The Ultimate Maui 3 day Itinerary
Your Ultimate Maui 3 day Itinerary. Maui was an absolute dream. When you first arrive it will almost feel like you landed on Mars or a Star Trek set due to the rocky and desert terrain. But wait- soon you’ll spot the teal waters, palms, and jungles and you’ll be in paradise. It has a little bit of everything you want in your trip to Hawaii.
Here is our guide to 3 magical days in Maui.
How to get to Maui?
You can fly directly into the Maui airport from the mainland or take a short flight from another island in Hawaii. There are many international flights directly into Maui from most major airlines.
Where to stay in maui?
We decided to base ourselves in Lahaina near bustling Front Street and absolutely loved the area. It has lots of restaurants and shops with the view of the ocean everywhere you go as well as being a short drive to tons of beaches!
There are no short of stays to choose from in Maui but we could not talk about The Plantation Inn enough! It was wonderful in every way from the gorgeous decor, the delicious breakfast, the warm people, to the location. It is a short walk to Front street.
We actually had booked it for a couple nights and were planning to switch to another place after that was cheaper and ended up going back to The Plantation Inn- we just loved it that much! It is our favorite place we have ever stayed at.
Day 1- Lahaina, Hawaii
Explore Lahaina and the renown Front Street main drag. Front Street is a bit touristy but at the same time you can find plenty of local shops and eats and contribute to local businesses. It is a great area to stroll around and soak it all in.
Start off with some coffee of course. I LOVED VigiLatte Artisan Coffee. It is an adorable coffee stand with great coffee. I would recommend getting a coconut cold brew – I’m still dreaming of this cup of heaven and can’t seem to find it anywhere else. Check out our guide for coffee spots in Lahaina.
On Front Street you can walk around to tons of cute shops such as Honolulu Cookie Company which is my favorite!
We actually order them and have them shipped home to Kansas City, especially in the winter when we really dream of Maui.
You can also head to the Maui Pineapple Store for all your pineapple desires from cute souvenirs, pineapple ice cream, or a pineapple filled with fresh cute pineapple which is what I went for. You can even get a pineapple to take with you to cut for later.
There are tons of shops to pop in and buy souvenirs or gifts and a virtually endless stream of places to eat along the way! Check out our guides to shops and local eats on Long Street.
After fueling up with coffee and exploring Front Street, head to the beach — after all, that is why you’re here, right? I swear the waters are as magical as you dreamed of and maybe more. There is just something so refreshing and calming about Hawaii waters. There’s a reason why it’s iconic. You just have to experience it for yourself.
There are lots of beaches to pick from but Kaanapali Beach gives you everything you could want, and it’s just a short drive from Front Street in Lahaina.
After beaching it, head back towards home for a bite to eat and a tropical drink.
Day 2: The Road to Hana
Road to Hana is the top must do while in Maui! This will easily take your entire day. Start early and start the drive from Lahaina to Hana. Check out our Road to Hana Guide for more information!
You’ll want to start early so you have time to stop at ALL of the great stops along the way: incredible hikes, gardens, waterfalls, beaches and more! We recommend you download the gypsy guide app for a virtual tour guide that will alert you of stops to pull over for. Learn more about the Road to Hana by reading our guide with all the best stops and tips for the best experience!
After what is sure to be an exhausting but wonderful day of all the beauty of Maui head back to Lahaina for a bite to eat and sleep!
Day 3: Maui Ocean Vibes
Book a tour to explore marine life and the ocean. There are so many tours to choose from. You can go snorkeling, scuba diving, island hopping, whale watching, and many more! We opted to go snorkeling on the Molokini Crater which is a crescent shaped partly submerged volcanic crater with a shallow reef known for easy visibility and ocean life viewing.
We unfortunately did not see tons of fish while we were there but think this was due to the weather, the water was a little rough when we were there making it hard to see.
We loved the overall tour experience we had with the Pacific Whale Foundation which we highly recommend. They are a nonprofit NGO doing important work to preserve and protect marine life in Hawaii. Booking through them is a great way to be a sustainable traveler and support a fantastic organization that protects the ocean life in Maui.
All the “tour guides” are certified marine biologists and did a great job educating us all about the ocean, marine life, and ways we can help our oceans by making more sustainable choices at home,
Before or after your tour, be sure to check out the Maui Ocean Center Aquarium next door to the Pacific Whale Foundation. This is where your boat will depart and land. The gift shop is a great stop for souvenirs to remember your time in learning and experiencing the wonder of the ocean and marine life of Maui.
You can’t leave Maui without experiencing and learning about the ocean and all the wonder that lives beneath the waves.
Enjoy your adventures in Maui! Happy Travels!
Planning the rest of your Hawaii Trip? Check our our Hawaii Page, Ultimate Guide to Hawaii, Road to Hana Guide and The Big Island Travel Guide.
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Our love list of Travel Resources:
Here are our favorite places to search and purchase all things travel from flights, rentals, accommodations, tours, and so much more!
Accommodations:
Booking– our favorite way to search for hotels, rentals, and hostels. When you book enough through booking you will earn a discount on all bookings which adds up quickly!
Hostelworld– our go to when searching for hostels
Vrbo– our favorite place to search for apartment and home rentals, it is usually cheaper than airbnb and has less hidden fees
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Tours and Activities:
Viator– book great tours and activities for your next trip, my favorite place for booking tours or travel activities. I love that they have such an easy app to keep all my tickets after booking.
Tripadvisor– Great place to buy and search for travel activities and tours
Get Your Guide– another great resource for searching for a huge variety of tours and attractions for your next trip
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We go Trip– Self guided tours you can access from your phone and explore on your own! A game changer. You can explore at your own pace but still have an informational learning experience of the places you visit, all at your fingertips.
Thatch– search for your own personalized and premade itineraries, with map locations, information for each activity, and your trip all planned for you that you can access through their app and take with you! Check out our thatch guides! There are tons of other great travel creators to explore too!
Rental Cars:
Discover Cars– Worldwide car rentals that allows you to compare different rental car companies to get the best price!
Flights:
WayAway– membership offering 10 % back on tickets, tours, and even hotels! Great way to find cheap flights.
Promo Code for 10% off membership costs: Seek Out Travel
CheapOair– great search engine for flights, hotels, and rental cars
Avisales– Cheap airfare through reliable agencies.
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