The Perfect Maui Honeymoon Guide & Itinerary (with can’t miss tips)
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You’ve made a great decision to head to Maui for your honeymoon (our favorite Hawaiian island for a honeymoon). Now, you need to figure out what exactly you should do.
Welcome to our famous Maui Honeymoon Guide with a free itinerary! Plus, we provide links to many of our articles and videos to help you plan your trip to Maui. If you’re the Groom with one job to do, this is your honeymoon guide to Hawaii!
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with this detailed and picture-perfect eight-day Maui honeymoon itinerary.
Your Essential Maui Honeymoon Guide Resources:
- Where to Stay on Maui! Our full guide on where to stay with hotel reviews.
- Last Minute Trip to Maui: Here is Your Plan
- Get your Discount Rental Car here. Splurge on a Jeep or convertible!
- Finish your planning with our Maui Wayfinder Itinerary with guidance on where to stay, planned days out, and the best places to eat.
- Unforgettable Maui Honeymoon Activities
Hi! I’m Erica,
Co-founder of The Hawaii Vacation Guide. I’ve lived on Maui and Oahu and travel the islands regularly with my husband Jordan and our kids, Henry and Edith. From planning unforgettable island-hopping adventures to paddling out on my SUP during whale season, I know what it takes to craft the perfect Hawaii vacation.
Where Should You Stay on Your Maui Honeymoon?
Maui is full of beautiful hotels and vacation rentals. But where should you stay?
If budget is no concern, we recommend staying at Hotel Wailea, the only adults-only resort in Hawaii. We’ll use Hotel Wailea as a starting point for this itinerary. But if that hotel doesn’t appeal to you, there are plenty of other options on the island.
Read our guide to the 7 best honeymoon hotels on Maui.
We also have our Best Area to Stay on Maui that provides an overview of the major resort areas.
Maui Honeymoon Itinerary
The average honeymoon is eight days, so we’re giving you a sample eight-day itinerary. Of course, if you can stay longer, then you’ll have more than enough to do.
So stay longer if you can — trust me!
Here’s a perfect eight-day honeymoon.
Related read: explore our list of the best Hawaii photographers, plus the best beaches for photos.
Day 1: Sunset Drinks and Dinner
You arrive after your long flight from the mainland. After you check into the hotel and freshen up, it’s time to head out to stretch your legs and get a glimpse of the amazing scenery.
Grab a ride from one of the valets and head down to Wailea Beach. There’s a pathway that winds along the coastline, so you can take in the sights of the sea and stretch your legs after a long plane ride. Take your time — and enjoy the reward of reaching your beautiful destination after a long trip.
Once you’re done walking and you’re ready for a drink, head to the Fairmont Kea Lani. You can go to AMA Bar and Grill, or you can get drinks at Nick’s Fishmarket, another excellent restaurant at the hotel.
After drinks, grab a ride with the valet again and head up the hill to Hotel Wailea. Enjoy dinner at the restaurant and watch the sun go down.
Related articles
- How to Plan the Ultimate Hawaii Romantic Vacation
- Hawaii Wedding Officiants: 13 full reviews
- Hawaii Beach Photoshoots: the best photo spots
Day 2: Snorkeling West Maui
You’ll likely be up and at ’em early today thanks to jet lag. Grab your snorkeling gear and head out. Don’t worry, you can stop for coffee and breakfast along the way.
After a 30-minute drive west from Hotel Wailea, you’ll reach Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop (click for directions), a charming restaurant famous for its pies. But what most people don’t realize is that you can skip the line out the door in the afternoon and get there for a delicious breakfast. They have a great menu but don’t forget to order a monkey bread to share.
From there, you’ll be within a short drive to some of the best snorkeling spots. We recommend:
- Honolua Bay
- Kapalua Bay
- Napili Bay
- Black Rock at Ka’anapali (park at Whalers Village Shopping Center)
You can read the full list of our 11 favorite Maui snorkeling spots here or head out on one of our favorite tried and tested Maui snorkeling tours.
There are plenty of restaurants and food trucks to stop at along the way if you want to stop for lunch.
Once you’re done snorkeling, head back to the hotel to get changed. If it’s early enough, head over to Monkeypod Kitchen for happy hour, and possibly the best Mai Tai on the island.
Do you need more details on planned excursion days, more places to eat, and the best snorkel spots? Check out our Maui itineraries:
Get The Maui Itinerary
The step-by-step itinerary takes you to all the best beaches, snorkeling spots, restaurants, and sights. You’ll get six carefully planned excursion days to help you see the can’t miss stops no matter how limited your time is.
Get all the details on our itinerary and download it for a memorable and easily planned trip to Maui.
Day 3: Resort Day and Dinner at Mama’s Fish House
For foodies out there, this is a splurge day, and you’ll need to make reservations well in advance (we recommend 2 months in advance). Mama’s Fish House is arguably the best restaurant on the island, with prices that reflect its prestige.
Depending on your energy today, you have two choices: hang around the hotel pool during the day (it’s gorgeous after all) and make a 30 – 45-minute drive to Mama’s Fish House in the late afternoon, getting you there in time for dinner.
Or, if you are in the mood to explore more, head to Paia in the morning and explore the beaches and this cute town on the North Shore. Make sure to stop at Kualahao Beach, where you are almost guaranteed to spot sea turtles. Then enjoy a lunch reservation at Mama’s Fish House. Not only is lunch a cheaper option, but you won’t have to drive back in the dark.
Related read: Is Mama’s Fish House Better for Lunch or Dinner?
For more romantic places to eat, see our favorite dinner on the beach options (private dining and beachfront).
You could also hire a private chef for a special Maui dinner. A tailored experience, the best ingredients, convenience, and elevating a special moment is what hiring a private chef on Maui is all about.
If you’re staying in a vacation rental or have an outdoor cooking area at your hotel, consider hiring Chef Daniel at Elite Maui Chefs. The local, Maui Chef is an expert at adapting to various kitchens to provide an artistic and special private dining experience for your romantic partner.
Day 4: Upcountry and Haleakala Sunset
Today is a big day of adventure. You may have heard that a popular activity is to watch the sunrise from Haleakala, the East Maui volcano. We think the sunset from the top of Haleakala is a much better experience. Not only do you not have to book tickets months in advance, but you also don’t have to wake up at 3 am to get there.
After enjoying the morning at your hotel, it’s time to head up to upcountry Maui, a drastically different landscape than you’ve had in Wailea. Head to Hali’imaile General Store for lunch. Afterward, you can explore the cowboy town of Makawao or take in the view from the Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm.
Once you’re done, head up the hill to Haleakala and, clouds permitting, enjoy a spectacular sunset from the top of the island. A word of warning: it is cold so bring jackets and layers to bundle up.
Shaka Guide provides a self-guided tour app that helps you to visit Haleakala National Park. See our Best Haleakala Sunset Tours (save 10%!) if a sunset tour is more to your liking. A great way to take advantage of jet lag!
Your Upcountry Resources:
- 16 Amazing Things to Do in Upcountry
- Complete Guide to Visiting Haleakala
- 4 Best Haleakala Sunrise Tours
Day 5: Half-Day Snorkel Trip and Lahaina Town
Today you take to the water. If you’re honeymooning during whale season (December 15 – April 15), take a whale-watching trip. Read our full guide to whale watching.
Otherwise, board a boat for a snorkeling trip. You can choose between a full-day trip to Lanai or a half-day snorkel trip to Molokini Crater. Both are great, but if you are enthusiastic about seeing as much ocean life as possible, a trip to Lanai is a better option. Boat trips leave from Maalaea Harbor or Lahaina‘s Mala Ramp.
- All 6 Lanai Snorkeling Tours (reviews and discount codes)
- 6 Best Molokini Crater Snorkeling Tours
Boat tours are leaving from Lahaina Harbor! Head out with Sail Maui for whale watching or snorkeling, plus save 10% with our exclusive discount code!
Lahaina is rebuilding, but there are restaurants and things to do in Lahaina! See our articles below.
Day 6: Road to Hana or Spa Day
You’re nearing the end of your Maui honeymoon and today you can either pamper yourself at the spa or head out on an adventure.
If it’s a spa day, you can choose to stay on-site at the hotel the entire day and have a two-hour in-room spa experience. Or, head to Spa Grande at the Grand Wailea Hotel, arguably the best spa on Maui.
If you’re up for an adventure, get up early and drive the Road to Hana. This is an all-day activity, so get up and at’em early in the morning. The road to Hana is all about the journey, not the destination. We recommend doing two things:
- Stopping in Paia to pick up road snacks and sandwiches at Mana Foods.
- Check our Complete Guide to the Road to Hana to get comfortable with driving the Hana Highway.
Don’t do the drive without an app because you risk missing the best stops. Our Maui Wayfinder Itinerary also features two Road to Hana days to help you plan and execute the drive.
See our Complete Road to Hana Guide for more information on taking the drive.
Day 7: Enjoy a Luau
Today is your last full day in Maui. And while you’ve experienced so much, today is the last day for you to truly soak in this beautiful island. Take it slow.
Call the valet for a ride down to Wailea Beach. Have the beach attendant set up chairs and an umbrella for you and spend the day enjoying the water and the scenery.
If you’re ready to end your trip with a bang, make reservations at one of the two best luaus on the island: the Feast at Lele or Old Lahaina Luau. Both are excellent but they are very different.
To help you decide which one to pick, we have reviews of our favorite Maui luaus.
Day 8: Say Goodbye
Maui is hard to leave. But know that you’re leaving with some of the best memories, and promise yourself to return.
Maui Honeymoon Tips and Ideas
In addition to the full itinerary, we have some extra tips and ideas to make your time here as special as possible:
- Order room service breakfast on your hotel lanai: a private breakfast in paradise is the epitome of a honeymoon experience.
- Watch the sunset: do this every night if you can. The sunsets here are incredible and often the sky will light up in the most vivid colors.
- Sunset or dinner cruise: If you love being out on the water, set sail on a dinner or sunset cruise. Here is a list of our favorite Maui sunset cruises.
- Spend a night on Lanai: Take the ferry over to Lanai and enjoy a night on another Hawaiian island. You may even see spinner dolphins there.
- Go kayaking: Rent a two-person kayak at Olowalu and take it out for a paddle and snorkel at one of the most pristine reefs on Maui.
- Gourmet lunch and farm tour: head upcountry and enjoy a gourmet lunch and farm tour at O’o farms.
Need more help planning your Maui honeymoon? We’ve got you covered:
🍍 The Ultimate Maui Food Truck Guide
🍍 Choose the Best Rental Car in Maui
Get The Maui Itinerary
The step-by-step itinerary takes you to all the best beaches, snorkeling spots, restaurants, and sights. You’ll get six carefully planned excursion days to help you see the can’t miss stops no matter how limited your time is.
Get all the details on our itinerary and download it for a memorable and easily planned trip to Maui.
