Maui Solo Trip
Going to Maui solo wasn’t my original plan – my friends couldn’t make this one but I wasn’t going to let that stop me from going! Planning travel with a group can be frustrating.. people bail, want different things out of the trip, etc. Solo travel can be nerve wracking but it’s a chance to focus on YOU and what you want out of the experience. I’m going to walk you through how to plan the best possible solo trip to Maui!
Budget
Flight: There are tons of flight deals to Maui these days (especially from Cali and the East Coast) for as little as $300! Check out my post The Cheap Flight Guide to see the sites I use to find deals.
Where to Stay: There are so many things to think about when you travel solo and a place to stay is probably the most important. My criteria includes cost, safety, proximity to everything I want to do, and the VIBE. I wanted to fully experience traveling solo and being on my own but also wanted to meet people! So I decided to stay at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel for 2 nights and the Aloha Surf Hostel for 3 nights after thoroughly reading through reviews.
The free activities the hostel plans makes it easy to make friends!
To be honest – if I didn’t have hotel points to spare on the hotel I probably would’ve went with the hostel the whole time but it was liberating to be completely alone for a couple of days. If you got it like that – definitely splurge! I looked into other hotels as well and there are some local ones that weren’t too pricey.
The Aloha Surf Hostel was warm and welcoming. They have free activities that you can participate in every day! That was the main reason I chose this hostel. There’s a cozy living room with Netflix, an outside area with a pool table and hot tub, AND they have a pancake making station set up every morning with the ingredients provided 😊 I really enjoyed my stay here and met some amazing friends to explore Maui with. It was about $50/night for a shared dorm which is pricey for a hostel but they’re all around that price in Hawaii.
Transportation: I highly recommend renting a car while in Maui. Everything is spread out on the island and it’s so convenient to have a car. You’ll need one if you do the Road to Hana.
Be your own Photographer: If you’re by yourself how do you get those bangers and capture those memories!? A tripod is necessary for solo travel. I got my tripod off of Amazon for $25 that comes with a Bluetooth remote and different height options. It’s perfect and it’s sized nicely to fit in a little travel backpack! Highly recommend.
Road to Hana
One of the main attractions on Maui is the Road to Hana. It’s a beautiful drive that has hundreds of hairpin turns and unbelievable scenic views on the way to Hana. There are many places to stop and explore on the drive. One KEY thing you’ll need is the Gypsy Guide app ($7) which will serve as your map and guide along the ride as there is no cell service throughout the journey. The guide on the app is amazing and he’ll narrate the drive for you, tell you when certain stops are coming up, and give you some history lessons as well. Make sure you bring an aux cord in case your rental car doesn’t have Bluetooth.
It took me about 14 hours total because I stopped at a lot of spots and added in some hikes! I left at 8am and returned around 10pm. I recommend leaving a little earlier and starting the drive back by 4pm. I made the mistake of starting around 6pm and making that drive, alone, in the dark was NOT FUN! There was barely anyone on the road. There are about 10 sharp turns per mile and it can get exhausting.
5 of my Favorite Road to Hana Stops
Ke’anae Aboretum - Many people skip this stop, but I was fascinated by the Eucalyptus Trees alone. There are beautiful flowers and trees throughout the aboretum.
Ke’anae Peninsula - Here you can watch huge waves crash against these jagged volcanic rocks and spot crabs all around! Make sure to try the famous banana bread from Aunty Sandy’s.
Wainapanapa State Park - This was probably my favorite stop! The contrast between the black sand and the surrounding greenery is amazing.
Wailua Falls - This is a quick stop to admire stacked waterfalls!
Pipiwai Trail & Waimoku Falls (Seven Sacred Pools) - If you visit Haleakala when in Maui keep your ticket!!! This is the park the Seven Sacred Pools live and is technically within Haleakala. You won’t have to pay an entry fee again if you keep your ticket. Within this park you can opt to do a hike on the Pipiwai trail where you will find a beautiful bamboo forest along the way! At the end of the hike is the largest waterfall I’ve ever seen at 400 ft – Waimoku Falls. The hike takes about 2 hours and it’s 4 miles round trip. It’s not too strenuous but you will break a sweat. The waterfall is super rewarding at the end!
Other Maui Must Do’s
Hike the Waihe’e Ridge Trail
This is one of my all time favorite hikes! The views of the lush rain forests, the ocean, and birds is spectacular. I’d classify this as an intermediate hike. It’s 5 miles round trip and fairly steep – allow yourself 3 hours. When parking don’t stop at the first lot you see - continue driving and you’ll arrive at one closer to the start of the hike.
Haleakala for Sunrise or Sunset
Haleakala is a dormant volcano that towers over Maui from 10,023 feet above sea level. Haleakala means “house of the sun” and this is truly the best place to witness sunrise or sunset. If you go for sunrise you must make reservations as parking is limited. I went for sunset and no reservation was required – you just purchase your entrance ticket on the way up.
Makena Beach or “Little Beach”
Makena Beach is a lively beach and tends to be a younger crowd. Little Beach is just a walk away and it’s one of Maui’s nude beaches. There’s sometimes a drum circle and dancing here on Sundays. Great cultural experience!
Eat & Drink!
“Take that solo trip!! It’s an incredibly liberating experience. Endless time to get lost in your thoughts, meet new people, and have the freedom to do whatever you want.”