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A trip to the Maldives requires a little pre-planning. In fact, more than a typical holiday, where once you have the hotel and flight booked, there is nothing else to worry about.
Besides packing the right clothes for the Maldives, you also need to decide on a few holiday features before heading off to this tropical paradise. There is the big question of whether you will spend your time on an inhabited island, living in a guesthouse, or on a private resort.
If it is the latter, you must pick the best possible room as per your preference. A beachside villa will give you ample space to play around. On the other hand, an overwater bungalow is a novelty that only a few places around the world offer. There’s also the decision to either go full or half board, based on your eating and drinking habits.
Once all that is complete, you then must pick your mode of transportation in the Maldives. That’s your transfer to the island. The question here is, will you take the cheap but slow ferry, the convenient speedboat, or a quick but expensive seaplane flight? And that’s about it!
Well almost! While travelers are busy deciding on the above, they often forget about transport on the islands.
Factors affecting transportation choice
Island transportation in the Maldives alters based on three primary factors. Once you narrow down your final destination, you can get a better idea of what is available or not.
Island type
Transportation options on an island depend significantly on whether it is a resort or a local island. The former will have their own set of conveyances on offer, free to use for guests.
If it is inhabited, there might be a few different vehicles available for rent. But this depends on the size and population of the island.
Size of the island
No matter the type of island you are staying on, size is a big factor in whether you will need a mode of transport or not. The bigger the size, the more choices you have and will end up using.
Resort accommodation
When staying on an island resort, you may or may not need a vehicle to travel, depending on your accommodation. If you have a room next to the beach, then make the most of the Maldivan mantra “no shoes, no news.” But if you are staying in an overwater bungalow, check how you can go back and forth between the main island and your room.
Having discussed the factors, it is finally time to look at the seven different modes of transportation on a Maldivian island.
Legs
Good news for budget travelers in the Maldives! Most of the islands you can visit in this archipelago are walkable. That means significant cost savings in terms of transportation.
On some islands, you might have to walk 15 to 20 minutes to reach its bikini beach. While on others, it will be right next to your guesthouse.
Even the capital, Malé, is a fun city to discover on foot. Moreover, walking on inhabited islands allows you to meet and mingle with the residents and learn about their lives.
However, even if staying on a resort, do carry a nice pair of beach slippers. And for some of the more populated and bigger inhabited islands, there’s no harm in packing walking shoes.
Boat
Water surrounds you permanently in the Maldives, so travel by boat is apparent. If wanting to visit a nearby sandbank, you can hop a ride with a local fisherman on his dhoni or borrow a glass-bottom kayak from your resort.
Similarly, many resorts also organize speedboat transfers to nearby deserted islands where you can plan a romantic dinner with your loved one.
Bicycle
Sustainable and convenient, bicycles are a popular mode of transport in the Maldives, be it on an inhabited (except maybe Malé) or resort island.
On local islands, guesthouses typically offer free bicycles to their guests, which is a great way to explore the area without getting tired. Remember, it does get boiling in the Maldives, so walking isn’t always preferable.
A bicycle can come in handy on larger resorts if you want to venture out and find quieter nooks and corners away from the main beach. Similarly, many overwater bungalows come with individual bicycles. As a result, guests can easily ride to the central areas without walking the wooden plank every time.
Of course, the most significant advantage of riding a bicycle is the fresh air you get to breathe while traversing through the lushness of the beautiful islands.
Golf cart
Technically you won’t get to drive a golf cart while staying in most Maldivian resorts. However, they are a standard transport option used, once again, to pick and drop guests from overwater bungalows, the boat jetty upon arrival, or different locations on the island.
The staff also uses golf carts for other operations, such as carrying luggage and rushing across the island to attend to guest needs. When staying in an overwater bungalow, you will typically call your thakuru, a personal butler, who will then come himself or send someone in a golf cart to pick you up from the room.
Moped
You’ll see an abundance of mopeds in Malé and some of the larger inhabited islands. For tourists, it is possible to rent one or maybe hitch a ride with someone.
Since the islands are small, renting a moped doesn’t make much sense unless you want to test your driving skills on the busy roads and streets of Malé.
Bus
A limited number of buses run on fixed routes in Malé and Hulhumalé. They are a great way to travel around if you have time or want to save money. Most trips on a bus will cost you about $0.20. Buses available at Malé Airport will take you all the way to Hulhumalé.
Taxi
Malé and Addu are the only two cities you will find taxis in the Maldives. The concept of shared taxis is quite popular, and you can even hail a cab on the road.
Furthermore, taxis are air-conditioned and a welcome respite if you have been walking and sightseeing in the sweltering heat for a long time.
Still, if you want a private one, book it through your hotel. Due to small distances, a typical taxi ride costs $1.30. However, there is a night-time surcharge when you book a taxi after 11:00 PM.
Pro-Tip
After arriving at Malé, book a land taxi at the airport directly with the cab company. Car transfers pre-organized by hotels are typically more expensive.
N.B.:all information is correct as of the post publication date, and prices are subjected to change.
