OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort

An island 350 metres wide in South Ari Atoll, 25 minutes by seaplane from Male. 81 villas, a house reef off the beach, and Lonubo, a private islet across the lagoon. South Ari Atoll · Republic of Maldives

What This Island Actually Gives You

Four things worth knowing before you choose

House Reef, Sharks First

Three marked snorkelling routes with buoyed reef cuts, and a ladder on the pool-villa pier that drops you almost straight onto the reef edge. Blacktip, whitetip and nurse sharks are reliable. Coral is still being regrown.

25 Minutes by Seaplane

A 25-minute seaplane flight from Velana in South Ari Atoll. Seaplanes fly in daylight only, so land at Male by 15:30 or you overnight in the capital at your own cost.

81 Villas, Six on This Rate

81 villas across eight categories, from the 95 sqm Over Water Villa to the 151 sqm Over Water Villa with Private Pool. Six of them are on our current three-night half-board rate.

Seven Places to Eat

Cuisine Gallery for the buffet, Moodhu Grill across five over-water platforms, Art-i-san at the island's high point, Koto for Japanese and teppanyaki over the sunset lagoon, plus Koffee 'n Chill, Edgewater Bar and private beach dining.

Over-water villa bedroom with king bed, open sliding doors and a deck facing the lagoon
Over-water villa bedroom with a dark timber headboard and twin vanity visible behind the bed
White marble over-water villa bathroom with a freestanding tub open to the bedroom and sea
Twin round mirrors above a marble vanity, freestanding bath beside the door to the deck
Over-water villa interior with freestanding bath, bed, and sun loungers on the deck beyond
Private plunge pool on an over-water deck, sitting level with the turquoise lagoon
Over-water villa on stilts with a shingled roof, timber deck and ladder into the shallows
Aerial view of the Maafushivaru over-water villa jetty curving out across the reef
Aerial view of the villa jetty reaching from the beach out to the deep water at the reef edge
Over-water villa with a private pool on its deck and steps leading down into the lagoon
Over-water villa bedroom looking out through glass doors to the deck and lagoon
Marble bathroom with a bath below a window, opening onto the villa walkway and the sea
Over-water villa bedroom at sunset, the lagoon beyond the open glass doors
Over-water villa lit at dusk, its private pool glowing beside the timber deck
Beach villa bedroom opening through sliding doors onto a deck and private pool
Beach villa with a turquoise private pool, sun loungers and palms overhead
Long private pool set among palms at Maafushivaru, with a sand path through to the beach
Beach villa bedroom with timber floors, an open bathroom and glass doors to the garden
Beach villa bathroom in white marble with twin basins and a glazed outdoor shower
Beach villa seen from the sand, its bedroom open to a deck under coconut palms
Shaded beach villa deck with sun loungers, looking through the garden out to the sea
Two guests at sunset on an over-water deck, one relaxing in the villa&
A snorkeller carrying fins steps down a ladder into the lagoon from an over-water deck
Over-water villa bedroom with king bed, open sliding doors and a deck facing the lagoon
Over-water villa bedroom with a dark timber headboard and twin vanity visible behind the bed
White marble over-water villa bathroom with a freestanding tub open to the bedroom and sea
Twin round mirrors above a marble vanity, freestanding bath beside the door to the deck
Over-water villa interior with freestanding bath, bed, and sun loungers on the deck beyond
Private plunge pool on an over-water deck, sitting level with the turquoise lagoon
Over-water villa on stilts with a shingled roof, timber deck and ladder into the shallows
Aerial view of the Maafushivaru over-water villa jetty curving out across the reef
Aerial view of the villa jetty reaching from the beach out to the deep water at the reef edge
Over-water villa with a private pool on its deck and steps leading down into the lagoon
Over-water villa bedroom looking out through glass doors to the deck and lagoon
Marble bathroom with a bath below a window, opening onto the villa walkway and the sea
Over-water villa bedroom at sunset, the lagoon beyond the open glass doors
Over-water villa lit at dusk, its private pool glowing beside the timber deck
Beach villa bedroom opening through sliding doors onto a deck and private pool
Beach villa with a turquoise private pool, sun loungers and palms overhead
Long private pool set among palms at Maafushivaru, with a sand path through to the beach
Beach villa bedroom with timber floors, an open bathroom and glass doors to the garden
Beach villa bathroom in white marble with twin basins and a glazed outdoor shower
Beach villa seen from the sand, its bedroom open to a deck under coconut palms
Shaded beach villa deck with sun loungers, looking through the garden out to the sea
Two guests at sunset on an over-water deck, one relaxing in the villa&
A snorkeller carrying fins steps down a ladder into the lagoon from an over-water deck
OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels

OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort

₹ 260,800
/
Double occupancy, 3 nights, half board, return seaplane transfers, taxes included · valid until 30 Sep 2026

OUTRIGGER Maafushivaru is a 25-minute seaplane flight from Velana, in South Ari Atoll. Seaplanes fly in daylight only, so your flight from India needs to be on the ground at Malé by 15:30. Land later and you overnight in Malé at your own cost. That is the single most common way people lose a night on this island.

The island runs a little over 350 metres across, carries 81 villas, and has a house reef along the beach. Snorkelling equipment and an hour of non-motorised watersports a day are included on every meal plan.

The house reef, honestly

Sharks are the reason to snorkel here. Blacktip, whitetip and nurse sharks come in close, grey reef sharks patrol the outer edge, and eagle rays, sting rays, barracuda and moray are regular. Turtles turn up, but they are not a given.

Three routes are marked and the reef cuts are buoyed. The shortest swim to the drop-off is the ladder at the end of the Over Water Villa with Private Pool pier. There is a second ladder at Sunrise Jetty and beach entry in front of the main pool. A gentle drift circles the island, so you go in up-current and come out at the next cut. From the standard Over Water Villas the swim is longer and the current runs harder.

The coral is the caveat. The resort runs a propagation programme with a resident marine biologist and guests describe coral being regrown around the island. Snorkellers who have seen a lot of the Maldives call this reef good rather than exceptional. If a world-class house reef is the whole reason for your trip, tell us and we will point you at two or three islands that beat it.

Choosing a villa

One thing worth knowing before you pick: the Beach Villa prices above the Over Water Villa in every single season on this rate. If you assumed beach was the cheaper option, it is not here. The Over Water Villa is 95 sqm with a ladder straight into the lagoon, and it is the least expensive room on the island.

The Sunset Over Water Villa with Hot Tub is the same 95 sqm, west-facing, with a heated tub on the deck. The pool villas step up to 151 sqm over water and 120 sqm on the beach. All six categories on this rate take three adults, or two adults and one child.

If snorkelling matters to you, the Over Water Villa with Private Pool is worth the step up for a reason that has nothing to do with the pool: its pier ends closest to the reef drop-off.

What this offer does not cover: the Family Beach Villa and the two-bedroom beach villas with private pool. If you need two separate bedrooms, tell us and we will price those on their own.

What this actually costs

Every price shown is per villa, two adults sharing, three nights, half board, with return seaplane transfers included. The 10% service charge, 17% T-GST and green tax are already inside the figure. Nothing is added at check-out.

Half board means breakfast and dinner at Cuisine Gallery, the buffet restaurant. Drinks are charged as you take them. Half Board Plus adds alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks from noon each day. Dine-Around All Inclusive opens lunch at Edgewater and dinner at any of the à la carte restaurants. Both upgrades are a per-adult, per-night supplement. Ask us and we will put the current number inside your costing rather than let you meet it at reception.

Eating

Cuisine Gallery is the buffet and where half board is served. Moodhu Grill is a grill house spread across five over-water dining platforms. Art-i-san sits at the highest point on the island and is the fine-dining room. Koto does Japanese and a teppanyaki table over the sunset lagoon. Book the à la carte venues before you arrive; they are small and they fill.

Families

There is a Treehouse Kids Retreat, a 9-hole mini golf track and a games area, so the island works for children even though the villas on this offer are two-adult-plus-one rooms. Navasana Spa, a PADI dive school and a doctor’s clinic are all on the island.

Who this isn’t for

Anyone landing at Malé in the evening. Seaplane-only access with a 15:30 cut-off is unforgiving and there is no speedboat alternative. It is also the wrong island if you want a big resort with several pools and a long list of bars. One infinity pool, one social bar, a short walk end to end. And if you are a serious snorkeller chasing pristine coral, this is not the reef for you, whatever the sharks are doing.

For current rates, villa availability and transfer costs, message our Maldives specialists on WhatsApp or send us an enquiry. We reply within 24 hours.

House reef 4/5 Strong

Worth choosing the resort for. One or two caveats on entry point or current.

Best entry is the ladder at the end of the Over Water Villa with Private Pool pier. It puts you on the drop-off with almost no swim. There is a second ladder at Sunrise Jetty and a beach entry in front of the main pool. Three routes are marked, with buoys at the reef cuts.

From the standard Over Water Villas the swim out is noticeably longer and guests report the current running harder on that side. A gentle drift circles the island, so enter up-current and come out at the next cut rather than swimming back.

Shark and ray life is the strong part and it is reliable: blacktip, whitetip and nurse sharks in close, grey reef sharks on the outer edge, eagle and sting rays, barracuda, moray, parrotfish and sweetlips. Turtles turn up but are not a given. Mantas and whale sharks are South Ari excursion sightings, not house reef.

Coral is the honest caveat. The resort runs a propagation programme with a resident marine biologist and guests describe coral being regrown around the island. Widely travelled snorkellers rate it good rather than exceptional. Snorkel gear is free on every meal plan; the guided house reef tour is chargeable.

Do not swim to Lonubo. Deep water and strong current in between.

How we score house reefs, and every island ranked →

Getting there

Route Seaplane
Journey 25 minutes, airport to island
Last arrival that works 15:30

Land at Velana after 15:30 and the last transfer of the day will have gone, which means a night in Malé before you reach the island.

Shared seaplane. The resort aims to get guests airborne within 2 to 3 hours of reaching the TMA lounge, so build a buffer into the day. Seaplane check-in at Velana closes at 16:00; miss it and you overnight in Male at your own cost. TMA allowance is 20 kg checked and 5 kg hand luggage per guest, excess paid to the operator.

Transfer details last checked August 2026. We re-check yours against your actual ticket before we quote. See what your flight can reach →

Choose Your Villa

Six villa categories on our three-night half-board rate, with return seaplane transfers included.

Over Water Villa

95 sqm on stilts over the lagoon, with a king bed and daybed, a bathroom with rainfall shower and a bath looking out to the ocean, and your own wooden deck with sun loungers and a ladder into the water. The least expensive room on the island, and cheaper than the Beach Villa in every season.
  • 95 sqm over the lagoon
  • King bed plus daybed
  • Ladder straight into the water
  • Max 3 adults, or 2 adults and 1 child
Enquire Now

Sunset Over Water Villa with Hot Tub

The same 95 sqm over-water footprint turned west, with glass enclosures across the bedroom and a heated hot tub on the deck. This is the sunset side of the island. Eleven of them, so it books out first on short notice.
  • 95 sqm, west-facing
  • Heated hot tub on the deck
  • Glass-enclosed bedroom
  • Max 3 adults, or 2 adults and 1 child
Enquire Now

Beach Villa

99 sqm set back into the vegetation right beside the beach, with sun loungers on a private deck facing the sea. The bathroom is semi-open-air with a shower, and the garden has an open-air shower of its own. Note it prices above the Over Water Villa on this rate.
  • 99 sqm beside the beach
  • Private deck facing the sea
  • Semi-open-air and garden showers
  • Max 3 adults, or 2 adults and 1 child
Enquire Now

Over Water Villa with Private Pool

151 sqm reached by private walkway, with a freestanding bath, twin vanity and rainfall shower, and a deck carrying a private pool, a daybed and steps down into the ocean. The largest category on this rate and the one most of our honeymoon clients pick.
  • 151 sqm over the lagoon
  • Private pool on the deck
  • Steps down into the ocean
  • Max 3 adults, or 2 adults and 1 child
Enquire Now

Beach Villa with Private Pool

120 sqm a few steps from the water, with a king bed, a silver glass crystal-tiled bathroom, twin vanity, and separate indoor and outdoor showers in a private garden. The outdoor deck carries a daybed, a dining area and your own pool.
  • 120 sqm on the beach
  • Private pool and garden
  • Indoor and outdoor showers
  • Max 3 adults, or 2 adults and 1 child
Enquire Now

Sunset Over Water Villa with Private Pool

The 151 sqm pool villa on the sunset side. Same freestanding bath, twin vanity and private deck with pool and ocean steps, facing west. Ten of these exist, and they are the most expensive room on this rate in every season.
  • 151 sqm, west-facing
  • Private pool on the deck
  • Steps down into the ocean
  • Max 3 adults, or 2 adults and 1 child
Enquire Now

Where in the Maldives?

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is OUTRIGGER Maafushivaru and how do I get there? +
The resort sits on its own island in South Ari Atoll, a 25-minute seaplane flight from Velana International Airport in Male. Seaplanes operate in daylight only. Your inbound flight needs to land by 15:30 and seaplane check-in closes at 16:00. There is no speedboat alternative.
What happens if my flight from India lands late? +
You overnight in Male at your own cost and fly out to the island the next morning, which means losing a night of your stay. Book a morning arrival from Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru. Tell us your flight numbers and we will check the connection before you pay for anything.
Which villa should I book? +
The Over Water Villa is the cheapest room on the island, cheaper than the Beach Villa in every season on this rate. If you want a pool, the Over Water Villa with Private Pool at 151 sqm is the one most couples choose. Sunset-facing categories cost more and sell out earlier.
What does half board include here? +
Breakfast and dinner at Cuisine Gallery, the buffet restaurant. Drinks are charged as you take them. Half Board Plus adds alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages from noon daily. Dine-Around All Inclusive adds lunch at Edgewater and dinner at the a la carte restaurants. Both upgrades are a per-adult, per-night supplement.
Are taxes and service charge included in the price? +
Yes. The 10 percent service charge, 17 percent T-GST and the green tax are all inside the price shown. Nothing further is added at check-out. Excursions, spa treatments, drinks outside your meal plan and any villa upgrade are extra.
How good is the house reef? +
Strong for sharks and rays, honest about coral. Blacktip, whitetip and nurse sharks come in close, with grey reef sharks on the outer edge, plus eagle and sting rays, barracuda and moray. Turtles turn up but are not a given. Coral is being regrown under a resort propagation programme, so widely travelled snorkellers call it good rather than exceptional. Enter at the ladder on the pool-villa pier for the shortest swim to the drop-off.
Does the resort work for families? +
There is a Treehouse Kids Retreat, a 9-hole mini golf track, a games area and a doctor's clinic on the island. Note that the six villas on this rate take a maximum of three adults, or two adults and one child. If you need two separate bedrooms, ask us about the Family Beach Villa or the two-bedroom beach villas with pool, which are priced separately.
How many restaurants are there? +
Cuisine Gallery is the buffet where half board is served. Moodhu Grill spreads across five over-water dining platforms. Art-i-san sits at the highest point on the island. Koto does Japanese fusion and a teppanyaki table over the sunset lagoon. Koffee 'n Chill and Edgewater Bar cover the rest of the day. Book the a la carte venues before you arrive.

Curated by Maldives Specialists

Every resort we feature is personally vetted by our founders — so you book with confidence.

Pranjal

Pranjal

Founder & Maldives Specialist

Selling the Maldives since 2004. He will tell you when a well-known name is not what it used to be.

Amosha

Amosha

Co-Founder & Maldives Specialist

Meticulous attention to detail and deep resort relationships for seamless, personalised journeys.

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