COMO Maalifushi
Thaa Atoll · 60 minutes by seaplane · Half board or full board
The quietest island COMO runs, far south in Thaa Atoll and an hour from Malé by seaplane. Every one-bedroom villa has its own pool, the spa is a COMO Shambhala retreat with daily yoga, and the Farms surf break is close by. The catches are the distance, a seaplane that stops flying by mid-afternoon, and coral that has not recovered as well as the fish life around it. Everything worth knowing before you decide, in one page.
- Getting there
- 60 minBy seaplane, in daylight only
- Latest you can land
- 15:15The last seaplane leaves at 16:30
- House reef
- 4 of 5Good fish life, tired coral
- Villas
- 59Every one-bedroom villa with a pool
- Meal plan
- Half boardOr full board. All inclusive on request
- Children
- Two stay freeUnder 12, in their parents' villa
Location and transfers
Land at Velana by 15:15. The last seaplane takes off at 16:30, and the flight is the only way in.
The villas
| Villa | Where | Size | Sleeps, at most |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beach Suite with Private PoolThe way in, on the sand, with its own pool. 13 on the island. | Beach | 101 m² | 4 guests, up to 3 of them children |
| Water Suite with Private PoolOver the lagoon, with a plunge pool on the terrace. 17 on the island. | Over the water | 107 m² | 4 guests, up to 3 of them children |
| Beach Villa with Private PoolA larger beach villa, with a pool on the terrace. 7 on the island. | Beach | 116 m² | 4 guests, up to 3 of them children |
| Water Villa with Private PoolThe largest one-bedroom villa, over the lagoon. 13 on the island. | Over the water | 120 m² | 4 guests, up to 3 of them children |
| Two-Bedroom Beach SuiteA master bedroom and a twin room, in a shaded spot. | Beach | 131 m² | 6 guests, up to 4 of them children |
| Two-Bedroom Beach VillaIts own beach access and a private pool. | Beach | 145 m² | 6 guests, up to 4 of them children |
| Two-Bedroom Beach HouseA duplex with its own lawn and a large pool. | Beach | 178 m² | 6 guests, up to 4 of them children |
| Maalifushi Water VillaTwo bedrooms on a jetty of its own, with a pool. | Over the water | 213 m² | 6 guests, up to 4 of them children |
| Maalifushi Beach VillaTwo double bedrooms facing the sunrise. | Beach | 296 m² | 6 guests, up to 4 of them children |
| COMO ResidenceFour bedrooms, a media room, a kitchen and a large pool. | Beach | 356 m² | 12 guests, up to 8 of them children |
| COMO VillaThe largest villa, over the water, with a pool and a butler. | Over the water | 408 m² | 6 guests, up to 4 of them children |
Every one-bedroom villa has a pool. The difference between them is setting and size, from 101 m² to 120 m², and each takes four.
The water villas on the coral garden sit closest to the reef. Ask us which numbers face it.
The two- and four-bedroom villas are priced on request. Tell us who is travelling and we will match the space.
Meal plans
Half board covers
- Breakfast every day
- A three-course lunch or dinner each day
- COMO Shambhala facilities and daily yoga
- Snorkel gear and non-motorised water sports
- The weekly marine biologist talk
Charged on top
- Drinks
- Spa treatments
- Diving, surf trips and excursions, including the guided reef trip
- In-villa dining
- The New Year's Eve gala, which is compulsory
| Plan | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Half board | Breakfast and one three-course meal a day |
| Full board | Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Drinks are charged |
| Simply COMO, all inclusive | Priced on request. Adds drinks, a 60-minute massage per adult and excursions. Ask us to set it against full board |
The festive weeks run differently
Over Christmas and New Year the resort sells bed and breakfast, the New Year's Eve gala is compulsory, and nobody checks out on 30 or 31 December. We price those weeks on request.
Restaurants and bars
| Venue | What it is |
|---|---|
| Madi | The main restaurant, breakfast to late. International and Maldivian, with three themed nights a week and the COMO Shambhala menu |
| Tai | Japanese, over the water. Sushi, sashimi and sunset drinks. Lunch and dinner |
| Thila | Open-air bar with a sand floor, Madi's menu and a games room |
| In-villa dining | Charged on every plan |
Three restaurants and a bar
Opening hours change by season, so ask us for them with your dates. Vegetarian and vegan dishes run across every menu; tell us about Jain or other needs when you book.
The water
Good fish, tired coral
The island sits on a wide lagoon, so you get in from the jetty steps or the walkway into the coral garden, a sheltered shallow area ringed by water villas, rather than off the sand. Blacktips and two resident hawksbill turtles are close to a certainty, and guests also report eagle rays, Napoleon wrasse and big schools of fish. The coral has not recovered well. Snorkelling stays inside the marker buoys. We score the house reef 4 out of 5.
Surf
The Farms break is nearby, and from April to October the surf brings a livelier crowd. The dive and water sports centre also runs diving, sailing and paddleboarding.
Children and safety
Families
Play by COMO, the kids' club, takes children aged four to eleven, with treasure hunts, Maldivian cooking, drumming and junior marine biology. Babysitting, children's menus and bicycles are available. Two children under twelve stay free in their parents' villa on the same meal plan, and every one-bedroom villa takes four. Larger families should look at the two-bedroom villas.
On the island
COMO Shambhala
Overwater treatment rooms, a gym, an open-air yoga pavilion, a steam room, sauna and jacuzzi. The facilities and daily yoga are included. Treatments are charged.
Two COMO islands
You can pair a stay here with COMO Cocoa Island on one trip. Ask us to plan the move between them.
Who it suits
✓Yes
- Couples after quiet.The far south, with no neighbours to hop to.
- Wellness travellers.COMO Shambhala and daily yoga are part of the stay.
- Surfers.The Farms break, April to October.
✕No
- Anyone landing in the evening.The seaplane flies in daylight only.
- Anyone on a short trip.The seaplane is the same on three nights as seven.
- Snorkellers who want pristine coral.The fish are good, the coral less so.
Things we would rather you heard from us
- It is a long way south. An hour by seaplane, with no other way in.
- The seaplane sets the clock. Land by 15:15, or spend a night near Malé.
- The coral is tired. Good fish life over coral that has not recovered well.
- Drinks are extra. On half board and full board alike.
- The festive weeks change the plan. Bed and breakfast, and a compulsory gala.
Shall we price it for you?
Tell us your dates, your flight times and who is travelling. We will check the seaplane connection both ways, match the villa to your party and price half board and full board side by side. We reply within 24 hours.