joellebohringerThis 5 day budget Maldives itinerary takes you to the island of Maafushi, where you can enjoy topical paradise for a fraction of the cost of a luxury trip to the Maldives.
Can you really travel to the Maldives on a Budget?
Yes! Most people dream of visiting the Maldives, but they imagine that they need to save tens of thousands of dollars before making this dream a reality.
It may surprise many people, but you can actually travel to the Maldives for less than $1000. Last year, I even spent 5 days in the Maldives for less than $600!
The key to planning a budget trip to the Maldives is to stay on local islands instead of high-priced resorts. You get to stay in the same tropical paradise, but at a fraction of the cost!
Granted, a lot of pricing will depend on where you are flying from, but once you arrive in the Maldives itself,
Read More: How to Travel the Maldives on a Budget
How many days is best for travel to the Maldives?
I travelled to the Maldives for 5 days, and honestly, I feel like this is more than enough time to enjoy the country. You can travel for longer, but 5 days gives you the perfect amount of time to explore a local island and all that it has to offer in the nearby seas.
If you want to travel for more than 5 days, I reccomend travelling and staying on multiple different islands, as more than 5 days on one island can get quite repetitive.
When is the Best time to visit the Maldives?
The best time to visit the Maldives is between December and April, as this period offers the best weather conditions. The Maldives’ wet season runs between May and October, and you may experience considerably worse weather during this period. However, I know many people who have travelled to the Maldives during the wet season and had a great time. Just keep in mind that you may have fewer days of perfectly blue skies and water if you travel during the wet season.
Why Visit Maafushi?
I reccomend staying on the local island of Maafushi. It is not only one of the closest islands to Malé, the capital of the Maldives, but it is also the best-developed local island for tourism. This means that it is one of the most affordable options for visiting the Maldives, as there are numerous options for transportation, accomodation, and activities on the island.
Maafushi also has additional amenities that other islands don’t have, such as an ATM and international dining options.
Can you drink on Maafushi?
The Maldives is a 100% Muslim country, which means that its citizens do not drink alcohol. When the Maldives opened local islands to tourism in 2009, the locals were concerned that their homes would be overcrowded with drunk tourists. Part of the compromise would be that local islands would remain alcohol-free. Therefore, it is not possible to purchase or drink alcohol on Maafushi Island.
However, if you want to enjoy a cocktail in paradise, there are a couple of options. In the Maafushi harbor, there is a bar boat that can serve alcohol. Drinks start around $10 per drink, and the staff will transport you to the bat via a smaller dingy.
Alternatively, you can also book a day pass at a resort. Day passes for luxury resorts near Maafushi range from $80-$150, and this usually includes transportation to the resort, food, and unlimited alcohol for the day.
Can you wear a bikini on Maafushi?
It is prohibited to wear swimwear on the streets of local islands. However, every local island, including Maafushi, has a designated tourist beach, called a “bikini beach” where you can wear whatever swimwear you desire.
On excursions to the sea, you can also wear swimwear. While walking around the town on the island, you can wear shorts, tank tops, and shorter dresses.
How to Get to Maafushi
There are two options for travelling to and from Maafushi: public ferry and speedboat.
The speedboat option is more reliable and much faster, with a boat ride only taking about 45 minutes. Tickets cost $25 per person, each way. Once you exit the airport, you there is a transportation area, where friendly staff will help you find the boat to Maafushi.
On Maafushi, all boats leave from a the island’s main ferry terminal. Boats run to and from Malé and Maafushi every 1-2 hours and there are a number of companies to choose from.
Alternatively, if you have more time, you can try to take the public ferry. It takes 1.5 hours but only costs $3 USD per person. To use a public ferry, you must first take the public ferry from the Malé Airport to the MTCC Malé Terminal in the city. The price of a ferry to mainland Male from the airport is 10 MVR ($0.65) and boats leave every 15 minutes. When you exit the airport, simply look for a sign that says “ferry to Malé”.
The public ferry schedule between MTCC Malé Terminal and Maafushi is as follows:
From Malé to Maafushi
- 10:00 (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday)
- 15:00 (Every day except Friday)
From Maafushi to Malé
- 7:25 (Every day except friday)
- 12:35 (Saturday, Monday, Wednesday)
Where to Stay on Maafushi
There are more than 70 guest houses on Maafushi Island, and I reccomend just picking one from booking.com that aligns well with your dates and budget. I highly reccomend booking a guesthouse or hotel with free breakfast included, as this will help you cut back on food prices considerably!
The island is very small, so you can book anywhere on the island and easily walk to other parts of the island. However, some of my favorite options include amenities such as a swimming pool or all-inclusive meal plan:
- Kaani Palm Beach: Rooftop swimming pool and all-inclusive options
- Triton Prestige Seaview and Spa: Rooftop swimming pool and all-inclusive options
- Sunrise Beach: Affordable all-inclusive options
What to Eat in Maafushi
Unlike a lot of other local islands, there are a number of restaurants and cafes on Maafushi, which means you can try different cuisines at different restaurants. There are restaurants that serve Western cuisine as well. Most of the restaurants on Maafushi are quite affordable, and you can usually get a meal for less than $10.
Some of my favorite Maldivian dishes that I tried on Maafushi include:
- Bajiya – Coconut, onion, and fish pie
- Garudhiya- Rice, lemon, onion, pepper, and fish soup.
- Mas huni – dried or smoked fish with coconut and onion
- Kattu Roshi – sliced roshi flatbread cooked in a red sauce, often with meat and vegetables
What to do on the perfect Maafushi Itinerary:
The best thing about Maafushi is the sheer number of affordable excursions. There are so many things to do on Maafushi!
To book excursions, I reccomend walking the road near the ferry pier. There are a number of tourist and watersport stalls that offer great prices on excursions. You can arrange with them one day in advance for each excursion you would like.
Here is a list of all of the activities available on Maafushi island:
Snorkelling on the house reef
Cost: Free
On the other side of the island (opposite the bikini beach), there is a small house reef that you can snorkel at. As this is not the bikini beach, I reccomend wearing a rash guard and swimming shorts. You can usually rent a snorkel from a local for a few dollars, or you can purchase a snorkel on the island/bring your own.
Shark and Dolphin Snorkelling Excursion:
Cost: About $50
This is my favorite activity on Maafushi Island. It is a full day trip that takes you to snorkel with dolphins and sharks. You also are given lunch and get to enjoy pristine, uninhabited islands as well as given a chance to see stingrays! The tours also include really friendly staff who are more than happy to take tons of underwater photos for you!
Fishing
Cost: From $30
There are a number of deep-sea fishing excursions available for both beginners and experienced fishermen. If you talk with your guesthouse in advance, you can usually arrange for any fish that you catch to be cooked free of charge or for a minimal price by the guesthouse.
Scuba Diving
Cost: From $40 for licensed divers and from $65 for unlicensed divers on a day trip
Maafushi is a great place to try scuba diving, especially for beginners. There are a number of options available, ranging from a day trip to an extended PADI license course which takes 2-3 days. The options also include free GoPro underwater photography, which is awesome if you want to capture memories from your time diving.
Water Sports
Cost: From $15 for paddle boarding
There are so many water sports available on Maafushi, ranging from paddleboarding to banana boats, kitesurfing, and jet skiing. All watersport companies are located near the ferry pier on the main road, and you can negotiate prices with them. Some of the companies include incredibly drone footage!
Resort Day Visit
Cost: $80-$180, depending on the quality of resort chosen
If you want to experience the luxury of a resort without paying exorbitant prices to actually stay at the resort, you can book a day visit to a nearby resort. These tours include transport to the resort, and you are allowed full access to the resort for a day, including food and drinks. Like all other excursions, resort visits can easily be booked on Maafushi island for the best price.
Romantic Dinner
Cost: from $20 per person
Many guesthouses and activity providers offer an option to cater a romantic dinner on a secluded part of the island. This is a great option not only for couples but also for friends looking for a memorable meal in Maafushi.
The Perfect 5 Day Budget Maafushi Itinerary
Day One
The first day is all about settling in and getting ready for the rest of the week:
Once you arrive on Maafushi island, check into your hotel. Afterwards, compare prices for excursions and book excursions for the next days
In the afternoon and evening, cool off at the bikini beach and enjoy sunset at one of the beach-front restaurants
Day Two
Day two is dedicated to the most essential activity on Maafushi: a snorkelling trip to see all of the incredible marine life near Maafushi.
Start the day with a sea safari snorkelling tour to see dolphins, sharks, and stingrays. This tour will take most of the day.
Upon returning, relax and grab dinner at one of the many great restaurants on Maafushi
Day Three
Today, you can choose to either go on a scuba diving trip or to visit a local resort, depending on your preference.
Day Four
In the morning, head for some DIY snorkelling on Maafushi’s house reef to explore local corals and marine life.
Later, in the afternoon, check out the watersports on Maafushi Island or arrange a fishing excursion.
In the evening, arrange a romantic dinner or plan a trip to the Island’ bar boat for cocktails at sunset.
Day Five
The fifth day marks the end to your short Maldives trip. In the morning, enjoy a walk around Maafushi island. Most tourists never venture outside of the main tourist areas, but it is actually pretty cool to explore the local side of the island.
Depending on the time of your flight, you’ll want to depart for Malé. If you have extra time, I reccomend checking out some of the best things to do in Malé.
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