haleakala Volcano and Molokai's Kahiwa Falls, among many other places of captivating beauty.

Take advantage of this experience to take some of the most stunning and beautiful photographs you'll take during your holiday. It's really worth taking a helicopter ride over Maui, even if you're a little vertigo-stricken, because when you're up there, the beautiful views of Hawaii and the Pacific Ocean will take your mind off everything. You'll feel like you're floating in the air (literally!).

Pearl Harbor Naval Base is an iconic destination in Hawaii that every tourist is willing to queue up to get into. Even though we know all too well what happened here on that fateful morning of 7 December 1941, there is something fascinating and moving about this place that cannot be described in words and that draws us like a magnet to see it for ourselves:

• Visitor Center Exhibits.
• USS Arizona Memorial, where the remains of a battleship sunk at sea and the memorial to the victims are located.
• USS Missouri, the ship where Japan's surrender was signed, ending the war.
• USS Oklahoma, among other places.

Pearl Harbor is a shocking but also an emotional place. This is one of the visits to make in Maui that I recommend the most, whether you are passionate about history or not, because it leaves no one indifferent.

How to visit Pearl Harbor?

If you are staying on the island of Maui and want to visit Pearl Harbor (which is located on the neighbouring island of Oahu) my advice is to join one of the tours that visit the military base as they usually also include a tour of downtown Honolulu with which you will discover tourist attractions such as:

• Kawaiahao Church
• Iolani Palace
• Statue of King Kamehameha
• The Mission Houses Museum
• Waikiki Beach area

Any time of year is a good time to visit this Hawaiian paradise. There are activities to suit all tastes and budgets, but if there's one thing this tourist destination boasts, it's nature. So if you want to enjoy the wide range of outdoor activities to do in Maui, I recommend you take a look at our article on the best time to visit Maui where I give you some useful tips:

• You have plans even when it rains in Maui.
• Even if you travel in winter, adventure is guaranteed.
• Travelling on honeymoon will be unforgettable.

So that you don't miss anything, here are two guides:

• What to do in Maui in 5 days: the itinerary you can't miss.
• The best of Maui in 7 days.

Finally, to make your trip perfect, you may also want to read our tips on Maui Airport Transfers- pack your bags and enjoy!