Maafushi, Maldives travel guide: ferry, guesthouses and local rules

Last updated: 29 October 2026. Facts checked against: Ministry of Tourism, Maldives Bureau of Statistics, Maafushi Council, MIRA, Maldives Airports Company and Visit Maldives.

Maafushi is an inhabited local island in Kaafu (South Malé) Atoll, about 27 km from Malé, and the country's biggest guesthouse island outside the capital. Speedboats from Velana airport take about 40 minutes and the public ferry up to two hours. Alcohol is not sold, and swimwear is for the designated bikini beach.

This Maafushi travel guide covers where the island is, the local rules, what to do, where to stay and how to get there. It is part of our Maldives travel guide.

Where is Maafushi and what is it like?

Maafushi lies in the south of Kaafu Atoll, the atoll that also contains Malé and Velana International Airport. The Maafushi Council puts it about 27 km from Malé and gives the island's area as about 35 hectares, which makes it small enough to cross on foot in a few minutes.

Census 2022, published by the Maldives Bureau of Statistics, counted 4,471 people living on the island: 3,195 Maldivians and 1,276 foreigners. The bureau's separate register listed 2,442 Maldivians registered to Maafushi at the end of 2025. The two figures measure different things, so they should not be compared directly.

Maafushi was one of the first inhabited islands to build its economy around guesthouse tourism after the government began allowing tourist guesthouses on local islands at the end of the 2000s. Today the Ministry of Tourism's registry lists 40 guesthouses on the island with 1,906 beds, more beds than any other island outside Malé. Several are multi-storey buildings with more than 100 rooms.

The island is not only a tourist centre. The Maldives Correctional Service lists Maafushi Prison among its facilities, and the island has a working harbour, a school and a fishing community. A land reclamation and shore protection project covering 25 hectares was awarded to MTCC in 2019, according to the company.

What are the rules for visitors on a local island?

Maafushi is a Muslim community, and the rules that apply on resorts do not apply here. Visit Maldives, the national tourism promotion body, says alcohol is prohibited on local islands and that bikinis and swimsuits are not acceptable outside a designated bikini beach. It also advises visitors to dress modestly on inhabited islands.

• Alcohol: none is sold on the island, and the Maldives does not allow travellers to bring alcohol into the country. Resorts and liveaboards are where alcohol is served.

• Dress code: swimwear on the bikini beach only. Elsewhere, covering shoulders and knees is the safe choice for both men and women.

• Prayer times: shops and cafés may close briefly at each of the five daily prayers, and for longer around Friday midday prayers.

• Ramadan: during the fasting month, eating and drinking in public in daylight is avoided. Guesthouses continue to serve their guests, but opening hours on the island change.

What are the best things to do in Maafushi?

Most activities are sea-based and are sold by guesthouses or the island's excursion and dive operators. You usually book the day before, and trips depend on the weather. The prices below are those published by one Maafushi operator, Arena Beach, on 29 October 2026. Treat them as a guide only and check with the operator.

• Bikini beach: the designated tourist beach is at the tip of the island, next to several of the larger guesthouses. Sunbeds and water sports are run from the beach.

• Snorkelling and sandbank trips: half-day and full-day boat trips combine two or three snorkel points with a stop on a sandbank. Arena Beach lists a half-day trip at USD 45 and a full-day trip at USD 65.

• Turtles, mantas and nurse sharks: operators sell dedicated trips. One operator, Triton, says manta rays are normally found in South Malé Atoll in the middle of the year. "Shark Bay" trips to see nurse sharks run to the Fulidhoo area in neighbouring Vaavu Atoll; Arena Beach lists one at USD 75. Whale shark trips are longer and cost more (USD 130 on the same list).

• Sunset fishing: a short evening trip with traditional hand-line fishing, often with the catch grilled for dinner. Arena Beach lists it at USD 45.

• Resort day visits: operators sell day passes to nearby resorts in South Malé Atoll, where you can use the beach and, unlike on Maafushi, buy alcohol. Prices depend on the resort.

• Diving: the Ministry of Tourism registry lists four dive centres on Maafushi: Arena Dive Club, Eco Dive Club Maafushi, Maafushi Scuba and The Dive Squad.

• Island walk: walk the harbour, the main roads, the cafés and the souvenir shops, and watch the sunset from the western beach.

Which guesthouses in Maafushi are worth considering?

All the guesthouses below are registered with the Ministry of Tourism. We chose them to cover a range of sizes and budgets, using the room numbers in the ministry's registry and facilities described on each property's own website. Guest review scores are from Booking.com, checked on 29 October 2026. Maldives Now has no commercial relationship with any guesthouse listed. Scores change; check current reviews before booking.

• Kaani Palm Beach (105 rooms): beachfront rooms, an infinity pool and a rooftop restaurant, according to its owner, Kaani Hotels. Rated 8.6/10 on Booking.com from 2,692 guest reviews, as of 29 October 2026.

• Arena Beach (49 rooms): one of four Arena properties on the bikini beach at the tip of the island; its rooftop infinity pool is for hotel guests only. Rated 8.5/10 on Booking.com from 1,363 guest reviews, as of 29 October 2026.

• Triton Prestige Seaview & Spa (48 rooms): a newer beachfront hotel with a rooftop infinity pool and a spa. Rated 8.3/10 on Booking.com from 1,202 guest reviews, as of 29 October 2026.

• Kaani Village & Spa (20 rooms): described by its owner as a quieter garden property with a courtyard pool and family rooms. Rated 8.1/10 on Booking.com from 175 guest reviews, as of 29 October 2026.

• Palmcasa (14 rooms): a newly built guesthouse with sea-view balconies over the harbour, about 500 m from the bikini beach. Rated 9.3/10 on Booking.com from 71 guest reviews, as of 29 October 2026.

• Kuredhi Beach Inn (12 rooms): a small boutique guesthouse aimed at mid-budget travellers. Rated 8.5/10 on Booking.com from 334 guest reviews, as of 29 October 2026.

• Stingray Beach Inn (10 rooms): a budget option with ground-floor rooms facing a garden. It had too few reviews on Booking.com for a reliable score, as of 29 October 2026.

Check the green tax when you compare prices. MIRA charges USD 6 per guest per night at inhabited-island guesthouses with 50 rooms or fewer, and USD 12 at larger ones, such as Kaani Palm Beach.

How do you get from Velana airport to Maafushi?

There are three ways to reach Maafushi: the public ferry, a shared speedboat or a private speedboat. The Maafushi Council says speedboats take about 40 minutes from the airport, while the public ferry can take up to two hours.

1. Clear arrivals. Airport help desks are staffed 24 hours a day, according to Maldives Airports Company (MACL).

2. Shared or private speedboat: if your guesthouse has booked a speedboat, staff meet you in the arrivals hall and walk you to the airport jetty. MACL says speedboats leave from the airport jetty and Malé terminals, and that times can change with the weather.

3. Public ferry: first get to Malé. MACL lists an airport ferry to Malé every 15 minutes from 5:30am to midnight, costing MVR 15 (cash or card), with tickets sold at a counter near Terminal 2. Taxis also cross the Sinamalé Bridge. MTCC's Route 309 also stops at Hulhumalé, leaving at 14:15 for Malé before its afternoon run to Maafushi.

4. Catch the ferry from Malé. Public ferries are run by MTCC. Two routes call at Maafushi, and there is no Route 309 service on Fridays. MTCC's timetable does not name the Malé departure terminal or give fares, so confirm the terminal and time with the MTCC hotline (1650) or the MTCC/RTL app. The Maafushi Council puts the public ferry fare at less than USD 5.

Maafushi public ferry timetable

Times as published by MTCC for October 2026. Schedules change, so check before travelling.

Both routes link to Hulhumalé, on the airport side. Route 306 leaves Hulhumalé at 09:15, reaching Malé at 09:40, and its return continues from Malé to Hulhumalé, arriving at 14:55. Route 309 continues from Malé at 09:25 to Hulhumalé, arriving at 09:50.

Ferry vs speedboat: which is better?

For a wider comparison of seaplanes, domestic flights, speedboats and ferries, see our guide on how to reach your island in the Maldives.

What do visitors say about Maafushi?

Experiences are mixed, and much depends on what you expect. The points below are based on the official figures above rather than on individual review texts.

What works: Maafushi is one of the cheapest ways to see the Maldives. It is close to the airport, it has a wide choice of rooms, and dozens of operators sell daily trips, so it is easy to fill a week with snorkelling, sandbanks and resort visits.

What to be aware of: it is a busy, built-up island. About 4,500 people live on 35 hectares, several guesthouses are tall buildings, and land reclamation has changed parts of the shoreline. The bikini beach is small for the number of rooms nearby, the island has a prison, and there is no alcohol. Travellers looking for quiet or a long natural beach may prefer a smaller local island or a resort.

For trends in where visitors are coming from, see our report on Maldives tourist arrivals.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drink alcohol in Maafushi?

No. Alcohol is not available on Maafushi or any other local island, and travellers cannot bring it into the Maldives. Visitors who want a drink usually book a resort day visit through their guesthouse, since resorts and liveaboards are allowed to serve alcohol.

How much is the green tax in a Maafushi guesthouse?

MIRA sets the green tax at USD 6 per guest per night for guesthouses on inhabited islands with 50 rooms or fewer, and USD 12 for larger ones. Children under two are exempt. Check whether it is included in the price you are quoted.

Can I visit Maafushi as a day trip from Malé?

Yes. Speedboats take about 40 minutes from the airport area, so a day trip is possible if the boat times work for you. Most visitors stay at least two or three nights to make use of the excursions.

Is there a public ferry to Maafushi on Fridays?

Not on Route 309, which MTCC runs from Saturday to Thursday. Route 306 also does not run on Fridays. Travellers arriving on a Friday usually book a shared or private speedboat through their guesthouse.

Where can I wear a bikini in Maafushi?

Only on the designated bikini beach, next to the larger guesthouses at the tip of the island. Visit Maldives advises modest dress everywhere else on inhabited islands, including the streets, shops and the harbour.

Is there a dive centre on Maafushi?

Yes. The Ministry of Tourism's registry lists four dive centres on Maafushi. They offer introductory dives for beginners as well as trips for certified divers to reefs in South Malé Atoll and nearby atolls.

Related guides

• Maldives travel guide: visas, taxes, transfers and when to go

• Seaplane, domestic flight, speedboat or ferry: how to reach your island

• Maldives tourist arrivals: latest Tourism Ministry figures

Sources: Ministry of Tourism registered guesthouses; Ministry of Tourism registered dive centres; Maldives Bureau of Statistics, population by islands (Census 2022); Maafushi Council visitor guide; MIRA green tax rates; Velana International Airport transport guide (MACL); MTCC ferry schedule, October 2026; Visit Maldives guidance for first-time visitors; Maldives Correctional Service. Guesthouse facilities are taken from each property's official website.

Maldives Now accepts no payment for inclusion in this guide.