Mathiveri Island Maldives – Full Guide & 10 Best Things
Mathiveri is the perfect island for easy access to one of the most beautiful picnic islands we’ve ever seen, snorkeling with stingrays and manta rays, and even exploring a cool shipwreck. You’ll also love the dolphin encounters, sandbank trips, and fun water sports.
In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about Mathiveri and the best things to do while you’re there.
Why choose Mathiveri Island?
3 reasons to visit Mathiveri Island:
1. Picnic Island
One of the main reasons we wanted to visit Mathiveri was its proximity to a stunning Picnic Island. Mathiveri Finholu, a small, uninhabited paradise, lies just 100 meters away from Mathiveri. At low tide, you can walk across, while at high tide, it’s accessible by swimming, kayaking, or boat.
2. Manta Rays
Snorkeling with manta rays is one of the most popular activities in the Maldives. A good spot with a high daily chance of encountering manta rays is located between Mathiveri and Ukulhas Islands. This proximity allows these islands to offer more affordable rates for manta ray excursions compared to others further away. Mathiveri is ideal if you prefer avoiding the busier Ukulhas but still want to experience manta rays. Another excellent island for manta ray sightings is Omadhoo, located in the southern part of Ari Atoll, perfect for combining with a visit to Dhigurah Island.
3. Authentic Island
Where is Mathiveri Island Located?
Map of Mathiveri Island
Open our free map pins in Google Maps to save them for your next trip.
Best Time to Visit Mathiveri Island?
The Maldives enjoys a tropical climate, which means it’s warm all year. Mathiveri Island is a destination you can visit at any time, making it a great choice for travel. The dry season spans from November to April, while the rainy season lasts from May to October.
Although there’s a higher chance of rain during the wet season, there are still plenty of sunny days. We visited in March and August and experienced wonderful weather on both trips. If you’re visiting during the rainy season, plan to stay an extra day on each island in case it rains. It’s worth it for the cheaper accommodation!
- Dry season (Nov-Apr): Better chances of sunny skies and calm seas, but also more tourists and higher prices for lodging.
- Rainy season (May-Oct): Cheaper stays, fewer crowds, with a higher chance of rain and rougher waters.
How Long to Stay in Mathiveri?
The ideal length of stay on Mathiveri Island in the Maldives can vary depending on your interests and travel goals. Generally, a stay of 3 to 5 days allows you to enjoy the island’s top activities. Check out the 10 best things to do in Mathiveri and decide based on how many experiences you want to tick off.
Top 3 Hotels in Mathiveri
- Budget ($): Mystic Retreat
- Mid-range ($$): Captal Island Villa
- Luxury ($$$): La Pearl
How to Get to Mathiveri Island?
First, fly to Malé International Airport (MLE), the starting point of your journey to the island. We found very affordable direct flights to Malé from Kuala Lumpur (50 USD), Colombo (80 USD), and Abu Dhabi (80 USD).
By Speedboat to Mathiveri
The most common way to reach Mathiveri Island is by taking a direct, twice-daily 1.5-hour speedboat from Malé. It’s recommended to book this in advance through your accommodation or on 12go.
By Ferry to Mathiveri
The most authentic, budget-friendly, but also time-consuming way to reach Mathiveri Island is by public ferry. This is the typical mode of travel for locals in the Maldives.
First, take a ferry from Malé to Rasdhoo, followed by another ferry from Rasdhoo to Mathiveri. The entire journey takes approximately 6 hours, including a 1-hour lunch stop in Rasdhoo, and is available only a few times a week. Be sure to check the updated schedule on the MCTT website. Additionally, Mathiveri is connected by ferry to Feridhoo, Bodhufulhufhoo, and Ukulhas.
Maldivian local ferries are frequently delayed and can even be canceled at the last minute due to weather conditions. If your ferry is canceled in the morning (as they usually all depart in the morning), you can still try to take a morning or afternoon speedboat to your desired location.
How to Get Around on Mathiveri Island?
Getting around Mathiveri Island is easy, with most places accessible within just 5 to 10 minutes on foot. We love that everything is within walking distance from your hotel, including the beach, pier, and restaurants, allowing us to stroll barefoot everywhere, a true Maldivian experience.
Additionally, some guesthouses offer bicycle rentals, providing a fun and leisurely way to explore the island.
Where to Stay in Mathiveri Island?
We love the local islands of the Maldives for many reasons, and one of them is the accommodations. We’ve never seen a place with such high ratings (9+) for all types of stays, including budget options. Even the lower-rated places are still good (8.5+). Check it out on Booking.com! And don’t forget to compare prices on Agoda.com for the best deals.
In Mathiveri, most accommodations are run by locals, so you can expect friendly service and an authentic experience.
The best accommodations in Mathiveri, across various price ranges, are:
- Budget ($): Mystic Retreat
- Mid-range ($$): Captal Island Villa
- Luxury ($$$): La Pearl
BUDGET TIP: Accommodations in the Maldives typically offer breakfast included in the room price, providing a great opportunity to save money.
Best Food in Mathiveri
In the Maldives, most accommodations include breakfast in the room price. If you can choose between a continental and a Maldivian breakfast, be sure to try the Maldivian option at least once! It usually features mas huni, a mix of tuna, coconut, onions, and lime, served with flatbread. You won’t regret it; it’s incredibly delicious!
For lunch and dinner, we highly recommend Koba Chai Cafe & Bistro – Irube Cafe, which serves both Maldivian and Western dishes. Our favorites were the crispy chicken burger and the butter chicken with rice. Trust us, you’ll thank us later!
Here are our top restaurant recommendations in Mathiveri:
10 Best Things to Do in Mathiveri
1. Explore Picnic Island “Mathiveri Funolhu”
The picnic island near Mathiveri called Mathiveri Funolhu is gorgeous! It’s one of the most accessible picnic islands in the Maldives. You can get there for free by walking or swimming from Mathiveri’s Bikini Beach—it’s just 100 meters away, depending on the sea level and tides. Be cautious of the current, as it changes every hour.
If you’d rather not get wet, rent a kayak, paddleboard, jet ski, or even a private boat. We went there every day and loved it! It’s rarely crowded, and the island is big enough to find your little private spot. It’s also an amazing place to catch the sunset, but make sure you head back before it gets too dark.
2. Enjoy Bikini Beach
Mathiveri has a beautiful Bikini Beach that’s perfect for relaxing. It’s long, with swings under palm trees and shady spots where the forest meets the water. Local vendors sometimes sell fresh coconuts and might even climb a tree to get one right in front of you—it’s usually around 1 euro, including cutting. From here, you’ll have a great view of the picnic island.
There’s also a smaller, quieter bikini beach called Sunset Beach that’s worth checking out. Remember, you can only wear swimsuits on designated bikini beaches on the local islands of the Maldives.
REMEMBER: Swimwear can only be worn inside the designated bikini beach area.
3. Public Beach “Stingray Beach”
The public beach in Mathiveri is such a chill spot. It has shady picnic areas where you can escape the midday heat, eat some ice cream, or play cards. Nearby, there’s a cool palm tree forest that’s perfect for photos. The beach leads to a shallow lagoon that extends for hundreds of meters, and if you swim or kayak a bit farther out, you might spot some giant stingrays. This is why the public beach is called Stingray Beach.
Top 3 Hotels in Mathiveri
- Budget ($): Mystic Retreat
- Mid-range ($$): Captal Island Villa
- Luxury ($$$): La Pearl
4. Shipwreck Diving
We found a shipwreck near Mathiveri by checking out Google Maps pins, and it turned out to be amazing! It’s only 4–6 meters deep, so if you’re a decent diver, you can explore it up close. It’s a great addition to other tours, such as manta ray snorkeling, sandbank trips or dolphin safaris.
5. Manta Rays Snorkeling
Swimming with manta rays is unforgettable, and Mathiveri is one of the best spots to do it. The manta ray point is nearby, between the islands of Mathiveri and Ukulhas, which means it’s more affordable to visit from here than from other islands. You’ll see lots of manta rays at once if you’re lucky! Most tours include fins, masks, drinking water, and sometimes even GoPro shots.
6. Sandbank and Dolphin Trips
The sandbank trip we took was pure magic! We had the sandbank Dhinolhu Finolhu, just 5 minutes from Mathiveri, all to ourselves and could stay as long as we wanted. These tiny islands appear and disappear with the tides, making them super special. For an epic day, combine a sandbank trip with a dolphin safari… you won’t regret it.
7. Shark Viewpoint and Feeding Point
Mathiveri has a shark viewpoint, similar to Rasdhoo and Omadhoo. You can see nurse sharks, reef sharks, and giant stingrays up close. Locals often throw organic waste into the water, and the sharks know it’s snack time. It’s a cool experience!
8. Island Hopping: Feridhoo Island
If you feel like exploring more, take a day trip to Feridhoo! It’s a lush, green island that’s easy to reach by ferry (except on Fridays) or speedboat. Thoddoo Island is another great option, especially if you want to snorkel with turtles at Turtle Point.
9. Lost Place: Madoogali Island
One of the locals told us about Madoogali Island, a lost place that used to be a private resort. Now, it’s abandoned and a lot of fun to explore. You can swim, snorkel, and feel like you’ve stepped into a forgotten paradise.
10. Watersports
For thrill-seekers, Mathiveri has lots of watersports to choose from. We had a blast jet skiing and kneeboarding.
Where to Go After Mathiveri?
Here are some simple suggestions for where to go after Mathiveri. All these islands are located in the North Ari Atoll, making them accessible by public boat almost every day from Mathiveri, except on Fridays.
- Feridhoo: A small, less touristy island almost entirely covered in nature, with an amazing bikini beach.
- Rasdhoo: Ideal for a short stop when arriving by ferry from Malé, offering excellent diving opportunities with top-notch dive centers and impressive dive sites.
- Ukulhas: A bustling island with a wide range of accommodations, restaurants, tours, and activities to choose from.
- Thoddoo: A lush, green island famous for its fresh fruits, plantations, white sandy beaches, and turtle snorkeling right from the shore.
Bodhufulhufhoo: Located next to Mathiveri. Out of the 12 islands we explored in the Maldives, this was the only one we didn’t enjoy and cannot recommend. Of course, this is just our personal opinion, and your experience might be completely different.
Conclusion
We loved Mathiveri because it had a bit of everything. It was somewhere between a popular island like Ukulhas and hidden gems such as Feridhoo or Omadhoo. It offered all the experiences you’d want in the Maldives, and the Picnic Island alone was reason enough to visit.
Personal Tip: If you’re deciding between Ukulhas and Mathiveri, choose the latter for a quieter experience on a less developed island with a more natural feel. Opt for Ukulhas if you’re looking to connect with people and prefer a wider range of activities, hotels, and restaurants.
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