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Fulidhoo is a small, budget-friendly native island we visited lately within the Maldives, together with Dhigurah island, which we beloved for its seashores and sandbar.

Apart from scuba diving, the prime attraction in Fulidhoo is the shark and stingray seaside, the place you’ll be able to see nurse sharks, sea turtles, and stingrays within the shallow water and even get your image taken with them.

After all, Fulidhoo additionally has the white sand and clear blue water that’s typical of the Maldives, and there are family-owned accommodations for as little as $60 USD per night time, so it’s a great possibility in case you’re eager to get your repair of the tropics with out spending some huge cash.

This journey information will clarify learn how to get to Fulidhoo island, what to do there, the place to remain, and every part else it’s essential know earlier than you go!
 

The place To Keep In Fulidhoo

 

How To Get To Fulidhoo Island

There’s no airport in Fulidhoo, so that you first need to fly into the capital of the Maldives at Male Worldwide Airport (MLE), which is about 55 kilometers (35 miles) from Fulidhoo.

From Male, you’ll be able to take a speedboat or ferry on to Fulidhoo.
 

 

• By Public Speedboat

The principle solution to get to Fulidhoo is by public speedboat, and that’s how we went. There are day by day departures within the morning and afternoon from Male airport and the town.

The speedboat journey to Fulidhoo takes rather less than 1.5 hours and prices about $40 USD per particular person a method. It was very bumpy in our expertise, however I’m positive it depends upon the climate.

On the intense aspect, the boats are new and the seats are comfy. Additionally they have a bathroom and loads of room for storing baggage, and so they offer you free bottled water through the trip.

The boats from Male to Fulidhoo depart at 10 AM and 4 PM (Fridays 9:30 AM solely). And the boats return from Fulidhoo to Male at 7:30 AM and 1:30 PM (Fridays 7 AM solely).

Nonetheless, be mindful there are a number of speedboat firms working this route and the timetable appears to alter sometimes, so I’d double verify the timetable along with your resort earlier than you go.

You may ask your resort in Fulidhoo to e-book the speedboat for you, after which pay for it along with your room invoice if you arrive. That’s what we did, and paying by bank card spared us from having to hold lots of money in all places.

 

• By Non-public Speedboat

A non-public speedboat constitution might be much more costly than the general public speedboats, however it might be extra handy in circumstances the place you’re touring in a gaggle of not less than 4 or 5, and want a direct connection to Fulidhoo island.

It’s best to be capable to organize this along with your resort in Fulidhoo.

 

• By Public Ferry

You too can take the general public ferry from Male to Fulidhoo. This feature is a bit slower than the speedboats, nevertheless it’s lots cheaper. The ferry trip to Fulidhoo takes about 4 hours and prices $5 USD for a a method ticket.

This route has departures from Male to Fulidhoo on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 10 AM. It returns from Fulidhoo to Male on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 10:30 AM.

The ferry instances may change sometimes, so that you’ll need to affirm the present schedule along with your resort in Fulidhoo. You may’t e-book tickets upfront although, so it’s a good suggestion to point out up a bit early to ensure you get a seat.

The ferry leaves from the Hulhumale ferry terminal in Male metropolis (map right here). It’s necessary to notice that is not the ferry terminal in Hulhumale, it’s the ferry terminal of the identical title in Male metropolis. You may attain it with a ten minute taxi trip from the airport.

Aspect notice: When you’re coming from Maafushi island, you’ll be able to take the ferry on to Fulidhoo, that approach you don’t must transit in Male.

 

How To Get Round The Island

Fulidhoo is a really small island, so you’ll be able to stroll wherever it’s essential go.

They really don’t even have automobiles on the island, there are just a few small electrical buggies for carrying baggage forwards and backwards from the pier to the accommodations.

The island is simply about 700 meters lengthy and 250 meters huge, which implies you’ll be able to stroll from any resort to the seaside or pier in 5 minutes, or circle the entire island on foot in lower than half-hour. That is fairly useful.

 

Shark & Stingray Seashore

The principle attraction at Fulidhoo is the shark and stingray seaside. That is the lengthy seaside that covers the southwestern aspect of the island, and it’s marked on Google Maps as ‘stingray commentary level.’

The stingrays come to this seaside each day and night time in search of the fishermen’s scraps to eat, and often a nurse shark or sea turtle will present up as effectively!

After all there’s no assure they’ll come, however within the 2 days we spent on the island there have been virtually at all times stingrays on the seaside, and different individuals have reported the identical expertise.

We noticed greater than a dozen rays at a time! It was a enjoyable expertise. You may watch them from the shore, or get your image taken with them within the shallow water. Please don’t contact them, nevertheless it’s okay in the event that they contact you.

 

Is It Secure?

This was what we had been questioning earlier than coming right here. Is it protected to be close to sharks and stingrays like this? Good query. To be truthful, the sharks round Fulidhoo are nurse sharks, that are fairly innocent to people.

What concerning the stingrays? Sadly all of us bear in mind what occurred to Steve Irwin, however I believe that scenario was a little bit of a freak accident. Steve was following the ray within the water to movie it, and it apparently noticed him as a menace.

Stingrays are mild animals for probably the most half, and so long as you’re cautious to not step on them, chase them, or make them really feel threatened or harassed in a roundabout way, they aren’t prone to harm you. To not point out, the water right here is absolutely shallow.

It’s inconceivable to say it’s 100% protected in fact, however plenty of vacationers come to Fulidhoo each day to see the stingrays and take photos with them, and we’ve by no means heard of any dangerous incidents.

 

Extra Issues To Do In Fulidhoo

• East Seashore / Bikini Seashore: The principle seaside in Fulidhoo is the jap seaside, which has good white sand and turquoise water. That is the island’s designated ‘bikini seaside’ the place vacationers are welcome to put on swimsuits and go suntanning. The waves are calm sufficient for youths to swim, though there’s not plenty of shade.
• Sundown View Level: If you wish to go for a stroll, the western finish of the island has a great view of the sundown.
• Banyan Tree: Within the heart of the island there’s an outdated and spectacular banyan tree with big roots. It shades a volleyball court docket, and in case you keep on the Huvan Inn like we did, this tree is actually proper exterior the resort.
• Scuba Diving: The Fulidhoo space is fashionable for scuba diving, and you’ll rise up shut with reef sharks, manta rays, octopuses, and different animals. For dive retailers, take a look at Fulidhoo Dive and Divers Lodge.
• Resort Excursions: The accommodations in Fulidhoo can organize a half day tour to one of many close by luxurious resorts, which is a enjoyable solution to expertise one of many Maldives’ fancy accommodations with out paying full value. These packages sometimes embrace transport there and again, plus entry to services just like the resort pool and spa, and an allowance for meals and drinks on the resort whilst you’re there.
• Different Actions: There are snorkeling excursions in Fulidhoo the place they take you to a shipwreck, or you’ll be able to have a picnic on a sandbar. Additionally they have excursions to see whale sharks and dolphins.

 

How Lengthy To Keep

Fulidhoo is a really small island, so I believe most individuals could be happy with 2 or 3 days, though it wouldn’t harm to remain longer. We stayed 2 days and that was sufficient for us. Lower than a day is just too brief in my view.

Lots of people come right here on excursions from different islands to see the sharks and sting rays, however we watched these tour teams from a distance and so they appeared very rushed.

Many of the tour teams had been leaving after simply half-hour on the island, which isn’t even sufficient time to stroll round or get good photos. We had been glad we didn’t do this. I believe it’s higher to remain not less than 1 or 2 days on the island.

 

Different Ideas For Visiting Fulidhoo

• ATM: There’s no ATM on Fulidhoo island but, so that you’ll need to deliver sufficient money on your keep, or else use the ATM on the airport in Male.
• Foreign money: US {Dollars} are accepted in all places on the island, though you’ll often get barely higher charges with Maldivian Rufiyaa. Simply be mindful Rufiyaa can’t be used exterior of the Maldives, so that you don’t need to have any left over on the finish of your journey. There isn’t a cash trade in Fulidhoo, so it’s greatest to do that in Male airport.
• Credit score Playing cards: You’ll need to double verify, however many accommodations in Fulidhoo help you pay your whole invoice by bank card, together with the speedboat transfers. Ours allow us to do this. There could also be a price for this (like 3 to five p.c), however in my view it’s value it to keep away from having to deliver plenty of money. Nonetheless, be mindful the eating places and minimarkets in Fulidhoo often don’t settle for card, so you’ll be able to’t go utterly cashless right here.
• Alcohol: Maldives is a Muslim nation, in order that they don’t permit alcohol on the native islands like Fulidhoo, though you may get it in case you do a day journey to one of many close by resort islands.
• Costume Code: They’ve a conservative costume code in Fulidhoo since there are largely locals residing right here. You’re not speculated to put on swimsuits or revealing garments besides on the designated ‘bikini seaside,’ though we noticed loads of individuals breaking this rule, so it doesn’t appear to be strictly enforced. Nonetheless, if you wish to keep out of bother, it’s greatest to observe this rule and canopy up if you’re not on the seaside.
• Mosque: There’s a mosque on the island, nevertheless it was quiet. We by no means heard any noise from it.

 

• Electrical energy: We stayed in a funds resort on Fulidhoo and nonetheless had 24/7 electrical energy, so that you don’t have to fret about outages right here.
• Cell Service: Our telephones had first rate 4G reception with Ooredoo (by means of T-Cellular) in all places on Fulidhoo island.
• WiFi: There may be quick and dependable WiFi in Fulidhoo, even within the funds accommodations.
• Drones: Many of the fancy resorts in Maldives don’t permit drones in any respect, however since Fulidhoo is a neighborhood island, I used to be in a position to deliver and use a drone with no points.
• Mosquitoes: We noticed some mosquitoes on the outside eating places, however not on the seaside or within the resort. We wore bug spray once we’d go eat, however other than that we didn’t want it.
• Malaria: The whole nation of Maldives has been malaria free since 1984, so that you don’t have to fret about that, though there could also be some dengue fever.
• Security: On the whole, Maldives is a really protected nation, with one of many lowest homicide charges on the earth. We at all times felt protected right here, and I haven’t heard of any dangerous incidents on the island.
• Hospital: There’s a small well being heart in Fulidhoo, however for a severe emergency you’d must go to the hospital in Malé.
• The place To Eat: There are a number of good eating places in Fulidhoo with native and western meals for comparatively low costs. Try Cafe De Orzo, Faru Cafe, and Bougainvillea Seashore Restaurant.

 

Fulidhoo Lodges

 

Greatest Time To Go to The Maldives

The dry season within the Maldives is from January to April. That is the perfect time to go to Fulidhoo as a result of the climate is much less wet and extra sunny.

There are extra vacationers within the Maldives presently, however the island by no means felt very crowded once we visited in January.

The wettest months within the Maldives are from September to December. You may nonetheless go to Fulidhoo presently, however you’re extra prone to have some rain.

 

Extra Maldives Journey Guides

Thanks for trying! I hope you loved this journey information for Fulidhoo island within the Maldives. We had enjoyable seeing the pleasant sharks and sting rays on the seaside.

Don’t neglect to take a look at my information for Dhigurah island, the opposite native island we visited on our journey to the Maldives. We preferred Dhigurah much more than Fulidhoo!