Maafushi island

Maafushi is an island in the Maldives. It is widely known as the first island with local population having budget guesthouses. The island has two beaches dedicated for tourists: Kaani and White Shell. Women are allowed to be in a bikini there. Beach and seabed: sand, coral chips. [edit]

Coordinates: 3.941066, 73.489811

Hotels [edit]

There are more than 20 hotels on the island and some new hotels are under construction now. Most of guesthouses are very basic, but 4-star hotels are also available.

When choosing a hotel, you should pay particular attention to the cost of excursions offered by the hotel. Sometimes hotels come into price collusion. Hotel can increase tour prices, and other hotels refuse to serve people, saying that "guests must book tours only at their hotel". Fortunately recently appeared some new independent tour-operators with cheap prices, - I-Com, Venturo, and others.

How to get there [edit]

Fly to Maldives to Male International Airport (MLE). Change at the airport some money to local currency (see exchange rate here).

Take a ferry going to Male. In Male we recommend to buy fruit in the market, as choice of food in Maafushi shops is very basic. Then take a taxi to Villingili Ferry Terminal. Maafushi ferry will go around 1.5 - 2 hours. Total costs (including taxi) will be no more than $10 per person.

Male to Maafushi ferry timetable:

Sunday: 10:00 -> 11:30 , 15:00 -> 16:45

Monday: 15:00 -> 16:45

Tuesday: 10:00 -> 11:30 , 15:00 -> 16:45

Wednesday: 15:00 -> 16:45

Thursday: 10:00 -> 11:30 , 15:00 -> 16:45

Friday: No ferry service available!

Saturday: 15:00 -> 16:45

Maafushi to Male ferry timetable:

Sunday: 7:30 -> 9:15

Monday: 7:30 -> 9:15 , 12:55 -> 14:25

Tuesday: 7:30 -> 9:15

Wednesday: 7:30 -> 9:15 , 12:55 -> 14:25

Thursday: 7:30 -> 9:15

Friday: No ferry service available!

Saturday: 7:30 -> 9:15 , 12:55 -> 14:25

More details about maldivian ferry service: www.mtcc.com.mv, Route 311, Route 310.

On Friday, only private boat connection possible between Male and Maafushi ($150-200 one way per boat).

When to go [edit]

Any time of year, but best from January to April. Rest of the time considered to be rainy season.

Rainfall, mm


Water temperature, C


Temperature, C


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Wind speed, meter/sec

Useful information [edit]

The island has few beaches, but the main feature is tours to nearby island-hotels, as well as to the uninhabited islands. Most popular destinations: 1) Biyadhoo Island Resort, 2) Fihalhohi Island Resort, 3) Oe Dhuni Finolhu sandbank. And also diving, snorkeling, ocean fishing and other activities.

On request (for additional fee) and you may reach more remote places. It is highly recommended to pre-arrange visits to the island-hotels, as they set a limit on the number of daily visitors.

Recent years, the island of Maafushi became very overcrowded. We recommend to pay attention to the lesser-known Fulhadhoo Island. Like Maafushi this is an island with locals. It also has cheap hotel. But unlike Maafushi it has a much better beach, and there are no many tourists.

Attention! Much more islands in South Male Atoll can be found on the website of our beach project. Near the Maafushi there are some other local islands - Gulhi (its beach is even better than Maafushi) and Guraidhoo (the beach is not so good, but less crowded).