Where to Go Chasing Maui’s Top Waterfalls, Beaches, and Resorts

If you enjoy a road trip, set out on the Road to Hana, a 65-mile coastal highway on the east side of Maui. It’s a gorgeous winding route and wise to devote a full day to allow for plenty of stops. Highlights include the town of Hana, Wailua Falls, black-sand beaches, and Haleakalā National Park, where you can hike to ‘Ohe‘o Gulch for waterfalls, a bamboo forest, and natural pools that are closed for swimming but still wonderful to see.

Rise and shine for the ride up to Haleakalā Crater, a 10,023-foot-tall volcanic crater where you can witness one of the world’s best sunrise views. The sand dunes beyond 'Īao Valley State Park are another natural wonder well worth the detour. Indeed, there’s no shortage of A-plus beaches, including surfer-approved Honolua Bay; Makena Beach, popular with the body boarding crowd; and the black-rock beach at Waiʻānapanapa State Park. Snorkelers seek out Molokini, a crescent-shaped volcanic crater that’s partially submerged in the sea. Epic rock formations, colorful coral, and tropical marine life add to the special setting.

To book guided experiences across Maui, from helicopter and zip line rides to sunset cruises, check out GetYourGuide.

Photo Courtesy VisualCommunications / iStock

For a taste of traditional culture, reserve your spot at a lūʻau, marked by the rhythmic beat of the pahu (the Hawaiian drums), chanting, mesmerizing hula, and heaping plates of food. Speaking of food, you can’t leave Maui without indulging in its dining scene. Three top tables are Merriman's Maui, an elegant fine-dining spot in Kapalua; Lineage, a newer favorite featuring a pan-Asian menu in Wailea; and Mama’s Fish House, a 50-year institution for seafood and ocean views on Maui’s North Shore. 

Join the locals for a casual meal at Hali'imaile General Store in Upcountry or at Isana, a sushi joint north of Wailea where kalbi ribs and garlic shrimp noodles also on the menu (make an advance booking for Isana on Resy). Truly, eating in Maui is so stellar that you can stop at a gas station, pick up a couple of spam musubis, and still expect a satisfying meal. And if you love tropical fruit, book a tour of Maui Gold to learn about the history of pineapple farming – and sample the goods. 

To live out your set-jetting fantasies, only one resort will do: The 15-acre, 383-room Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. Orbiting a central courtyard with a serene water feature, the palm-fringe, oceanfront estate offers decadent amenities and generously sized accommodations. Guest rooms start at 600 square feet plus a breezy lanai, and you can pick between ocean, garden, or mountain views. Each room and suite displays contemporary Hawaiian art, which provides a welcome sense of place. 

Pretty gardens flourish across the resort, with one dedicated entirely to plumeria. There are three pickleball courts and one for tennis; three pools (with saltwater, with kid-friendly features, and for adults only); and programming run by the Kids For All Seasons day camp. The beach is set up for activities like snorkeling and paddleboarding, and the concierge team can organize excursions, notably, a catamaran sailing led by a Hawaiian navigator, who will teach you how Polynesians once navigated using only the stars, swells, and other natural guidance.

Platinum Card Members receive a $100 credit, which can be put towards topnotch on-site restaurants, from sushi at Komo to coastal Italian at Ferraro’s. If slowing down at the spa is more your speed, book a Lomi Mohala massage in your choice of a treatment room or ocean-facing hale, or an Ultimate Signature Facial.

Kapalua has its own cluster of resorts and offers a quieter, more secluded alternative to Wailea; here on the northwest shore, winds are stronger and the sunshine a little less predictable. The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, covers 54 acres of protected landscapes, including lava rock peninsulas, and the activities are as endless as the horizon. Tee off where the PGA TOUR champions play; hike along coastal and mountain trails; and join family-friendly outings with Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ambassadors of the Environment program.

After your fill of adventures, kick back in rooms and suites featuring Hawaiian textiles, custom-crafted Ritz-Carlton beds, and private balconies. Select suites offer panoramic ocean views, kitchens, separate living and dining spaces, walk-in closets, and soaking bathtubs.

With guaranteed 4pm check-out, you can fit in a leisurely last-day lunch plus a dip in the resort’s expansive outdoor pool, with a fitness center and separate children’s pool nearby. The spa features private cabanas and treatments using flowers and herbs from the resort’s garden.