One Week in Paradise: A Maui Itinerary

Are you looking for a Maui itinerary that will just tell you where you should go? Then you’re in luck! We spent one glorious week on this island’s shores. And I still remember the feeling of the sun on my skin and the ocean beneath my feet. Our trip to Maui was magical. Through the course of one week, we discovered what this island has to offer. And hopefully it will inspire you to do the same!

Caution! You will not be bored. There’s so much to see and do and discover on Maui. So much that you can’t possibly fit everything into one trip. But that shouldn’t stop you from trying! And if you want to experience what Maui has to offer, you need to see her from all sides.

When I think of Maui, I think of…sea turtles. Golden beaches. Rolling waves. Crazy blue water. Huge volcanoes. Beautiful waterfalls. Mesmerizing black sand beaches. Awesome surfing. Humpback whales. Banyan trees. Coconuts. Pineapple. Sunrises. Sunsets. Hiking. Banana bread. Snorkeling. Bamboo forests.

And this itinerary will guide you through it all. But what if you have less than 7 days in Maui? What if you only have 5 or 3? This Maui travel guide will still show you what you can do. And from there allow you to make the choices of what you have to see and what can wait for your next trip.

Because trust me, you’ll leave planning your next one.

Maui Itinerary Overview

Days 1-3: Kihei

The trips where I’ve been the happiest are the trips where I sleep in the same place more than one night. And so we tried to follow this rule as we traveled around the island. Our first stop? Kihei. Located in South Maui, Kihei is a little built up. But if you don’t want to shell out high prices for a crazy expensive resort, then you may want to base yourself here as well.

Day 1: Go Snorkeling

This was our first full day in Maui. And it was the day we wanted to snorkel. Actually…that’s a bit of lie. It was the day I had to see a sea turtle.

You see, I’m kind of obsessed with sea turtles. And I was not leaving Maui without seeing one. And for many, many people it is a similar goal. So I would consider dedicating your first full day to snorkeling and beach hopping to see if you too can fulfill this dream.

Our stops? From north to south: Makena Landing, Maluaka Beach (aka Turtle Town), Big Beach, and ‘Ahihi-Kina’u Natural Area Reserve. And we ended up seeing sea turtles at each of those beaches except Turtle Town (which seemed a bit ironic).

My first sea turtle spotting was actually at Big Beach. In fact I had just given up on the idea of seeing a sea turtle when I spotted a dark shape moving through the water just out past where the waves were breaking. My breath caught as I watched the shape move. And then, ever so gracefully, a sea turtle head poked above the water and took a breath.

I will never forget that moment.

The best snorkeling spot though? That has to go to Ahihi-Kina’u Natural Area Reserve. Located at the end of the road and down a rocky path, you might miss this black sand beach. But you guys, no joke, this was the best snorkeling I’ve ever done.

The water was so clear it was like an aquarium. And there were so many fish there that I literally felt like I had to swim out of their way. And sea turtles? Oh yea, we saw three here over two separate trips there.

Day 2: Take a Surf Lesson and Explore the Upcountry

There are certain things you have to do when you are in Maui. And for me, surfing was one of them. It was a must do for our Maui itinerary.

And I debated long and hard about what company to go with for my surfing lesson. In the end I choose Maui Surfer Girls and I couldn’t have been happier with the choice. We woke up early and headed to Ukumehame Beach for our lesson. The waves were gentle that day, and I stood up on almost every wave.

Maui Surfer Girls just made it easy. On my first wave, my I remember (shakily) popping to myf feet in one motion. Easy. Simple.

You cannot go with a better surf company.

Day 3: Go Whale Watching

If you decide to visit Maui during the winter, then you must add whale watching to your Maui itinerary. When we found out that February was the peak month, we knew we had to dedicate one whole morning to finding the whales.

We booked a tour with Trilogy out of Lahaina and it was the perfect choice. Breakfast, free drinks, a great crew, and, oh yea, the whales. They were spectacular that morning.

Because I remember being nervous about seeing any. As the tour started, I searched the horizon, my eyes darting back and forth, looking for the any sign of the humpbacks. And then, not even 15 minutes into the tour, a whale leaped into the air 200 yards in front of us.

Where to Eat in Kihei

Breakfast

Kihei Caffe has a line out the door for a reason. Don’t miss it. We went to breakfast here twice.

Lunch

Jawz Fish Tacos is a food truck located on the main road south of Turtle Town. There may also be a truck at Big Beach as well. The tacos were just okay. But since it’s the only food you can find this far south, it was like a beacon of light as we saw it in the distance. We had just run out of water and I was dreading the 20 minute drive back north to the closest gas station. Jawz saved us that day. Huge bottles of water. Fish tacos. And rainbow shave ice.

808 Deli looks like just your normal deli/sub spot. But definitely don’t let its unassuming nature deter you. This is one good lunch spot.

Eskimo Candy is a good spot if you’re looking for a real lunch spot. It could also be good for dinner. The bowls and local lunch options look amazing here.

Shave Ice

Ululani’s has a reputation of being an amazing spot for shave ice. It’s now got several locations around the island. But their shop in Kihei is extremely popular (for a good reason).

Dinner

Da Kitchen Express is a low key, Hawaiian eatery located in a strip mall in Kihei. This wasn’t our favorite meal, but it was a good, inexpensive option I would still recommend.

Cafe O’Lei is located above a strip mall. It’s a great seafood spot, if a little expensive. This was definitely the fanciest place we ate all week. Prices were high, but the food was good.

Amigo’s was our last dinner in Kihei. We wanted something inexpensive and delicious. And $8 burrito Tuesday sounded marvelous.

Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar is where you should go if you want to go fancy. It’s reported to have some of the best sushi on the island. We didn’t get to try this place (hello, we suck at reservations and you’ll need them here), but the reviews speak for themselves.

Leoda’s Kitchen & Pie Shop is a place I’ve also heard good things about. Located in Lahaina, it’s a good choice if you’re out that way and you get hungry (for breakfast or lunch or dinner or dessert!).

Where to Stay in Kihei

This is Maui. It’s expensive here. So I wouldn’t come to Maui expecting it to be a cheap destination. Because well, it’s not.

You can save money (this post is geared towards a lower budget), but you won’t find exactly cheap options.

One way we attempted to save money was to avoid pricey hotels and resorts. So we got a private room through AirBnb from a local woman in Kihei. She owned a big house and Airbnbed (is that a verb now?) her guest bedrooms.

However if you want to stay in a more traditional hotel/condo, here are some options I find appealing (and beachfront!!!):

Days 4-5: Paia

After Kihei we wanted to see the other side of Maui. To make the most of your trip to Maui, definitely spend some time in the south and the north.

Staying in both places will give you a good idea of what the island is like as a whole. Plus some of the best things to do in Maui can be found around Paia. And it was so nice to be based here.

Day 4: Visit Ho’okipa Beach & Hike the Bamboo Forest Trail

I hate itineraries that are too rigid. And so this is a free day. What do you want to do?

Need more beach time? Pick a spot of sand, lean back, and enjoy. Haven’t seen Maui’s upcountry yet? Consider a driving tour to its various farms. Need more surf time? Rent a board and hit the waves. Want to spend more time in Paia? Head out of Kihei early and explore this cute little town.

The choices are endless.

But what did we do? Well, when we woke up on that Wednesday, our Maui itinerary was wide open. Our only plan for the day was to leave Kihei and check into our new AirBnb in Paia.

But before leaving South Maui, we decided to hit up our favorite snorkeling spots again – Makena Landing and Ahihi-Kina’u Natural Area Reserve. And yes – we did see more turtles.

That afternoon we headed north. Our first stop was to Ho’okipa Beach. We pulled over at the lookout on the eastern side to watch the waves. And the waves were HUGE that day. Some of the biggest I’ve ever seen in person, they pounded at the beach and rocks.

And the blue. That was the most startling. The water was so blue it looked fake.

After taking in the beauty of Ho’okipa Beach, we hit up one of the top spots on the Road to Hana – the Bamboo Forest Trail.

Without a doubt, this is one of the most fun things do in in Maui and so is a must for our Maui travel guide. But since this trail is long-ish, we decided to go ahead and tackle it that afternoon. And though we didn’t make it to the end of the trail, we did see two of its four waterfalls (with the second one all to ourselves).

But this is not an easy trail. In fact many tourists fall and twist their ankle and have to be air-lifted out. So don’t tackle this unless you are experienced hiker, are in good shape, and don’t mind getting dirty.

Because I was muddy all over. Knees, shins, hands, fingernails, elbows, forehead, etc. Covered in mud. After passing the first waterfall, I remember scrambling up one of the muddy banks, giving the “rope” some serious side eye since it did not look sturdy enough to hold my weight.

But then, through the bamboo on the side of the trail, I saw it. The second waterfall.

There’s something special about having your own private waterfall.

Day 5: Hike Haleakala

Haleakalā. It stood over us for the first four days of our trip. Beckoning to us. Calling to us. And finally, on the fifth morning, its day had come.

Most people come to the mountain to watch the sunrise or the sunset. But there’s so much more to this place. First off, a stop at each of its magnificent viewpoints was a must for our Maui itinerary. Leleiwi Overlook, Kalahaku Overlook, the Visitor Center, and Pu’u’ula’ula Overlook were the ones we loved the most.

I remember walking up the slope to the building at the top of the Pu’u’ula’ula Overlook was harder than it should have been. (Due to the elevation.) But then my feet slowed as the entire crater came into view. It was magnificent. Like really breathtaking.

Also it’s really, really cold at the top. I remember packing warm clothes and then realizing when I opened the car door that it was not enough. The wind bit through my long sleeve shirts and leggings.

But if you want to really see Haleakala, to get to know this mountain, then a descent into its belly is required.

We walked 2 ½ miles down the Sliding Sands trail towards the crater bottom. And to say the landscape looked alien, wouldn’t quite do it justice. Yes, it did look out of this world. But it was also beautiful. Reds, browns, yellows, greens, and blacks all swirled together.

Haleakala definitely deserves at least a day of your Maui itinerary. For many it is one of the the top things to do in Maui.

You could definitely go up for sunrise (just realize you could be leaving your accommodation at like 3am to get there in time). But if you do want to see the sunrise from Haleakala, you’ll need to make a reservation. Because it’s often considered to be the thing to do on Maui. So make sure to get on the list.