Best Activities on Maui

Shopping or snorkeling? Wine tasting or whale watching? Biking or boating? So much to do on a timeshare vacation on Maui! Squeeze it all in or sample a few fun activities on your trip to paradise. Here are five of the most popular things to do on “The Magic Isle.”
Mountain bike down Haleakala Crater. It’s not as difficult as it sounds. An outfitter picks you up from your hotel and drives you up to the top of Maui’s highest peak (10,000+ feet) and you take a guided mountain-bike tour down a paved road (20+ miles). Some outfitters, including Haleakala Bike Company, offer “unguided” itineraries, allowing you to bike down at your own pace.
Snorkel at Molokini. This extinct volcano is home to hundreds of species of fish, and the crystal-clear water makes for great snorkeling (or snuba or scuba diving). Again, several activity boats (such as Prince Kuhio and the Pride of Maui) offer snorkeling cruises, most leaving Maalaea Harbor, between Kihei and Lahaina. Whether permitting, some tours go to “Turtle Town,” where a number of green sea turtles make their home.

Watch Whales in the Winter. The same boat-tour companies that offer snorkel tours typically make trips to watch the whales making their annual migration from mid December to mid April. Again, boat crews want you to spot as many as possible, and the experts onboard will maneuver the boat to put you in the ideal position to snap perfect photos of the majestic animals as they crest the water. The Maui Princess, departing from Lahaina Harbor, guarantees whale sightings, or you can try on another day for free. The ship also has an underwater WhaleCam.

Visit the Tedeschi Winery. Rent a car for the scenic drive to Maui’s “upcountry,” where you’ll find this historic vineyard 2,000 feet above sea level. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy on the scenic grounds, take a free tour of the winery and sample the pineapple wine. This is a nice alternative to spending a day at the beach-especially if it’s unusually hot, since the higher altitude at the vineyard brings pleasant, cooler temperatures.

Drive the Road to Hana. This road trip is not for the faint of heart-it’s a winding, 52-mile drive through amazing, breathtaking scenery you may see only once in lifetime. It takes a while to drive the road, so plan for a day-long adventure to enjoy the exquisite flora and fauna in the tropical rainforest.

For more vacation-planning help, visit the websites for the Hawaii and Maui visitors’ bureaus.

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