Nearly 1,200 coral islands spread across 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean, none more than three metres above the sea: for many people, the Maldives is the very definition of paradise. Powder-fine white sand, lagoons of an unreal turquoise, reefs bursting with life and overwater villas on stilts with the sea right beneath you. It's the honeymoon destination par excellence, but also one of the best places on the planet for diving and snorkelling. For decades it was an almost unattainable luxury, under the "one island, one resort" rule: each hotel takes up its own private islet, all-inclusive, with prices of hundreds of dollars a night. But since tourism was allowed on the inhabited islands, a far more affordable Maldives has appeared: the guesthouses on local islands like Maafushi or Thulusdhoo, where you sleep for a fraction of the price, eat fresh fish and share the everyday life of the Maldivians. They're two very different ways of experiencing the same country. On the resort islands, privacy and all-inclusive rule; on the local islands you need to respect Muslim customs —modest dress away from the bikini beach, no alcohol— in exchange for a much cheaper and more authentic trip. You fly into Malé, pay for almost everything in dollars and hop between islands by seaplane, speedboat or public ferry. Choosing the right atoll and time of year is half the trip.
For many people, the Maldives is the very definition of paradise: nearly 1,200 coral islands spread across 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean, with powder-fine white sand, lagoons of an unreal turquoise and reefs bursting with life. It's the honeymoon destination par excellence and one of the best places on the planet for diving and snorkelling. Latin American travellers tend to see it as out of reach, but since tourism was allowed on the inhabited islands, a second, much cheaper and more authentic Maldives exists alongside it.
There are two very different ways to experience the same country. The resort islands work under the 'one island, one resort' rule: each hotel occupies its own private islet, all-inclusive, with overwater villas and prices of hundreds or thousands of dollars a night. The local islands (like Maafushi or Thulusdhoo) have budget guesthouses where you sleep for a fraction of the price, eat fresh fish and share the everyday life of the Maldivians, in exchange for respecting Muslim customs away from the tourist beach.
The best part is that the postcard is completely real: the water and the reefs exceed any expectation. What's surprising is that, by choosing the right atoll, season and a local island, you can visit without being a millionaire; and also how fragile it all is, as the flattest, lowest-lying country in the world, threatened by rising seas.
The official currency is the Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR, sometimes written rufiyā), divided into 100 laari, but in practice tourists hardly use it: resorts, hotels, excursions and many guesthouses charge directly in US dollars (USD), the reference currency for tourism. As a guide, 1 dollar is worth about 15 rufiyaa, with a fairly stable exchange rate, though it's worth checking the day's rate. Credit cards are accepted without problems at resorts, hotels and many shops (sometimes with a surcharge), but it's a good idea to carry some cash in dollars in small notes for tips, small shops and transfers. You only need rufiyaa for very local things: the state public ferries, neighbourhood cafés in Malé and small purchases on the inhabited islands. There's no need to change large sums: you can withdraw rufiyaa from ATMs in Malé and Hulhumalé if needed. Tipping isn't mandatory but is appreciated: a few dollars for the guesthouse staff, the dive boat crew or the guide.
Full converter for MVR →Almost all travellers arrive by air at Velana International Airport (code MLE), on the island of Hulhulé, next to the capital, Malé. It's the country's main hub, connected to the Middle East (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Istanbul), Asia (Colombo, Singapore, Bangkok, India) and Europe. There are no direct flights from Latin America: the usual route goes via a connection in Europe (Madrid, Istanbul) or the Gulf (Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi). Once in the Maldives, the transfer to your accommodation is part of the adventure and can be expensive, so keep it in mind when choosing an island. There are three ways to get between atolls: the seaplane, which lands on the water and reaches distant resorts with spectacular views (the most expensive option); the speedboat, the most common option for islands close to Malé; and the state public ferries, slow and infrequent but very cheap, ideal for budget travellers moving between local islands. For the deep south (Addu, Fuvahmulah) or Baa Atoll there are also domestic flights with Maldivian to regional airports, followed by a boat ride. It's worth telling two worlds apart: the resort islands, private, all-inclusive and pricey, and the inhabited local islands, with budget guesthouses, local food and modest dress rules away from the beach reserved for tourists.
The Maldives has a warm tropical climate all year round (28-31 °C), and two monsoons make the difference. The dry season (iruvai), from November to April, is the best and the high season: lots of sun, calm seas, little rain and perfect underwater visibility. It's ideal for snorkelling, diving, photos and honeymoons, although it's also when resort and guesthouse prices are highest, especially at Christmas, New Year and Easter.
The wet season (hulhangu), from May to October, brings more humidity, the odd shower and slightly rougher seas, but also the best prices and some real advantages: it's surf season and the best time to see manta rays and whale sharks in Baa Atoll (Hanifaru Bay). Rains are usually short and don't ruin the trip. If your priority is diving with mantas or surfing, or if you're looking to save, this shoulder season is a great option. Keep Ramadan in mind (the date shifts every year): on local islands many shops adjust their hours, although resorts operate as normal.
Maldivian cuisine revolves around fish (especially tuna) and coconut. Typical dishes: mas huni (shredded tuna with grated coconut, onion and chilli, the classic breakfast with roshi flatbread), fish curries with rice, and 'hedhika', fried snacks like gulha or bajiya eaten with sweet tea in local cafés. On the local islands the food is home-style, tasty and cheap; at the resorts it's all buffets or high-end international restaurants.
Your food budget depends on which world you choose. On a local island, a full meal of fish and rice at a café costs around USD 5-10, and many guesthouses include breakfast. At resorts almost everything is 'all-inclusive' or on board plans, with very high à la carte prices. Watch out for one key detail: alcohol is NOT sold on the inhabited islands (it's a Muslim country); you can only get it at resorts and on the odd licensed floating boat. It's best to drink bottled or desalinated water. A tip of a few dollars is appreciated. (Prices verified July 2026.)
The Maldives is a very safe destination for tourists: crime is low and on the resort islands, being private, it's practically non-existent. On the local islands and in Malé the rules of a Muslim country apply, so the main 'precaution' is about cultural respect rather than safety: away from the 'bikini beach' reserved for tourists you should dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered), not carry alcohol and be discreet with displays of affection. The real risks come from the sea: currents, sharp coral (wear water shoes) and the intense sun.
Health-wise, there are no mandatory vaccines for entry (except a yellow fever certificate if you're coming from an endemic country and passed through a risk area). Medical care is basic outside Malé: many islands only have a health post, and a serious emergency may require a seaplane evacuation, which is extremely expensive, so travel insurance with good coverage is essential. Tap water is desalinated; to be safe, drink bottled. The emergency numbers are 119 (police) and 102 (ambulance).
The Maldives can cost anywhere from about USD 60 to over USD 1,000 a day depending on the world you choose. The affordable version means local islands: in Maafushi or Thulusdhoo, a guesthouse with breakfast costs USD 40-100 a night, you eat fish for USD 5-10, and excursions (snorkelling, sandbank, dolphins) cost around USD 25-40 each. With that, a couple can travel for USD 80-150 per person per day, all the essentials included. The state public ferry from Malé costs just USD 3-5 (though it's slow and infrequent).
The other Maldives, the one of overwater-villa resorts, starts at several hundred dollars a night and has no ceiling, plus seaplane transfers, which alone can cost USD 200-500 per person return. A trick to try the luxury without going broke is to stay on a local island and buy a resort 'day pass'. Prices verified July 2026: Malé-Maafushi speedboat USD 25-30, scuba dive USD 50-80, resort day pass varies. Almost everything is paid in dollars and by card at resorts.
The official language is Dhivehi, but English is widely spoken throughout the tourism sector, so you'll get by without any trouble; Spanish isn't spoken. The Maldives is a 100% Muslim country and that sets the rules outside the resorts: on the inhabited islands you need to dress modestly (no bikinis outside the designated tourist beach), alcohol and pork are neither sold nor consumed, and it's best to be respectful during Ramadan and prayer times. On the resort islands, by contrast, there's a relaxed international atmosphere, with bikinis and alcohol allowed.
On the practical side: plugs are mainly types D and G (three-pin, British/Indian style), at 230V, so bring an adapter. Connectivity is good; buy a tourist SIM (Dhiraagu or Ooredoo) at Velana airport, or an eSIM before you travel; many resorts provide wifi. Two key tips: first, choose your atoll and island carefully based on what you're after (snorkelling, surfing, peace and quiet) because transfers are expensive and slow; and second, submit the mandatory Traveller Declaration online within 96 hours before travelling. Many resorts set their internal clock an hour ahead ('resort time') to make the most of the daylight.
The history of the Maldives is that of a string of tiny islands scattered across the Indian Ocean, a country made almost entirely of water: some 1,192 coral islands grouped into 26 natural atolls, of which barely 190 are inhabited, spread across more than 800 kilometres of ocean southwest of India and Sri Lanka. On this fragile, luminous geography, sailors from southern India and Ceylon built a civilisation of their own more than two thousand years ago, with its own language, Dhivehi, and its own kings, first Buddhist and, from 1153, Muslim, who made these islands a key stopover on the old spice, cowrie and coconut routes.
A crossroads for Arab, Persian, Malay and African traders, the Maldives was an independent sultanate for almost eight centuries. It resisted a brutal Portuguese occupation in the 16th century, lived as a British protectorate until 1965 and has since followed a bumpy road: the long autocracy of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the first democratic election in 2008, and its transformation, in barely half a century, into one of the most coveted tourist destinations on the planet under the "one island, one resort" model. Today this country, the flattest on Earth with an average height of barely a metre and a half above the sea, has also become the world's symbol of the fight against climate change: to understand the Maldives is to understand both a paradise and a warning.
Read the full history of Maldives →Pick a region and open each destination to see what to do, prices and how to get there.
These are the sources we cite most across this country's guides, with how many times each appears. Hard data —tickets, opening hours, requirements, transport— comes from the official source and carries the date we checked it. Restaurant and hotel picks come from guides and reviews, and we say so on each page.
