Vakkaru Maldives Review: A Long Beach, a Big Island and Two Ways In

Visited by 360 Degree World in July 2019 · Updated October 2026

Vakkaru Maldives is a large, green island in Baa Atoll with 1.6 kilometres of beach and a choice of restaurants that suits a long stay. It has two ways in from Malé, and the second, by domestic flight and speedboat, still connects from a late-afternoon landing. The house reef is the weak point: good in places, but not the reason to choose this island.

What stood out on the visit

The 360 Degree World team visited Vakkaru Maldives in July 2019. The hospitality stood out first, and a good deal of the stay was spent at the spa. The Maldives can be rough at times, and during that visit the seas were particularly rough, but breakfast more than made up for it, and the food in general was too good to resist.

The other lasting impression was the island itself: large, with an abundance of lush vegetation that gives it a lovely, natural feel.

What the island is like

An atoll is a ring of coral reef with islands scattered around it. Baa, north-west of Malé, is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and one of the richest atolls in the country for marine life.

Vakkaru was once a coconut plantation, and more than 2,000 palms still stand. The island is around 750 metres long, with 1.6 kilometres of beach and a three-kilometre jogging route. Bicycles are the way to get about.

There are 111 villas and residences, split between the beach and the water.

Arriving

The seaplane from Velana International Airport in Malé takes about 30 minutes and lands at the resort. Vakkaru Maldives keeps a private lounge at the seaplane terminal for the wait. Seaplanes in the Maldives fly in daylight only, so they need a landing by mid-afternoon.

The second route is the useful one for flights from India. A 20-minute domestic flight to Dharavandhoo, the airport in Baa, and a 30-minute speedboat, plus check-in time at the domestic terminal, still connect from a later landing than the seaplane. Even so, a late-evening arrival will not make it. Current cut-off times for both routes are kept on the Vakkaru Maldives page.

The villas

The beach villas are the strength here. The Beach Pool Villa runs to 250 square metres, with its own stretch of sand, a pool and a lounge that converts into a children's sleeping area, which gives a family more room than any overwater villa short of a residence. The smaller Beach Villa with Plunge Pool, at 115 square metres, suits a couple.

Over the water, the Overwater Villa has a large sundeck with a hammock and steps into the lagoon but no pool. From 22 October 2026, part of the overwater collection is sold as a new Overwater Villa with Pool, and the former Overwater Pool Villa becomes the Overwater Deluxe Pool Villa, with an infinity pool, a separate reading room and a freestanding bath.

The residences take one to four bedrooms on the beach, and the two-storey Vakkaru Overwater Residence sleeps up to eight with its own chef and butler.

Eating and drinking

Five restaurants, two bars and a wine cellar give the island real variety. Amaany, on the beach beside the lagoon, is the main restaurant, with buffet breakfasts and dinners. Onu cooks Asian food in a bamboo pavilion with an open kitchen. Vakku is the open-air grill on the beach, built around the sunset. Isoletta is the Italian room by the main pool, and Anguru is a ten-seat teppanyaki counter that needs booking. Cabana by the pool and the overwater Lagoon Bar, with its sushi and Asian small plates, cover the daytime and the evening drink.

Vakkaru Reserve is the wine cellar, with more than 600 labels, a communal table and private dinners, booked at least six hours ahead. Beyond the restaurants there are dinners in the organic garden, a weekly pop-up in a different spot on the island, and a secluded sandbank, set up for private candlelit dinners and stargazing.

The spa, the children and the sport

The Merana Spa has treatment pavilions over the water, along with a sauna, steam room, cold plunge pool and a salon. There is an air-conditioned gym and a yoga pavilion.

Children are well catered for. The Parrotfish Club takes ages three to twelve, from 08:30 to 18:00, with its own pool. The Coconut Club, for teenagers and adults, is open around the clock, with billiards, table tennis, foosball, board games and a library. Children can start diving with a Bubblemaker session from eight. Padel and sports fields round it off.

The water

A house reef is the coral reef you can swim to from the resort itself. At Vakkaru Maldives it is one good stretch rather than a reef you can circle, and on an island this size, getting to it is a walk or a cycle. The northern side has the drop-off and the better marine life, with guests reporting nurse sharks, blacktips, turtles and octopus. The blue holes in the lagoon are small and, in places, more sand and rubble than coral, and wind often spoils the visibility. Some long-stay snorkellers rate the reef as the weakest part of the resort.

The marine programme makes up for some of that. Guided snorkels run several times a week, including a night snorkel, a turtle trip and a coral garden trip, and a resident marine biologist runs talks and a coral adoption programme. Splash, the dive centre, teaches PADI courses, and the water sports list runs from sailing and kitesurfing to wakeboarding, jet skis and parasailing. Sunset cruises and fishing trips go out from the jetty, and private charters can go looking for dolphins.

The real draw is Hanifaru Bay. Between roughly May and November, mantas gather there to feed, sometimes in large numbers, and the resort runs trips every other day in season. The bay is a protected area, snorkelling only, and sightings are never guaranteed.

Where the compromises are

The reef is the first. Anyone choosing an island mainly to snorkel from the beach should weigh the reef carefully before booking here.

The second is scale. A large island means cycling to dinner and to the reef, which suits some guests and not others.

The third is the seaplane cut-off. The domestic route helps, but a late-evening flight from India still means a night in Malé.

Who will love it, and who won't

Vakkaru Maldives suits families who want room and a real kids' club, couples who care about food and wine, and anyone who wants a long beach and space to spread out. Manta season adds a reason to come between May and November. It suits keen reef snorkellers considerably less well.

Common questions

How do you get to Vakkaru Maldives?

By seaplane from Malé, about 30 minutes, in daylight only, with the resort's own lounge at the seaplane terminal. A 20-minute domestic flight to Dharavandhoo and a 30-minute speedboat, plus check-in time, connect from a later landing, which helps afternoon flights from India.

Is the snorkelling good at Vakkaru Maldives?

In places. The house reef is one good stretch on the northern side rather than a reef round the island, with nurse sharks, blacktips and turtles reported. The blue holes are small, and wind often spoils visibility. Guided snorkels and Hanifaru Bay manta trips do better.

Is Vakkaru Maldives good for families?

Yes. The Parrotfish Club takes ages three to twelve with its own pool, the Coconut Club suits teenagers, and the Beach Pool Villa, at 250 square metres with a lounge that converts for children, gives families real space. Children can start diving from eight.

Can you see manta rays from Vakkaru Maldives?

In season. Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll draws feeding mantas between roughly May and November, and the resort runs trips there every other day. The bay is protected, snorkelling only, and sightings are not guaranteed.

What is Vakkaru Reserve at Vakkaru Maldives?

The resort's wine cellar, with more than 600 labels and a communal table. It is used for tastings and private dinners, and needs booking at least six hours ahead. For a couple on a special occasion, it pairs well with a dinner on the resort's sandbank.

Does Vakkaru Maldives have overwater villas with pools?

Yes. The Overwater Villa with Pool is a new category from 22 October 2026, and the Overwater Deluxe Pool Villa adds an infinity pool, a reading room and a freestanding bath. The standard Overwater Villa has a large sundeck and a hammock but no pool.