If you love adventure and you’re planning a trip to Maui then this 5 day Maui Itinerary might be helpful to you! Maui has some of the most beautiful beaches, hikes, and snorkeling in the world! Don’t worry if you only have a few days to explore. You can see so much in just a few days! This post is jam packed with all the top things to see and do in Maui.
Where Should You Stay in Maui?
There are a few popular areas to stay at while visiting Maui. I will attach a map here so you can see where every area is laid out. It looks small but everything is actually pretty spread out. This is why I would recommend renting a car in Maui. Some travelers get a hotel for a few days in West Maui and then spend the other half of their trip in South Maui. We stayed in one location our entire trip and took day trips to the other areas in Maui. It worked out great for us.
Lahaina
I am devastated by the Maui fires. We stayed in Lahaina town which unfortunately is completed destroyed including the hotel we stayed at. Currently there are mixed reviews on if traveling to Maui right now is a good idea. The town heavily relies on tourism but it is also important to respect the locals. So please do more research to figure out if now is the best time to travel to Maui.
Wailea
Another popular area to stay at is South Maui or Wailea. This area has a variety of resorts to choose from and lots of beautiful beaches with sea turtles swimming about. It is about an hour from West Maui.
Should you rent a car in Maui?
If you are planning a trip to Maui make sure you reserve a car in advance! They do fill up and can be pricey the longer you wait. Maui might look small but it’s actually pretty big and having a car will you give freedom to explore more areas!
Aloha Rent a Car is the used car rental company we used. This company doesn’t rent any brand new cars so chances are your rental will have some dents and maybe some broken buttons. If that stuff isn’t really important to you then you should give them a try. Chances are you will save a little money too because let’s be honest Maui is not cheap. We rented a 2014 Mustang Convertible. We loved being able to drive with the top down! It took us all around Maui with no problem. This company is 5 minutes from the airport and provides a free shuttle pick up and drop off. They also let you borrow coolers, umbrellas, and beach chairs which definitely came in handy.
Day 1 Maui Itinerary- Landing, the Beach, and a Luau
You just flew in and depending on where you came from the time change might have given you the entire day to explore. So let’s go!
After you get your bags you’ll need to get your rental car. There are several shuttles just outside the airport that will take you to your rental car location. Make sure you arrange a pick up time prior to landing.
Once you have your rental car you’ll want to stop by a grocery store near the airport just in case there isn’t a store near your hotel. We got some food, drinks, and snacks for the week. There are a lot of different food trucks and restaurants nearby too if you want to stop for lunch.
The Beach
If it’s still too early to check into your hotel then head straight to the beach! We drove 45 minutes to Kanaipapa Beach in West Maui. This beach was rated one of the best beaches in Maui. There were a few free parking spots for visitors at the Kanaipapa Hotel so we parked there. We took our lunch and our cooler and went straight to the sand. The beach we ended up right next to was Black Rock Beach which is the perfect spot if you like cliff jumping. We saw a few brave swimmers jump off the cliffs and into the ocean. Make sure to pack some googles with you so you can snorkel on your own. We saw so many colorful fish.
Luau
After we spent a few hours at the beach it was time to head to the hotel and get ready for our Luau. There are several Luau’s in Maui to choose from but we booked our reservation at The Feast of Lele. We picked this one because it had private seating and offered a 5 course plated meal.
We got Lei’d with fresh flowers as we walked in, watched sunset right from our table, and enjoyed the all you can drink option. Be careful the Mai Tai’s are strong lol!
The food was delicious and the performance was very entertaining. It was the perfect first night on our Maui vacation. Make sure to book your Luau reservation in advance because they do get sold out.
Day 2 Maui Itinerary – Lanai Snorkeling and Dolphin Boat Tour
For my birthday we decided to go on an early morning boating adventure to Lanai. I booked the deluxe tour from Captain Steve’s Rafting Adventure that docked out of Lahaina. We started at 7am and they provided a small continental breakfast for us before taking off on the tour.
We cruised all the way to Lanai and saw some awesome spinner dolphins on the way. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any whales this trip because it was still early in the season. We stopped at 2 different snorkeling spots and saw so many beautiful fish only native to Hawaii. After a few hours of snorkeling they provided us with a yummy lunch before heading back.
We got back to Lahaina at about 2pm. Although we did enjoy the tour it felt a little long for us so next time I would opt for the half day tour with Maui Ocean Riders.
Other travelers also recommended doing a snorkel tour to Molokini or you can to do a sunset cruise. It doesn’t matter which tour you go with but getting on a boat in Maui is a must! Just make sure you take dramamine to avoid getting seasick.
Dinner with a view
After the boat tour you can relax at a nearby beach or at your hotel before heading to dinner. For dinner my husband booked a reservation at The Planation House which is known for its incredible sunset views. The menu is small but delicious. We had the Mahi Mahi and shrimp cocktail. Make reservations in advance for any restaurant in Maui.
Day 3 Maui Itinerary – Waihe’e Ridge Trail and South Maui
Don’t forget to slow down and enjoy some breakfast before embarking on another adventure. We loved having Hawaii’s POG juice (Pineapple, Orange, Guava) in the morning, it is so refreshing!
Today we are hiking Waihe’e Ridge Trail! It is a beginner/intermediate 4 mile hike with incredible ocean and forest views. Helicopters tour through this valley but why fly when you can just walk it right?! So put on some good sneakers and pack plenty of water cause we’ve got another adventure to go on!
From West Maui we drove about 45 minutes to Waihe’e Ridge Trail entrance. There are two parking lots, skip the first one and park at the second lot. It’s closer to the trail entrance.
If you don’t see any spots right away or if there is a line just wait about 15 minutes and someone will come down the trail and leave. This hike is uphill and a little challenging but it is worth it, trust me! I know you can do this!
The hike took us about 3 hours round trip but we stopped to take a lot of pictures and video. We also waited at the top until the clouds cleared so we could see the amazing view from the top.
If you only had time for one hike in Maui this is the one!
South Maui
After the hike we stopped to get lunch at The Tin Roof which is near the airport. It’s a popular spot that offers Hawaiian Food and Poke. There is no seating area here only To-Go orders. So we took our order and headed straight to South Maui to check out some of the beaches.
Some popular beaches in South Maui are Big Beach, Secret Beach, Wailea Beach, and Makena Cove. We parked at Big Beach, took our lunch to the ocean, and enjoyed the sunset there.
After sunset we headed back to our hotel because we had another early morning the next day.
Day 4 Maui Itinerary – The Road to Hana
If you’re planning a trip to Maui chances are you want to explore the Road to Hana like we did! The Road to Hana takes you through the east side of Maui which is filled with waterfalls, rainforest, black sand beaches and red ones too! The Hana Highway is a 52 mile stretch that has 620 curves and 59 bridges. Making this day trip a 12 hour day! So plan to wake up super early!
How many days do you need to explore the Road to Hana?
Some people take two days to explore the road because there is so much to see. But a lot of people only take one day and stop at just the best stops on the Road to Hana. I would do some research and decide on what stops you definitely want see and then determine how many days you will need.
Just remember it’s about the journey not the destination. I will attach our top stops on the Road to Hana below.
If you are only taking one day to explore the Road to Hana be prepared it will be a 10-12 hour day of driving. 52 miles might not seem like a lot but with all the turns and stops you make it will add up.
Our top Stops on the Road to Hana
- Pipiwai Trail and the Seven Sacred Pools
- Wailua Falls
- Kaihalulu Beach or the Red Sand Beach
- Wai’anapanapa State Park or Black Sand Beach
Before the Drive to Hana
Before you begin your drive to Hana you have to download this app called Gypsy App Road to Hana Tour Guide. This app is essential if you are navigating the road on your own. There is a small fee but the app acts like your own personal tour guide.
It narrates the entire trip for you and gives you turn by turn navigation. It was extremely helpful especially because we lost service on our drive.
There aren’t many gas stations on the Road to Hana so make sure to fill up with gas before you start your journey. Also bring water, food, and snacks with you because it will be a long day.
There are some food stands open on the side of the road as well and lots of opportunities to buy fresh banana bread.
Get an early start
We were on the road by 7am but I wish we would have started an hour earlier because sunset was at 5:30pm in November. Driving the curvy roads at night was a little scary but manageable.
Pipiwai Trail
The first thing we wanted to do was hike the Pipiwai Trail. This is actually one of the last stops on the Road to Hana. So we had to work backwards to ensure we had enough time to see everything.
We drove for about 2.5 hours through the all curves and bridges on the Road to Hana to one of the last stops, Haleakala National Park. This is where the Pipiwai Trail and the Seven Sacred Pools are located. There is an entrance fee but the ticket is good for 3 days if you plan to enter the park another day to see sunrise at the Volcano.
Some people make this their last stop too but the park does close around 4pm so just plan accordingly.
Pipiwai Trail is another 4 mile hike but it is easier than Waihe’e Ridge Trail. It takes you through a bamboo forest to a 400 ft tall waterfall! We were a little sore from the last hike but we pushed through and got some great photos and another work out! It took a couple hours to finish the trail so keep that in mind if you are planning to do the entire hike.
Seven Sacred Pools
The Seven Sacred Pools or Pools of Ohe’o is in the same park and has a short trail that leads to it. It’s definitely worth a look. The views were just gorgeous! We took a few quick pictures and then got back on the Road to Hana to see some of the spots we missed.
Wailua Falls
How can you say no to another waterfall? Wailua Falls was a quick second stop for us. This beautiful waterfall is right on the highway near a bridge. They have a few parking spots open so you can pop out to take a quick photo and then continue down the road. This is one of Maui’s most photographed waterfalls. You will encounter several waterfalls on your drive but this is one you definitely want to stop at.
After our hike we were pretty hungry so stopped and got some lunch at a local food truck we found on the side of the road called Tony’s Place. The food was delicious and it’s a great way to to support the locals.
Kaihalulu Beach – The Red Sand Beach
The Red Sand Beach was my favorite stop on the Road to Hana! Maybe because I had never seen a Red Sand Beach before or because it’s hidden and you need to do a small hike to get there!
This was a little tricky to find but trust me it’s worth the 10 minute trek. I’m so glad we pushed ourselves to see this beach it was a true hidden gem!
You can park near the Hana Community Center and access the start of the trail from there. A lot of people say the hike is dangerous and it can be. I think as long as you wear sneakers or shoes with grip to help prevent slipping you will be fine.
This beach is so calm and very refreshing after our long hike! There are lava rock formations that prevent large waves from coming in so the water was pretty calm and it’s a great location for snorkeling. We brought our own goggles and were able to see so many fish!
We only stayed for a little bit before headed to our last stop on the Road to Hana but I could have stayed here longer.
Wai’anapanapa State Park – The Black Sand Beach
Wai’anapanapa State Park was our last stop on our list. It’s a 122 acre park filled with stunning panoramic views of lava rock and ocean. You can discover blow holes, ocean caves, easy hikes, cliff diving, and fresh water pools.
We only had a little bit of time to explore before sunset. Swimming is available here too if you’d like but we chose not to since we were short on time.
Make a reservation in advance to enter the park. You can make a reservation here. You will need to know the time of day you plan on visiting the park so plan accordingly. We took the 3pm-6pm slot and ended up going around 4:30pm.
The Black Sand beaches are definitely a must see on the Road to Hana. We stayed here for about 45 minutes before we decided to start our 2 hour drive back to our hotel.
Be careful driving at night on the curvy roads and small bridges. We also pulled over to let the locals pass us. By the time we made it back to out hotel it ended up being a 12 hour day for us. We were pooped but happy we didn’t need another day to explore Hana.
Day 5 Maui Itinerary- Haleakala Sunrise Volcano and Fly out
It’s day 5 and that means it’s your last day on your Maui vacation! We did so much but if you still have some adventure left in you there is one thing you can still add to your list before you fly out.
One of the most recommended things to do in Maui is to see the sunrise from the Haleakala Summit. We originally planned to see the sunrise but we didn’t make reservations far enough in advance. 🙁
Here is the link to do that. If the reservation you want is sold out you still have an opportunity to go. They give out 25 extra tickets at 7am two days before the date you want. We tried but they sold out in seconds. If you get a reservation make sure to pack warm clothes because it will be chilly 10,000 feet above sea level.
If you don’t have any luck getting sunrise reservations like us you can choose to do an early morning bike tour through Haleakala or visit during sunset instead. You do not need a reservation for sunset and I hear it’s just as beautiful.
We were bummed about not getting reservations but we were able to sleep in, enjoy breakfast, pack our bags, dip our toes in the ocean one last time before heading to the airport.
Hawaiian Airlines was one of the best airlines I’ve every flown on. There service is unmatched! If you find a good deal I would definitely recommend flying with them!
We couldn’t fit everything in our 5 day Maui itinerary for Adventure Seekers but that just gives us an excuse to come back and visit Maui again one day!
If you love to travel check out my other Travel post here! There might be a destination that you have been wanting to visit!
I travel frequently and have an Amazon page dedicate to Travel Essentials! Take a look and see if there are some things you need!
Leave a Reply