Horseback
Riding on Maui
Several riding stables
and working ranches are located on Maui and they offer vacationers a chance to enjoy the view from the saddle. All will want to know your level of experience
so you can be matched up with a horse that will be appropriate for your riding ability. If
you're a beginner, don't worry, you'll learn quickly (horses steer
just like a car). If you're a veteran equestrian we have rides that
are a bit more challenging. All rides require closed-toed shoes and
long pants. All in all, we can safely say that your ride here on
Maui will be one of the most beautiful and fun you have ever taken.
Horseback riding has limited availability so they book up in advance
... don't wait until you arrive on Maui. Reserve
NOW!!!
Mendes
Ranch
Current special: All rides are $89 per rider (last year's rate was $110). Lunch is an additional $10 per person (last year's rate was $20)
Journey
into an actual working cattle ranch nestled in the heart of West
Maui and ride the range. Canter up to the mouth of lush green
valleys to take in distant views of cascading waterfalls in the
heart of the West Maui Mountains. Descend upon crashing waves
along pristine shorelines. Mendes Ranch offers a 2 hour ride at 8:30am and 12:30pm and the cost is $89 per person.
At the end of the morning ride (or the beginning of the
afternoon ride) you may enjoy a western-style open pit BBQ with
Alan Mendes' own marinated "Azeka-style" ribs, generous
portions of rice, baked beans, potato salad, gourmet cookies, and
more at a cost of $10 per person. (Closed on Sundays ... minimum age
7 ... maximum weight 250 pounds)
MEN / V
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NCL
cruise ship passengers are able do Mendes Ranch on
the afternoon of their first
day
(if that day is not a Sunday), or the morning or afternoon of their second day in port in Kahului.
This is a 10-12 minute cab ride to the ranch, or we
can arrange a rental car with shuttle pick-up at the
harbor for $39 per day. This can also work for Lahaina
cruise ship passengers on the afternoon of their first
day
or morning of their second day in
port but you will need a rental car and the drive time
is about an hour. For rental cars with cruise ship
shuttle pick-up see our rental
car page. |
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Lahaina
Stables
Nestled
along the slopes of the West Maui Mountains, Lahaina Stables
offers a 2 hour morning ride for $95pp, a 2.5 hour
lunch ride for $135pp, and a 2 hour sunset ride for
$120pp. Our recommendation is to do the sunset ride ...
this is the most beautiful time of day as you watch the
evening colors paint the ocean ... and the islands of Lanai
and Molokai across the channel. This ride is probably the best
choice for experienced riders as there is more freedom to
cantor. Maximum weight is 230 pounds, and their minimum age is
8 (except by special permission for experienced young
riders). Lahaina Stables operates every day except
Sundays.
LS / V
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NCL
cruise ship passengers are able do Lahaina Stables
on the first
day in
port in Kahului (for the lunch ride or sunset ride) and
the second day in port
(for the morning ride or lunch ride). Drive time is one
hour, and we
can arrange a rental car with shuttle pick-up at the
harbor for $39 per day. For rental cars with cruise ship
shuttle pick-up see our rental
car page. Lahaina
cruise ship passengers who are in port for just one
day can do the lunch ride. Those who are spending two
days in Lahaina can also do the sunset ride on the first
day
or the morning ride on the second day in
port . This requires a very short cab ride of 5 minutes
from Lahaina Harbor. |
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| ACTIVITY
TIPS
Many
people don't realize that Hawaii has a rich cowboy
tradition and that ranching is big in the islands. The
Hawaiian language even has a word for cowboy ... "Paniolo."
You'll tap into that history if you do a horseback ride
on Maui. Because horseback riding takes place in small
groups, reservations should be made well in advance of
your arrival ... we suggest three weeks as a minimum.
Mendes
Ranch is probably the best ride for most people. They
have stunning ocean views from their ranch which is
nestled at the top of a 1,000 foot bluff along the north
shore of the West Maui Mountains. You ride from the
upper ranch down a gently sloping trail that leads all
the way to the ocean and then back again. This ride has
a slow enough pace for beginners who have never been on
a horse before, but there are one or two places where
the more experienced can cantor for short distances.
Lahaina
Stables certainly has a convenient location close to
Lahaina town. When doing their ride I found their horses
to be the most responsive and spirited of any ranch in
Hawaii (i.e.. hold onto your hats!). Their location is
HOT during the day ... we recommend either their morning ride or our favorite, which is their sunset ride (that's a great
time of day to enjoy this area). The views coming back
down at the end of the ride at sunset can be stunning as you see the sun setting over the Pacific with Lanai and Molokai across the channel.
Please
note maximum weights and minimum ages for riders when
making your reservations.
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On-line Horseback
Reservations
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