Maafushivaru
Harmoniously combining a Maldivian paradise with contemporary indulgences, Maafushivaru is the very epitome of an island hideaway. With barefoot luxury surrounded by idyllic turquoise water and the archipelago’s finest coral reefs, its secret delight is a beautiful romantic and uninhabited sister island.
The Cuisine Gallery restaurant offers Mediterranean cuisine infused with local flavours, sumptuous buffets and outdoor dining, and à la carte and private dining options are also available. For an authentic Crusoe-esque experience, couples can take a boat across to the nearby uninhabited sister island for romantic picnics, candlelit dining or luxurious lobster dinners in picture-perfect surrounds (prebooking is advisable). The beachfront infinity pool is conveniently next to the bar which also has seating on the beach. Facilities include a lounge, wine cellar, library, overwater spa and gym, yoga pavilion, children's swimming pool, dive school and watersports. There is complimentary Wi-Fi in most public areas and a range of excursions available.
TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2011
Maafushivaru is one of Kuoni's favourite hotels, but don’t just take our word for it – TripAdvisor reviewers agree and have voted the resort:
Top 10 Hotels for Romance in Asia - 6th.
Accommodation
50 stylish villas with Maldivian touches, each featuring air-conditioning, kingsize bed, flat-screen television, DVD player, iPod dock, telephone, espresso machine and minibar.
Spacious Beach villas (112m²) are directly on the beach with private terrace, semi open-air bathroom and rainfall shower.
Deluxe beach villas (112m²) are in groups of two with a shared pool and are ideal for families.
Water villas (100m²) are scattered on stilts over the blue lagoon, have direct access to the water from a private wooden deck, and an indoor bathroom with bath, rainfall shower and ocean views.
Restaurants
• Cuisine Gallery - Mediterranean inspired buffet dining infused with local flavours • A la carte option • Private dining - Candlelit diners on the beach or lobster dinners on the deserted island of Lonubo • Beachfront bar
Maafushivaru
Harmoniously combining a Maldivian paradise with contemporary indulgences, Maafushivaru is the very epitome of an island hideaway. With barefoot luxury surrounded by idyllic turquoise water and the archipelago’s finest coral reefs, its secret delight is a beautiful romantic and uninhabited sister island.
Facilities
-
Main buffet style restaurant
- A la carte and private dining options
- Romantic, uninhabited sister island
- Beachfront infinity pool
- Children's pool
- Beachfront bar
- Lounge
- Library
- Overwater spa
- Fitness centre
- Yoga pavilion
- Dive school
- Watersports
- Excursions
Swimming Pools
• Infinity edged fibre-optic lit swimming pool • Children's pool
Spa & Beauty
Sitting over the water with the uninterrupted views out to the Indian Ocean, the spa environment merges luxury interiors with nature in perfect harmony.
Treatment rooms:
- Two individual treatment rooms
- Couples treatment room with Jacuzzi
- Relaxation lounge and wet area with steam and sauna
- All spa rooms have private shower and terrace that opens out onto the sea
Therapies at the spa:
- Individual and couple's massages from around the world
- Ayurvedic treatments
- Body wraps and facials
- Beauty treatments
Location
An island just 500m in length and situated in the South Ari Atoll, 25 minutes by seaplane from Malé. Lonubo is a tiny uninhabited island just a short boat ride across from Maafushivaru.
Maafushivaru
Explore the surroundings
Destination introduction
Holidays in the Maldives conjure up images of white sands, swaying palm trees and crystal blue waters, creating that quintessential picture-perfect holiday bliss. Kuoni’s hand-picked island resorts offer everything from all inclusive Maldives holidays, to rustic island retreats and the world’s finest luxury accommodation. Savour gourmet dining, sensuous spas, spectacular diving and the most enchanting ocean sunsets.
Maldives holiday highlights - Admire sea views with a stay in a water villa, elevated over turquoise waters.
- Whilst most of our resorts have fabulous spas, look out for our ‘SPA’ labelled resorts for the finest in pampering indulgences.
- Discover a vibrant underwater world with a professional, supervised scuba-diving expedition. Browse some of our comprehensive dive packages.
- For the ultimate experience join the Atoll Explorer for a Maldives cruise around this beautiful country’s most magical atolls.
- All Inclusive Maldives holidays - For the complete hassle-free holiday look out for our specially negotiated All Inclusive deals.
- All Maldives holidays travelling on scheduled flights include access to the VIP lounge in Malé International Airport on your departure.
Diving
These idyllic coral islands rank amongst the best dive destinations in the world. In conjunction with Euro-Divers, we can offer quality diving packages in the Maldives which can be pre-booked in the UK.
The rare beauty of the magnificent underwater world has made these islands one of the most enchanting diving destinations in the world. When conditions are good the underwater visibility is at the highest level – sometimes exceeding 50 metres – and the warm water temperatures year round make diving in the Maldives a pleasure.
The North Malé Atoll is home to the Lion’s Head and Wattaru Kandu dive sites both of which are frequented by reef sharks. Wattaru Kandu is also home to stingrays and
garden eels whilst Lankanfinokhu, or Manta Point as it’s locally known, is a great place to see manta rays being cleaned by local colonies of cleaner fish.
Hukrueli in the South Malé Atoll is another place to see rays and cleaner fish and Maaya Thila, a protected marine area in this atoll is home to white-tip sharks, turtles, zebra morays and the elusive guitar shark.
Hanifaru lagoon in the Baa Atoll is one of the best places to see whale sharks and manta rays. June to September is the best time to see them as this is during the monsoon season and equinox when the lagoon is filled with plankton.
Important Notes: A medical certificate of physical fitness may be required and qualified divers must bring proof of diving certification and logbook. Please ensure that you purchase adequate insurance.
If you are travelling with any other form of insurance, we strongly recommend that you check the terms of your policy and if necessary take out extra cover. Dive prices shown do not include boat trips to and from dive sites. Boat trips approx. $10 per dive are payable locally. If you intend to learn to dive whilst you are in the Maldives, you must book a holiday of at least eight days duration (five days for the Scuba Diver courses). Open Water and Scuba Diver courses include the necessary equipment as required. Cost for logbook, certificate, course book and other course materials are not included. Costs per person approximately: US$140 (Certification alone: $85).
* Extra equipment required including mask, fins, snorkel, regulator with octopus and pressure gauge, BCD with inflater, 10 litre tank, weightbelt, weights and dive computer (compulsory for every diver) can be obtained locally at an extra charge. Full terms and conditions available on request.
Shopping
In Malé you’ll see plenty of street merchants selling beautiful Maldivian postage stamps. Those ragged dentures suspended outside gift shops are sharks’ jaws. Attractive T-shirts are stencilled before your eyes, generally with brilliantly coloured tropical fish.
The islanders are expert in carving coconut wood and use it to decorate their houses. Mat-weaving, basket-making and coir rope-making are other long-standing crafts. Mats are woven from haa grass. There is some highly developed lacquerwork and you may see examples of handloom weaving or jewellery handcrafted in gold and mother of pearl.