Napili Bay

Nice beach in a semi protected cove but waves can still be pretty rough since there’s a few drop off zones going from the beach into the ocean. Within just 5-8 feet from the beach, there’s a drop of about 2 feet and then deeper again as you go further out. So this is why the waves could still be rough especially in the afternoon and definitely on high surf days. However, it can also be very calm early in the morning where it almost looks time a still pond with some ripples. Sand is semi smooth and soft, but there are rocks making the necessity to be mindful if you’re going into the ocean without water shoes. Further out are patches of rocks where reefs have taken hold which allows snorkeling especially early in the morning when it’s calmer, while a rock outcrop on the left can occasionally have turtles on them. Saw one looking for food there as the turtle came in with the high tide.

Went there for paddle boarding at an early hour, with hopes of calm waters. It was only ok. Not worth the venture. The water was calm enough but only within the bay, it was a lot of going in circles to stay on my board. This review is for paddling only.

Amazing small cove beach. Stunning views, calm waters and great snorkeling with a beautiful reef close to the shore. We saw a lot of different fish and also turtles! The beach is a bit hidden and make sure to enter via the public access path and not through the private properties that are on the beachfront. No restrooms or lifeguards but there was a small snack shop nearby. There is a Boss Frogs location about a mile away if you need snorkel gear.

We had a great time. My son loves snorkeing and there were many large green turtles, eels, the state fish with a funny name and other colorful fish. It was not overcrowded when we went later in the day and the water was delightful. The more you float and don't splash around the more you see.

Its a longer beach, and we loved swimming in the bay body surfing. Pretty sure we glanced at a sea turtle in the waves while we were out there. Just be safe! Stopped right into The Sea House, wet and sand from the beach without any issues. Sat at the bar there for Happy Hour and it was perfect!

Beautiful beach for swimming and snorkeling! Parking can be difficult to find if not staying in the nearby hotels, but there is free street parking if you can find a spot.

This was our first beach in Maui and it did not disappoint. Super calm waters and lots of reef to explore so the snorkeling was phenomenal (we saw turtles). We did get here early at 8AM but at around 11AM it got pretty full so I recommend getting first thing in the morning.

Beautiful Beautiful beach. Street parking is there for the finding and a short walk. Lots of resorts that have food for purchase. You'll have to use a resort wash station for clean up. Water just has that Hawaiian Tropic oil sheen gleaming on the water which is not my kind of beach but maybe for others.

Napili Bay Beach is a quiet beach located on the western side of Maui. We stayed in the area so this beach was walking distance and was a great place to walk to in the morning and for sunsets. There are restaurants and other vacation stays adjacent to the beach and although there are a lot of people it is still relatively open with a lot of space. Popular restaurants like Sea House have a view out to the bay. Parking can be difficult so I'd recommend coming early to secure a spot.

Great snorkeling here, but tourists wearing non reef safe sunscreen are destroying the coral. Take note of the dead coral when you are snorkeling around, and learn from it. Use reef safe sunscreen only, or better still cover up with rash shirt n leggings so you don't have to use sunscreen at all. Also, don't stand on the coral or slap it with your flippers, you can destroy coral so easily and it takes a long time to regrow, plus with rising sea temps coral is already having huge environmental problems surviving. Please be careful and considerate when you are in the waters of this beautiful island. Help us keep coral alive, n thrive!

Best kids friendly beach with coral reefs and plenty of fish for snorkeling. Mostly catering for the people staying around do parking is premium. Calm beach with clear water. There is sea house restaurant on the north side or you can walk to at least 2 other restaurants island vibes cafe or the gazebo. Spectacular sunset view. Relax. You're in Maui.

Really nice beach! There's shady areas which I was so grateful for and beautiful views. It's not too busy. The water is nice and the waves were perfect but some parts can be rough. Parking isn't bad. There's a restaurant called Sea House if you get hungry.

This is the Bay of our stay in Napili. A Wonderful sand beach , not crowded. Attached to the Seahouse restaurant and bar. Beach showers and pristine waters. No surf. But if you, snorkel, there is sealife. Not Much natural shade. A Minor thing. Fantastic day and night views.

The best bay beach on this side of Maui IMO. The bay is protected from big sets even if it's a windy day. The sand is soft and the water is warm in parts. We always visit Napoli bay beach a few times whenever we're on the island.

This beach was just ok. It wasn't overly crowded but the shoreline is short and very steep to get down to the water so you can't sit in a chair and dip your toes. Kids got a little bored here. The shaved ice place across the street was great. Never saw the public restrooms. Parking was easy, plenty of spaces.

Dancing in the deepest oceans Twisting in the water You're just like a dream Just like a dream... It was a nice sunny day in Napili Bay. I had to carry the kids in the water as there would be a sudden drop in the sand that made you go in waist deep. Not a fan of people smoking on the beach then tossing their trash into the sea. They have a shower with a hose to rinse off above. Parking was available on the street. We did have some rain come in during our beach visit but nothing too crazy. Drove by Lahaina, it was a somber feeling as they are trying to rebuild. It was hard to see so many homes destroyed. This beach gave us another view of the nearby island of Moloka'i made me think of St Damien and all those people he served with leprosy. It was great to read a sign that mentioned this area has been helping some of those displaced by the Lahaina Fire as well. Mahalo

Awesome picturesque beach. You get some rocky areas, with some all sand parts that makes it easy to walk into the ocean. There are high rocks that go well out into the water, and you can barely see pocking out. So if you're swimming, or snorkeling, you just need to be watchful. The waves often break right at those rocks, and you don't want to be caught in between those. It's also a great place for paddle boarding. Currently the Yelp page says it's still temporarily closed, but that is incorrect. This whole side of West Maui had been closed during the fires that happened in August 2023, and remained closed for months following. It's re-opened now though, after many, many reports and samples, after samples of both the ground and water to make its safe. Still best not to consume any of the sea water, just in case. That's my tip.

Gorgeous location - pretty accessible and nice snorkeling. It can get crowded however it wasn't too bad and worth it for us since we wanted a safer spot to snorkel. We were able to see wild sea turtles (from 6 foot distance as a reminder!!!) which was amazing

One of the most exclusively beautiful beaches along the the upper western shores of Maui. Just south of Sea House Restaurant, with Makai Hale snack bar with daily calling of the sun set which by the way is a view that's worth it for a life time. Wonderful place to see turtles depending on the season. Winter will be more windy so not recommended for snorkeling and alway check daily weather conditions. But for sunsets always recommended as the sunset are always beautiful in Maui and this beach has a beautiful view.

It was an amazing experience, the water was pretty rough so I didn't get in this time, and the amount of beach area is small and you'll have to get there early. We went on a whim but next time we go, we will make sure to get there early as the views are breathtaking. I will be back.

After driving/site-seeing around wherever the wind took us, we stumbled upon this beach. Lucky for us, our parking ended up being right in front of the beach access. It's a smaller beach but the water is a beautiful turquoise blue. Our girls, 9 and 11, LOVED that the waves were so strong that body surfing was totally an option, although they spent endless time on their boogie boards. We spent the afternoon there and it was a spectacular, relaxing time.

Great place here to swim at and relax with the family. Snorkeling next door is great. Small cove. Gazebo is right on this property

This beach is absolutely great for families. Beautiful sand, gentle waters and not too crowded. It was walking distance from our resort. There's showers to wash off the sand before you leave. If you snorkel , there is a lot of sea life to see. Definitely a great place for a beach day with the family.

Amazing sights and luckily found parking. Couldn't find the public foot wash. Saw sea turtles

This is a nice little Beach. When the tide Is high, there's not much beach. Be careful where your littles go out. The waves can be rough in a couple Areas with large pebbles in the sand. Not great for snorkeling.

This beach is the best beach for body surfing or boarding and snorkeling. The waves are gentle and it's easy to get in and out of the water with the kids. Lots of sea life can be seen near the reef closest the SeaHouse Restaurant. Convenient street parking. A must visit on your trip to Maui.

Such a lovely scenic beach in West Maui! Also great place to catch a sunset. There are some steep and narrower areas of sand in some stretches, so that is something to be aware of as the waves can break pretty close to there. Napili Bay is next to some of the local resorts in the area. There is public beach parking but it is fairly limited, especially if you are not staying at any of the resorts nearby.

It's a local beach attached to the resort area, and very rocky on two sides of the narrow lined beach. It's good place for sight seeing but not safe for swimming and other in the water activities.

Great little beach with lots of shady areas we hung out at after having breakfast at the Gazebo. There is a beach path from the resort the restaurant is located at along with showers to wash the sand off afterwards. The waves can be very strong at times and one knocked my 5-yr off off his feet but he had a great time overall.

This beach is perfect if you like swimming in the water and/or snorkeling. The reef is not too far out for snorkeling. Also because the reef is not too far out, the waves break further out creating a relaxing floating in the water location. The beach itself is super short, so you won't really be able to "lay out" if that is your thing. Not to mention, if it's high tide, the water washed up on the entire sand. Parking is also not the best. You will need to find parking on the main street and then walk to the beach. If you can get a ride from someone, you're all set!

My husband and I went to this beach since it was nearby where we were staying. We went on a Friday afternoon and it was pretty busy but we were able to find a spot to set up. It's a smaller beach, but a beautiful spot. The waves were pretty forceful as the afternoon went on, but we had a blast in the water even though we are the most confident swimmers. The entrance to the beach is in between the resorts. There is limited parking, but we were able to find a spot as someone was leaving. We really enjoyed this beach as our first beach in Maui!(:

This beach is my favorite. There are always some good waves for floating in without surfers. Water towards napili Kai is always more calm and has some great snorkeling when the water is calm. Sand is nice with some rocks in some areas.

Napili Beach is located on the Lahaina side of Maui. Parking is free but really hard to find -- I would suggest to arrive early to snag up a parking spot on the dirt road across the street from the strip of resorts. I was told there are multiple ways to gain access to the beach but I found the easiest way may be to walk through one of the resorts. This beach lives up to the what Maui is famous for -- white sand, warm and clear blue waters, and plenty of sunshine. My nieces and I spent a couple hours here after lunch. It's a beautiful beach to visit during the day. I bet it's equally as gorgeous for sunrise or sunset views. Bring your own chairs, umbrella, and towels. The ones on site are for guests staying at the resorts.

I mean come on... is this not paradise on Earth? Third trip to Napili Bay and it didn't disappoint my high expectations

Beautiful ! Private . Parking is a bit tight . So a little car is best ! I love it !

What an amazing beach to soak up the sun! We were here for a few hours in the afternoon and the weather was perfect. **Do need to watch out for the tide that could come very close since the shore is short in most areas. There are also large rocks on the side of the bay that the tide can pull you towards as well. There are limited street parking to the entrance and the walking entrance wasn't hard to find. Recommend bringing snacks and floaties so you can just float and enjoy the mild waves.

Napili is a convenient beach especially for those residing in the immediate community. Parking is difficult and almost nonexistent for visitors depending on timing. There's a side street of marked spaces parking adjacent to the Napili Shores condo complex to access the south end. Otherwise you'll find mostly side of the road parking and wander into the multiple resident communities to access the beach on the north side. No snorkeling advice (heard Kapalua is better), but the water is generally calm enough, although with slightly higher wave breaks in the PM in the south part. If you get lucky, you might see turtles near the southern rocks. Multiple shower and foot wash stations are present throughout as well. My only issue is that erosion is real and I've noticed the change. The north side has a large drop off and steepness to the sand that's sad to see. Hopefully Maui is on that issue though.

This is our favorite beach location on the west coast of Maui. So easy to swim there and great snorkeling spot. The Sea House restaurant is great for Happy House with the best view on the ocean. Parking is limited if you are not in the local hotels.

Awesome beach! Had to pay to park across the street from general parking after waiting a while for a spot in the general area, but it was inexpensive.

This beautiful beach has limited parking. We were lucky enough to come late in the day to find parking at the restaurant which was closed. We heard from a local that we could park in a condo/restaurant parking lot. But when we tried, a nosy lady, who said she was staying at a condo told me I couldn't park at the restaurant parking lot(which was closed on that Sunday we chose to park). I didn't argue with her (she had a liter of vodka in hand) and I found street parking afterwards. But would've been nice if I had my original parking space. She was nowhere to be seen after I moved my car, who knows if she was even staying at the condo? I mean, realistically, if the restaurant was closed, I don't see a reason why I shouldn't be able to park there? We went down to the beach and did some snorkeling. Overall, it's a nice beach and you can do some great snorkeling, just be ready to walk!

Absultely gorgeous that's the truth. Clean ocean , barley any strong waves inside the coved beach. Much to explore snorkeling ! Turtles, fishes, and urchins etc

I wish we had visited this beach earlier in our trip. It is perfect for boogie boarding. The waves are just strong and big enough for hours of fun. Also, there aren't big rocks so they don't need water shoes. We ruined two pairs further down the road at other beaches. The sand here is soft and the water warm. Tiny little shells on the Beach that don't hurt the toesies. I wouldn't suggest this beach for little kids who can't swim well. They definitely need to be comfortable in water and be strong enough to not be knocked over by the waves. Re:snorkeling. I didn't see to many fish but it's nice and calm in front of the Sea horse restaurant. No lifeguards here but the nice part is the yummy eatz from the Sea Horse and a clean bathroom #winning You could also grab some food from Napoli market in the way in. They sell out quick though. I got the last 5 Spam masubi at 10am! Will definitely sneak in another visit before we fly out!

Beautiful beach. Descent for snorkeling. We saw turtle and a few fishes. It was windy with moderate waves. Does not have public showers or restrooms.

Great snorkeling right off the beach. Parking is limited and can be challenging. Nice beach as well.

This is a beautiful small beach. The water is clear there's tide pools to look at. The wave was a little strong but it wasn't bad at all. Parking can be hard to find. Luckily we found street parking right in front of the entrance. No public bathroom or showers.

Honestly, this is a super touristy beach. The parking sucks, there's no showers and there is a ton of people. Not very good snorkeling, but you can see turtles. You can find so many beaches around that are so much better

Great beach. Get here early. Parking can be tough. Waves can be rough at times. Great cove beach. Restaurant is at the end. No public shower other than nearby condos.

What a wonderful piece of paradise. Lovely beach, grand vista of ocean. Awesome walk in the sand from one end to the other. We stay down the road in Kahana, though we come here several times on our trip. Both for the beach and the Sea House restaurant.

Beautiful beach, water is amazing , went snorkeling, ate at gazebo , everything was great

Perfect beach to watch the sunset! We were staying nearby during our recent visit. So each night we made an effort to watch the sunset from Napili Bay Beach. It was well worth the walk. For the rare occasion that we did drive, we parked on the street near the Gazebo.

Beautiful beach with great snorkeling. Calm waves, nice walk to rocks where you can see the turtles swimming.

Beautiful beach- caught some turtles swimming on by. Parking is a challenge for sure.

This beach is stunning and very family-friendly. The steep beach allows for good fun in the waves whether that be body boarding, wading, or boogie boarding, this beach has something for everyone. Great food is just minutes away in any direction. This beach is a great change of pace from Central & South Maui areas as there are generally less people and the weather is windy & sunny making for a pleasant day at the beach for those willing to drive up to Kapalua.

Pleasant beach with OK access (though not great parking). We were staying not too far away, and decided to check out the beach here and the neighboring beach for Kapalua Bay. The Kapalua Bay beach was a bit rougher, but the slightly different exposure here made the beach far more protected, and calmer. It was not too crowded, but then we were not here in high season, so YMMV. I didn't see much in the way of extraordinary sea life, but there was the standard variety of Hawaiian fishes, and I am sure there are turtles here from time to time. We ended up at the nearby 808 surf shop for a SUP rental for my daughter, and she had a good time once she got used to the difference between the very calm harbor at home and the slightly rougher protected bay here (with wind). There is a hotel with a beach-side restaurant at the north end of the beach, and there are plenty of showers to wash the sea and sand off when you are ready to head off.

Love it here! The water is beautiful and all the vegetarian is gorgeous. Today the waves were amazing- big and rolling in! The tide would occasionally go all the way to the resorts edges! Now we're at the Sea House having a bite to eat. Couldn't have had a better day!!

Fun little beach and good for little kids at waters edge. Beach falls off fast however. Rocks are pretty high if you swim out. Water was no as clear due to the high rocks for snorkeling.

Snorkeling here is about as good as it gets. For reference we've snorkeled at Kapalua, DH Fleming (that's more of a boogie boarding beach), Honolua, Kehei and also the beach in front of our condo (Kaanapali area at Kuleana) which is best for turtles - although we saw turtles here too. Some of the fish we saw: Spotted Boxfish (I saw an old white one, about 18" long and very thick), Bluestripe Butterflyfish, Longnose Butterflyfish, LOTS of Raccoon Butterflyfish, Threadfin Butterflyfish, Cornetfish, Barred filefish, many Yellowstripe goatfish right along the shore (be careful where you're stepping, they swim in very shallow waters!), Moorish idol a few Moray Eel's under big rocks, needlefish and parrotfish, porcupine and puffer fish, Hawaiian sergeant, sea cucumbers and coral, Blue-stripe snapper, Brown surgeonfish (which are the "asshole" fish in the sea - they break up whole schools and chase lots of other fish, triggerfish of all kinds, the list could go on... forever. Best spot? the very left by the big black rocks. Turtles, eels, coral etc. RINSE OFF SUNSCREEN BEFORE SNORKELING - apparently it damages and erodes coral. DO NOT TOUCH OR CHASE TURTLES - we saw plenty of this and turtles are so sweet they allow it. They are protected species and you're not a professional! Leave them alone and just float nearby and take pictures like a normal tourist ;)