Discover the Maldives: local life on Maafushi and Dhangethi

Velana International Airport is connected to the capital city, Malé, by a bridge, making it only a 30-minute speedboat ride from the island of Maafushi, while Dhangethi is about 1.5 to 2 hours away. The transfer to and from the airport on the day of arrival and departure is included in the price of our package. Depending on your flight schedule, we arrange transportation for our guests.

The local currency of the Maldives is the Rufiyaa. The banknotes are waterproof and come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 rufiyaa. 1 USD / 1 EUR = 15.42 rufiyaa (MVR).
Credit cards are also accepted on the islands. When preparing cash for your trip to the Maldives, it is very important to ensure that your banknotes are not damaged, written on, or torn in any way. For US dollars specifically, the notes must not be older than 2009.

Maafushi and Dhangethi have designated bikini beaches. If you wish to swim at other beaches on the islands, it is necessary to wear a T-shirt and shorts, or any other clothing that covers your swimsuit, in order to respect local rules and the culture of the Islamic community. The same rule applies when walking around the island, visiting restaurants and bars – in all areas outside the bikini beach zones, clothing over your swimsuit is required. On the beaches, sunbeds are free of charge; it is enough to order a drink, ice cream, or a meal from the waiters at nearby cafés and restaurants.

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The Maldives is located very close to the equator, so the sun’s rays are very strong. Even when the weather is cloudy, the skin can burn very easily. We advise all guests to use sunscreen during all days of their stay. If you don’t bring it from home, you can find creams with protection factors of even 80, 90 and 100 in stores on Maafushi.

Maafushi has a large number of markets offering food and drinks, souvenir shops, cosmetic stores, as well as shops selling swimwear, swimming gear, bakeries, and more. Dhangethi has fewer stores, but they are also reasonably well-equipped, including European cosmetic brands. Store hours are influenced by prayer times, so during each prayer, shops are closed for about an hour to an hour and a half. In Maafushi, there are two markets that remain open during prayer times and close at 2:30 a.m. Other stores typically operate until 22:00 or 23:00.

In Maafushi, and at the airport as well, there is the possibility of buying a SIM tourist card, with various packages for internet, calls and messages.

Maafushi and Dhangethi have a local clinic as well as a pharmacy. When visiting the clinic, it is necessary to bring your personal passport and rufiyaa, as US dollars and euros are not accepted. The pharmacies are well-stocked, but if you have any specific medication prescribed by your doctor, we recommend bringing an adequate supply with you before traveling to the destination.

On Maafushi and Dhangethi, you can find a bank (Bank of Maldives) with an ATM that operates 24/7. Using Visa and MasterCard, you can withdraw only rufiyaa from the ATM, with a fee of approximately 4 – 5%.

Average food prices in restaurants on Maafushi range from $5–6 to $12–15 per meal, while seafood is slightly more expensive, averaging around $30–50 per portion. Drinks generally cost $2–5 for coffee, $5–7 for fresh juices, and $10–12 for non-alcoholic cocktails. Average prices on Dhangethi are lower, with meals costing around $3–5.

According to official law, alcohol is prohibited on the local islands of the Maldives, it is not sold in shops or restaurants. Alcohol can be consumed in resorts, as well as on party boats located near certain local islands. One of them is located a 2 minute drive from Mafushi Island, as well as near by Dhangethi island 😉

Throughout the year, the sun rises and sets in the Maldives at the same time: sunrise is roughly between 05:00 and 06:00, while sunset is between 17:30 and 18:50.

The local island of Maafushi always offers options for nightlife, such as live music, DJ performances, beach parties on the bikini beach and traditional dance performances – boduberu (a local group of men showcasing Maldivian culture through music and dance). Nightlife on Dhangethi is much quieter, with the occasional live music performance.