Reasons to visit Haleakalā During the Day
Haleakalā National Park is one of the most unique places in the United States. There are more endangered species that live inside this park than any other national park in the country. As the sun warms the Earth, the mountain is brought to life. Flora and fauna that call Haleakalā home venture out to enjoy the new day in the house of the sun. It is much easier to spot these unique species during the day and that means that you won’t miss a thing during your visit.
Skyline Hawaii offers three unforgettable sunrise tours of Haleakalā National Park and also three amazing daytime tours of the area. When you come to Maui, you will quickly realize that although the summit of Haleakalā is breathtaking, it is just the beginning of what Upcountry has to offer. With three unique daytime tours to choose from, you are sure to find exactly what you are looking for. Our daytime tours are extra special because they help you experience the multiple facets of beautiful Upcountry. And as an added bonus, you don’t have to wake up at 2:00 in the morning! Here are the three unique daytime tour experiences that you can choose from, all of which include complimentary round-trip transportation to and from your hotel or accommodation.
Summit & Zip Tour
Our first daytime tour option is the Summit & Zip Tour. This tour begins with a beautiful, relaxing drive up Mount Haleakalā and ends with an exhilarating zipline adventure. Your adventure begins with a picturesque drive up the mountain into majestic Haleakalā National Park’s 10,023-foot summit. The closer we get to the summit, the more breathtaking the views of the ocean and valley become. On the way up the mountain, you will likely see many endemic species such as the Nene, the Haleakalā Silversword, the ‘Ua’u, and many more.
At the summit, you will get to see the one of a kind Red Hill Observatory. This observatory is at the highest point of the dormant volcano, so as you can imagine, the view is out of this world. There are not enough words to do it justice. After a visit to the park, you will soar over 90-foot drops and canyons filled with eucalyptus trees on your Skyline Haleakalā zipline adventure. Our zipline course has five amazing ziplines and an Indiana Jones style swinging bridge. It is such an incredible course that is the #1 thing to do near Haleakalā National Park.
As if this isn’t enough, it is also the first zipline ever built in the United States and is recommended by Fodor’s as one of the most amazing zipline experiences in the world.
Summit & MauiWine Tour
The next tour on our list is the indulgent Summit & MauiWine Tour. During this tour, you will experience Haleakalā National Park and visit MauiWine. You will also get to enjoy a delicious lunch at Ulapalakua Ranch Store in Upcountry Maui. The summit’s breathtaking views are enhanced even further by a cultural culinary experience you can’t find anywhere else on Earth. You will get to enjoy Haleakalā’s fresh air all day.
Enjoy lunch at Upcountry’s open-air grill, the Ulapalakua Ranch Store. Here, you will awaken your taste buds with Maui’s favorite dishes, all made from scratch. Make sure you save some room because after you are done enjoying lunch, it’s time to experience MauiWine. This award-winning winery, established in 1974, was built on a historic sugar plantation property. Many of the buildings on the property were repurposed over the years to become functional parts of the winery today. For example, the old jail is now a private tasting room that you will visit during this exclusive wine tasting experience and tour of the property.
Summit, Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm & Makawao Town Tour
I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of anything more relaxing than the smell of Lavender. Now, imagine that aroma and multiply it by 1,000. Are you feeling more relaxed already? During this unique tour, you will enjoy exploring Haleakalā National Park, Ali’i Kula Lavender, and Makawao Town. These are three must-see attractions in Upcountry Maui. To make this tour even better, lunch is included at Ali'i Kula Lavender so you will get to indulge in a few of their famous lavender recipes first hand.
On the way to the summit of Mount Haleakalā, our Certified Interpretive Guides will teach you about the National Park and point out the incredible flora and fauna you can only find here. After taking in the breathtaking views from the top of the volcano, we will continue on to enjoy the spectacular views at Maui’s only lavender farm. While you are enjoying lunch at Ali’i Kula Lavender, you will also be enjoying sweeping views of the ocean and the West Maui Mountains. You will find your zen with ease between the scents, views, and food that this lavender farm has to offer. After enjoying some time touring Ali’i Kula Lavender and learning about the farm’s history, we will continue on to Makawao Town. Here, you will get to explore the unique shops. Many of these shops were inspired by Upcountry’s Paniolo heritage. Almost all of the shops in Makawao are located on Baldwin Avenue, which makes it very easy to get to every store that piques your interest.
If you are interested in booking this relaxing tour and have a child under the age of 13 in your group, you can book here and save $50!
Even More Reasons to Choose a Daytime Tour
As you can see, getting a little extra beauty sleep during your Hawaiian vacation doesn’t mean that you will miss out on any of the beauty that Haleakalā National Park and surrounding Upcountry Maui have to offer. When you choose a daytime tour, you will be touring the park during daylight hours which means you will get to take in every element of the surrounding landscape rather than peering into the dimly lit dawn on the way to the summit. Also, you will not have to suffer through traffic that is spiked by the popularity of seeing the sunrise from the Summit of Haleakalā. You will still get to enjoy the park’s beauty and so much more.
The fact that we stop at the Red Hill Observatory is another major bonus because of its 360-degree views of the Mars-like landscape. This Observatory is typically not part of sunrise tours because of the sheer volume of traffic that engulfs the summit during those early hours of the day. Finally, Haleakalā is much warmer after the sun is up. It will still be colder than it is at sea level. But, it is incredible how quickly the sun warms up the Upcountry region throughout the morning and into the afternoon. So, whether you are planning your first visit to Haleakalā National Park or have enjoyed the views before and are looking for a new perspective; a daytime tour with Skyline Hawaii could be exactly what you are looking for.