Mendes Ranch

Absolute best part of our whole trip to Maui. Everyone at the ranch was so nice and willing to share their experiences on the island. They paired us with horses that fit our personalities which made the ride even better. Definitely going to be going back here every time I come to Maui now. Thank you Mendes ranch for a beautiful view and amazing ride!

I’ve been on many trail rides in the various places I have traveled but none compare to the guides, horses, or trails of Mendes Ranch. The guides were helpful and very kind. They were wonderful to talk to. The horses were sweet and you get paired up perfectly. The icing on the cake was the two places you are allowed to gallop your horses. It’s truly an amazing place to ride, no matter if you are beginning, intermediate, or advanced. 5 stars!!!

This was one of the highlights of our trip to Hawaii! Butch was an amazing guide, super helpful and friendly. Beautiful scenic location for horseback riding. Great for couples. Definitely recommend if you’re in Maui.

had lots of fun! beautiful views! they were super nice and helpful. will definitely return next time we are here

What a treat! I have went horseback riding on other islands and this one is my favorite! We were able to run the horses if we wanted to and the views were simply stunning! Butch was awesome and so good with my 7 year old who has only gone horseback riding one other time! My family and I will be back for sure! We also did the lunch after the ride. It was good but not sure it was worth$ 30.00 each. Also I wished they would have had bottled water for us after the ride!

My boyfriend and I decided early on in planning our vacation that we wanted to go horseback riding. Mendes Ranch had great reviews and the pictures were exactly what we were looking for. Neither my boyfriend or I have really ever been on a horse before so it was comforting they picked a horse based on your experience. I was paired Bailey and my boyfriend was with Mikey. We loved our horses and Bailey had me giggling though out the ride because she kept wanting to stop to snack. Ruby was our guide and she was super sweet. We both enjoyed the ride and thought it was a top highlight of our vacation. The views are amazing and worth it by its self. I highly recommend Mendes Ranch Horseback riding. I hope to be back one day!

As someone who has been riding horses for most of my life, horseback riding is always on my «to do» list at any vacation spot.
I really like Mendes Ranch because it’s one of the few places that lets you «gallop» the horses in a safe and controlled environment. Most trail rides are at a slow (walking) pace, which is fine, but sometimes it’s nice to have the opportunity to go a bit faster.
Unfortunately, for those who are not experienced riders, it’s a lost opportunity because you need to be able to control your horse and know how to make it go faster (easier said than done). For those who expect it to be like in the moves, where a simple «Yah!», kick, and flick of the reins will suddenly make the horse go faster, you’ll be in for a disappointment.
Most trail horses prefer to plod along and will only put in as much effort as they are required to. If there’s a beginner rider who doesn’t know how to make the horse go faster, you can pretty much guarantee that the horse is going to walk the whole way. Now this can be a great thing for novice riders who are nervous, but also frustrating for those who want to go faster.
There are two uphill running spots during the ride and at each one, one of the guides goes in front to lead, while the other guides stay behind with the people who don’t want to go faster. The first spot is a fairly narrow trail, where it’s single file and they ask you not to pass the person in front of you. So if you get stuck behind a horse and rider who won’t go faster, then «oh well.»
The second run is a much wider trail where you can pass people. This is great for experienced riders who know how to pass, but still very ineffective for beginners, as most horses only want to go as fast as the horse in front of them.
Overall, it was a great experience. Friendly guides and decent group sizes (about 10 people). They also take pictures twice during the ride and take the time to line up the horses with a nice scenic backdrop.

The Mendes Ranch experience is a jewel to behold. I was delegated by my family and friends to book a horseback ride somewhere different than our usual place outside Maui’s west side.
The initial reservation taken by Kristen was delightful and easy to schedule.
The drive through Wailuku was one we never have explored and found it charming in itself. Once we arrived at the ranch there were peacocks and beautiful magnificent views that took our breath away! My anticipation to be able to ride these trails and vistas was piqued beyond words!
Registration and form filing was a breeze and our young lady in the office was very helpful to the rookie riders that joined me.
This is a family runned ranch, several generations strong which is apparent from the pride they show of their beautiful property and care of their horses and animals.
The guide Freddie was very good at helping all have a safe and enjoyable ride with stories and history of the land as a bonus along the ride. Another bonus was being able to let the horses break lose in full gallops in two uphill spots on our ride! Uphoria to me!!!
Freddie also took pictures for everyone at a gorgeous location. I will cherish this picture of this glorious day on my horse Blondie. She was a great ride and matched my ability of riding well.
We ended the ride with cold drinks in an ice barrel which was timely after the 90 minute morning ride.
I thank you Mendes family for sharing your world with us.
I will forever make this a place to revisit when in Maui.
Mahalo nui oi

If you are looking for a beautiful and fun horseback ride that showcases the Hawaiian coastline — this is the tour! We started out with lunch and it was tasty! We took the 1.5 hour ride and had a fantastic time. The horses were friendly, and the guides were patient and courteous! They stopped twice at scenic points in the ride, arranged our horses, took our cameras and took a few photos in different poses. Super groovy!!!
We will definitely choose this ranch again for any trail ride in Maui! A solid 5 stars!

A beautiful location on the coast of Maui. The horses are all healthy and well taken care of. The guides are pleasant and helpful. They break you up into beginner, intermediate and advanced groups so you can ride according to your skill level. They have a few spots where you can run the horse s little by yourself or with the guide with you. A great experience and a must do in Maui. The lunch was really good too.

My gal friend and I are experienced riders. We booked the afternoon ride. The guides, Paula and Destiny were very informative and pleasant. They kept the brief to a minimum and off on the ride we went. The scenery was magnificent, the horse well trained, and at 2 different points we were allowed to go into full gallop. Best part of our Maui trip!

Mendes Ranch sits on 300 stunning acres along the eastern coast of Maui. It’s both dusty and lush, the views are incomparable. We took a family trail ride (one inexperienced adult, one never-​been-​on-​a-​horse 8 year old, and one experienced-​in-​childhood adult), and it has been a highlight of our vacation. Destiny was our guide: she was friendly, knowledgeable (we learned a lot about the ranch, it’s history, the island, but none of it boring), confident in a way that sets you at ease, and wonderful and encouraging with the kids. Even beginners are given the opportunity at two spots to run the horses (definitely not something you come across in CA); the horses know what they’re doing — you just have to hold on. With Destiny’s kind encouragement, even the most wary agreed to try, and had a better time for it.
You’re encouraged to linger at the ranch, and taking in the views from several vantage points is totally worth it. You can’t see another property from any view; it’s truly a special family legacy there.
Staying in Kaanapali, we opted for the trail ride followed by a BBQ lunch: it was plentiful and delicious (grilled chicken, beef ribs, ranch beans, pasta salad, green salad & rolls). Definitely recommend if you’ve got an hour drive back to your hotel.

Oh my gosh! I can say enough about my experience at Mendes Ranch. Having had a few bad experiences with horses as a child I was a little apprehensive about the trip but was willing to take one for my sister in law since she got up at o’dark thirty to bike down Haleakala with me. Their horses are well trained and the staff is super knowledgeable. The views are amazing! (Probably even better than Haleakala). My sister in law who owns her own horses was able to run the horse on the trails. Destiny and Freddie were awesome trail guides! If I’m in Maui again I will definitely book another trail riding day!

What a ride! Not only were the views on the ranch breathtaking, but Butch (our group cowboy) took the time to explain the history of the island, ranch, and local fruits! We were even able to try some fresh passion fruit!
I am from Texas and was taken back by the hospitality of the staff, cleanliness of the facilities, and the quality of horses provided for us. We were even given two opportunities to run the horses!
If you are looking for a fun activity for you or your family Mendes Ranch is the place for you.

Butch was an excellent guide, explaining us the history of the ranch and beautiful flora found at the side of the trail. He also gave us Lilikoi/​passion fruit to enjoy towards the end of the ride. He made sure we’re comfortable and let us trot and canter when we wanted a bit more actions. All the horses got some character, and my horse tried to enjoy every opportunity for snacking and even tried to steal my Lilikoi. In the end I shared mine to show my gratitude for her hard work.
Regardless of your horse riding skill, this is a great way to enjoy Maui.

My boyfriend planned a nice romantic afternoon with horseback riding at Mendes Ranch and we had an amazing time! Destiny was our guide and she was super friendly, knowledgeable, and took a lot of pictures for us at the photo spots. We rode many times before so we classified ourselves as «intermediate», and we got a couple of nice fast runs up the hill with the horses. That was an adrenaline rush and sooooo much fun with the wind in your face! We just went scuba diving the morning of and was worried about the elevation, but it was just under 750 feet so nothing to worry about (have to stay under 1000 ft). Thanks, Mikey & Bailey (our horses) for a fun ride!

I love to ride, I have my own horse at home and when I am on vacation and want to ride I am very picky about where I go and who I patronize.
I did my research and felt that amended Ranch was the best operation for what we wanted to do.
Overall, it was so much fun! My horse, Quicksmoke, was really well trained, light and forward. What a great little mare! We took my whole extended family and everyone seemed to have a great time! Even my 7 yr old rode his horse up and down the mountain by himself, with a little help from the handlers.
The views and terrain are beautiful… We will be back!

The best horse riding experience it my life! We did the morning ride and we loved our guide Butch, loved the views, loved my horse. Only negative is Blonde didn’t love me as much as I loved her! LOL… Horses are trained very well, so not much you can do to alter the overall ride! The history of the property is interesting. I would recommend though not buying the lunch its frankly a pretty gross looking kitchen area and pricey. Its is a ranch though and its a good drive away from Lahaina !. Its was raining hard to start our ride, but we did not take the raincoats offered and thank goodness we didn’t as it got very hot as we traveled down the property. Small gift shop and Parking is terrible, but who cares! Wear jeans and tennis shoes! I have an injured neck and ride was fine for me. Great staff, great experience, and worth the price! Mahalo

I have a fear of horseback riding, but the staff was very helpful and accommodating! The horses are well trained, and the ride was gorgeous. To see some footage of the ranch, check out my blog: 10-​Minute Travel Tips!
Enjoy!

When we pulled up and walked onto the property I thought it looked a bit sketchy.
Butch greeted and walked our party of six to sign in, offered us drinks from the cooler and pointed to the restrooms. It’s a no thrills place, it’s a ranch after all.
After we signed the forms there was a quick orientation (about 45 seconds) and we were walked to the arena and given our horse.
My first time on a horse I was nervous as hell. By the end of the ride I didn’t want to get off Bailey. The sights were gorgeous! Our guide, Butch took many pictures of our group in two designated spots over looking the water. He also kept our group together and made sure we were all comfortable.
My only gripe is that the ranch isn’t closer to home. I had a fun experience that I will never forget thanks to Mendes Ranch, Butch and Bailey.