Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guide for Maalhos (Maldives) - Maldives Purple Travel Guide
Maalhos has some of the best snorkeling in the Maldives. We provide detailed information of its beaches and the best snorkeling spots and we show lots of photos so you know what you can expect.
General Information about Maalhos in the Maldives
Maalhos is part of the Southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll, which administratively belongs to the Baa Atoll.
The island has a population of about 500 people and there is no ATM, but credit cards are widely accepted at the time of writing.
There are several stores and restaurants on the island, and even a souvenir store. Due to its compactness, everything is within a short walk from each other.
Getting to Maalhos in the Maldives
There are different options to get to Maalhos.
From Fulhadhoo, you can get to Maalhos with a private speedboat which, at the time of writing, costs US$70 per person. The ride can be as short as 40min, but rougher seas slowed our boat down and it took us almost 2h.
From Male, there are two options:
By speedboat: Take a shared speedboat to Maalhos. The cost at the time of writing are: US$50 per person. Your hotel can book this for you.
Fly from Male to Dharavandhoo and then take a speedboat to Maalhos. Your hotel can book tickets for you and confirm the time. The cost at the time of writing are: US$105 per person for the flight and US$40 per person for the 7min speedboat ride. Your hotel can book this for you.
1 = Thundi Village & Spa Hotel
2 = Bikini Beach
3 = Locals Beach
4 = South Beach
5 = Harbor
Stores in Maalhos in the Maldives
Maalhos has several stores. Island Souvenirs sells souvenirs, including fridge magnets, t-shirts, and sun lotion.
The other stores sell vegetables, fruits, prepared food, stationery, and hardware.
1 = Thundi Village & Spa
2-4 = Restaurants
Stores
5 = Island Souvenirs
6 = Sweet Choice
7 = Dayas Store
8 = Dhoadhil
Restaurants in Maalhos in the Maldives
Maalhos has several restaurants that are open for lunch and dinner.
1 = Thundi Village & Spa
Restaurants
2 = Rooftop by Moonshell
3 = Cafe Pink Rose
4 = Vaataru Cafe
Other restaurants
5-8 = Stores
Rooftop by Moonshell in Maalhos in the Maldives
This is probably the best restaurant in Maalhos. While Moonshell is a hotel, they have a restaurant that is open to everyone on their rooftop.
Seating is either on a patio or inside an airconditioned room – the air conditioning did, however, only work on some of our visits.
The restaurant has a wide selection of Maldivian and international dishes (not all are available every day, however), and innovative milkshakes.
We liked the flavor and selection and made this our most-visited spot for lunch, as the other meals were included in our hotel room rate.
Cafe Pink Rose in Maalhos in the Maldives
This café has a wide selection of drinks and several Maldivian and some international dishes. The food was good and the prices lower than at Rooftop by Moonshell.
The seating is only outdoors and the food tasted good.
Vaataru Cafe in Maalhos in the Maldives
Vaataru Café serves a buffet for lunch, but you can order a la carte. Some of the dishes are the same on the menu and the buffet, and you basically just pay more for the same food if you order from the menu.
The food selection in the buffet was minimal, but OK. The drinks were limited to water and soft drinks.
Other restaurants in Maalhos in the Maldives
More restaurants that are open to everyone can be found in the hotels on Maalhos. Besides the restaurant at Thundi Village & Spa, where we stayed, we have not visited any of those.
Beaches and Snorkeling in Maalhos in the Maldives
Tourists visit Maalhos because it has some of the best snorkeling from the beach of Local Islands in the Maldives.
The main beach on the northern end of the island is divided into the Bikini Beach at the north-eastern side and the Locals Beach on the north-western side. Both are separated by a black fence.
In the southern part of the island is South Beach, which is a narrow stretch of sand which is almost always deserted.
1 = Thundi Village & Spa Hotel
2 = Bikini Beach
3 = Locals Beach
4 = South Beach
5 = Harbor
Bikini Beach in Maalhos in the Maldives
The Bikini Beach is beautiful, but small – it is only 400 ft (120 m) long.
Bikini Beach faces north and there is shade from the trees at the back of the beach. Because the beach is fairly short, you will either need to share the shady areas with others or camp out on the sand under full sunshine.
The sand here is white and the water is turquoise for the first 10-30 ft (3-10 m). As the slope is fairly steep, you can swim close to the beach. After the turquoise area, the water turns dark blue. This is where the reef falls off to depths of 100 ft (30 m) and more. The drop-off is where the best snorkeling and diving is. You can snorkel almost the entire length of the north coast of Maalhos. There is usually very little current and the water is clear.
At the eastern edge of Bikini Beach, where the coastline turns south, visibility gets lower and dangerous currents are possible. This area shows increased beach erosion. We were told to not snorkel on the entire east coast of Maalhos.
Click here to see what you can expect from your snorkeling trip and where the best snorkeling area is.
Locals Beach in Maalhos in the Maldives
Locals Beach begins at the black fence west of Bikini Beach. Unlike Bikini Beach, which is backed by trees, Locals Beach has a boat repair facility and walls in the back.
Locals typically come here after 5pm on workdays. Before 5pm, you will likely have this beach for yourself.
As this is a Locals Beach, please obey the dress code for tourists: No bikini, no cleavage for women, no bare chests for men, and cover your legs until at least above the knees.
The sand here is white and the water is turquoise for the first 10-30 ft (3-10 m). As the slope is fairly steep, you can swim close to the beach. After the turquoise area, the water turns dark blue. This is where the reef falls off to depths of 100 ft (30 m) and more. The drop-off is where the best snorkeling and diving is. You can snorkel almost the entire length of the north coast of Maalhos. There is usually very little current and the water is clear.
At the eastern edge of Bikini Beach, where the coastline turns south, visibility gets lower and dangerous currents are possible. This area shows increased beach erosion. We were told to not snorkel on the entire east coast of Maalhos.
Click here to see what you can expect from your snorkeling trip and where the best snorkeling area is.
South Beach in Maalhos in the Maldives
South Beach can be reached either by:
a) walking down the beach on the eastern side of Maalhos or
b) by taking the well-maintained path through the jungle.
While people have snorkeled at South Beach, we were told not to do it as there can be dangerous currents and as this part of the island is deserted, nobody will be able to help.
The beach here is small and narrow and the water is full of corals that get exposed during low tide.
Snorkeling on North Beach in Maalhos in the Maldives
The North Beach in Maalhos has some of the best snorkeling right off the beach in the Maldives.
The water is turquoise for the first 10-30 ft (3-10 m). As the slope is fairly steep, you can swim close to the beach. After the turquoise area, the water turns dark blue. This is where the reef falls off to depths of 100 ft (30 m) and more. The drop-off is where the best snorkeling and diving is. You can snorkel almost the entire length of the north coast of Maalhos. There is usually very little current and the water is clear.
Snorkeling is typically good almost until the area where the Maalhos Swing is located.
- = good snorkeling (red)
Hotels in Maalhos in the Maldives
Here you can find hotels that are available on Maalhos for your visit:
Thundi Village & Spa in Maalhos in the Maldives (book)
When we arrived at the harbor, we were greeted by one of the managers of the Thundi Village & Spa, who then walked with us to the hotel, while our luggage was driven to the hotel on a golf cart. The walk is less than 5 min.
After the welcome drink, she gave us an orientation and swiped our credit card.
The location of the hotel can’t be beat. Bikini Beach starts about 160 ft (50 m) from the main hotel entrance. There is a dive center and swings and tables.
The hotel provides two free bottles of water in the room, free water, coffee and tea during breakfast and a free large bottle during lunch and dinner.
Breakfast and dinner are buffet style. As there are several restaurants on Maalhos, we decided to only pay for Half Board and have lunch elsewhere.
The rooms are spacious, and beautifully decorated. The water pressure is excellent and there is daily housekeeping.
Fast free wifi is available on the property.
The dining area is air conditioned and has a beautiful view of the ocean.
During our stay, the meals varied, and we liked the portion size and how they tasted.
In the dining area is a fridge with various soft drinks for purchase.
The hotel manager speaks good English and some of his staff speak basic English.
Communication with the hotel before our trip was easy and they always responded quickly – typically within a few hours.
Long story short: We would stay here again.
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Author: Rudy at Backpack and Snorkel
Bio: Owner of Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guides. We create in-depth guides to help you plan unforgettable vacations around the world.
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