Maafushi Island – How to travel to Maldives on a budget
Find out where is Maafushi, why Maafushi is cheaper than other islands, learn how to get there, what to do, where to stay, where to eat and more.
Maafushi is an inhabited island in the Maldives located in the Kaafu Atoll, just 25km away from Male (capital) and with a population of approximately 3,000. It is the most popular local island in Maldives and the best one to stay in case you would like to have better infrastructure and travel on a budget.
In this article you will find out why Maafushi is cheaper than other islands, will learn how to get there, what to do, where to stay and more.
Frequent questions about Maafushi Island
Maafushi is located 25km away from Male.
You can take a ferry which is quite cheap or a speedboat. Below in this article we have more details of the transportation options you may have.
There are several things you can do on the island besides enjoying its pristine waters on the beach. You can go snorkeling, scuba diving, see bioluminescent planktons, visit nearby islands and much more. Check them out below.
You can stay on the island from 2 days up to about 7 days and you will have plenty of activities.
Definitely choose to stay in Maafushi Island. It is cleaner than Hulhumale and it has way more activities for you to do.
Tourism in Maafushi
Until 2009, the government of Maldives used to allow tourists to stay in resorts located in private islands only.
Once they authorized the construction of guest houses in local islands, Maafushi started investing in this type of tourism and opened their first guest house in 2010.
This explains why it is the local island with the best infrastructure for tourists, having a bank, several options of guest houses, restaurants, shops and tour operators.
Why to visit Maafushi
Maafushi Island review:
These are some main reasons to visit Maafushi island:
- Short stay in Maldives: If you have only a couple of days to enjoy Maldives, Maafushi is a great local island option because they have better infrastructure and it is near the airport.
- Easy to access: There is a ferry that runs 5 days per week besides the speed boats that can take you there in just 35 minutes.
- Traveling on a budget: Since they have a larger number of guest houses and tour operators, the market competitiveness helps us to travel in Maldives on a budget.
Where is Maafushi island
Located in Kaafu Atoll, Maafushi is quite close to Male and Hulhumale (the airport island), about 25km distant only.
Maafushi Map:
How to get to Maafushi by ferry
You can take a ferry from Male to Maafushi island which is super cheap.
Attention! The ferry belongs to Zone 03, Route 309 of the Kaafu Atoll, you can check the updated prices, working days and times at MTCC.
Ferry from Male to Maafushi
Ferry working days: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Departure time: 3pm
Arrival time: Around 4:35pm after a quick stop in Gulhi Island.
Trip duration: 1 hour 35 minutes
Cost: MRV 22 (less than US$2)
Ferry from Maafushi to Male
Ferry working days: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Departure time: 7:25am
Arrival time: Around 9am after a quick stop in Gulhi Island.
Trip duration: 1 hour 35 minutes
Maafushi ferry price: MRV 22 (less than US$2)
From Maafushi to Rasdhoo
To get from Maafushi to Rasdhoo you need to go back to Male first. Check it out in our article about Rasdhoo and you will find out how to get there.
You can check the updated schedule and prices of the ferries in Maldives here.
Important: The information above is from July/2020 and may change over time and during Ramadan.
Double check with your accommodation to ensure the current prices, working days and time are right.
How to get to Maafushi by speedboat
There are speed boats that can take you from Male to Maafushi and from Maafushi to Male in a quick way.
Working days: Everyday
Trip duration: 35 minutes
Cost: About US$25/US$30
How to book: Contact your accommodation and ask them for an operator number
Where to stay
There are several guest houses that you can stay on the island.
During my 9 nights there I stayed at Seven Corals. This was a cheap option and had a very friendly staff. I was told that they have a new management now, so I am not sure how they are doing at the moment.
There are other hotels that are quite popular in Maafushi Island, check them out below:
Where to eat
My favorite place to eat on the island was Kaalamaa Restaurant which belongs to Velana Hotel.
I highly recommend the Sesame Tuna which costs about US$7 and order a drink called Surfer, which has lime, fresh mint, brown sugar and energy drink, and costs around US$6.
It is also worth it to try a mango smoothie or a “hala” juice, this exotic fruit from the picture below.
These drinks can be found at a juice tent near Kaani Hotel and they cost about US$5.
8 things to do in Maafushi
1) Spend a day at the Bikini Beach
Just like any other local island in Maldives, Maafushi has a Bikini Beach which is the only beach where tourists are allowed to wear swimsuits.
Important: Bear in mind that you should cover your chest and tights while walking around any local island in Maldives.
Find everything you need to know about Maldives in this article where we give you information about their culture and how to plan your trip to this paradise.
2) Go to a sandbank
Visiting sandbanks is one of the most incredible things to do in Maldives. You can take a Sandbank tour in Maafushi Island that goes to this place called Sexy Beach.
If you have a drone, make sure you take it with you so you can take amazing shots like this one.
3) Snorkel around a shipwreck
This was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever had!
Sea Blue Maldives organizes a day trip that takes you to snorkel around this shipwreck, to snorkel with nurse sharks, takes you to Fulidhoo Island, a sandbank and you can also see a bunch of dolphins during the sunset.
Check this Instagram post where I share photos, videos and see why the day I took this tour was one of the best days of my entire life!
4) See the bioluminescent planktons
Around midnight, try to find the darkest spot on the beach and you may see the bioluminescent planktons.
The darker it is, the easier it is to see them. So, going to Maldives during new moon will increase your chances to live this experience =)
5) Enjoy the nightlife
Knowing that Maldives is an Islamic country, I was very surprised when people told me that there was a floating bar nearby with music and alcoholic drinks.
It takes about 5 minutes to get to Kaani Princess by boat from the pier.
To give you an idea of costs, here are some prices from 2018:
- Beer USD 6
- Fried Rice USD 9
- Fish & Chips USD 10
- French Fries USD 12
Although going out and drinking aren’t the highlights in Maldives, going to this party boat while staying in Maafushi for at least one night is worth it.
6) Talk to some locals and take some pictures in front of cute houses
The Maldivian people are the reason why I ended up staying in the country for a whole month.
They are very receptive to those who want to learn about their home and their culture!
7) Take a resort day trip from Maafushi
There are several affordable resorts near Maafushi Island where you can join an excursion to enjoy an all-inclusive day use. The prices with transfer included usually vary between US$100-US$200.
These are some of them:
- Adaaran Club Rannalhi
- Centara Ras Fushi
- Fihalhohi Island Resort
- Saii Lagoon Maldives
- Taj Exotica Resort & Spa
- Velassaru Maldives
8) Visit Gulhi Island
Gulhi Island is just 20 minutes away by ferry. It is such a beautiful island which can be visited for a super cheap price.
How to reach Gulhi Island
Ferry working days: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Trip duration: 20 minutes
From Maafushi to Gulhi
Departure time: 7:25am
Arrival time: 7:45am
From Gulhi to Maafushi
Departure time: 4:15pm
Arrival time: 4:35pm
Important: The information above is from July/2020 and it may change over time and during Ramadan. Click here to check the updated information.
Double check with your accommodation to ensure the current working days and time are right.
Coupons & Discounts
Check all the coupons and discounts we have available for you to Save Money, Travel More in Maldives.
I was supposed to stay only 5 nights in Maafushi, but as I enjoyed it so much, I decided to extend my time there and stay more for a couple of days!
I hope you like it as much as I did =)
Take care.
Elaine
Any questions about Maafushi? Feel free to ask below =)
Read more from Maldives:
- Maldives: A complete travel guide with all you need to know about this paradise
- Male, Maldives: A travel guide to the capital of the Maldives
- Dhigurah Island, Maldives: The diver’s dream
- Rasdhoo: A nice island to stay for about a week in Maldives
- Cheap resorts in the Maldives with overwater bungalow
- The cost of a trip to Maldives
- The best resorts with all-inclusive packages in the Maldives
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March 1, 2020
Hello,
Well explained about Maafushi. You know cheap water villa near to Maafushi or near to Male airport (because i am able to save speed boat or sea plane fee). In Mali is there any cheap water villa? Could you post something about this. We are planning to visit on July.