How to get to the beautiful Maafushi Island (Maldives)!
Maafushi Island is an idyllic local island located in the South Male Atoll of Maldives with lots of fun activities and great food. It is extremely easy to get to this island. First, you would need to take a flight to Male International Airport (also known as Velana International Airport) on Hulhule Island. The airport was previously known as Ibrahim Nasir International Airport.
From the airport, there are two ways to get to Maafushi Island: by Ferry Service or Speedboat. Personally, Evan and I prefer the speedboat because it is a lot faster and there are more timings available. However, the ferry service is a lot cheaper. You can use USD to pay for both the ferry service or speedboat. I have listed down both methods below. This article was last updated on 29 March 2019.
Method 1: Ferry Service
Step 1. Airport to Male Island
From the airport, you would need to take a speedboat or public ferry to Male Island from the ferry terminal. It is located just outside the airport’s domestic terminal by the sea. You can pay in USD.
If you plan to take a speedboat, you can just book a ride directly on the day of your arrival. The speedboat ride costs 2 USD and takes only 4 minutes.
If you plan to take a public ferry, you can purchase tickets at the ferry counter near the ferry terminal. The ferry ride costs only 1 USD and takes 10 minutes.
Below is the airport public ferry frequency both to and from Male Island, as of 29 March 2019. You can see the most updated schedule here.
| Time* | Frequency | |
| 6am to 2.30am | Every 10 minutes | |
| 2.30am to 4am | Every 30 minutes | |
| 4am to 6am | Every 15 minutes | |
*On Fridays, ferries only operate from 6am to 12am, at 10 minute intervals.
Step 2. Male Island to Maafushi Island
After reaching Male Island, take a taxi to Villingili Ferry Terminal or the “Maafushi Ferry”, located on the southwest corner of the island. The taxi ride costs around 2 USD and will take about 10 minutes. I do not recommend walking because it is over 2km away from the airport ferry terminal.
From Villingili Ferry Terminal, you can take the public ferry to Maafushi Island. The trip takes 90 minutes and costs around 3 USD per pax. It is not possible to book the ferry tickets online, so make sure you arrive at least half hour in advance of the ferry departure time to buy your tickets.
Make sure that you have some food and water with you for the long ride as these are not available on-board.
Below is the ferry schedule. Do take note that there are NO ferry services on Fridays! Also, because the public ferry is mainly used by locals, the timings are not published on any official online site. This site is the only one I could find with the ferry schedule published.
Therefore, there is a risk that the below schedule may have changed as of 2019. The safest way is to check with your hotel via email beforehand, or check with the attendant inside the ferry counter when buying your tickets.
| Days | Male Island Departure Time | Maafushi Island Departure Time | ||
| Monday | Nil | 3pm | 7.30am | 12.30pm |
| Tuesday | 10am | 3pm | 7.30am | Nil |
| Wednesday | Nil | 3pm | 7.30am | 12.30pm |
| Thursday | 10am | 3pm | 7.30am | Nil |
| Friday | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Saturday | Nil | 3pm | 7.30am | 12.30pm |
| Sunday | 10am | 3pm | 7.30am | Nil |
Method 2: Speedboat
Option 1: Airport to Maafushi Island
From the airport, you can take a speedboat directly to Maafushi Island. We recommend booking the speedboat through iCom Tours. You can do so via their website or email. It runs a number of rides every day from 8am to 7pm. You can view the entire schedule here (scroll to the bottom of the page). The helpful site even lets you check how many seats are left for each time-slot. The speedboat ride costs 20 USD per adult and 15 USD per child. The ride takes just 45 minutes.
iCom Tours
Booking: https://icomtours.com/book.php
Email: info@icomtours.com
Phone: +960 7902069 / +960 7792069
Option 2: Airport to Male Island to Maafushi Island
As our flight was very late, we had to spend the night at Male Island before catching the next day’s speedboat to Maafushi. After touching down late at night, we took a four-minute speedboat from the airport to Male Island. The transfer was arranged by our Male hotel, Hotel Jen Male. We spent one night in this modern hotel with comfy rooms.
The next morning, we took a speedboat to Male Island, arranged by iCom Tours. The speedboat runs daily from 8am to 7pm, and the price is 20 USD for adults and 15 USD for children. The trip takes around 40 minutes.
The iCom Tours speedboat pickup point is near Bank of Ceylon, which is just a two-minute walk from Hotel Jen Male. At the pickup point, the friendly iCom crew verified our identities before helping us to load our luggage onto the boat. After a comfortable and fast ride, we reached Maafushi Island!
Getting to your Hotel on Maafushi Island
Once you reach the Maafushi Island jetty, your hotel representative should be there to pick you up, assuming that you have liaised with the hotel prior. If not, the island is tiny and you can probably walk to your hotel within 5 to 10 minutes. You can also ask the locals for directions as many of them speak decent English. We stayed at the Velana Beach Hotel, a fantastic boutique hotel that is just a 5-minute walk from the jetty.
Speedboat or Ferry?
We highly recommend taking the speedboat to Maafushi Island as it was a super comfortable and fast ride. Our speedboat had cushy seats and was quite spacious because all the passengers’ luggage were kept beneath the boat. And there was a much wider range of timings compared to the ferry service. Therefore, even though we had to pay a premium, we felt that the price was entirely worth it for the comfort and efficiency.
This article is part of our completely free and fantastic Ultimate Maafushi Travel Guide. Why spend days researching when all your holiday information is simply a click away?
73 Comments and Questions
Hi, I am doing guest house business in Maafushi.
I saw your pictures and they are amazing.
I would like to ask you if I can use your pictures on my Website.
I will put your name as credit.
I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you.
Hi HIRO, please kindly drop us an email at eatandtravelwithus@gmail.com
From the ferry schedule, does it mean there are two batches of ferries on certain days? Just wanted to be sure as I heard some people saying they only run once per day at 730am. Thank you in advance for your reply!
Hi Jenny, yes you are right, there are two batches on certain days. And yes, they only run once per day at 7.30am from Maafushi Island on certain days. You can refer to the schedule in the article, it has the most updated timings!
Hi, your blog is very helpful to me. I will travel to Maldives this April 2018. I just wanted to asked if you booked through Scoot airways? Because I’m confused with the timing: I will arrive in Male 20:50(SG time), does this mean 5:50pm(Maldives time)? Hope you can help me thank you.
Hi April! Nope we did not use Scoot airways. But you do not have to worry since the airline will usually show you the local time of your destination. Therefore, you should be arriving in Male at 8.50pm Maldivian time!
Hi Raevian,
May I know if there is any speedboat operating besides iCom Tours? Can I also check/ book online?
Hi Ally!
Yes there are other speedboat companies, but I don’t think you can check or book them online. Those are usually arranged on the island itself, or by your hotel. So far it seems only iCom has their own website.
Super helpful blog thanks!
you’re welcome Matt!
Once at the airport, where do we board the iCom speedboat?
Hi Elana, you can simply board at the jetty. For the exact location, you can email info@icomtours.com
Hey, I will be arriving on Saturday, so there isn’t any ferry from Male Island to Maafushi?
Hi Enrico, there is one ferry scheduled to leave at 3pm from Male Island to Maafushi every Saturday.
Thanks for such a great post!
Hi Eliza, you’re welcome!
Great information. Makes it so much easier. Thank you.
Hi Kevin, thanks for your kind words! You’re welcome. Have a wonderful time in Maafushi.
Thanks. This is Sooooo helpful for first time visitors. Great social service and great help.
You’re welcome Sumit! Have a great holiday =)
Very useful information and post, thanks!
you’re very welcome Filipe!
Very helpful. What’s the most beautiful island resort for day tours?
Hi Ryan! We went on a day tour to Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives and it was beautiful. You can check out our full review here: https://www.eatandtravelwithus.com/2017/04/centara-ras-fushi-resort-spa-maldives-resort-excursion
Hi, may I know where exactly is the ferry terminal on Maafushi island? Also, can I purchase the speedboat ticket over iCom booth at the airport? Thanks.
Hi Jasper! The ferry terminal is located between the Coral Beach and Water Sports Beach. You can check out this Maafushi picture to get a clearer idea. The island is very small and you will be able to find it easily.
I am not sure if there is an iCom Tours booth at the airport, but you should be able to buy tickets directly at the pickup point, SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY. I highly recommend that you book the tickets on their website in advance.
These are super helpful tips for my trip, thank you.
You’re welcome Amy!
Hi, we will arrive at the airport at 8pm. We booked iCom speedboat at 10pm. Can we make it to the ferry on time? Where exactly is the speedboat located? Are they near to the airport? Thank you.
Hi Santi, yes the jetty is near the airport so you can definitely make it on time.
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Hello and thank you for the useful info I can finally find =)
We are two couples from Cyprus and we are planning to visit Maldives in July. Can I please ask you if the weather is good in general in July? I mean I saw that temperatures go up to 29C which is fine and it might rain at times which is also fine but is it just that?
We want to book a hotel in Maafushi and all the above info on how to get to the island is really helpful. Would the weather allow us to get to the island?
Any more recommendations or advice on how to plan a safe and unforgettable trip to the Maldives is more than welcome!
Thank you in advance!
Hello Eftychia!
Yes it can get pretty hot in July, and it might rain at times, but that’s about it =)
Yes you will be able to get to the island even if it’s raining; unless there is a really heavy storm which I believe is quite rare and unheard of.
You can check out our Maafushi travel guide for more information!
Have a wonderful trip =)
Just read your Ultimate Maafushi Travel Guide and my questions are answered =)
Thank you so much!!
That’s wonderful, happy you got your queries clarified. You’re very welcome Eftychia-Happiness =)
Hello Raevian. We will be arriving in Male International Airport late at night. Can we just stay at the airport until sun rises?
Hi Maia! In theory that would be possible, but you would need to endure a lack of wifi, air conditioning, and comfortable seating. And I’m not sure if it’s safe too.
I would recommend staying overnight at either Male Island or Hulhumale Island. We stayed at Hotel Jen on Male Island and it was really comfortable. Our hotel arranged the airport transfer.
If you are looking for a budget accommodation, you can check out Vilu Rest Hotel on Hulhumale Island. There is a bus that runs 24 hours between the airport and Hulhumale. It costs about USD 1 and I believe you can pay in cash. You can check it out here.
Hope this helps!
Hi! Thanks for the information. We are landing on Thursday 9.50am. Do you know if we can find any transportation to Fulidhoo Island?
Hi Kamil! I hope this reply gets to you in time. You can get to Fulidhoo Island by taking the public ferry from Male. The journey will take around 3.5 hours and costs USD 3.50. The ferry only runs three times a week at 10am on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Therefore, for your case, you will need to rush to catch the 10am ferry! You can check out this website for the latest timings. Good luck and I hope you get to Fulidhoo Island successfully!
Does anybody know if we can leave our baggage somewhere in the airport? Any storage areas? What is the price?
Hello Kamil, yes the airport provides baggage storage service. The price starts from USD 6. You can click here for more details.
Hi,
I will reach Maldives from India 15.30. What will I take to go Maafushi Island and what will it cost to me for a couple?
Hi Nikhil,
Since the ferry departs daily at 3pm (except for Friday when there is no service at all), you can only take a speedboat. It will cost USD20 per person.
Can you help me with the schedule of the speed boat from male airport. Thank you very much.
Hello Fizuan, you can check out the speedboat timings here.
My flight lands late at 9pm on Friday. So what are my options to go to my hotel on Male island from the airport?
Hi Kal, you can ask your Male hotel to arrange the transfer. Or you can email iCom Tours at info@icomtours.com to book a speedboat transfer. They operate at night too.
Hello!
My question is:
What happens if I book a ticket for the speedboat from the airport to Maafushi and my flight lands too late? Can I take the next speedboat with my purchased ticket?
I hope you can help me.
Thanks a lot.
Hello Sarah!
Yes, I think you should be able to take the next speedboat, provided there is vacancy on the boat.
But it’s best that you email iCom Tours at info@icomtours.com to confirm!
Hi!
I don’t know if my flight to the Maldives will be on time. I don’t want to lose the fee if I book an online ticket in advance.
Are the tickets for the speedboats sold out quickly? Should I rather hope that the flight is on time and buy a ticket online, or can I also buy tickets there spontaneously after I arrive at the airport?
I saw the schedules for the speedboats but no weekdays. Can I take the speedboats on Fridays too? Because my return flight is on a Friday.
Hello Marcel!
No, the speedboat tickets are not sold out quickly. And even if you bought the boat ticket online and miss the boat, you can just board the next speedboat that comes along (though you might have to wait for an hour or more).
Yes, you can buy the tickets at the jetty too.
The speedboat runs on weekdays too, including Fridays. You can check out the speedboat schedule and availability here.
How many days was your trip, and please advise which month is the best to visit the island, thanks.
Hi Lisa, it was a five-day trip. It is usually best to visit Maafushi Island in January and February. You can refer to my Ultimate Maafushi Travel Guide for more details!
Hi Evan!
This is such a helpful post. I want to travel in the month of November this year to Maldives. Is it a good time to visit? Just want to be sure if it rains during this month. Also, is it ok if I book the speedboat after reaching the male airport?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Sujoy!
The wet season in Maldives is between May and December, so yes there is a risk of rain in November. However, when we visited Maafushi in end December, it only rained on one of the five days while we were there. I recommend booking the speedboat in advance, but it should be possible to book on the spot too, as long as the boat still has vacancies. Hope this helps!
Thanks Evan! That was quite helpful.
You’re very welcome =)
Hi,
My flight is reaching at 13.55 Hrs. Will it take much time for the immigration clearance at airport and will it be possible for me to catch the ferry to Maafushi?
hi SUNNY,
I think it will be risky. First, your flight arrival time may be delayed. And you will take some time to clear customs; for us it took around 30 minutes.
Hi Evan,
Thanks for the information.
That means, I will not be able to catch the ferry to Maafushi. In that case what’s the alternate way for me?
Also, can you please suggest whether I should cancel my accommodation in Maafushi and search for an alternate in Male itself? I am planning three nights holidays only also with low budget.
Hi Sunny,
Based on your flight time, there is a high risk that you will miss the ferry. The alternate way is to take the speedboat, details are in the article above.
Maafushi is actually quite cost friendly for tourists, and it has more fun activities than Male. Therefore I definitely recommend staying at Maafushi instead!
Hi Evan,
Thank you so much for the information!
I am really amazed to see your prompt response and the valuable advice!
I have booked the accommodation at Kaani Village & Spa. Can you please suggest whether I’ll be able to get some beer during my stay at Maafushi?
Hi SUNNY,
You’re very welcome!
Maafushi itself is prohibited from selling beer, but there are some offshore yachts that have onboard bars selling alcohol. You can check out my Maafushi Floating Bar and Safari article for more details.
Enjoy your holiday!
Hi Evan,
Thank you so much for the information! Your prompt reply is making me more greedy and tempting me to ask more and more questions!
1: Are the hotels, Velana Beach Hotel and Velana Blu the same property?
2: Any idea about Kaani Village and Spa? Is it a good hotel?
3: Which is the best budget day trip to private resort?
4: How much does it cost for a day tour to private resort?
Hi Sunny,
You’re welcome =)
1. Velana Blu is the sister hotel of Velana Beach Hotel. Velana Blu caters to younger guests and couples.
2. I’m not too sure, but you can check out their reviews on TripAdvisor.
3. We went to Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives and it was pretty good! You can check out iCom tours for other day trips.
4. We paid USD 120 each for our excursion to Centara Ras Fushi.
Hi Evan,
I have a return flight to India on 13th Sep 2019 (Friday) at 10.55am, that means I should be in Male Airport by 7am. Do you have speedboat facilities at around 5.30am or 6am? If not, is there a work around? Please advise. Thank you
Hi Rajesh,
To be clear, I do not run a speedboat company. However, I have checked the iCom Tours website and it seems the earliest speedboat on 13 Sep departs at 8am. You may want to email iCom to check if they can depart at an earlier time. The email is info@icomtours.com
Hi Evan,
As you mentioned that you arrived at night, what time did you reach Male airport? Around what time did you clear the custom?
My flight will reach Male airport at 8.10pm, and I am wondering whether I can catch the last speedboat to Maafushi island. Thanks.
Hi Chao!
I reached Male at 10.10pm and cleared customs at around 11pm. For your case, yes I think you should be able to catch the 10pm speedboat (unless your flight is delayed).
Hi Evan,
Thank for the info. I think I should be able to make it as long as the flight is not delayed. Thanks.
No problem! Do let me know how it goes. Have a fun time in Maafushi!
Hi, your blog has been really helpful in planning my trip. It will be great if you can help me with my query. I will reach Male airport at 2:15 PM on Saturday 18th Jan 2020.
Will I be able to catch the 3pm public ferry to Maafushi. Please advise the best option.
Hi Rahul! Sorry for the late reply. I think there is a high chance that you will miss the ferry, because you will need some time to clear customs. If that’s the case, you can still catch the speedboat to Maafushi which costs USD20 per adult.