Living in San Francisco, Hawaii is considered a quick destination to reach due to its proximity. We decided to visit Maui in April 2024 and Maui’s allure is undeniable. It blew us away. Its pristine beaches, lush jungles, and soaring volcanoes create a tropical paradise. Whether you’re snorkeling in crystal-clear waters, hiking through verdant rainforests, or whale-watching in the Pacific Ocean, Maui offers endless opportunities for adventure. But with so much to explore, it can be overwhelming to plan your trip. Here’s an 6-day Maui itinerary to guide you through the best of Maui with room to customize the itinerary to help you make the most of your time in Maui.
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What To Pack For A Maui 6 Day Itinerary
Be prepared for all sorts of weather on your visit to Maui or any other island in Hawaii. We had a lot of sun and some rain, often on the same day. We also brought our hiking clothes and layers to keep warm at Haleakala National Park. Here are some other essentials to pack for Maui.
- Reef Safe Sunscreen: So incredibly important and #1 on the list >Buy Sunscreen
- Reusable Grocery Bag – for just about anything > Buy Reusable Grocery Bag
- Rain Jacket- Hawaii gets spontaneous rain showers, although it will likely be in shorter intervals they can be heavy – > My Favorite Rain Jacket
- Water Bottle: stay hydrated > Check out this water bottle
- Chapstick: This one has SPF so your lips won’t get burned! >Check Out This Chapstick
- Hiking Boots/Shoes: It can be quite muddy in parts of Hawaii. It is best to have waterproof hiking shoes. >Check Out My Hiking Shoes , Mens version
- Hiking Sandals: hiking shoes can be bulky, so bring some hiking sandals instead also sandals are great for the beach>Buy Some Teva Sandals Here
- Snacks: think jerky, nuts and bars >>>Check Out These Snacks
- Day Pack to carry all your things: To comfortably carry all your essentials on your adventure, invest in a high-quality backpack. Osprey is renowned for producing some of the best backpacks on the market.. >Buy This Great Quality Backpack
- Lightweight Hiking Pants: I usually wear lightweight hiking pants to wick all that sweat away >Click For My Favorite Hiking Pants
- Jacket: You need this for Haleakala National Park. It is cold during sunrise and sunset! > This is perfect for Haleakala
- Sun Hat– Bring a hat to protect your face and neck from the sun. Its HOT – > Super Cute Women’s Sun Hat
- Snorkel- You can rent snorkels on the island, but we opted to bring a few cheap ones we bought earlier.- Budget Snorkel
6 Day Maui Itinerary
Spending 6 days on Maui?This itinerary is packed with hiking trails, sun-kissed beaches, thrilling outdoor adventures, and delicious local eats.
Here is the route and 6 Day Maui itinerary broken out day-by-day:
- Day 1: Arrival to Maui, Costco Haul and Catamaran Dinner Cruise
- Day 2: Lahaina, Afternoon Snorkeling in Kaanapali
- Day 3: Road to Hana
- Day 4: Haleakala National Park
- Day 5: Iao Valley State Park , Kihei
- Day 6: Departure Home
Day 1: Get To Maui
When you get to Maui, you will probably be very tired AND hungry.
Once you arrive at the airport, pick up your rental car and if you’re hungry head straight to the food truck park just 10 minutes from the airport. Maui Shrimp was pretty good and had reasonable prices. Get the cajun shrimp and ask for it to be spicy!
After filling your stomach, get some coffee, then head to Costco (which is also in that same area). Also go to Costco on your way back to the airport for some cheap gas to fill your rental car and for some cost efficient souvenirs!
If you’re feeling up to do something on your first day, grab your towel and spend the rest of the day lazing on the beach near your hotel.
Related Reads: Travel Essentials For A Seamless Trip
Some beach recommendations depending on where you’re staying on Maui:
- Lahaina: Napili Bay
- Pāʻia: Kaulahao Beach (it’s an awesome spot to see turtles!)
- Kihei: Charley Young Beach (protip- time your visit with sunset for a real treat!)
Want to make your Maui trip extra special? Book a sunset catamaran dinner cruise and watch as the sun paints the sky with its golden brushstrokes. It’s the perfect way to start your Maui vacation.
Perfect 1st day Activites:
Pro-Tip: Go souvenir shopping at Costco or Walmart when you head back to the airport. They are the cheapest spots to get souvenirs! Costco has a jumbo size Kona Coffee bag for only ~$24 USD. It’s about $40 in other places.
Day 2: Exploring West Maui and Afternoon Snorkeling in Kaanapali
West Maui has a little bit of everything and is a perfect area to explore on your second day in Maui.
***As of November 2024, the town of Lahaina is still under renovations from the wildfires that occurred***
In the morning, visit the historic town of Lahaina. It’s a super nice spot to just find a parking spot and walk around. But before you reach Lahaina you have to swing by Leoda’s Pie Shop. Their coconut cream pie…..is out of this world.
In Lahaina, check out Front Street which has lots of quaint stores and restaurants. Also check out the Banyan tree, which is a pretty cool looking tree that is super impressive.
Everywhere I travel, I have to visit a farmers market and Maui has an exceptional one.
The Farmers Market at Honokowai Beach Center is the best – get the guacamole and a coffee at Bad Ass Coffee, then walk across the road to sit on the beach at the park which is the most beautiful on Maui. ( As of 09/24, farmers market is closed)
After exploring Lahaina and enjoying your cups of coffee, do an afternoon snorkeling tour at Kaanapali Beach. Even as a non- swimmer, I thoroughly enjoyed my time snorkeling at Kaanapali Beach and it is considered one of the best snorkeling spots in Maui.
Snorkel tours are great because they equip you with everything you need. But they can be costly as well. So instead, you can just rent some snorkel gear for your week in Maui and take it with you to various beaches. If you rent a car you can hit up the best snorkel spots like Honolua Bay, Kapalua Bay, and Ahihi Kinau Natural Area Reserve.
Check the Maui Snorkel Report for live conditions.
Also in West Maui is Kapalua which is home to the forest called “Magical Enchanted Forest”. It feels like you are in an Alice in Wonderland fairytale.
In the evening, attend a traditional Hawaiian Luau, which is one of the coolest things you will experience during your time in Maui. They are super touristy and can be expensive, but from what I heard it’s a great time. If you like food, meeting tons of people, listening to music and watching a show then you will have a great time.
