This was a lovely adventure! Our guides were wonderful, very kind & cool demeanors. We really enjoyed them and their sweet horses. The views were amazing and they stop at a couple view points for some great photo ops. It's a very laid back island vibe, they provide water & juices for the ride & return. Bring cash for tipping the guides. I wish we had brought more, they deserved it. Thanks guys! read more

Beautiful views, great tour, friendly guides, and sweet horses. We came here for the first time Thanksgiving week with our two kids, ages 10 and 14. We did the 1.5hr morning ride and we all had a wonderful time. They provide plenty of drinks and snacks, and you have a saddle bag where you can store your things. We've been on over 10 horseback riding tours in the past, and this was the first time our butts and legs were not sore after riding. Although there were a lot steep hills, they were smart to put memory foam pads under the saddle to help give extra support and comfort. I recommend choosing the morning time slot because it's cooler, you're in the sun most of the trail. Bring a hat, sunglasses, camera/phone, cash for tip, and wear sunblock, pants, and closed toe shoes. I recommend not wearing a jacket because it gets hot in the sun. If you get an older horse like I did, you might need to put extra effort in getting it to move, so you might get hot. read more

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Fantastic they take care of everything. Great for all levels of riding. Little history lesson on the ride was really interesting. Fun crew, lead on the ride was cash he knew is stuff. Chase was a great help. They give you horses according to your riding level. Some times they let you run if all goes well a little. read more

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What an amazing trail ride we had at Mendes Ranch Maui on 6/8/22! Our family horseback ride was absolutely fantastic with the friendliest cowboys, beautiful weather, great horses and breathtaking views. My oldest son rides horses regularly and has years of experience. They paired him with a great horse, Aloha. He was able to really enjoy the experience and even had the opportunity to canter. I appreciate the cowboys and staff at Mendes Ranch for making the day so special for our family! read more

Circle M Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

Absolutely loved this experience. My bestfriend and I chose this tour as one of our activities while visiting Maui. Everything from entering the property to exiting was a pleasant experience. Very appropriate horses based off of personal experience/expertise. All horses were capable of doing a run towards the end of the trail (if you choose to run with your horse), so you can opt to have a little bit of a rush if you're itching to do so. Safety was never an issue for anyone. Staff was super personable, friendly, and helpful! read more

Circle M Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

We had a great ride with Yod, Jordan and Don! They were professional, informative and good with families. The views are gorgeous. The morning trail ride was the perfect length and activity for our family! read more

I highly recommend this place to ride. Beautiful farm with well taken care of horses. Gorgeous ride with awesome guides. The gallop up the hill was my favorite part. I rode buttercup and she was a beautiful mare and a fun horse to ride. read more

Beautiful ranch and incredible staff. The facilities are top notch with well maintenance stables and the property itself is well taken care of. There are so many adorable animals and the views are a sight to see. Highly recommend this amazing experience!! read more

Amazing - BUCKET LIST ACTIVITY Riding Staff are OUTSTANDING Match your riding skill to the right horse

I am an avid rider and this was the best horse back riding trip ever! The crew was amazing! Jordan made us laugh and every one had a ton of fun! For sure a must do while in Maui! read more

The trail ride was absolutely beautiful and they share plenty of history that goes along with the land. I would very much recommend taking a couple hours out of your day to join Circle M Ranch- it's a great experience. Jessica, Jordon and Chase did an amazing job, getting us ready to go and matched us with horses to fit us the best based on size and skill. They also offered to take pictures of us which is definitely something I will always look back on! read more

Everyone was so kind and very helpful! The wranglers brought a great time to us! The views are absolutely to die for! I grew up with horses and it has been awhile since I've been riding, so this was such a sweet experience. read more

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. read more

Circle M Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

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Had a wonderful time with my daughter on this excursion. We got partnered with Patrick and Duke and they were perfect horses for us. Trail gave us some beautiful views of the coastline and got some history about the Hawaiian cowboys. read more

Had a great time on our horseback ride at Mendes Ranch. Had great trails that ran alongside the steep cliffside coastlines that made for great views. The horses all were well behaved on the day we went and the hosts were amiable and knowledgeable. They make sure you stop for plenty of pics and let you have chances to run your horses. We had a great experience! read more

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What an amazing day with a great group of people. Mendes Ranch are knowledgeable of riders ability, take great care of their "customers" and you can tell they take care of their horses. Friendly bunch and great conversation throughout. Would recommend Mendes Ranch to all. read more

Circle M Ranch - Thank you for an emotional spiritual ride today.. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

Great trail ride with beautiful views. Staff was very knowledgeable and accommodating. They provided water and sunscreen.

Omg! Amazing amazing I can't say enough! The ride was so beautiful and the hour and 45 minutes was a perfect amount of time. I got the fastest horse Little Foot and he was fast. I'm an experienced rider and was hoping we would be able run and was so excited when they said we could. read more

Circle M Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

My wife and I are (were) totally inexperienced with riding horses. Chase and Don were very friendly and took great care of us, teaching us how to mount and dismount, hold the reins, guide left/right/stop and how to respond to the horse. The training takes place before you get on the horse, then you get a chance to move around the corral a little bit and get accustomed to actually doing it. The horses were perfect for us, very calm and sure-footed, necessary because you'll go uphill and downhill a lot. The ride itself was at walking pace, which was still exciting for us as beginners, and the views of the ocean were beautiful -- and Don took a number of nice keepsake photos of us with our phone. Highly recommended! read more

Mendes Ranch (MR) My family and I are NOT horseback riders, this was our first time - ever, even still we had a blast at MR. It's only a 30-minute drive from the Kahului Airport, so it's a perfect way to enjoy your time as you wait for your hotel check-in time to arrive on Maui. MR is a very rustic place, family owned & operated, and they run on Hawaiian time. Animals are roaming and crapping everywhere, even in the staging area, but hey what to you expect it's a ranch, not a fine dining restaurant. Their helmets could also use an occasional wash, but that is only an issue if you plan to use one. If you do plan on using one, I strongly suggest that you wear a baseball cap or beanie under yours before borrowing one that they provide. At MR they actually teach you how to ride and steer your horse before you hit the trails, there are a couple of sections on your 2-hour trail ride that they let you open it up and gallop at a scary fast pace so make sure your stirrups are positioned correctly or expect to leave with sore under parts. Mine were a tad too long (the stirrups that is), so I couldn't use my legs as shock absorbers and paid for it - lol. The views at MR are spectacular and their horses are very tame, but as our ranch hand told us, you need to show your horse who is the boss at the very beginning or expect them to go where they want, not where you want. read more

Circle M Ranch - Beautiful views on Mendes Ranch trail rides. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

This was my families favorite part of our vacation to Maui. The staff was amazing, very helpful. Checking in was easy and the land is situated on a beautiful part of Maui in which you can only see the coastline from private property. I highly recommend this to anyone visiting Maui. My family experience with Horses range from hundred plus hours of riding to my youngest who had never ridden on his own. This place is great for all levels of experience. The horses and very responsive and the staff instruction is very helpful for beginners. Great place to capture lasting memories and I will be going back every-time we come back to Maui read more

Amazing experience! Mendes Ranch has a stunning trail led by the best guides and sweetest unicorns. They took their time to make sure everyone was comfortable during our ride. We had a mixed group of beginners and experienced individuals and everyone had a great time. The guides take their time taking incredible photos and showing off interesting sights during the ride. One of the best experiences was getting an opportunity to gallop up "giggle hill." Wonderful once in a lifetime ride...a must do for any Maui visit. read more

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We had a wonderful ride with Larry as our guide. I was a little afraid at first as it has been years since I rode a horse. Larry was kind and took time explaining what to expect and how to ride. My horse "Red" grew up on the ranch and was very easy to ride. She was a sweetheart and I felt very safe. I enjoyed the ride down to the cliff, at which point Larry took a ton of photos of my husband and I at two different locations. The Mendes Ranch is beautiful! We saw numerous goats with the new babies as well as many peacocks and a pig! What a day to remember!!! Thank you, Larry! read more

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I have been on many many trail rides in my life and none even come close to this one. From the hospitality and genuine friendliness of the staff to the well-being of the horses to a view that is indescribable - every single minute of the experience was perfect. Don and his crew were fun and informative - they went over basics before we got on the horse and then paired us with a horse based on our skill level. They made us feel so welcomed, unlike some rides that make you feel like they're just trying to get you through so they can move on to the next group. This crew couldn't have been warmer or made the experience more fun. The horses were calm and clearly loved by the staff. The view... there are no words that can accurately describe it. Even if the ride were awful, it would still make it completely worth it, but paired with a great experience and you will not find a better way to spend a morning on Maui. read more

Circle M Ranch - View from Mendes ranch Maui - Horseback Riding Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

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Amazing experience! They went above and beyond to make it a special day. The staff was great! I loved how safety conscious they were, they gave good instructions and were very careful to keep everyone safe. The facility was very nice and they provided drinks and snacks. I would highly recommend this company and we will be visiting again next time we're in Maui. read more

First time I have ever gone on trail where they actually let you run the horses. It was great, definitely will be doing again. The professionals were great they were so patient and kind with everyone on trail. Very enjoyable coastal riding as well as farm. Amazing read more

Had an amazing time on our family trail ride! The whole team at Mendes Ranch made the experience so much fun for everyone. The scenery was absolutely beautiful and the horses were wonderful. If you are looking for a different Maui experience this is for you! Chase and Don did an amazing job. The 2 week old baby goat was the cutest thing ever too . Highly recommend you try this out! read more

I will keep this simple. My now Fiancé and I had never been on a horse but I wanted to do something outside our comfort zone and yes... Romantic. We had the most amazing time on this excursion. The guides were amazing, friendly and funny. The property and the views were to die for and there were plenty of opportunities for pictures. This team takes pride in what they do and the horses were well behaved and cared for. We unfortunately did not stay for the BBQ, but Kimo told us to hit the Shrimp food truck down the hill from the Ranch. It was on point and it was one of our favorite meals on Maui. read more

Circle M Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

I can't say enough great things about this place! I've been on many trail rides, and this was by far the best. Super friendly, knowledgeable staff, amazing views, and great horses. The horses are well taken care of, and not overworked (the guide told us they have 100 horses on the ranch, and they only work 4 days a week). They even let you run the horses a couple times, if you want to. They also stop at 2 different spots and take pics of you (on your own phone) at no extra cost, which is amazing! If I came back to Maui, this would absolutely be on the must-do list. Highly recommend!! read more

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WOW I can't say enough about the people at Mendez. We where Married there and what an incredible venue. The staff is not only top notch but the real deal ranch cowboys. We'll be back !! read more

absolutely incredible time at the mendes ranch. Breathtaking views - the kind you cannot get from your resort. So peaceful and tranquil just being at the ranch. Horse riding was good (I am not comfortable on horses and I did just fine with my sweet horse) - you descend down a curvy dirt path with insane views, stop for pix and some history on the ranch, and head back up. Kind of a short ride but takes a while bc you are walking slowly. So much to see and the peacocks....what a fun surprise! Horses - I was super nervous. Had a bad experience once. This was my attempt to be a fun mom and ride with my family. my horse was sweet but apparently she and the next horse had a bit of an issue that day - lol. Larry was so great and stayed with me, and will rearrange the horses to make sure they not only walk well, but don't get in each other's business. Kids - Definitely need to be older. Maybe 12+? Unless they are experienced. I did not take my 11 yo, and I am glad I didn't! read more

Go private if you can!!! We had the best tour guide (Rocky). They give you cold drinks for your saddlebags and he even let us run the horses. My husband and I had an excellent time and he wasn't even looking forward to going. read more

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Highly recommend visiting the Mendes Ranch for a great experience. The staff is wonderful and the the views while you are on your ride are breathtaking. Brandon, Chase and Nate were great at making sure everyone of all levels had fun. I have been to Maui many times and I have done a bunch of activities and this one was my favorite. I loved the horses and being on a ranch with so much history that the guys share with you on the ride. It was also the most affordable one. read more

Up a windy two lane road on the East side of Maui, you will find Mendes Ranch. Perched on the hillside with perfect views of the ocean and territory, the Mendes family has 300 acres under their charge. We were there to take the morning trail ride. I was with my almost 8 year old daughter who has very little saddle time, so I was a little concerned that she may not be able to fully enjoy the experience. I was pleasantly surprised that wasn't the case. We were greeted by Rocky who got us signed in and gave us the lay of the land. His brother Butch gave us some beverages and showed us some cool rope tricks while we waited. Our Guides Trevor and Cammy were great. Super patient with the kiddo and made sure she had a great experience. Trevor was especially patient and nurturing. No doubt he's also a father. He made sure her horse, Shorty, was keeping up because she tended to lag behind. There were a couple times my horse got farther ahead of my daughters horse, but I knew Trevor and Cammy would take care of my baby so I wasn't worried. We will definitely be back. If for no other reason then to find the doughnut tree (wink). The trail was more hilly than we expected and thus kind of a slow ride. Perfect for us though since we are beginners. There was a little chance to run which we did. Probably not having more kids as a result lol. We will definitely do it again and recommend it for anyone who wants an unforgettable experience. read more

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The instructions were too overwhelming for my 7 yo. She has ridden horses before but wouldn't get on because she was freaked out by the instructions on how to steer horse, stop horse, get on, etc. And there is no assurance during the instructions that for the kids the guides would help, etc. She then wouldn't get on. We didn't have time to calm her or ease her into it, as the group was leaving as soon as everyone was saddled. There is no alternative activity for her and so I had to stay behind. I wasn't going to leave her for 2 hours on her own. There is no refund or discount, which I understand, but a $250 hit down the drain is hard to swallow. Plus my husband and 9 yo son went so we ended up sitting on a bench for 2 hours. I would not recommend for a 7 or 8 yo. You are really taking chances. Son and husband had fun but given I just paid $250 on a morning in Maui to sit on a bench I can't give this activity any stars. read more

My friends and I did the Mendes Ranch Trail ride last week. It was the highlight of our Hawaiian vacation. We stayed at the Montage in Kapalua and it was a nice scenic drive to the Mendes Ranch. The trail ride exceeded our expectations. Panoramic ocean views, great guide and unique animals. You may need to book in advance. But i would highly recommend this activity! read more

Great experience! I was a little nervous since this was my first time riding a horse but the ranch guides make you feel so comfortable; from assisting you on and off the horse and helping direct your horse during the ride. Beautiful views! Guides also take photos for you. Water, gaterade and snacks provided. Would highly recommend! read more

Circle M Ranch - Horses - Horseback Riding Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

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Absolutely loved this! This was my first time horseback riding and it was a great first time experience. The horses are very calm and make it easy for beginners. The views were stunning, our tour guide was great, and we got some great photos with the ocean view in the background. Highly recommend! read more

I LOVE horseback riding. It is one of the excursions I always book when I go on vacation. The last time I was in Hawaii (the big island) and Kauai, I had a great time riding. The scenery was beautiful and the trails were very clean and clear, not dusty like some I've tried in CA, and was what I had expected from Mendes. Unfortunately it couldn't be further from it! We booked our rides via their website which was pretty easy and hassle free. Our reservations were for 12:30pm. But we followed the instruction and arrived 1 hour early. I knew they usually would give you some safety training and such. Once we checked in, we were told to head back to the barn area for some refreshment and wait. They asked if we had booked lunch with it and we said no. We waited for 2 hours! Yes, freaking 2 hours while the other people who booked lunch with the ride had their lunches!!!! What the HELL! Why didn't they tell us if we didn't book lunch to come later? We could have spent the precious 2 hours of our vacation time doing something else other than waiting for other people eat!!!! Finally at 1:30pm, we were shuttled up a very bumpy road to where the horses were. Honestly, I've been to many ranches, these horses, by far, looked the unhappiest. I don't know, it's just a feeling. One by one, we got our horses, which took another 1/2 hour! They have no platform like most ranches have for short people like me to get on the horse. Not nice! Our 2-hour ride was the worst ride I've ever had (and I've ridden many). The trail was so dusty that I could barely breath. All through out the ride, all I could think of was my poor kids breathing in the dirty red clay dust! Had I known it was going to be this dusty, I would have brought masks for us! From the website, you see beautiful mountain and ocean. Those were at the 2 scenic stops which you would take pictures for about 5 minutes. The rest of the ride, in my opinion, was more of a torture than pleasure. The only thing I really enjoyed was that they actually allow you to run the horse for about 10 seconds. Most places only allow you to walk them, some might allow you to trot at times. I am really disappointed and wish I had not trusted Yelp for this ranch. The only reason it even got 1 star was because that is the lowest I could give and that the workers were actually really nice. If you're reading my review, I hope you take my honest opinion into consideration. If you still want to book it with Mendes Ranch, please make sure to bring a mask with you. Your lung will thank me for it. read more

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This most recent trip in September was my 4th time visiting Mendes Ranch. I have been going by myself for the last three times and the property, staff, and overall experience still never fails to wow me. I love this place, it is my most very favorite thing I look forward to each year. The staff are always friendly, they look out for everyone on the trail and TRULY know the horses, by name, temperament, and skill level. My favorite guide is Butch, he's a gentleman and will keep me company when I ride alone. All of the guides are so passionate about the ranch and the horses and it really shows. The two times the riders are able to run the horses are exhilarating, you feel like you're on top of the world. I can't say enough good things about this place, it's people, and the horses. If you're looking for a magical time, don't wait and book your ride! read more

Circle M Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

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