The cool, green high country climbing toward the summit — Upcountry Maui, with the paniolo (cowboy) town of Makawao, lavender and protea farms, wineries, jacaranda-lined roads and, above it all, the vast Haleakala volcano crater with its unearthly summit and famous sunrise. Fresh, scenic and utterly different from the coast; the base for travellers who want cool nights, farm country, hiking and the volcano on their doorstep. Maui at its most surprising. Beautiful and serene.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
$290–600
typical per night in United States
The sensible middle
Typical prices for Maui — neither steal nor splurge.
Where it sits
The circle is Upcountry & Haleakala and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- Wailea Beach & the resort coast41 min taxi13.7 km
- Hookipa: windsurfing & turtles62 min taxi20.6 km
- The Road to Hana64 min taxi21.5 km
- Snorkelling at Molokini Crater65 min taxi21.7 km
- Waianapanapa black-sand beach103 min taxi34.3 km
- Whale watching116 min taxi38.7 km
- A Hawaiian luau126 min taxi41.9 km
- Kaanapali & Kapalua (beach)128 min taxi42.5 km
- Kaanapali Beach & Black Rock128 min taxi42.6 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 2.Haleakala sunrise & summit — One of the most extraordinary experiences in Hawaii — watching the sunrise from the 3,055m summit of Haleakala, the vast dormant volcano that forms the whole eastern half of Maui. Rising in the freezing pre-dawn dark above a sea of clouds, you watch the sky ignite over a Mars-like crater of cinder cones in reds, golds and purples; it's spellbinding, and Mark Twain called it the sublimest sight he ever witnessed. Sunrise needs an advance reservation (and warm layers); sunset and the stargazing are magnificent too, with no booking needed. Hike into the crater if you can. Utterly unforgettable. Book the sunrise slot ahead and bundle up.
- 10.Iao Valley & the Needle — A lush, sacred pocket of the island's green heart — Iao Valley State Park, a mist-wreathed rainforest gorge in the West Maui Mountains, centred on the Iao Needle (Kuka'emoku), a dramatic 370m green-clad volcanic pinnacle rising from the valley floor. Walk the short paved trails past the Needle lookout, tropical gardens and the cool stream, soaking up the dramatic scenery and the deep Hawaiian history of the place (it was the site of a pivotal 1790 battle). It's an easy, beautiful and culturally significant stop, especially lovely in the morning light before the clouds roll in. Peaceful and striking. Go early for clear views.
- 13.Makawao & Upcountry farms — A charming and unexpected side of Maui — cool, green Upcountry, centred on Makawao, a historic paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) town of wooden false-front buildings now full of art galleries, boutiques, a famous cream-puff bakery and a great Fourth-of-July rodeo. Around it spread the farmlands of the Haleakala slopes: lavender and protea farms, a goat dairy, the MauiWine estate at Ulupalakua and jacaranda-lined roads with sweeping views to the sea. Wander the town, tour a farm, and enjoy the cool air and slower pace far from the beaches. A delightful, offbeat highlight. Charming and refreshing. Lovely for a half-day drive.
- 14.A helicopter or zipline adventure — To see Maui's most inaccessible beauty, take to the air or the trees — a helicopter tour lifts you over the island's hidden heart: plunging waterfalls, the jungle-choked walls of the West Maui Mountains, the vast Haleakala crater and the sea cliffs of neighbouring Molokai, revealing scenery you simply can't reach any other way. Prefer something more hands-on? Zipline through the upcountry forest canopy on Haleakala's slopes for a thrilling, scenic rush. Either is an exhilarating, only-on-vacation splurge with unforgettable views. Amazing and adventurous. Book a morning slot for the clearest skies.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to Upcountry & Haleakala; flights via Google Flights.