This is Wailea's classic resort beach: calm-water swimming, a polished shoreline, and easy access to the coastal path. Use it as a morning swim stop or as the central link between the hotels and neighboring coves.
2h FreeGo early; the beach feels most relaxed before resort guests fully arrive.
Pairs with: Wailea Beach Walk · Polo Beach · The Shops at Wailea
#2Wailea Beach WalkMust
This oceanfront promenade is the most useful way to understand Wailea's connected beach-and-resort coastline. Walk it in the cooler morning or near sunset, stopping at whichever beach looks best for swimming or snorkeling.
1.3h FreeEarly morning is best for shade-free views and a quieter walk; winter mornings can also bring whale sightings.
Pairs with: Wailea Beach · Ulua Beach · Polo Beach
#3Makena BeachMust
Makena's Big Beach is the area's dramatic, less manicured counterpoint to resort Wailea, with a broad sandy shore and good swimming when conditions are gentle. Bring water, food, and sun protection rather than expecting resort services, and treat surf conditions seriously.
2.5h FreeArrive in the morning for easier parking and before afternoon wind or surf can build.
Pairs with: Little Beach · Makena Landing Park · La Perouse Bay
Ulua is one of the most practical first snorkeling beaches in Wailea, with easy access and enough sand to make a half-day comfortable. Go early, when water is generally clearer and marine life is easier to spot near the rocky edges.
2h FreeBe in the water early in the morning, before wind and beach traffic increase.
Pairs with: Mokapu Beach · Wailea Beach Walk · Keawakapu Beach
A boat trip to Molokini is the area's signature offshore snorkeling outing, valued for clear water and a true open-ocean setting rather than a resort-beach experience. Choose an early departure and regard it as a weather-dependent excursion, not a guaranteed calm-water day.
5h Book aheadTake the first departure available for the calmest water and fewer boats.
Reserve an early-morning boat excursion a few days ahead, and earlier in holiday periods; operators can cancel for weather.
Pairs with: Turtle Town · Makena Landing Park
At the end of the south-coast road, La Perouse offers a stark lava landscape and a welcome break from Wailea's resort frontage. Come for the coastal scenery, a short walk, and the chance of seeing spinner dolphins offshore; it is not a substitute for a protected swimming beach.
1.3h FreeMorning is cooler and calmer; avoid lingering after dark on the unlit road.
Pairs with: Makena Beach · Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve · Keoneʻōʻio (La Perouse Bay) Trail
This lava-fringed coastal reserve is the right stop for visitors who want to see a wilder, less developed side of South Maui. Treat it as a scenic nature stop and follow posted access rules, which can change to protect fragile marine and coastal habitat.
1h FreeVisit early, before heat and roadside parking pressure build.
Pairs with: La Perouse Bay · Makena Beach · Keoneʻōʻio (La Perouse Bay) Trail
Keawakapu is a long, handsome beach that feels less resort-centered than Wailea Beach while remaining easy to reach. It is especially good for an unhurried beach walk, swimming in calm conditions, and sunset rather than a checklist stop.
2h FreeMorning offers quieter sand; return around sunset for the best atmosphere.
Pairs with: Mokapu Beach · Ulua Beach · Wailea Beach Walk
Mokapu is a compact Wailea cove with convenient access to the beach walk and useful snorkeling along its rocky margins. It works best as part of a beach-hopping morning rather than as a destination requiring a full day.
1.5h FreeSnorkel early, when visibility is usually better and the beach is quieter.
Pairs with: Ulua Beach · Keawakapu Beach · Wailea Beach Walk
Polo Beach is a relaxed, sandy Wailea option with gentler resort-adjacent logistics than Makena's bigger beaches. Use it for a low-key swim or as a southern stop on the coastal walk.
1.5h FreeGo in the morning for the most space and smoother water.
Pairs with: Wailea Beach · Wailea Beach Walk · Palauea Beach
Makena Landing is a small, practical launch point for snorkeling, kayaking, and turtle spotting around the rocky shoreline. It is more about getting into the water than spreading out on sand, so pair it with a beach nearby.
1.5h FreeEarly morning gives the clearest water and the easiest parking.
Pairs with: Turtle Town · Makena Beach · Molokini Crater
Turtle Town is the informal name for South Maui snorkeling waters where green sea turtles are often seen, especially around the Makena coast. View wildlife from a respectful distance and do not make a turtle encounter the sole measure of the outing.
2h Book aheadMorning tours normally have the best chance of calm, clear water.
Access is commonly through a snorkel or kayak tour; reserve ahead in busy travel periods.
Pairs with: Makena Landing Park · Molokini Crater · Maluaka Beach
Maluaka is a worthwhile south-side beach for swimmers and snorkelers who prefer a quieter setting than central Wailea. Conditions change quickly, so use the sheltered sections only when the ocean is cooperative.
2h FreeMorning is generally the best window for snorkeling.
Pairs with: Turtle Town · Makena Landing Park · Makena Beach
Little Beach is the smaller cove beyond Makena's Big Beach, reached on foot over the hill at its north end. It is more secluded and has a distinctly less conventional atmosphere, so visit only if that setting suits you and observe local conditions and etiquette.
1.5h FreeGo by daylight and leave before dark; the access is rougher than the main beach.
Pairs with: Makena Beach · Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve
Palauea is a quieter pocket beach north of Makena that rewards visitors looking beyond the best-known resort strands. It is a good short stop for swimming and sunset, with fewer services than the main Wailea beaches.
1.3h FreeCome early for a calmer, more local-feeling beach stop.
Pairs with: Polo Beach · Makena Beach · Wailea Beach Walk
Oneuli's dark sand and lava-backed setting make it visually different from South Maui's usual golden beaches. It is best for a brief scenic stop or snorkeling when conditions permit, not for a resort-style lounging day.
1h FreeVisit in the morning, when the shoreline is cooler and water conditions are more likely to be manageable.
Pairs with: Makena Beach · Makena Landing Park · La Perouse Bay
This rough coastal route traces the lava fields beyond La Perouse Bay and is the best way to experience the area's exposed volcanic landscape on foot. Wear sturdy footwear, carry more water than you think you need, and turn back rather than pushing through heat or rough terrain.
2h FreeStart near sunrise, before the black lava radiates midday heat.
Pairs with: La Perouse Bay · Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve
#18Wailea Golf ClubIf time
Wailea Golf Club is the principal golf draw for visitors who want ocean and Haleakala views built into a round. Choose it if golf is a priority, not as a substitute for Wailea's beaches and coastal walk; the Emerald course is the friendlier choice and Gold is more demanding.
4.5h Book aheadBook an early tee time for cooler temperatures and less wind.
Reserve tee times ahead, particularly for morning rounds and peak-season travel.
Pairs with: Wailea Beach Walk · Wailea Beach
This is Wailea's polished hotel luau option for travelers who want an evening of Hawaiian food, music, and dance without leaving the resort zone. It is expensive and produced for visitors, but it can be a convenient one-night cultural performance rather than an all-evening bar plan.
3h Sells out — book weeks aheadChoose an earlier-arrival package if available so you are not checking in with the last-minute crowd.
Reserve several weeks ahead for preferred dates, especially in high season.
Pairs with: Mokapu Beach · Ulua Beach · Wailea Beach Walk
#20Grand Luau at Honua'ulaIf time
The Grand Wailea's luau is another convenient resort-based evening show, suited to families or visitors who value an easy, all-in-one night. Pick one luau during a stay, not several; beach time and local food are usually a better use of additional evenings.
3h Book aheadArrive at the stated check-in time to avoid losing time to seating and buffet lines.
Book ahead for a date that works with your dinner plans; popular nights can fill in advance.
Pairs with: Wailea Beach · Wailea Beach Walk · Polo Beach