GETTING AROUND - MALDVIES ISLANDS
Many resorts, hotels, and guesthouses in the Maldives collect guests from Male or regional airstrips by speedboat. The public ferry system can be slow and infrequent, and also does not connect to every island and atoll.
The airport hosts the largest seaplane operations in the entire world, with Trans Maldivian Airways and Maldivina Air Taxi. These flights will connect you to your island/resort and are the fastest option, but also the most expensive.
By BoatGetting around by boat is one of the only ways to connect to these remote islands. There are four options for water travel in the Maldives; Public ferries (only run 3-6 times a week), private ferries (Male to Maafushi), scheduled speedboats (most popular tourist geared), and charter speedboats (high cost).
There are only a few ways to travel between the Maldives Islands including public ferry, speed boats, seaplane, domestic flights, or private yachts. Once on the islands, many don’t offer public transportation or even allow cars on the islands. So getting around is done by walking, golf carts, bicycles, or by water.
The national public ferry network was established in 2010 connecting all inhabited islands in the country. The ferry may only run a few times a week to another island or atoll.
Speedboat transfers can take as long as two hours to reach the location of some islands/resorts. Speedboat transfers operate 24 hours a day. Booking in advance is highly recommended as this is one of the most popular forms of transportation and they often fill up quickly. Prices vary depending on the final destination and total distance traveled.
If you are visiting Male the capital city, you can take a ferry from the ferry jetty outside the airport. You can buy a ticket from the ticketing counter and board the ferry. Ferry services are regular with services every 10 minutes from 6:00 am until 11:59 pm, and every 30 minutes from midnight to 6:00 am. The cost of a ticket is around MVR10 for the 10-minute journey across the channel to Male.
By FootYes, walking around the islands and atolls is one of the only ways to explore the resorts, hotels, beaches, shops, restaurants, and other attractions.
By BicycleA bicycle is an excellent way to get around the island, bikes are often offered to guests at the larger resorts and some guesthouses free of charge. Renting bikes is easy on most of the islands and atolls and a glorious way to explore the tropical paradise.