Places to Visit in Maafushi Island

Maafushi Island

One of the most popular and biggest islands in the Maldives, Maafushi is located nearly thirty kilometres away from Male in Kaafu Atoll. It is in elongated form and covers an area of around 1270 x 265 m. If you want to indulge in various exciting activities as well as mouthwatering exotic delicacies, then this island is a great choice. Moreover, reaching there is quite easy as well. Just take a flight to the Male International Airport (also known as Velana International Airport). After that, you can choose from two options to reach Maafushi Island—via speedboat or via ferry. The speedboat takes lesser time and is more readily available. Thus, it is preferred by tourists. On the other hand, travelling via ferry is very cheap. Make the decision as per your requirements.

Reaching Maafushi Island via speedboat

You will easily find a direct speedboat to Maafushi from the Male International Airport. It would be great if you book your ride prior in order to avoid any kind of convenience and last-minute hassle. All you have to do is drop a mail to the service provider. Generally, the frequency of speedboats is quite good from morning to evening. You can check the availability of seats, timings, and fares on their websites. Via speedboat, it takes less than one hour to reach Maafushi Island.

Reaching Maafushi Island via ferry

Commuting via a ferry is surely a better option for those who are on a budget trip. Take a ferry or a speedboat from the Male International airport to Male Island where the ferry terminal is located. This ride will cost you one dollar to reach Male Island. You will reach the terminal in just ten minutes. Travelling via speedboat is very fast. It takes just four minutes to reach the next location and it costs approximately two dollars.

You can take a taxi to Jetty 1 or the ‘Maafushi Ferry’ after you have reached Male Island. The taxi ride costs two dollars and takes ten minutes to reach the ferry point. Take the ferry service to Maafushi from the jetty and it will cost around three dollars per person. The journey will take nearly one and a half hours. You cannot book your ferry ticket online. So you have to reach there one hour prior for buying tickets. Please note that food and water will not be accessible on the board. Also, the ferry is not available on Fridays.

  • About

    About

    Maafushi Island is a tropical paradise in the Kaafu Atoll of South Male. It is world-famous for its sparkling ocean waters, lavish resorts, and enthralling activities. It is ranked among the top ten islands in the Maldives, especially for honeymoon couples. The island is also the proposed capital of Medhu Uthuru province. One of the best islands to stay in the Maldives, Maafushi has local inhabitance along with a large number of guesthouses as well. As a step to promote tourism, opening guesthouses on inhabited islands was allowed but it was earlier prohibited. It has emerged as the best Maldivian island over the years. The best months to visit are January and February.

    The Maldives is home to some of the most untouched beaches. The archipelago comprises over 1000 islands. It has the most pristine beaches, pleasant weather, colourful corals, and so many enthralling activities. One of the top things to do is snorkelling in the Maldives. Visit Maafushi that is a world-famous island located in the Maldives. An unexplored gem, not everyone knows about this island. It is located around 25 kilometres from Male, the capital city. It is the hub of adventurous water activities and snorkelling is among the most popular ones. You can choose to visit North or South Male as well. If you choose the northern part, then you can visit Huraa Island and Himmafushi Island. On picking South Male, you can visit Maafushi Island and Gulhi Island. Snorkelling is something that you can try anywhere.

    Do you know about the splendid oceanic beauty surrounding Maafushi Island? Well, this is where you should be going for an exciting adventure. Its oceanic floor is home to the most gorgeous marine life that you can experience with your own eyes if you take a plunge into it. While snorkelling here, the most astonishing thing that you can witness is the stunning marine world.

    The fun never stops in the Maldives. Along with being the top destination for chilling and relaxing at a gorgeous beach or in your overwater bungalow, the archipelago is an excellent hub of water sports. Snorkelling is something that you should definitely try here.

    Things to do in Maafushi Island

    • Snorkelling
    • Catamaran rides
    • Take sunbaths on the sand bar in the north.
    • Take an island-hopping tour on a boat.

    Where to stay in Maafushi Island

    • Nirvana Guest House, Maafushi
    • Where to eat
    • Bandharu Kada
    • Blossom Cafe

    Reaching Maafushi Island

    Take a taxi to Villingili Ferry Terminal or Maafushi Ferry, located on the southwest corner of the island, from Male Island.

  • FAQs

    Question 1: How many days do I need to explore Maafushi?

    Answer: To get the feel of the island, three days are enough. However, if you want to relax and explore even more, then you can plan to stay there for one week. Maafushi is straight out of a fairytale and spending each and every moment there is bliss in itself!

    Question 2: Which are the best restaurants and eateries in Maafushi Island?

    Answer:This tiny island in the Maldives has a number of nice restaurants and cafes. Some of the most sought-after are as follows: Nero Café:

    This café serves delicious Italian food. Its pizza is amazing! For a quick refreshment, the Watermelon Mojito is highly recommended.

    Kaani Beach Restaurant:

    This upscale-looking restaurant is actually quite economical. Per person bills here comes out to be fifteen to twenty dollars. The scrumptious and juicy seafood here is a must-try for everyone.

    Arena Beach Restaurant:

    If you are strictly on a budget, then you should definitely come to this restaurant. Their ten-dollar buffet is quite incredible. That’s right! With just ten dollars, you can eat as much food as you can handle. Their huge table has innumerable food options. The highlight here is a chef grilling veggies and meat on the barbecue.

    Stingray Beach Inn:

    There is a pretty good restaurant at Stingray Beach Inn as well. If you are tired after all the sightseeing and trying your hand at various water adventurous activities, then you can stay and eat here as well. You can order a seafood platter and split it between two people. It is counted among the best ones on the island.

    Floating Bar:

    If you want to have a few beers in Maafushi Island, then head to this bar for a boozy time! It is basically a boat that is anchored offshore. Isn’t that interesting? There is a neat lounge here and the beer costs six dollars.

    Question 3: Can I go scuba diving in Maafushi?

    Answer: Scuba diving in Maafushi Island lets you witness the miraculous underwater world. The most exciting thing to know is that the colourful corals and rich marine life are right there at your doorstep. Just take a dip with your scuba gear and you are transported into a new world within a few seconds. Life is too short to miss out on this paradise! We strongly recommend adding scuba diving on this island to your travel bucket list.

    If you are a nature lover along with an adrenaline junkie as well, then you should know that the Maldives is counted among the best places for scuba diving across the world. Your trip to this island would be incomplete without a dip in its serene waters that are oozing with rich marine life. Its marine life is world-famous and thus, considered perfect for scuba diving. There are resorts with private house reefs that are exceptionally attractive. You can go scuba diving at any time of the day at such properties. Swimming freely in the Indian Ocean surrounded by colourful corals, sea turtles, reef sharks, stingrays, and various other underwater species is something that you will not forget ever. It’s like swimming in a huge aquarium. Interesting, isn’t it! That is why scuba diving in the Maldives is gaining so much popularity in every nook and corner of the world.

    Especially for divers, the biggest reason to travel to the Maldives is witnessing the majestic and huge whale sharks as well as the smaller-sized reef sharks that rest peacefully in the corals’ atolls and on the surrounding lagoons of the resorts. Although these sharks can be seen throughout the area, the prospective places to encounter them up close are Baa and Ari atolls and Maaya Thila.

    Question 4: Can I travel solo to Maafushi as mainly honeymooners go there?

    Answer: When we talk about the Maldives, the honeymooners’ paradise, a solo trip doesn’t come to anyone’s mind. Not even experienced solo travellers think about exploring the island nation on their own. But just picturise this once: You walking on white, silky sand near the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by swaying palm trees, and witnessing the most gorgeous sunset ever! Isn’t it alluring? And why do you need someone else to experience all this splendour of the Maldives? You can go there on your own and appreciate the oozing natural beauty alone. For the perfect ‘me time’, the Maldives is a great place to unwind, far from the hustle-bustle of your daily life. Most people view it as a honeymoon destination but is so much more beyond that. Go there and find out yourself!

    Question 5: Which is the must-do activity on this island?

    Answer: When in Maafushi Island, don’t miss having a glimpse of its rich marine life at any cost. Snorkelling and scuba diving are awesome experiences and these can be the highlights of your vacation as well. Just dive into the crystal-clear waters and swim with manta rays, vibrant coral reefs, colourful fishes, sea turtles, etc. You are sure to fall in love with the underwater world when in the Maldives!

    Question 6: Which activities are recommended here for solo travellers?

    Answer: You will have a lot to explore there including the splendid views of the overwater villas, mouth-watering food, enthralling activities like cooking classes, spa sessions, fish feeding, musical nights, and a lot more. Whether you are a luxury traveller or a budget backpacker, the island has something for all kinds of solo travellers. You may meet other solo travellers belonging to different nationalities with whom you share similar vibes for this amazing place. .

    Almost everyone dreams of visiting the Maldives. It’s on their travel bucket list. But going there on a solo trip is an adventure of a lifetime that not many pursue. You may get overwhelmed while researching the places to visit and things to do. That’s absolutely fine. The Maldives has gained huge popularity for being a luxurious honeymoon destination but solo travellers can also go there on a budget. However, don’t consider it as a backpacking budget destination.

    Question 7: Is Maafushi Island safe and tourist-friendly?

    Answer: Absolutely yes!! The island is one of the best travel destinations all across the world. It is safe as well as tourist-friendly for sure. You will have comfort and safety here. Don’t worry about that.

  • Do's & Don'ts

    Below mentioned are the dos and don’ts in Maafushi Island:

    Do’s in Maafushi Island

    • Bring sunscreen
    • Choose your souvenirs carefully
    • Dress modestly on inhabited islands
    • Be extra respectful during Ramadan
    • Expect extra taxes due to import costs
    • Check out reef locations in proximity to your resort
    • Remove your shoes at the door of a home or mosque

    Don’ts in Maafushi Island

    • Don’t touch pink corals
    • Don’t be out late in Malé City
    • Don’t expect free or speedy Wi-Fi
    • Don’t bring banned items on your trip
    • Don’t engage in PDA on inhabited islands
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