Molokini Crater vs Paia: which should you do first?

If you only have time for one, do Molokini Crater first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 86 against 81 for Paia, and it has 40 ranked ways to see it versus 58. Paia is the cheaper entry at $20, so it is the better pick on a tight budget. With a full day in Maui, pair them: plan Molokini Crater in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Molokini Crater in Maui, United States

Molokini Crater

Paia in Maui, United States

Paia

Side by side

Molokini Crater compared with Paia in Maui
Molokini CraterPaia
Ranked experiences4058
Top Outty Ranking9391
Average ranking (top 10)8681
Cheapest experience$119$20
Average time needed4h8.4h
Free cancellation100% of options100% of options
Free to visitNoYes

Best ways to see Molokini Crater

  1. 1. Molokini Crater + South Maui Coast Adventure from Kihei, Maui

    Outty Ranking 93 · from $233 · 5h

  2. 2. Molokini Crater Snorkel and Turtle Cove High Quality Adventure!

    Outty Ranking 90 · from $205 · 4h

  3. 3. Maui: Molokini and Turtles Luxury Yacht Snorkel

    Outty Ranking 88 · from $318 · 5h

  4. 4. Maui: Molokini Crater and Turtle Town Snorkeling From Kihei

    Outty Ranking 86 · from $194 · 3h

  5. 5. 2-Hour Molokini Guaranteed Snorkel Trip from Maui

    Outty Ranking 85 · from $119 · 2h

All 40 Molokini Crater experiences

Best ways to see Paia

  1. 1. Maui: Road to Hana Adventure with Farm to Table Lunch

    Outty Ranking 91 · from $259 · 9h

  2. 2. Maui: VIP Private Road to Hana Tour with Pick Up

    Outty Ranking 88 · from $299 · 8h

  3. 3. Private Road to Hana Tour Black Sand Beach/Waterfalls/Sea Turtles

    Outty Ranking 86 · from $299 · 8h

  4. 4. Private Road to Hana Waterfalls, Black Sand & Hidden Gems

    Outty Ranking 81 · from $370 · 9h

  5. 5. Maui Classic Road to Hana Self-Guided GPS Audio Driving Tour

    Outty Ranking 79 · from $25 · 12h

All 58 Paia experiences

Frequently asked questions

Molokini Crater or Paia: which is better?

If you only have time for one, do Molokini Crater first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 86 against 81 for Paia, and it has 40 ranked ways to see it versus 58. Paia is the cheaper entry at $20, so it is the better pick on a tight budget. With a full day in Maui, pair them: plan Molokini Crater in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Which is cheaper, Molokini Crater or Paia?

Ranked experiences at Molokini Crater start from $119 and at Paia from $20 per person. Paia can also be visited for free; paid options add guides, skip-the-line access or transport.

How long do you need at Molokini Crater and Paia?

Experiences at Molokini Crater run 4 hours on average and at Paia 8.4 hours, so both fit in one day in Maui with a break in between.

Can you do Molokini Crater and Paia on the same day?

Yes. Book the longer visit for the morning when crowds are lighter, and keep the afternoon for the other. 100% of Molokini Crater options and 100% of Paia options offer free cancellation, which makes it easy to adjust.

What is the best tour of each?

For Molokini Crater: Molokini Crater + South Maui Coast Adventure from Kihei, Maui (Outty Ranking 93, from $233). For Paia: Maui: Road to Hana Adventure with Farm to Table Lunch (Outty Ranking 91, from $259).

More Maui matchups

Best things to do in MauiMaui city guideMaui tours comparedHow the Outty Ranking works