Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ride at the end of the tour as they shuttle you from the town of Ma'alaea back to Waikapu.
Expect the tour to take 4-5 hours. Small snacks are included. The age limit is 10 years old
and weight limit is 75-250 pounds.
The only ATV tours in Central Maui are at
Mendes Ranch
(3530 Kahekili Hwy., 808/
871-5222,
www.mendesranch.com
,
$79). Trails run from the riding corral down to the
shoreline, and the views extend out over the Pacific. Riders must be at least 16 years old
to drive one of the ATVs. Over the course of the one-hour ride, guides tell you about the
history of Maui, the ranch, and the lineage of the Mendes family. This is one of the only
ATV opportunities still available on the island and the only way besides riding a horse that
you're going to get to experience the remote stretch of coastline.
Much of Maui is only accessible by helicopter. Helicopter tours are expensive, but if you
treat yourself to one splurge, make it a helicopter tour. Eroded valleys, sheer ridgelines,
and inaccessible waterfalls are all parts of most Maui helicopter tours, and a one-hour
flight spent hovering over the island will be the most memorable hour of your vacation. All
pilots flying for the major tour operators have logged thousands of flying hours and put an
emphasis on safety. Most pilots also double as geologists, biologists, historians, and natur-
alists as they narrate tours above the island's interior. Morning hours are best because they
offer the clear conditions necessary for visiting spots such as 1,100-foot Honokohau Falls.
As an added bonus, during winter, you're able to spot humpback whales as they lounge in
the waters below.
All helicopter flights depart from the Kahului Heliport (located 0.5 mile from the junc-
tion of Hana Highway and Haleakala Highway), and the two most popular tour options
are those combining the West Maui Mountains with Moloka'i and East Maui (Hana) with
Haleakala. Regardless of which operator you choose, inquire about getting the two front
seats next to the pilot since it's much easier to take photos. Also, if you plan on booking a
helicopter tour, remember that you cannot have been scuba diving within a 24-hour period
before the flight (snuba, due to the shallow depth, is still permitted). All prices listed below
are for online specials given for advance reservations.
Blue Hawaiian Helicopters
(1 Kahului Airport Rd., #105, 808/871-8844 or 800/
745-2583,
www.bluehawaiian.com
,
7am-10pm daily) is the largest tour operator and ac-
commodates the largest number of island visitors. With offices on all of the major islands,
