While there are many local islands to visit in the Maldives, one worth including on your itinerary would be Maafushi; from beachside relaxation to thrilling water sports there’s much to enjoy.
Planning a Visit
This island can be found in the South Male Atoll, home to popular private island resorts including those belonging to brands like Adaaran Maldives. The capital, Male, is around 27 km away and you can reach Maafushi by way of a local ferry, speedboat or as part of a resort’s island excursion.
Beach & Snorkelling
Maafushi Island has a separate tourist beach to unwind at and where bikinis are allowed too (this is not the case at public beaches). Additionally, some of the best places to see in Maldives are underwater and this can be experienced when snorkelling here amidst reefs with diverse marine life including turtles.
Exciting Water Sports
Apart from snorkelling, you can also try some other water sports in Maldives when at Maafushi such as kitesurfing, jet-skiing, parasailing, kayaking and windsurfing. You can even embark on fishing trips (either day or night) and have a chance to catch everything from barracuda to marlin.
Other Things to Do
For more adventures, you can set off on a dolphin-watching cruise or plan a trip to a picturesque sandbank, the perfect spot to have a picnic. While you won’t find a place to have alcohol on Maafushi (it’s banned on local islands) there is a “floating bar” nearby; you can head to this boat and enjoy beer, wine, whiskey and more!