Maui In 5 Days: Best of the Best and How To Maximize Your Stay

The ticket is booked. The date is on the calendar. You’re planning the trip of a lifetime.

Now comes the hard part:

Finding the best activities on Maui, and figuring out how to schedule your trip—especially if you only have five days.

Some people will want to swim beneath waterfalls, go hiking, and catch a few waves, while others might just want to sit by the pool and listen to the wind in the palm trees.

And you know what? Both are great plans. If you’re happy then you’re doing it right.

That said, a lot of people might feel overwhelmed when planning a trip to Maui.

“What are some of the best beaches on Maui?”

“Where can I snorkel with sea turtles?”

“What are the ‘Don’t Miss’ places on Maui that I simply can’t leave without seeing?”

These are all questions we hear all the time on our Maui snorkeling tours, and here’s one big tip that we always tell visitors:

You can’t see it all—and that’s ok.

There are so many great activities on Maui, and so many places to see, there’s no way you could see them all in one trip, so just pick a couple of activities and enjoy them, and don’t try to schedule too much. There’s a reason why visitors come back to Maui again, and again, and again!

Still, if you’d like a little guidance for planning your trip to Maui, here are some of our top tips for maximizing your stay.

Watch The Sunrise Atop haleakala volcano—but schedule it in the first few days of your trip when you’re waking up early from jet lag

Watching the sunrise atop Haleakala volcano is definitely one of the best activities on Maui, but you’ll need to make a reservation, and also wake up REAL early.

In the winter months, sunrise atop Haleakala volcano is about 6:45am, but in summer it’s as early as 5:35am—and it’s a 2 hour drive to get there. You’ll also want to arrive at least 30 minutes before sunrise, so you might as well schedule it for the beginning your trip when you’re waking up early from jet lag.

Also remember when visiting Haleakala that it’s over 10,000 feet high, and it can SNOW up there at any time of year (yes, it snows in Maui!), so pack some pants, warm clothes, and jacket, to be prepared for the chilly temps.

If you do visit for sunrise, consider taking some extra time to go hiking inside the crater, or visit the artsy cowboy town of Makawao before driving back down the hill.

Book a Maui Snorkeling tour to experience hawaii’s marine life

Sure, you could always go snorkeling from shore, but many of the best places to go snorkeling in Maui are most easily visited by boat.

Are you looking for clear, crystalline water with over 200 species of fish? Book a Molokini snorkeling tour, which also visits spots along the South Maui coastline for the chance to go snorkeling with sea turtles.

A Kaanapali snorkeling tour is extremely convenient for anyone staying in Kaanapali Resort, since the boat loads directly from Kaanapali Beach—you night even be able to walk there from your room.

These trips scour the West Maui shoreline in search of the best conditions, and sometimes we even find Hawaiian Spinner dolphins on our comfortable cruise up the coast. Plus at the end of the trip we go sailing—it’s the perfect half day adventure!

Or, if you want to see another island, AND go snorkeling and sailing, our classic Discover Lanai snorkeling trip heads across the Auau Channel to Lanai for the chance to scour the colorful reef at idyllic Hulopo'e Bay. Looking to really pack it all in? Opt for the 6:30am morning trip, and be back in time by mid-afternoon to squeeze in that evening luau.

Drive the Road To Hana—Or, Don’t

Here’s the thing with driving the Road to Hana:

It’s a twisty, winding, jungle adventure that’s packed with waterfalls, black sand beaches, and warm, freshly baked banana bread. It’s absolutely one of the best activities on Maui—but that doesn’t mean you have to do it.

It’s important to understand that The Road To Hana:

A: Doesn’t end in Hana

B: Makes for a really long day (especially if you’re staying in West Maui)

C: Is best experienced with an overnight in Hana; it’s too rushed to cram into one day

Now, if you really want to maximize your stay here on Maui, consider spending the night in Hana and breaking the journey up over two days. This way you can do an activity in the morning (like a Molokini snorkeling tour), and then casually enjoy the drive out to Hana without feeling rushed to get there and back and see it all in one day.

Even better, if you do choose to spend the night in Hana (where there are vacation rentals, one resort, as well as a couple campgrounds), you can wake up and experience some of the best sights (like Waianapanapa State Park—which requires a reservation—Hamoa Beach, or Waimoku Trail in Kipahulu), before day-tripping visitors arrive for the day.

Visiting in winter? Go on a whale watch!

Whale season in Maui runs from December 15 - May 15, and the “peak” of the season is from January 15 - March 15, although we can start seeing whales as early as November and as late as the middle of May.

Since our Maui whale watching tours are two hours long, you can enjoy a trip full of breaches, splashes, tail slaps, and spouts—and then still have time for other activities, or even just a day at the beach.

Since Maui is one of the world’s best places to search for Humpback whales, EVERYONE who visits Maui in the winter should definitely put this at the top of their list—definitely a Maui “must-do.”

Explore Maui on Foot

It doesn’t matter if it’s a morning stroll on the Kapalua Coastal Trail, or a rugged adventure up Waihe‘e Ridge—one of the best things to do on Maui is explore the island on foot.

You can really slow down, appreciate the beauty, and connect with a part of the island, whether that’s trekking through Redwoods in Polipoli (4WD required), or walking the rugged, lava rock path on the Hoapili Trail.

You could even explore on foot around Lahaina with a free, self-guided walking tour of Lahaina’s historical sites, which you can either pick up from the visitor center across from Lahaina Harbor, or also download here.

Schedule at least one activity that highlights hawaiian culture

Hawaiian culture is what separates these island from anywhere else in the world.

When planning your trip to Maui, try and schedule at least one activity that offers an educational glimpse into the language, history, or culture.

Old Lahaina Luau does an evening show that specifically focuses on Hawaiian heritage, or if visiting on a Saturday, spend the morning volunteering with Maui Cultural Lands.

Squeeze in a visit to Kahanu Garden if you end up going to Hana, for the chance to see Hawaii’s largest heiau, or ancient religious structure.

Or, if you have an hour around Lahaina, make the short drive up to Hale Pa‘i Printing Museum to learn about Hawaiian history and language, and the Hale Ho‘ike‘ike Museum makes a fascinating stop on the drive into Iao Valley—a scenic, Central Maui favorite that can make for one last Maui adventure before an evening or afternoon flight.

Do Nothing—Just Relax!

Finally, with so many Maui activities to choose from, it’s easy to forget to “schedule” some down time. Remember—you’re on vacation!

Even if it’s spending an hour at the pool, or taking the time to sit on the beach and enjoy a colorful sunset, be sure to leave time for that classic island past time:

Relax, slow down, and just be.

What are some of your favorite Maui activities? We’d love to hear them in the comments below!