Rappel Maui Tours, for The Young and the Restless?
The minimum age for joining Rappel Maui tours is 10, and many families tell us that a rappelling tour was the perfect activity for their active tweens and teens. We keep the rules simple: Minors must be accompanied on the tour by a responsible adult, and have their parent or legal guardian sign the necessary forms beforehand. Ask us for more information by calling Rappel Maui tours office at 808.270.1500 or by sending in the contact form at our web site.
Weighty Matters
For the Classic Tour, the maximum limit on weight is 250 pounds, or about 115 kilograms. For the Extreme Zip Rappel Tour, the maximum weight limit is 230 pounds, or about 104 kilograms. Since you’re wearing a harness, we’ll ask you if your waist measures between 22 and 48 inches. To ask questions about weight or size restrictions, just call us between the hours of 7 AM and 7 PM Hawaii Standard Time. Rappel Maui tours operate daily.
The Bold and the Beautiful
It’s going to rain in the rainforest, and, if you’ve signed up for waterfall Rappel Maui tours, you know you’re going to get wet anyway. Out there in nature, we can encounter all kinds of weather, terrain and conditions. That means it’s a smart idea to prepare yourself to mingle with the mud a little, or at least get a little messy. You will also encounter natural, wild conditions. Some of the rocks and walls are sharp, and some drops are home to branches, shrubs and sharp sticks. That means that you might snag or tear your clothing, should you take an unexpected swing or sway into the walls. Wear clothing that can take a beating, and save your mani-pedi spa appointment for the next day–you’re going home with dirt under your nails and a chip in your polish. Because safety is the top priority, you’ll wear your helmet and flotation vest during the entire tour, regardless of your skills or the weather.
Gravity Happens
Rappel Maui tours will provide you with special rappelling footwear–a rubber bootie with a felt sole–that’s designed to grip the wet rocks. And you’ll have a guide on belay who will keep you from making a dangerous descent should you lose control or grasp of your rope. However, the laws of gravity are still at work, which is why we remind you to take these and other precautions:
- When hiking, pay attention to the trail for obstacles and stumbling blocks.
- Pay attention to your guides and follow their instructions.
- Keep everything in the backpack provided to keep your hands free at all times.
- All participants wear a personal flotation device.
- Walk slowly and carefully in shallow water when you aren’t able to see the bottom.
- When you’re hiking a section of trail with an exposed edge, you’ll clip your harness into anchored ropes.
- If you are not great at rock-hopping or stone-stepping, ask for a steadying hand from your guide, and make three or more points of contact with the ground when you’re likely to be not-so-sure-footed. (That means putting one or both hands on low rocks or the ground to steady yourself as you move your feet.) Your guide will show you how.
Members of The Cold Feet Club
It’s not just a cliche; that first step really is a doozy! It takes courage, attention, and a healthy dose of desire (for first-timers especially) to take that first backward step from nice, level horizontal ground, over the edge of a vertical drop. That’s why, sometimes, it just doesn’t happen for everybody every time. Some tour-takers decide not to rappel every drop; others end up as observers, forgoing the rappelling altogether. Just as you are in control of your descent when you do rappel, you are in control of whether you do the rappelling or not. There’s no forcing, no pressure–you’re on vacation! If you decide to watch from the sidelines, one of your guides will walk you to the bottom of the drop after the rest of the party have made their rappels. You can enjoy the scenery of the trails while you wait, but one caveat: It’s often physically easier to rappel down than hike down, as the equipment and gravity in rappelling is doing most of the physical work for you.
Tardy for the Party?
When making your reservation, look for an email afterward that confirms your reservation and explains what to bring, what to wear, and where to meet. Take a look at the directions and map to the location. If you’re very unfamiliar with Maui, map the location the day before your tour. If you get lost en route, call 808.270.1500 for directions as you go. Please note that the tour time is the time that you’ll meet your guides at the activity location on the Hana Highway. It’s approximately 1 hour from Kahului and 1.5 hours from Lahaina. If you know you’re running late, call us right away so that we can communicate with the guides at the site.