Snorkel with whale sharks year-round in the South Ari Marine Protected Area, then hop to Lonubo — your own deserted sandbank island — for a private sunset dinner.
An 81-villa South Ari island that became Outrigger in 2022, refurbished 2020. The standout is year-round whale shark snorkeling — the resort sits inside the South Ari Marine Protected Area, one of the only places on earth with confirmed year-round whale shark sightings. Lonubo, a deserted sandbank 200 m away, is bookable as a private day or dining experience.
Eighty-one villas across five categories — 56 overwater and 25 beach. All sit on the compact, triangular 350-metre island. The overwater line-up includes three sub-variants with pool, hot tub, and sunset orientation. The Two-Bedroom Beach Villa with Private Pool is the largest option at ~184 sqm. Lonubo private island is a 200-metre day-trip experience, not a villa.
Beach1 of 2
Beach Villas
From
$520
99–120 sqm ·Average size
Beach Villa99 sqmNo pool$520
Beach Villa with Private Pool120 sqmPool$680
Family1 of 2
Family Beach Villas
From
$780
116–184 sqm ·17% larger than avg
Family Beach Villa116 sqmNo pool$780
2BR Beach Villa with Private Pool184 sqmPool$1,120
Overwater2 of 3
Over Water Villas
From
$820
95 sqm ·26% smaller than avg
Over Water Villa95 sqmNo pool$820
Sunset Over Water Villa with Hot Tub95 sqmNo pool$940
Sunset Over Water Villa with Private Pool95 sqmPool$1,080
OverwaterAll pool
Over Water Villa with Private Pool
From
$1,240
151 sqm ·18% larger than avg
Over Water Villa with Private Pool151 sqmPool$1,240
Not sure which villa is right? We'll match you based on your group size, budget and priorities.
Prices shown are indicative low-season per night. See the season guide in the sidebar for how rates vary by time of year. We'll confirm exact pricing for your dates.
Dining
5 Restaurants & 1 Bar
Dining punches above the small island's weight. Cuisine Gallery is the international main with live cooking stations. Art-I-San perches at the island's highest point for fine dining with sunset views. Koto brings Japanese teppanyaki over the sunset lagoon. Moodhu Grill serves private grill dinners on five overwater platforms. Edgewater is the all-day pool bar and Kofee 'n Chill is the hammock-swing café.
Cuisine Gallery
International Buffet
The resort's main buffet restaurant with live cooking stations and themed evenings. Breakfast is 7:30–10am and dinner 7–9:30pm. Kids' menus available across all meals. Sits right on the beach with lagoon views.
SettingBeachside main · Live cooking stations · Breakfast + dinner
Our tipFriday seafood buffet night is the best themed evening
Moodhu Grill
Grill
Private-platform dining on five overwater decks suspended above the lagoon — each platform seats a couple or small group with its own service. Menu is lobster, shrimp, butcher cuts, and Middle-Eastern tandoor kebabs. Open 7–10pm.
Setting5 private overwater platforms · Open to stars · Reef below
Our tipBook in advance — only 5 platforms for the whole island
Art-I-San
Fine Dining
The resort's premier fine-dining restaurant, perched at the highest point on the island with balcony tables overlooking the lagoon. Modern Western plates with Asian accents and a curated wine list. Dinner 7–10pm; kids' menus available.
SettingHighest point on island · Balcony tables · Ocean views
Our tipSunset tables on the balcony book out a week ahead
Koto
Japanese
Small-plate Japanese dining over the sunset-facing lagoon. A central teppanyaki table hosts theatrical live cooking and the bar leans into sake-infused cocktails. There is also a Sunset Teepee on the beach nearby — a private dining pod bookable for two.
SettingIntimate · Over the sunset lagoon · Teppanyaki table
Our tipBook the teppanyaki counter for the theatre and chef interaction
Kofee 'n Chill
Cafe
An afternoon cafe and lounge with sand floors, hammock swings, and open-air seating. Coffee, island-made ice cream, patisserie, and affogatos. Open 11am–5pm. One of two smoking-permitted venues on the island.
Our tipIsland-made coconut ice cream is the signature order
Edgewater
Pool Bar
The resort's social hub by day and sundowner bar by night. Lagoon-facing pool lounge with cocktails, casual lunch, chef specials, and a sunset cocktail hour. Open 11am to midnight with live music on selected evenings.
Our tipSundowner cocktail hour with live music on Fridays
Meal Plans
Dining Inclusions
Four meal plans are offered. The Bed & Breakfast and Half Board plans cover Cuisine Gallery only. All-Inclusive is the most popular — all meals at Cuisine Gallery, house beverages at Edgewater, soft drinks and house water in-villa (replenished daily), non-motorised water sports, and one snorkeling excursion or sunset cruise per person per stay.
Moodhu Grill, Art-I-San, and Koto carry supplements even on AI. Lonubo private island is always a supplement.
Plan
Restaurants
Alcohol
Minibar
~pp/day
Bed & Breakfast
Cuisine Gallery (B)
—
—
Included
Half Board
Cuisine Gallery (B+D)
—
—
+$90
Full Board
Cuisine Gallery (B+L+D)
—
—
+$140
All-Inclusive
Cuisine Gallery + Edgewater drinks
House
Daily
+$230
Bed & BreakfastIncluded
Cuisine Gallery (B)
Alcohol —Minibar —
Half Board+$90 pp/day
Cuisine Gallery (B+D)
Alcohol —Minibar —
Full Board+$140 pp/day
Cuisine Gallery (B+L+D)
Alcohol —Minibar —
All-Inclusive+$230 pp/day
Cuisine Gallery + Edgewater drinks
Alcohol HouseMinibar Daily
Experiences & Activities
Your Days on the Island
South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA) is the draw — year-round whale shark sightings plus seasonal mantas at nearby Madivaru "Manta Point." The resort runs Whale Shark Quest excursions led by an in-house marine biologist. Lonubo, a deserted sandbank 200 m away, is bookable as a private day or destination-dining experience. The PADI dive centre is multilingual with 30+ local sites.
Water Sports & Diving
Year-round whale sharks · South Ari MPA · PADI dive centre
Whale Shark Quest excursionYear-round · led by the resort's marine biologist · South Ari MPA snorkel
Manta Point (Madivaru) tripSeasonal mantas at the cleaning station · 20 min by boat
PADI dive centreMultilingual instructors · 30+ sites · Open Water through Divemaster
House reef snorkelingFringing reef around the island · nurse sharks, blacktips, turtles, lobster
Coral reef restoration programmeMarine biologist-led — guests can plant frags in the resort's coral garden
Night snorkelingGuided sessions · nurse sharks, octopus, hunting reef fish
Kayaking (single and double)
Stand-up paddleboarding
Windsurfing
Catamaran sailing
Jet ski and water sports centre
South Ari Marine Protected Area — year-round whale sharks. Maafushivaru sits inside the South Ari Marine Protected Area, one of the only places on earth with confirmed year-round whale shark sightings. The Whale Shark Quest is the resort's signature excursion — snorkel-only, guided by the resident marine biologist, with success rates far higher than the seasonal Baa Atoll aggregations. Manta rays also visit year-round at nearby Madivaru "Manta Point" cleaning station.
Excursions & Cruises
Lonubo private island · dolphin cruises · destination dining
Lonubo Private Island day experience11am–3pm · $250/couple · deserted sandbank 200 m away
Lonubo Private Island dinnerPrivate boat 5:30pm · dinner from 7pm · $1,750/couple
Sunset dolphin cruiseTraditional dhoni · spinner dolphin pods in South Ari channels
Local island visitCultural trip to Dhangethi inhabited island · half-day
Sunset Teepee at KotoPrivate beach dining pod · bookable for two
Hideaway Teepee at Swing BeachRomantic beach dinner with private service
Moodhu Beach sunset cabana5-course sunset dinner on a private cabana deck
Traditional sunset fishing
Private yacht charter
Lonubo — your own deserted island for the day. Lonubo is a tiny uninhabited sandbank island 200 metres from Maafushivaru, bookable as a private exclusive experience. The day package ($250/couple) runs 11am–3pm with plush loungers, sunshades, and beverages — you have the whole island. The evening package ($1,750/couple) includes a private boat at 5:30pm and a destination dinner from 7pm under the stars. No other resort gets access to Lonubo.
Navasana SpaVoya and Yonka products · seaweed-based treatments
Couples' treatment suiteDual room with private post-treatment lounge
Overwater yoga pavilionDaily group sessions · private instruction available
Steam room and saunaComplimentary for spa guests
In-villa treatmentsTherapists come to your villa for privacy
Meditation sessions
Wellness consultations
Sports & Recreation
Destination dining · beach games · Maldivian culture
Floating breakfastServed in your villa pool or deck
Sunset Teepee diningBeach dining pod with private service
Cultural Maldivian nightBodu Beru drumming and traditional dance show
Cooking class with resort chefMaldivian and South Asian cuisine workshops
Beach volleyball
Table tennis
Board games and library
Beach bicycles
Kids & Family
Treehouse Kids Retreat · Banyan tree setting · marine biologist led
Treehouse Kids RetreatAges 4–12 · under the island's ancient banyan tree
Marine biology sessionsLed by the resident marine biologist · age-appropriate
Babysitting on request24 hours' notice · trained caregivers
Kids free under 11Stay free in parents' villa on most rates
Family Beach Villa116 sqm with master + 2 singles · sleeps 5
Kids' menus across all restaurants
Supervised pool activities
Family & Kids
Family-Friendly Features
The kids club is an actual treehouse built under a massive banyan tree — kids spend the day doing crafts, treasure hunts, and snorkelling the shallow lagoon. The real showstopper is the South Ari whale sharks: this is one of the few places on earth where they're around all year, and older kids can snorkel alongside them. Two children under 12 stay and eat free, and families can book a day trip to uninhabited Lonubo Island for a private beach picnic.
Treehouse Kids Retreat
Ages 4-12 · Free
Under 12 (x2) Stay Free
Under 12 (x2, on meal plan) eat free
Babysitting
$20/hr
Shallow Lagoon
Calm, shallow water safe for young children
Highlights for Kids
Treehouse kids clubWhale shark snorkellingTreasure hunts along the shoreOutdoor movie nights
Family Villa Options
Beach Family VillaTwo-Bedroom Beach Villa with Private Pool
Snorkeling & Marine Life
House Reef & Underwater
8.2
Excellent House Reef
Lux Atolls Reef Score · top 20% of Maldives resorts
Shore and villa-step entry · fringing reef around island · complimentary gear
South Ari MPA whale sharks year-round · Madivaru mantas · blacktips and nurse sharks on the house reef
A healthy fringing reef wraps the compact triangular island with direct shore access from all villas. Resident blacktip reef sharks, nurse sharks, turtles, and lobster live on the house reef; eagle rays and stingrays cruise the drop-off. The real draw is what sits outside — South Ari MPA whale sharks year-round and Madivaru manta point — both reachable on resort excursions. Coral recovery is supported by an in-house reef restoration programme.
Regularly spotted here (+8)
Reef Sharks
Blacktip reef sharks on the house reef · nurse sharks resting under ledges
Sea Turtles
Green turtles graze the lagoon · regular sightings on the house reef
Stingrays
Eagle rays and blue-spotted stingrays on the drop-off and lagoon
Spotted on guided night snorkels with the dive centre
Dolphins
Spinner dolphin pods in South Ari channels on sunset cruises
Whale Sharks
Year-round in South Ari MPA · Whale Shark Quest excursions weekly
Manta Rays
Madivaru (Manta Point) cleaning station · 20 min by boat
PADI dive center on-site. Night snorkeling available. Marine life observations sourced from dive logs and guest reports.
Getting There
Transfer from Malé
Maafushivaru sits 96 km southwest of Male in South Ari Atoll. The only transfer is a 25-minute seaplane flight operated by Trans Maldivian Airways. Seaplanes are daylight-only — arrivals need to land by 3:30pm to catch the last flight by 4pm. Late arrivals require an airport overnight or domestic flight workaround that we can arrange.
Only option
Seaplane
Velana Airport → Maafushivaru (~25 min) · Daylight only
~$475 pp roundtrip
Seaplane daylight only. Arrivals after ~3:30pm need an airport overnight — we handle the booking.
Resort island map — Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort
Our Take
Who This Resort is For
Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru's positioning is clear: year-round whale sharks and a private sandbank island. Those two USPs alone make it a serious contender in South Ari. The 2020 refurbishment modernised most of the villas, the Outrigger 2022 takeover added the Treehouse Kids Retreat and polished up the dining operation. It's not the most luxurious option in the atoll — Conrad and LUX* sit above it — but it is one of the best positioned for marine-life chasers, and the Lonubo private island experience is a genuine one-of-a-kind.
Ideal for
Whale shark fanatics — year-round sightings in South Ari MPA, resort marine biologist-led excursions
Divers — PADI dive centre, 30+ local sites, Madivaru Manta Point 20 min away
Families — Treehouse Kids Retreat (4–12), family villas, kids free under 11, marine biology programmes
Couples wanting overwater without a huge bill — 56 overwater villas, sunset hot tub options from $940
Consider elsewhere if
Ultra-luxury travellers — a solid 5-star, not a Gili Lankanfushi or One&Only peer
All-inclusive purists — Moodhu Grill, Art-I-San, Koto and Lonubo all carry supplements
Remote-island seekers — 81 villas on a 350-metre island means neighbours are nearby
Those who want pool villas only — several beach and overwater categories have no pool option
Season & Pricing Guide
Dec 20 – Jan 10Peak · Highest rates
Jan 11 – Apr 15High · +30–50%
Apr 16 – May 31Shoulder · +10–20%
Oct 1 – Dec 19Shoulder · +10–20%
Jun 1 – Sep 30Low · Best value
Peak season fills 4+ months ahead. Shoulder season offers the best balance of weather, price and availability.
Why Book Through Lux Atolls
More Than Just a Booking
What you get with us vs. booking direct or through a generic OTA
Book with Lux Atolls
Best rate guarantee on partner resorts — we match or beat what you find elsewhere
Exclusive package inclusions negotiated through our direct resort relationships
Transparent pricing — transfers, taxes, and meal plans quoted upfront, no hidden fees
Personal trip advisor — villa matching, meal plan guidance, and honest recommendations
Maldives-only expertise — we know every reef, transfer route, and seasonal sweet spot
Direct resort contact — if something needs fixing, we call the GM, not a call centre
No booking fees, no hidden charges — the price we quote is the price you pay
Book Through Others
Published rack rate — no negotiated extras
No package inclusions beyond the standard rate
Transfer costs and taxes added at checkout
Generic customer support with no local knowledge
One-size-fits-all recommendations across dozens of destinations
Issues routed through a ticketing system, not a person
Hidden fees and service charges added late in the process
Frequently Asked Questions
Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort — FAQ
How do you get to Outrigger Maafushivaru from Male airport?
By seaplane — a 25-minute flight from Velana International Airport operated by Trans Maldivian Airways. Round-trip transfer is approximately USD 475 per adult and USD 285 per child (2–11). Seaplanes are daylight-only: arrivals must land by 3:30pm to catch the last flight at 4pm.
Can you see whale sharks year-round at Outrigger Maafushivaru?
Yes. Maafushivaru sits inside the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA), one of the only places on earth with confirmed year-round whale shark sightings. The resort runs a Whale Shark Quest excursion led by the in-house marine biologist, with snorkel-only access. Manta rays are also sighted year-round at nearby Madivaru Manta Point.
What is Lonubo Private Island?
Lonubo is a tiny deserted sandbank island 200 metres from Maafushivaru, bookable as an exclusive experience. The day package ($250/couple) runs 11am–3pm with private loungers, sunshades, and beverages. The evening package ($1,750/couple) includes a private boat at 5:30pm and a destination dinner from 7pm. No other resort has access to Lonubo.
Is Outrigger Maafushivaru family-friendly?
Yes. Kids under 11 stay free in their parents' villa on most rate plans. The Treehouse Kids Retreat (ages 4–12) sits under the island's ancient banyan tree with marine-biology sessions led by the resident biologist. Two-bedroom beach villas sleep up to 5, and babysitting is available on 24 hours' notice.
Is Outrigger Maafushivaru all-inclusive?
Yes, there is an All-Inclusive plan covering meals at Cuisine Gallery, house beverages at Edgewater, soft drinks and house water in-villa, non-motorised water sports, and one snorkeling excursion or sunset cruise per person per stay. Moodhu Grill, Art-I-San, Koto, and Lonubo all carry supplements even on AI.
PricingGet your secret price
Secret Price
Custom package · Your villa choice · Meal plan · Transfers
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