The Best Beaches in Maui: A Map & Guide
If you’re planning a trip to Maui, one of your biggest questions is probably where all of the best beaches are. Maui is well-known for its beautiful beaches, but with so many options, it can be hard to narrow down the best ones. My guide to the Best Beaches in Maui includes some of Maui’s top must-see beaches. I have also included an easy-to-read map so you can decide which beaches are best for your trip based on location! My recommendation is to see as many beaches on this list as you can as they all have something unique to offer!
The Beaches:
If you’re staying in South Maui, then you definitely want to check out Makena Beach, Secret Cove Beach, and Wailea Beach. In my opinion, these are the best beaches on the island for a day of lounging and relaxing. If you’re into surfing and other similar watersports, then the beaches in Paia are where you’ll want to be! Baldwin Beach and Ho’okipa Beach are not only beautiful but also offer the best surf conditions on the island.
If you have time to drive the Road to Hana (and I recommend that you make time for this) then you’ll want to check out some of the most scenic and unusual beaches on the island. These beaches include Black Sand Beach, Red Sand Beach, and Hamoa Beach. These beaches are visually unforgettable and not to be missed!
Many tourists stay in West Maui, but, in my opinion, this area does not offer the best beaches on the island. If you can, I would venture to other parts of the island to experience Maui’s best beaches. However, if you are looking for a beach close by, then head to Kapalua Bay Beach. This beach is one of the best in West Maui for a day of swimming and soaking up the sun! Finally, if you have time in your schedule, I highly recommend taking the ferry to the island of Lanai and spending the day at Hulopo’e Beach. This beach is calm, relaxing, and offers amazing snorkeling opportunities!
See also: The Ultimate 7 Day Maui Itinerary
Here are the Best Beaches in Maui by Location
South Maui:
Makena Beach (Big Beach)
In my opinion, South Maui is the place to go if you’re looking for the perfect beach day. Makena Beach (also called Big Beach) is my personal favorite. It includes a huge stretch of golden sand, crystal blue waters, and a forest of trees and mountains in the background. Because of the trees lining the beach, there is a feeling of privacy. It also helps that this beach is nestled away from all of the action of the busy resort beaches. The sheer size of this beach also contributes to the feeling of seclusion as you can easily find a spot without being too close to other beach-goers.
Makena Beach is often said to be one of the best beaches in Maui and even all of Hawaii. It is also one of the most photographed beaches in Hawaii and is often used for postcards and other tourism ads. The one drawback to this beach, however, is that the waves can be quite strong. It is advised not to swim during the spring and summer months as tropical storms cause powerful rip currents.
Secret Cove Beach
Secret Cove Beach (also called Paako Beach) is located just to the South of Makena Beach. Even though they are right next to each other, you have to go to a separate entrance in order to access this beach. The entrance is a bit hidden as it is nestled behind some private residences in the area. After you find the public access path, you are rewarded with gorgeous views of the waves crashing against the scattered lava rocks. This spot is a perfect backdrop for a photo shoot or an intimate wedding ceremony! However, if you are looking for a beach to spend the day, you’re probably better off choosing one of the many other nearby beaches.
Wailea Beach
Wailea Beach is consistently rated as one of the world’s best beaches. This beach is perfect for the resort-loving crowd and families. It’s also perfect for anyone looking for an easy beach where they can set up an umbrella or pop into the water for a swim. Wailea beach is also a perfect place for snorkeling and other water activities! The beach is nestled between two of Maui’s most high-end resorts, The Four Seasons and The Grand Wailea Resort, and includes a paved pathway along the entire stretch of the beach.
Paia:
Baldwin Beach
Paia is a surf town in North Maui and offers beautiful beaches with excellent conditions for surfing and other extreme water sports. If you are in Maui to surf, kitesurf, or windsurf, then Paia is the place to be! In my opinion, Baldwin Beach is the best beach to spend the day in Paia. The beach is located behind a residential neighborhood so you have to find a public path through the surrounding houses. Baldwin beach features a beautiful stretch of golden sand and a lovely tree-lined backdrop.
Depending on the day’s weather, this beach can be windy! This part of the island is known for windy conditions, but that is why it makes such a great location for surfing! In recent years, windsurfing and kitesurfing have become extremely popular in this area. Because of the often-windy conditions, I would either check the weather and visit on a clear day or pick a different location for a full beach day.
Ho’okipa Beach (Turtle Beach)
Ho’okipa Beach (also known as Turtle Beach), is located past Paia right before continuing on the long Road to Hana. This beach is another popular surfing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing spot. On a typical day, you’ll often find swarms of surfers catching some waves or families spending the day out barbequing. The biggest tourist draw to this beach, however, is the turtles. As you can probably guess from its nickname, this is a popular place for turtles to take take a rest and sunbathe.
If you want to see the turtles, it’s best to visit early in the morning for sunrise or later in the evening for sunset. Visiting in the middle of the day will give you less of a chance of spotting them. If you’re lucky enough to get to see these gentle creatures, make sure you give them their space and take any photographs from a distance!
Hana:
Black Sand Beach (Honokalani Beach)
Black Sand Beach (also named Honokalani Beach) is the first must-see beach along the Road to Hana. The beaches on this side of the island are breathtakingly beautiful and exquisitely unique. Black Sand Beach features a unique contrast of fine black sand, turquoise blue waters, and a lush lime-green background. The beach is located inside Wai’anapanapa State Park and a reservation is now required to visit.
Make sure you secure your reservation well in advance as reservations do sell out. The reservations are typically for three-hour increments so this is not the place to set up for a relaxing beach day. However, this beach is not to be missed! It is a must-see if you’re including it in your Road to Hana itinerary or it also makes for an essential stop of its own. You can spend your time exploring, snapping photographs, or simply taking in the gorgeous views of the waves and dazzling colors.
Red Sand Beach (Kaihalulu Beach)
Red Sand Beach (or Kaihalulu Beach) is the next up on the best beaches in Maui! This beach is simply out of this world and I cannot stress enough how much you have to go here. Kaihalulu Beach is technically closed due to its dangerous conditions, but if you plan your trip around the weather and are in reasonable shape to complete the short and narrow hike, you will be rewarded with the most unique coastal views you have ever seen! The beach features a contrast of Mars red sand, bright green trees, and kool-aid blue water.
Finding the beach
Getting to this beach can be tricky. You will want to park your car in the town of Hana. We parked our car a few blocks away from the Hana community center. From there, we walked back to the community center and walked across the field to the right. At the end of the field will be an unmaintained trail – it can be tricky to spot at first but you will see some signs warning you of the danger and to turn back. If you are confident in your hiking abilities, then keep going and follow the trail. As long as it has not been raining, you are in reasonable physical condition, and have no small children or elderly with you, you should be fine to complete this short hike.
The path will become narrow fast – this is where most accidents occur. My best piece of advice is to not attempt this trail if it has been raining recently! There have been incidents of the ground crumbling in slick conditions and sending hikers for a fall over the edge. If you are an experienced hiker and are cautious and aware of your surroundings, this should not be an issue.
The Best Views on Maui
The narrow path will not last for long and you will see the most breathtaking views of the red sand surrounded by a mountain of red. The views are otherworldly and if you come at the right time, you have the chance of having this gorgeous sight all to yourself. When we went, we started early in the morning and were able to spend some time taking in the peace and solitude. This didn’t last for long though – just as we were heading back, a couple of families started passing us on the trail. This might not be the best beach for the whole family, but it is quite an adventure and one of the most unique places you will see on Maui!
Hamoa Beach
If you’re staying in the quiet town of Hana, or have time to make the stop on your Road to Hana road trip, then Hamoa Beach is the best place for a relaxing beach day. It may not have the unique contrasting colors of the Black Sand Beach or Red Sand Beach, but it does feature lush greenery and a relaxing small-town vibe.
This beach is a quick stop on many people’s Road to Hana list but it is probably best enjoyed as the main event of the day. If you have the time in your trip to spend a night or two in Hana (and I recommend that you try to do this) then this is definitely a must-do activity. You will experience a completely different beach vibe from the more tourist-lined beaches in West or South Maui.
West Maui:
Kapalua Bay
If you’re staying in the popular tourist area of West Maui, such as Lahaina or Kapalua, then Kapalua Bay is a great option for a perfect beach day. Most of the beaches on this list are located in South Maui, Paia, or Hana, but the most popular tourist area is actually in the area of Lahaina. If you’re looking for a beach close to your hotel, then this is the beach for you. This beach is easily accessible and offers great swimming conditions and snorkeling opportunities.
Bonus: Lanai
Hulopo’e Beach Park
This one is a bonus as it is actually not located on the island of Maui! Hulopo’e Beach Park is located on the island of Lana’i which is technically still a part of Maui county so it counts! The island of Lana’i is extremely remote and only includes two public beaches. The island is very easily accessible from Maui by boat or ferry and is definitely worth the effort! If you have the time in your schedule, try to schedule a full-day boat tour or book a ferry trip to spend the day on the island.
The best beach to visit on Lana’i is Hulopo’e Beach Park. This beach offers some of the best snorkeling in the Hawaiian islands featuring crystal blue waters and abundant marine life. The beach is also the perfect place to set up for a laid-back day of sunbathing. There are even coastal hikes leading off of the beach as well as tide pools filled with tropical fish which is perfect for beginner snorkelers and small children!
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