Maafushi

Maafushi (މާފުށި) is an inhabited island in the South Malé Atoll and the place where guesthouse tourism on local islands began in the Maldives. Within easy reach of the capital, it has become the best known base for budget travel in the country.

The small island is lively and densely built, with dozens of guesthouses, restaurants, dive schools and excursion operators along its streets. A designated bikini beach allows swimming in regular swimwear, while the rest of the island follows local customs. Nurse sharks and stingrays often gather near the jetty, and water sports are offered on the lagoon side. Show more

Maafushi is above all a starting point for excursions. Boats head out to sandbanks, snorkelling reefs and dolphin areas, and longer trips reach the manta and whale shark areas of the Ari atolls. Resort day passes give access to nearby resort islands, and floating bars offshore are the only places where alcohol is served. Local cafés serve Maldivian home cooking, from fish curry to short eats.

Maafushi is reached from Malé by speedboat in under an hour or by public ferry. Several days suit an affordable stay with daily excursions. The dry season from December to April brings calm seas and clear water. Modest dress is expected in the village, and alcohol is not sold on the island itself.