Circuits and trips to Maui Island
Maui, also known as the Valley Isle, is Hawaii's second largest island. The island is world-famous for its beaches, the sacred Iao Valley, sightings of migrating humpback whales (during the winter months), organic cuisine, and magnificent sunrises and sunsets from Haleakala. It's no wonder Maui has been voted "America's Best Island" by Condé Nast Traveler readers for over 20 years.The island is named after the legendary demigod Maui. According to tradition, this hero, known in various parts of Polynesia, created the islands by fishing them from the bottom of the sea with a magic hook, which the locals identify with the constellation Scorpio.Maui is made up of two volcanoes that meet at an isthmus. The oldest volcano is the badly eroded Mauna Kahalawai, also known as West Maui Mountain. To the east is Haleakala, a younger and larger volcano with a caldera at 3,050 metres above sea level. Because the terrain is dominated by the two volcanic mountains, the climate is highly variable depending on the orientation to the trade winds and the altitude. The population is diverse, with different ethnic groups of immigrants who came to work on the sugar cane and pineapple plantations. The main towns are Kahului, Wailuku, Lahaina and Kihei. In the central area of the island is Kahului, which is home to the island's main airport and interesting attractions. This is where a large part of the island's population lives and offers many interesting attractions and natural treasures to discover off the beaten track. It’s also a bustling shopping district with Maui’s largest mall. The central area’s main attraction is the tranquil “Iao Valley State Park,” with mist-shrouded forests, lush valleys and bubbling streams. A short hike on the paved trail takes you to one of Maui’s most iconic landmarks, the 1,200-foot Iao Needle. At the valley’s entrance, you’ll discover the charming village of Wailuku, with its wooden facades around Market Street and home to dozens of family-owned businesses, many of which have been in continuous operation for generations. Visitors who dare to negotiate the “Hana Highway’s” classic hairpin turns and narrow bridges will reach the East of the island and be rewarded with out-of-this-world views of lush rainforests, gorgeous waterfalls and exotic beaches. This is probably the picture you had in mind when you visited this island: waterfalls cascading into hidden pools in lush rainforests, roadside stands selling pineapples, and hairpin turns around cliffs that drop into the sea. Just off Maui’s rugged east coast is the sleepy town of Hana, nestled in a remote, beautiful corner of the island and considered one of Hawaii’s last pristine frontiers. Another area you should check out is the southeast of the island, the sunniest, driest area of Maui blessed with miles of soft sand beaches and clear views of the islands of Lanai, Molokini and Kahoolawe. It’s where the tropical beaches of Kihei, Makena and Wailea are located. South Maui is a great place to enjoy a few days of relaxation and romantic nights. One of Maui’s most famous stretches of coastline is Kaanapali Beach, located on the west coast and offering almost three miles of paradise where ocean adventures and total relaxation await you. Maui’s sunny northwest coast was once the retreat of Hawaiian royalty and the capital of the Hawaiian kingdom. Today, “West Maui” is home to spectacular resorts, shopping centers, restaurants and a host of activities, as well as some of the most amazing sunsets in the world. The beaches we’ve mentioned give way to rolling hills and misty mountains as you ascend to “Upcountry Maui,” which is located at the higher elevations surrounding Haleakala, the highest peak on the island. Since the beginning, Hawaiians have tilled the volcanic soil in the fields here to grow taro and sweet potatoes. Today, you can take farm tours, visit a goat dairy, or even sample Maui-made wines and spirits at the country stores in Kula and Makawao.