Maui in 6 Days: Your Ultimate Maui Itinerary

November 11, 2024December 10, 2024By thelifestyledove

crashing ocean waves on rocky shore under the blue sky

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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Table of Contents

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

first day in maui — sitting on the left side of the plane

Maui Costco haul ft. many Hawaiian snacks

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.

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.

Day 3: Road to Hana

So, I will be honest about Road to Hana. It was not my favorite part of Maui…I found that the drive itself was very exhausting, windy and not very enjoyable. If you can stomach the hairpin turns, and the windy roads then you may enjoy it.

Road to Hana takes you through lush rainforests, past cascading waterfalls, and to secluded black sand beaches.

Some stops we made on our Road to Hana adventure were:

Ho’okipa Bay Beach Park
Pools of ‘Ohe’o
Pipiwai Trail
Twin Falls
Huelo Lookout – Loved their coconuts!
Ke’anae Arboretum
Keanae Lookout – Get Auntie Sandy’s banana bread!
Nahiku Viewpoint And Wayside
Upper Waikani Falls
Kaihalulu Red Sand Beach
Wailua Falls

To fully appreciate this scenic drive, I really recommend you dedicate an entire day to explore its many hidden gems. Start early and end with a delicious dinner in the charming town of Paia. Remember to bring cash, water, and a change of clothes. You could also spend the night in Hana, but lodging is a pretty penny.

If you plan to complete the Road to Hana in a single day (as most visitors do), be prepared for a long day of driving. The round trip can take up to 15 hours, and you’ll need to drive back in the dark along a winding, often single-lane road.

Pro-Tip: Definitely know your sunset hours. It gets dark after 30 min past sunset and there are no lights on the highway.

Day 4: Haleakala National Park

One of the most legendary things to do in Maui is watching the sunrise from the top of Mount Haleakala’s Summit. The sun bursts over the clouds like a vibrant watercolor painting! It’s a view that one can’t entirely explain unless one sees it themselves.

While some people preferred watching the sunrise, we much preferred the sunset. If you want to watch the sunrise, you will have to wake up very very early (3am) and to me that is not fun. Oh and you need a reservation.

We went at sunset. and we had the best time. We were able to grab lunch at Kula Bistro on the way up and were able to see the beautiful upcountry drive and views. Tons of photo opps!

We arrived at the park around one and then did the Sliding Sands Trail. By the time we were done with the hike, it was time to set up our spot and set up our snacks to watch the sunset over the clouds. It was incredible. There is no reservation required for sunset.

Pro-Tip: Bring Warm Clothes. It will be cold at the summit. I recommend you bring a down jacket and fleece as it’s pretty chilly and windy.

Day 5: Beach Day and Exploring ʻĪao Valley State Park

Start the day with some hiking in ʻĪao Valley State Park. A well-marked, paved path leads from the parking lot to a ridge-top lookout, offering stunning views of ʻĪao Needle and the valley. For the best visibility, arrive early, as the needle is often shrouded in clouds. This state park doesn’t take long to explore. The trail is pretty short (0.6 miles long) and the lush greenery is such a beautiful sight.

You have to pay for $10 parking and $5 per person. Online reservations are required

If you are up for more hiking, do the Waihee Ridge Trail. It was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. The scenery resembles a lot of scenes from Jurassic Park. The trail is pretty steep and can be hot as there is little shade. Bring sunscreen and plenty of water. Parking is free.

After hiking, head to the town of Kihei and enjoy the rest of the day on the beach. For lunch, grab a bite at one of the food trucks near Makena Beach or indulge in delicious tacos at Coconut’s Fish Cafe.

best things to do in maui — Makena Beach

Kihei has lots of pretty beaches but my favorite is Makena Beach. This is probably the prettiest beach I have seen in Hawaii. The water is bright blue, the crowds are pretty small and the sand is so soft. You have to pay an entrance fee and parking. There are also volleyball courts, and you can bring a boogie board. Other nice beaches in Kihei are Kamaole Beach Parks II and III, and Secret Cove

Day 6: Departure Day

Our flight did not leave Maui until 6pm on our last day, so we had a good chunk of time to squeeze in some activities.

On our last day in Maui, we visited the small town of Makawao in Upcountry Maui. Makawao is home to art galleries, boutique shops, and restaurants. It was fun walking around and seeing Hawaiin culture.

We then spent a couple of hours shopping and eating in Paia town and watching turtles and surfers at nearby Ho’okipa Beach Park. Both are semi close to the airport, approximatley 20 minutes. We also made one last trip to Costco for some travel snacks, souvenirs and to fill up on gas.

Some other suggestions to do on your last day:

Visit Upcountry – shopping in Makawao and visit Kula Botanical Garden
Vist the Maui Ocean Center Aquarium
Go on a pineapple farm tour, chocolate farm tour, or coffee farm tour if you haven’t done one already (Greenwell is good)
Get poke and enjoy watching the ocean waves at your favorite beach!

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