Full guide to Maafushi Island Maldives

You need to go visit Maafushi Island Maldives. Maafushi is the best budget island in the Maldives, but don’t worry, they have luxury resorts on the island too. If you ever thought that the Maldives was too expensive, think again!

Maafushi island Maldives is the island you need to visit and it’s definitely one of my favourite local islands. It’s certainly one of the more lively ones. It’s vibrant, friendly, colourful and of course, budget friendly. The Maldives is home to some of the best beaches in the world, and Maafushi island Maldives is no different.

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Quick Mini Guide To maafushi

Don’t have a lot of time? Here’s a quick mini guide to Maafushi.

Maafushi

• Maafushi is vibrant and buzzing with beach bars and fun music
• Accessible by the local ferry from the airport (around $2pp but the timetable is unpredictable) or a private transfer

Where to stay

• Arena Beach Hotel – vibrant and buzzing on the beach
• Rehendhi Villa.- quieter and a little off the main street

Don’t miss…

• Parasailing
• A luxury resort day trip
• Shipwreck and snorkelling excursion

Best time to go

November-April. This season has the best weather. May-October might see rainy season, but it’s quieter & better for surfing.

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Maafushi Island, Kaafu Atoll, Maldives

I was pleasantly surprised by the epic Maafushi island Maldives; it’s a total hidden gem. It’s vibrant, welcoming and friendly. I have done resort islands in the Maldives and I thought it might be like that, but it’s a wildly different experience.

Resort islands are… pristine, quiet, secluded, peaceful. Maafushi is… well… Lively. Vibrant. Colourful. It has a community of locals and a number of small hotels and guest houses. And it’s just so cheerful! There are plenty of drift wood beach bars in bright colours in every direction for you to sit down at and just enjoy life.

The beach front restaurants are decorated with fairy lights and palm trees, tropical music plays in the background, cheery locals smile and wave whilst you enjoy views of the most incredible blue beaches you can hope to find. And frankly, it’s at a fraction of the cost of the resort islands. As you wander down the main street, you’ll see rustic painted signs everywhere about saving the ocean and taking ethical tours which will make you smile.

Stop by one of the brightly coloured ice cream stalls or fresh fruit juice shacks for a refreshment, or pick up a fresh coconut. Because of the numerous restaurants and tour operators to choose from, the prices are fairly cheap (or at least competitive). It never feels cramped, crowded, or busy; just inviting. I felt like smiling the entire time I was there. It reminds me of chic, boho islands you find in the Gili Islands, in Thailand, Mexico, and the Philippines. There are no overwater bungalows on Maafushi island Maldives, but frankly, you don’t need them!

Why is Maafushi Island famous?

Maafushi island Maldives is famous because it is known as the best budget island in the Maldives. It has incredible beaches but accommodation is a fraction of the cost of the resort islands, and the multitude of restaurants are cheap too! Enjoy the spectacular Maldivian beaches at budget prices.

Travelling to Maafushi from Male Airport

Male to Maafushi

Maafushi island Maldives is about 28km from Male Airport. The journey from Male to Maafushi is super quick; only 50minutes to 1h30 depending on your method of transport. There are two ways to get to Maafushi: by local ferry or private speed boat transfer.

Getting to Maafushi by Local Ferry

You can reach the island by ferry for £1.25 (1.50USD), and it’s 1h30 from Male, the capital city.

Maafushi to Gulhi Ferry

You can also do day trips to Gulhi Island, which is only 15 minutes away by boat. There is a daily ferry that leaves Maafushi at 7am to Gulhi and returns to Maafushi at 4pm.

Maafushi to Fulidhoo

Don’t forget you can also get the public ferry from Maafushi to Fulidhoo, also around £1.25 (1.50USD).

Getting to Maafushi By Private transfer

You can organise a private speed boat to take you to Maafushi which takes around 45-55 minutes. This usually costs £25 (32USD) per person and a tour or a hotel can organise this for you.

Maafushi Hotels

We stayed in 4 different hotels on Maafushi island Maldives meaning we got to try a fair few! We were island hopping back and forth to other local islands and it was pretty decent and very easy!

All of the hotels will come collect you and your luggage from the jetty when you arrive by ferry or from your chartered speedboat if you give them a time. Maafushi island Maldives hotels in general are all great; we did luxury resorts to budget Maafushi guest houses and they all came with excellent service. Some hotels have more amenities than others, but overall, there weren’t huge differences other than the amount of space and natural light you get in your rooms.

Have a look at the below hotels on Maafushi island Maldives, starting from £35 per night during peak season. There are also plenty of Maafushi island Maldives cheap hotels to choose from, have a look below.

It’s also very, very popular with honeymooners too! Have a look at the table below for a matrix of different prices: budget, mid range and luxury options and Maafushi island Maldives resorts!

Pictures of Rehendhi Villa

Maafushi Guest House & Maafushi Island Resorts

Best Beaches in Maafushi Island, Maldives

The island isn’t huge, so you’ll definitely see them all when you go for a walk. It will probably take you 30 minutes to walk around the whole island.

The most popular beaches are:

• Bikini Beach
• Sunrise Beach
• Thundi Beach
• Maafushi Plankton Beach
• Maafushi island Maldives Sunset Point

Can you see bioluminescent plankton on Maafushi Island?

The short answer is yes, but it is totally depending on whether this specific type of plankton is in the region at the time. It changes with different tides – if you’re lucky, you might see them. The best bet is to go walking on the beach at night where there are no lights and watch the waves wash in on the shore. You might see the waves light up with a spectacular blue colour as the crash into the sand. It’s incredible.

Maafushi Island Maldives restaurants

The food in Maafushi island Maldives is generally very cheap, with main meals costing around £2-6 / $3-7USD.

There are tonnes of restaurants for you to try, and I mean tonnes! Every corner of the beach seems to have a different beach bar or restaurant. It’s definitely worth not going all inclusive or even half board. I preferred to eat out every night at a new place. There are budget restaurants and luxurious restaurants, so you can take your pick!

Mid range – Luxury restaurants on Maafushi Island

1. Caviar Cafe & restaurant – Seafood cuisine
2. Arena Beach Restaurant – International cuisine
3. Maladiwa Restaurant – Italian / international cuisines
4. Stingray Beach restaurant – Seafood & Asian cuisine
5. Symphony Lagoon – Italian / seafood cuisine

Budget Restaurants on Maafushi Island

1. Fine bake by Suzy – Bakery
2. Hiyala Mariyaadhu – Seafood cuisine
3. Hot Bite – Pizzeria
4. The Palm Cafe – Italian Chinese
5. Oceana Garden – Seafood & Mediterranean

How Big is Maafushi Island?

Maafushi island Maldives is one of the larger islands, although it is still fairly small! It’s about 1.2km long, and 260 meters wide. It has a lot of restaurants and shops, and you definitely won’t be bored as there is plenty of things to do. Have a read below at some of the incredible tours and diving sites around the island.

How long do I need in Maafushi Island?

I would say you need a minimum of 3-4 days on Maafushi island Maldives, but you could easily spend a week here. There are so many different restaurants to try, tours to do, and water activities to experience!

Maafushi Island Activities: Maafushi Tours

There are plenty of island tours you can do in Maafushi island Maldives, most of which centre around some form of water sports; whether that’s a whale watching tour, snorkelling, scuba diving, parasailing, jet skiing, kayaking, tube riding or banana boating. Either way, they have it all, there’s lots of tour operators!

Every day, there are snorkeling trips to Nemo Reef, Palm reef, Turtle reef, and shark points for $25. Additionally, depending on the season (usually between May and December), you might be lucky enough to see the whale sharks in Dhigurah, which grows up to 80m in length.

I was told it was a 50:50 chance of seeing these incredible creatures (which is good, because feeding whale sharks is considered unethical!). These massive, magnificent gentle giants of the sea are worth seeing; it’s a rare experience if you come across them during migrating season so if you have the chance, don’t miss out! They are mostly found in Baa and Ari Atolls.

The resort island tours are great if you’d love to spend a day on a resort island. Prices start from £80 / $100 USD and this usually includes lunch, drinks, access to all facilities on the private island including snorkelling gear, sun loungers, pool service, gym, tennis courts and more!

I did a number of different tours whilst on the island including:

• Turtle snorkelling tour
• Dolphin watching tour
• Shark watching tour
• Lunch on a sandbank
• Whale Shark tours
• Private Resort island tour

I’m pleased to report that I saw sharks, turtles and dolphins and it was incredible. All wild, of course, (there are no cruel dolphin shows or anything, it’s as you see them in nature!). You’re dropped off at points where the marine life tends to feed; usually a half or full day trip to some local house reefs.

Scuba Diving in Maafushi Island

Scuba diving is a great idea in the Maldives – the marine life here is incredible, and is actually where I got my diving licence. You can get your diving licence with PADI or SSI – both are reputable and there are plenty of very qualified diving instructors to help you on your way. You’ll find the biggest sting rays and manta rays, turtles, dolphins… everything you could hope for when diving!

Visiting a local island: Things to know

Living with the locals

By rubbing shoulders with the locals, I got to see a bit more of the Maldivian culture. Little girls ran up to me to hand me fruits to try which I’d never even heard of or seen before. They let me try some sort of water apple (that’s the only way I can think of describing it- a cross between a watermelon and an apple, which was delicious).

Huge bonfires are lit up on the beach at night and fresh fish is being cooked by the water’s edge. They have some very unique (and resourceful!) fishnet hammocks and swings by the beach and if you’re lucky, some of the older women come over and chat to you. Watch as local men perform traditional Maldivian dances to a drum, which is a little reminiscent of Hawai’i. I wish more people could witness this cultural side of The Maldives.

Seasonal food & local resources

It’s important to remember that 90% of the Maldives country is water and only 10% land, meaning farm land is super limited. This means that resources are not used frivolously; there aren’t endless supplies of fruit and veg that’s out of season, for example.

At one point, there was a shortage of ice cream because one of the parlours had sold out, and they were waiting for new shipments to come in. There are extra costs for foreign chocolate bars, or imported foods, as imports have extra taxes, and therefore, cost. You will be limited to whatever brands you can find in the shops. But really, I didn’t find this a bother at all and you will make do with the excellent restaurants on the island that have plenty to offer!

Can I drink Alcohol on Maafushi Island?

If you’re wondering ‘is alcohol available in Maafushi island Maldives?’ then the answer is yes and no.

Yes you can drink alcohol on the floating bars and alcohol boats which serve alcohol, which are technically not on the island. But no, you can’t technically drink alcohol on the island so the technical get around is to sell alcohol not on land, but on the sea; which, to be honest, is not always a bad thing. It’s actually kind of fun!

You can reach the floating bar by a free ferry. While the entry to the floating bar is free, it’s important to note that alcoholic drinks are on the pricier side. A can of beer, for instance, is priced at approximately £4 / $5 USD. Although, compared to London prices, that seems fairly cheap!

Can I wear a bikini on local inhabited islands? Bikini beaches vs no bikini beaches

Yes, you can! Everyone was swanning around in bikinis on the beach. But… there are designated bikini beaches.

The Maldives is a Muslim country, meaning that locals dress conservatively, and it is important to respect their customs. There are certain beaches where some of the locals hang out. It’s not acceptable to walk around the island in a bikini or speedos. Bring a loose fitting t shirt or dress and chuck it over your swimwear; it’s rather a small price to pay for being respectful to the locals.

Maafushi island Maldives has a few beaches where you can swim in a bikini. Other areas are called ‘no bikini beach’, where you will be allowed to swim, but both men and women will be required to wear swim tops and shorts. You will often see locals swimming here too. I find this is a very comfortable way to live side by side with the locals, while enjoying the culture. To be honest, the sun is extremely strong here and I found myself wearing Rashie tops (swim tops) and shorts half the time anyway to save myself from burning!

Interested in visiting other Maldives island, see my other Maldives articles:

Maafushi Island Safety

Is Maafushi safe at night?

Yes! The sandy roads are brightly lit and I felt very comfortable as a female traveller walking late on my own at night to corner shops or to bars. The restaurants and bars have fairy lights and soft music so it feels lively and welcoming.

Is Maafushi safe for solo female travellers?

Yes, definitely! I walked around Maafushi island Maldives a lot on my own, during the day, late at night and never felt remotely uncomfortable. There are always plenty of street lights and it was fairly busy.

Ocean safety

The seas are generally very safe, you just need need to be aware about swimming out far and getting caught in a current. Generally, I found swimming around in the ocean to be fine but if you swim further out, the currents in between islands can be stronger. On different days, the currents can pull you in different directions – again, it was fairly mild, however it’s worth being aware of. On days where the current felt stronger, I got out and swam on the other side of the island. Something to be aware of!

Skin Safety

The sun is extremely strong here. Having not reapplied enough sun cream after dipping in the water, I got sunburnt on my back very quickly – the ultimate no no! I felt like I wasn’t in the sun that long, and yet somehow, I got burnt very quickly.

The burn developed later in the evening, after I had gotten out of the sun, so you don’t realize at the time how quick it happens. I am extremely cautious about sunburn, as it is so bad for your skin. Another thing I never revealed is that, despite being super cautious on holiday and always applying sun cream, Mike had skin cancer last year at age 33. He had treatment and is fine now.

Make sure you use REEF FRIENDLY SUN CREAM.

What is the currency in the Maldives?

The currency of the Maldives is the Maldivian rufiyaa, most commonly used abbreviations for the rufiyaa include MVR or Rf. On Maafushi island Maldives however, I found that many locals also converted their prices into the United States Dollar. Some shops may accept American currency too, but don’t count on it. Most places take payment by card, but it is a good idea to have some cash on you as some places don’t. There are ATMs on the island. Also, make sure you spend all your leftover MVR before you leave the Maldives because MVR is a non-convertible currency.

When to go to Maafushi & Maafushi Weather

I’ve travelled to the Maldives in both wet and dry season and both have their benefits and drawbacks. The rainy season tends to be from May-October, and the dry season tends to be from November-April.

Rainy Season (Wet Season) in Maafushi:

• The rainy season in the Maldives is from May to October.
• Rain showers are often short (2-3h), followed by periods of sunshine and fairly good weather.
• Flights and hotels tend to be cheaper during this time.

Sunny Season (Dry Season) in Maafushi:

• The sunny season in the Maldives generally spans from November to April.
• The sea is typically calm during the dry season, creating excellent conditions for diving and snorkelling.
• The dry season is the peak tourist season in the Maldives.
• The weather is pretty good all day but the prices might increase for flights and hotels.

Maafushi Weather in January:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 28-30°C (82-86°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 5-6
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 11 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:30 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:15 PM

Maafushi Weather in February:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 28-30°C (82-86°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 4-5
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 11 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:30 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:30 PM

Maafushi Weather in March:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 29-31°C (84-88°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 6-7
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:15 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:45 PM

Maafushi Weather in April:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 30-32°C (86-90°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 8-9
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:00 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:45 PM

Maafushi Weather in May:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 30-32°C (86-90°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 12-13
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 5:45 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:45 PM

Maafushi Weather in June:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 30-31°C (86-88°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 13-14
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 5:45 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:45 PM

Maafushi Weather in July:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 29-31°C (84-88°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 13-14
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 5:45 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:45 PM

Maafushi Weather in August:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 29-31°C (84-88°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 12-13
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:00 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:45 PM

Maafushi Weather in September:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 29-31°C (84-88°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 11-12
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:15 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:30 PM

Maafushi Weather in October:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 28-30°C (82-86°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 9-10
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 11 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:15 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:15 PM

Maafushi Weather in November:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 28-30°C (82-86°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 7-8
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 11 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:30 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:00 PM

Maafushi Weather in December:

• Average Temperature (Celsius): 28-30°C (82-86°F)
• Number of Rainy Days: 6-7
• Number of Daylight Hours: Approximately 11 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:30 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:00 PM

Travel resources for your trip that are actually really handy!

Here’s everything I use when I travel abroad, I strongly advise you to have travel insurance, and the other recommendations are also super handy!

• Travel insurance – don’t ever go on vacation without travel insurance, you never know when you might need it!
• Tours – Compare tour prices on Viator and Get Your Guide
• Hotels – I always use Booking as the more hotels I book, I get a higher Genius discount. I also compare prices on Expedia.
• Airport transfers – I use Kiwi Taxis which are super reliable, or I search on Viator.
• E-Sims – purchase an e-sim with Airalo on your phone so you can make calls and have mobile data abroad! There’s no need to remove your current sim card!
• Car rental – if you’re booking a car, I compare prices on Discover Cars.
• Travel essentials – have a look at a full list of travel essentials that I use, including the best powerbank!

That’s it! I hope you love Maafushi island Maldives as much as I did. It’s incredible. Let me know how you get on – I love receiving messages from you telling me you had your first trip to the Maldives!

You might be interested in my other Maldives articles:

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