Circle M Ranch
Circle M Ranch
4.7
About
The "Morning Oceanfront Trail Ride" begins at the Mendes Ranch Corral and will take you down the edge of the scenic valley to the coastline where you will have an opportunity to view the magnificent waters of the Pacific Ocean before heading back up to the corral. At the coastline, our trail guides will take photos of you with the majestic seascape in the background. RIDE LENGTH: 1.5 hours CHECK-IN: 8:45 am (Departs at 9:00 am) We take the safety of our riders and horses very seriously and will therefore strictly enforce our weight limit of 230#. Due to our terrain of going up & down the mountain, if the horse slips, we face serious injury to both. If you show up on sight with questionable weight, we will take you to the scale. No refund will be available if you are denied as we are booked to capacity and could have sold your space. Please respect our animals, be honest, and we look forward to meeting you at the ranch! * Closed toe shoes are required for this ride *
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.7
609 reviews
Excellent
516
Very good
52
Average
19
Poor
12
Terrible
12
Rhwall512
2 contributions
Mar 2024 • Friends
Doing a trail ride at Circle M Ranch is an amazing way to spend the morning! I had riden a horse before, but only a couple times. The wranglers gave such an informative lesson before I got on my horse, Tex, that I felt at ease as we got on our way. What a unique way to see a part of Maui I had never seen before. It was breaktaking and relaxing at the same time. Highly recommend!
Written March 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brandi
Erie, CO4 contributions
This tour takes you away from the tourist scene and shows you the beauty of the island in a way you won’t see unless you experience it on horseback. The ranch was beautiful and loaded with many different, interesting animals. Each horse has their own personality and the guides do their best to pair the rider with the horse best suited to them. They take time to educate riders on safety and the history of the ranch and island.
Written March 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NGVAN
Vancouver, Canada20 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
We had a great time on a morning ride. Although relative beginners, having only done a couple of trail rides, we were well taken care of and were given horses with a little personality, but we still felt confident. Our nine year old had a great time, even being able to run his horse a little. The scenery was beautiful, it took away any apprehensiveness I might have had as it was so lovely. Our guide Trevor was authentic, and our horses looked well cared for and happy. Even though I didn’t think horseback riding was for me, I’d do this ride again next time we come.
Written February 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard Anthony
Los Angeles, CA30 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
I really wanted to visit to recommend this location but the communication on their end was poor. We had booked a trip with on a Friday afternoon. The previous day was heavy showers and assumed that our reservation would be rescheduled or canceled due to the weather. We got charged full price but luckily booked with our credit card company. Please aware of their non flexible policies
Written September 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aloha
I'm really sorry to hear you are unhappy with us, but I don't fully understand your situation. I do not show a Rain Out day around the time of your review, which would have resulted in us refunding all riders. What does stand out is your statement that you 'assumed' reschedule or cancel, meaning you did not bother to reach out to resolve or question this ride. Clearly the ride you were booked for did go out, I assume you were marked as a No Show and charged in full per the terms of our cancellation policy.
Lesson to be learned here folks; don't book an activity for a Friday and if it rains on Thursday you no show and expect to be refunded, if we operated this way we would be out of business. Give us a call, we work well with everyone, as evidenced by our high ratings.
See ya at the ranch!!
Written October 10, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
cdombey49
Prescott, AZ5 contributions
Mar 2021
We booked a trail ride at Mendez Ranch for our last day on Maui. My wife , grand daughter and i climbed aboard the well behaved and well seasoned trail horses and were lead through some of Maui’s beautiful mountain country by two expert and personable guides, Larry and a transplant from Pennsylvania whose name escapes me. They were both great. This is a fun ride, even for those with little experience with horseback riding.
Written March 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ktbmas
San Diego, CA47 contributions
We just spent a wonderful week in Maui with one horrible experience at Mendes Ranch. We never step foot on the ranch, and never will due to the poor business practices and rudeness of the owner. In a nutshell, one family member could not attend a scheduled group ride. We were told on the phone weeks before that a charge would not be applied until riders showed up. We were not given a confirmation number or told their cancellation policy (which apparently is 24 hours notice). What turns out to be, in my opinion, a misunderstanding on the part of the employee who took the reservation and failed to give communicate the policy , should have been dealt with differently. We were charged a full price ride, plus $20 for a lunch...completely unfair and stupid on their part. The least they could have done was charge for a partial fee..and never charge for the lunch, that was ridiculous! They just lost any future business from our family and friends who live in Maui. We travel there often and will stick with other horseback riding companies. It is a shame that $120 is going to cost them so much more in the long run. The other family members who did go enjoyed their ride but it left a black cloud over everyone's day...a little customer service goes a long way.
Written February 20, 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
demccrae
Oregon1 contribution
Just returned from our trip to Hawaii. We took a ride at the Mendes Ranch. The staff was lively and friendly and the views were great. I am an intermediate/advanced rider and was given an "advanced rider horse". The horse reacted well until we came to a hill which we were free to run up. The guide instructed us to tighten up on the reins because the horses knew they could run as soon as we rounded the corner. My horse took off fast, and unfortunately I didn't take command soon enough the the horse got away from me. He passed the horse ahead of me, sideswiping it and then ran into the back of the guide's horse. I was knocked off, onto the path of the other oncoming horses. My husband who was behind me tried to pull his horse back, but it slowed as it went over me, stomping on my left leg and my left hand, creating a large gash in my hand. At this point, I don't find fault with anyone but myself. However, it immediately became apparent to me that the guides were not medically trained and had no medical supplies wih them. I ended up wrapping up my bleeding hand with my own dirty shirt. It took about 30-40 minutes for their pickup to arrive. I returned to their office and they gave me directions to the ER. They did ask if I wanted and ambulance and I declined. I want others to be aware that unfortunate things can happen - but the Ranch really should have medical provisions on hand on all rides.
Written February 24, 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Crazynello01
Chicago, IL398 contributions
Jan 2012 • Business
I will preface this with the fact that I have been riding for 20 consecutive years, currently ride 2 horses 3+ days a week including 1 ride under training, have competed, used to teach English riding lessons.
No doubt, the views you see during this ride and from the ranch are lovely. You explore both the hilly areas as well as down near the water. The coast location is wonderful.
Helmets are optional, but in my opinion no matter what your experience level is you should ALWAYS wear a helmet and I feel this should be enforced. It is incorrect to think that just because you are mainly walking means that you are safe. A man on our trip slipped off sideways during a WALKING portion and landed on rocks. Luckily he landed shoulder first, but had his head hit ground he could have hurt his head. Accidents happen at any speed. Given the type of riding offered and especially the rocky terrain WEAR A HELMET!
Please please please be truthful about your experience level. Gallops are done on rocky hilly inclines, not straight-a-ways. If you are not experienced, do not try to be a hero. These horses will go go go, and if you do not have knowledge of riding, you may face being off off off. Despite being paired to the horse based on experience, the guides still asked if anyone wanted to gallop. If you had no experience, this was offered to you which is not right. These are 1100lb animals.
I was unimpressed with the presentation of the horses and tack. The horses did not appear to be even slightly groomed and some had a case of 'rain rot' on their hair. The saddes did not fit all the horses properly either, this was visible as there was too much gap between the saddle pad, back of the saddle, and the horse. Many saddle were also slipping off to one slide due to improper fitting.
The terrain is very rocky, and I do not believe the horses foot care were tended too considering this. The trail was littered with shoes, and the hoofs had cracks or small chunks missing. A horse in my group was visibly loosing its shoe, it was flopping off at a walk, yet the trail guide did not care and still allowed this rider to gallop uphill. That is very negligent and dangerous to the horses hoof health and safety to the rider (if the shoe had come off during the ride).
I am not big on trail rides given my weekly riding schedule, but I have done many and this definitely does not rank high. I think the horses needed better care given the footing and greater safety enforced to protect the rider.
No doubt, the views you see during this ride and from the ranch are lovely. You explore both the hilly areas as well as down near the water. The coast location is wonderful.
Helmets are optional, but in my opinion no matter what your experience level is you should ALWAYS wear a helmet and I feel this should be enforced. It is incorrect to think that just because you are mainly walking means that you are safe. A man on our trip slipped off sideways during a WALKING portion and landed on rocks. Luckily he landed shoulder first, but had his head hit ground he could have hurt his head. Accidents happen at any speed. Given the type of riding offered and especially the rocky terrain WEAR A HELMET!
Please please please be truthful about your experience level. Gallops are done on rocky hilly inclines, not straight-a-ways. If you are not experienced, do not try to be a hero. These horses will go go go, and if you do not have knowledge of riding, you may face being off off off. Despite being paired to the horse based on experience, the guides still asked if anyone wanted to gallop. If you had no experience, this was offered to you which is not right. These are 1100lb animals.
I was unimpressed with the presentation of the horses and tack. The horses did not appear to be even slightly groomed and some had a case of 'rain rot' on their hair. The saddes did not fit all the horses properly either, this was visible as there was too much gap between the saddle pad, back of the saddle, and the horse. Many saddle were also slipping off to one slide due to improper fitting.
The terrain is very rocky, and I do not believe the horses foot care were tended too considering this. The trail was littered with shoes, and the hoofs had cracks or small chunks missing. A horse in my group was visibly loosing its shoe, it was flopping off at a walk, yet the trail guide did not care and still allowed this rider to gallop uphill. That is very negligent and dangerous to the horses hoof health and safety to the rider (if the shoe had come off during the ride).
I am not big on trail rides given my weekly riding schedule, but I have done many and this definitely does not rank high. I think the horses needed better care given the footing and greater safety enforced to protect the rider.
Written January 19, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Redman358
Myrtle Beach, SC8 contributions
My wife and I just returned from our first Hawaiian vacation. We did several excursions while we visited several of the islands. Based on other trip advisor reviews we decided on the Mendes Ranch for a horseback ride. Bad Mistake. First, we were told that we would make two stops where we could get off of the horses for a break and take in the scenery. The first stop was at the top of a mountain with a beautiful view of a waterfall. We were not allowed to dismount and had about 30 seconds to view the waterfall before we headed down the mountain on a very dusty path. The second "stop" was at the base of the mountain close to the ocean. Again, we were not allowed to get off of our horses. Our guide was Holly, the niece of the owner. She was no guide. She was texting on her cell phone the entire time we were riding. There was no conversation or friendly information about the ride or the island which was customary with guides on our other excursions. The only time we heard anything friendly from Holly was at the end of the ride right before the big hit for a tip. I don't know anything about any other ranches but I would stay away from Mendes Ranch.
Written August 24, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nightlifemaui
maui8 contributions
the guide was rude, the horses all skinny and overworked. what a joke for $120!!!
Written June 9, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Victoria S
Reston, Virginia
How bad is the road when driving from Wailuku north on Rte. 340 to the ranch?
Written October 18, 2024
Coming in March...Curious if the lunch is offered with both morning and afternoon rides and which is a better option? Like for the afternoon ride...is the lunch prior to the ride or after? Morning ride I do realize if there is a lunch, it would be after. Thank you.
Written January 24, 2017
The last response is correct. Lunch after the morning and before the afternoon ride. Actually, lunch is served at the same time, so morning and afternoon riders can mingle. If you are afternoon rider, you need to think about the helmets. Same ones that are used in the morning. Head scarf, hat, or your own is recommended (a can of Lysol doesn't seem to do the trick)
Written January 25, 2017
Can my 13 year old granddaughter ride with a tour without me going as well?
Written April 28, 2016
Yes. There are 2 guides with the group and tell them to pay attention to your grandaughter and they will. There was an 8 yr old in our group. The horses are gentle. If she does not want to gallop, tell the guide as there are 2 areas that the horses gallop, but you don't have to.
Written July 30, 2016
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
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