Soar Above Maui with These 5 Unforgettable Activities

#1: Ziplining

Photo Credit: Flickr/jcsandoval4

Ziplining has become a popular vacation activity recently, but ziplining in Maui takes the cake. Imagine yourself whizzing through the air over stunning views of the Pacific Ocean while the West Maui Mountains rush past you. Not to mention feeling your shoulders brush up against a canopy of trees before you get dunked into a mountain pool!

Skyline Eco Adventures is a great option, with multiple island zipline courses. Their Maui zipline adventure is filled with breath-taking views of the West Maui Mountains, Molokai, Lanai, and Kahoolawe. The family-friendly “Zip ‘n Dip” tour combines ziplining with a refreshing plunge into a natural mountain pool.

#2: Hang Gliding

Photo Credit: Matt Boman

Want to find yourself alone piloting a hang glider while soaring over the Maui countryside? That’s exactly what you get to do at Hang Gliding Maui, an engine-powered hang gliding adventure. Hang Gliding Maui offers interactive flight lessons on how to fly an Airborne XT 912 micro-light aircraft, and once you’re trained, you can fly solo or with another person.

Traditional hang gliding doesn’t use a motor, but the added engine allows you to see and cover more of Maui than you ever could with a traditional hang glider. Plus your big adventure won’t depend as much on the weather or shifting winds.

If you’re a purist seeking a man-powered gliding experience, then you should check out Proflyght Paragliding, Hawai’i’s oldest paragliding school. Rather than jumping from a cliff, Proflyght Paragliding take you to Waipoli Flight Park on slopes of Mt. Haleakalā for a running start before you get lifted into the air and float over the beautiful Maui terrain below.

#3: Parasailing

Photo Credit: Stephanie Young Merzel

If you haven’t tried parasailing, then Maui is one of the best places to get started. Where else can you see the coastline by boat while riding high up in the air, free as a bird? West Maui Parasail offers single and tandem parasailing adventures in either 800-ft (38 stories high) or 1,200ft (50 stories high) flights. The parasailing tours take you over the picturesque coastlines of Lahaina and Kaanapali, and the neighboring islands of Lanai and Molokai.

#4: Helicopter Tours

Photo Credit: Steve Jurvetson

A helicopter tour is an unforgettable experience that lets you get up close and personal with some of Hawaii’s most stunning topographical features. Maui’s helicopter tour will have you taking photos of the West Maui Mountains, Haleakala, Hana, not to mention the valleys, rainforests, and waterfalls that stud the landscape.

Two tour operators offer different excursions by helicopter. You have Blue Hawaiian Helicopters and Sunshine Helicopters. Blue Hawaiian gives you two-way communication with the pilot, who is also a certified tour guide. He’ll give you all the details about the unparalleled panoramic views you’ll be seeing out the 60 sq. foot windows. Sunshine has similar flight packages, with fun add ons, like a submarine or horseback adventure to pair with your helicopter tour.

#5: Rappel Down Waterfalls

Photo Credit: Wilma Compton

Sure, there’s hiking to waterfalls, but what about an adventure that allows you to rappel down them like the star of your very own action movie? East Maui’s dense jungle landscape is the perfect place to bring this dream to life. Rappel Maui, the only tour company of its kind on the island, will take you on a six-hour adventure of 30-and 50-foot waterfall drops, vast canyons and leafy jungle walls. Experienced guides teach you how to safely rappel before you take your new Mission Impossible skills to the jungle.