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Maui Travel Guide
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maui pictures map |
Our top maui travel attractions are:
1) - Whale Watching
Nov-May; calving late Jan-Mar; excellent viewing from coast
2) - Historical Lahaina Town
charming seaside town; art galleries; restaurants
3) - Haleakala Crater
sunrise; hiking trails; mountain biking
4) - Road to Hana and Kipahulu Reserve
tropical rainforest; valleys; waterfalls;
5) - Snorkelling Molokini
snorkelling and scuba diving
6) - Molokai and Lanai
sailing and day trips to offshore islands
7) - North Coast Road and Iao Valley
spectacular coastal views, ancient heiau, farming village
The scenery of Maui is dominated by two towering volcanic peaks connected by a narrow low lying isthmus. The smaller of these peaks is West Maui with the charming seaside town of Old Lahaina and its art galleries small inns and fine restaurants. North of Lahaina are the beach resorts alongside the beautiful long sandy beaches of Kaanapali and the small coves of Napili with some of best championship golf courses around the resort complex at Kapalua. West Maui enjoys peaceful views across the bay towards Lanai and Molokai islands which both can be visited on a day or overnight trip.
... more about Lahaina Town & West Maui
Kihei Town on the West Coast of the main portion of Maui is the most commercial tourist town and sprawls along a busy road for five miles with loads of economy hotels, timeshare and condominiums based around the long sweeping beaches of Kihei. Wailea, a few miles south of Kihei, is home to a dozen or so grand resorts and almost as many golf courses and further south still is the beach region of Makena. This region is well served by tourist buses making Maui the easiest island to get about without a car.
... more about Kihei Town & Wailea, South Maui
The rural north coast has the least tourist appeal, although here you'll find some pleasant seaside towns, nice beaches, world class wind-surfing, quiet coastal walks and the lovely historical farming towns on the cool slopes of Haleakala Mountain. The industrial town of Kahului is located on the north coast, once a busy port when the sugar industry was alive and thriving. The larger portion of Maui is dominated by the desert-scape scenery of dormant Mt. Haleakala at just over 10,000 feet above sea level which last erupted in 1790 and spilled over much of the south coast of Maui, making this region still barren and mostly inaccessible.
... more about North Maui & Haleakala
Tropical Hana on the rain-drenched east coast is surrounded by stunning waterfalls and deep valleys - the narrow winding "Road to Hana" is a popular scenic day trip, especially by soft-top convertible if you can afford one.
... more about Hana Town and East Maui
The undeveloped islands of Lanai and Molokai lie to the north and west of Maui, just under an hour by fast catamaran from Lahaina Harbour. Although destinations in their own right, Lanai and Molokai are popular with day trippers from West Maui but to really get to see the sights, an overnight stay is recommended.
search for ... Maui Resorts
find ... Maui Tour Companies
back to ... Hawaii Travel Guide
Readers may also be interested in the following destinations:
Cook Islands Travel Guide
Fiji Travel Guide
Samoa Travel Guide
Tonga Travel Guide
Tahiti Travel Guide
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