Explore around Maafushi

Location of Maafushi

Maafushiloc

Maafushi is located in the mid of all atolls, not very far away from Malé, the capital of Maledives.

In former times, tourists weren´t eligible to stay on local islands, which has changed some years ago though. Local islands have some huge advantages, as we found out for ourselves:

it´s way cheaper to eat out in comparison to resort islands
Full meal (fresh whole fish grilled with fresh steamed vegetables, 1L bottle of water, starter and dessert ~8-10$ a person.
On resort islands, you pay at least 13$ a person.
you can experience the real way of living of locals and still enjoy the idyllic paradise.

How to get there

Since Maafushi is a local island, there´s a constant connection with MTCC (Mid North Province Ferry) , which can be found on www.mtcc.com.mv . Usually the ferry leaves at 10am and 3pm heading to Maafushi and will cost you only 2$ a person.

Ferry schedule
Saturday 3 pm
Sunday 10 am, 3 pm
Monday 3 pm
Tuesday 10 am    3 pm
Wednesday    3 pm
Thursday 10 am 3 pm
Friday    n/a

Every hotel offers transportation with a speed boat, which is about 160-190$ per boat – not per person. If you share your costs you will be there within 30 minutes.

Another way to travel is to use the water taxi, which is abolutely impressive but demands for a high budget, too.

Hotels in Maafushi

Low Budget. Those of you, who want to stay on low budget and spare the money for some great trips, you can choose accomodations from 50-60$ a night. Usually you will get a private bathroom, a fan and breakfast for that rate.
Luxurious. Those of you, who want to live in luxury rooms with AC, directly by the beach and many other services, can get that for a rate of 75-120$ a night.

Our recommendations:
ARENA BEACH HOTEL (right by the private beach)

STINGRAY BEACH INN (right behind the Arena Beach)
WHITESHELL (right by the private beach, next to Arena Beach)
KAANI BEACH (1 minute to the private beach)

One thing good to know: it really doesn´t matter where you stay at Maafushi, since the island is pretty small anyway.

TIPP: Don´t stress yourself with finding the perfect accomodation. There is ALWAYS a room available. You don´t do wrong by booking a room for the first day(s) and check out the rest when you get there. You can just popp into any hotel and ask to take a look at their rooms. They will make special offers, too. Just stay relaxed, because it´s soooo easy going…
The local prices are not more expensive than on booking.com and such.

if you do not book all nights ahead…
…you have the chance to hop on a ferry and check out another island as well.

Food in Maafushi

Dishes on Maafushi aren´t spectacular. The hotels try to adjust to the tourists and offer all kinds of national dishes….from pasta to french fries and hamburgers…you can find anything. Anyway: You should definately go for the whole fish, since it´s one-of-a-kind dishes in Maledives. They have a particular cut into the skin, marinate it and grill it in aluminium foil. The taste is amazing. All vegetables they offer as a side dish are delicious, too.

Must see´s on Maafushi

the old wreck at the northern beach
the students jogging at 7 in the morning
the residents taking a bath at the northern beach in their habit
the rays close to Maafushi

On Maafushi you can…

take great pictures
go diving
book several trips
be spontaneous
experience the real life of Maledives
go snorkeling
do a little souvenir shopping
…

Trip offerers

As every hotel offers trips to a sandbank, a picnic island, resorts, whale shark watching, snorkeling tours etc. it´s suggested to compare their offers. Just drop in a hotel and ask for their map with offers and check it out. Sometimes there are huge pricing differences…for exactly the same thing!

Our recommendation: Stingray.
They have great prices and the groups are quite small, too. Click here to check out their excursion offers.

Great trips:

definately the Filhalhohi Restort as you can watch so many stingrays and swim with a turtle with a little luck. Their reef is amazing and the prices for food and drinks are reasonable. Here you can enjoy a beer and cocktail, too ;-)
the snorkeling tours where you can see e.g. the banana reef and sand banks with many stingrays

Our trips:

We did the snorkeling tour (~30$)
We have been to three reefs, such as banana reef, which is huge and beautiful. At the end we stopped close to Maafushi at a sandbank where many rays lived….that was truly a great moment.

We stayed one day at Fihalhohi (~70$)

Fihalhohi is about 30 min from Maafushi and its reef is stunning. Believe it or not, but rays are in footdeep water…and i did a swim with a sea turtle….i was so lucky! The food is reasonable in pricing, too and you can enjoy some cocktails or a beer, whatever you desire.

Also we stayed one day on a picnic island (50$), which was hit by the Tsunami years ago. It reminds you on „Lost“, since it´s idyllic and yet you can see the remains of the former resort.

Diving

On Maafushi are at least two PADI spots, where you can take classes or just go diving. They offer packages as they do everywhere in the world. It´s about 50$ a dive.