Getting Around the Maldives is Easy

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One of the most beautiful countries in the world for fun, sun and water is the Republic of Maldives located in the Indian Ocean. It is not like any Muslim country that a western tourist imagines. The Maldives is made up of 1,190 islands with pristine white-sand beaches and spectacular dive sites. It has magnificent atolls with about a thousand species of fish and marine life. Most of the activities happen in the capital city of Male where about 1/4 of the total population of 400,000 reside. Getting around the Maldives from the capital city to several island resorts is easy and not as expensive.

The Maldives is popular for scuba diving, surfing, swimming, fishing and other activities within its exotic resorts. The country’s official website describes the Maldives as having ” …Sun, sand and sea, a thousand Robinson Crusoe islands, massive lagoons with different depths and infinite shades of blue and turquoise, dazzling underwater coral gardens; a perfect natural combination for the ideal tropical holiday destination. However there is more to the Maldives than just that…”

So how does one get to these attractive island destinations as well as the ‘more than just that’?

Male International Airport, the only international airport in the Maldives, is located at the southern tip of Hulhule Island, which is central of the Maldivian Islands. This is where all tourists begin, except those who are coming in on a private yacht. Arriving at the airport in the evening means the tourist would need to spend a night at the airport hotel or in the city of Male, since boat taxis and air taxis refuse to work at nights. One could arrange to hire private transfers but this option is a bit expensive.

In the morning and the rest of the day, boat taxis and air taxis are available to take tourists to any and all the Maldivian resort-islands. The Maldivian government allows tourists to visit only about 100 resort-islands. A visit to non-resort islands requires a special permit from the government, which is not easy to obtain.

Getting around the Maldives by plane is the fastest way to doing it. Seaplanes are called air taxis, and the two leading (and only) air taxi companies are the Maldivian Air Taxi and Trans Maldivian Airways. By air, none of the Maldivian islands are more than 90 minutes away.

Getting around the Maldives by boat is cheaper, more relaxed and more romantic. The boats are called boat taxis, and boat taxis differ depending on which resort a tourist is visiting. When going to the beautiful Four Season resort in Kuda Hiraa Island, the tourist gets on an enclosed, motorized cruiser with food and drinks.

While on the island-resorts, getting around on land is only possible on a golf buggy. It is better to see the islands on foot, since most island resorts are tiny, it won’t take a day to walk from end to end. Concrete roads are found only in the capital city of Male.

Getting around the Maldives on a tour package allows you to enjoy all that this tropical islabd has to offer. You are sure to have an experience of a lifetime.

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