Hawaii Vacations: Maui Island Vacations
With your tour guide,
Anne P. Mitchell
| Summary: When it comes to island vacations, Maui is as perfect as they come. Black sand beaches, exciting adventure tours, whale watching and the best snorkeling and surfing opportunities in the world, Maui island vacations have it all! |
Maui island vacations are some of the most popular Hawaii island vacations in the world. With 120 miles of coastline and more than 80 accessible beaches, Maui is one of the most popular islands to visit in the world. Millions of visitors flock to Maui each year to enjoy excellent year-round temperatures, world-class swimming, snorkeling and surfing conditions and a variety of exhilarating hiking, biking and walking tours of this stunning island paradise.
With so many to choose from, it’s tough to narrow Maui’s beaches down to the best five or ten or even twenty. The following is a list of some of the most popular Maui beaches and a hidden gem (or two).
White sand beaches are by far the most common types of beaches on the island, but Maui also features black sand beaches, gold sand beaches and red sand beaches. For example, although isolated and somewhat difficult to reach, Kaihalulu Red Sand Beach, located south of Hana Bay on east Maui, is one of Maui’s most photographed beaches. The path leading to the beach can be somewhat slippery, but once you reach the beach, you’ll see why most people are willing to take the risk. Red sand against a blue ocean is an image that you’ll never forget, and if the water happens to be calm during your visit, swimming off this red sand is an experience that you also won’t forget. While snorkeling, swimming and diving are permitted here, there are no lifeguards or facilities, so visitors must pay close attention to postings and weather conditions, and it’s best to visit with a group.
On the other side of the rich, dark rainbow known as Maui is Wai’anapanapa Black Sand Beach. This exotic beach is part of 30-acre Wai’anapanapa State Park, and offers excellent swimming conditions, diving and snorkeling and the opportunity to navigate through freshwater pools in caves. There are no lifeguards on this beach either, but the park features a variety of extras such as showers, hiking trails, cabins, camping areas and picnic facilities. Wai’anapanapa Black Sand Beach is located off Hana Highway on eastern Maui.
There are also a variety of beaches perfect for families, seclusion or those new to snorkeling, surfing or scuba diving. For families with small children, Launiupoko Beach Park is the perfect place to explore. With a natural pool surrounded by a lava rock wall, children will swim for hours on this unique, family-friendly beach. Napali Bay, south of Kapaula, is a popular beach for beginning surfers, snorkeling and swimming. One of the best Maui beaches for seclusion, sunbathing and relaxing far away from the tourist crowds is Waihe’e Beach. Located south of Hana Bay on east Maui, Waihe’e Beach is frequented mainly by locals.
Once you’ve explored as many Maui beaches as you like, there’s still much, much more to see. Other Maui activities include whale watching (November/December-April), submarine adventures, sightseeing tours and a variety of hiking tours. Atlantis Submarine Adventures, 685 Front Street, Lahaina, Maui, allows the passenger to get up close and personal with amazing marine life and coral reefs aboard a 48-passenger submarine. For booking and additional information visit the Atlantis website at www.atlantisadventures.com or call 800-548-6262.
For a variety of hiking, biking, kayaking, helicopter or 4×4 tours, try Maui Eco-Adventures. Maui Eco-Adventures offers hiking tours and package deals for all fitness levels and budgets. They also offer custom tours and multiple island tours as well. For additional information or to book a tour call 877-661-7720 or visit the website at www.ecomaui.com.
Black sand beaches, exciting adventure tours, whale watching and the best snorkeling and surfing opportunities in the world - if you’re looking for an island that has it all, Maui covers all bases and beyond!
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