Fushi Beach Fenfushi

Fenfushi is a friendly, smiling local island with a peaceful feel and a large, beautiful beach that was still quite empty, as there are only four guesthouses. There’s a restaurant by the port with ocean views and affordable local food, plus two cafes and a diving center. The island is in the southern part of the Arii Atoll, administratively Alif Dhaal Atoll, and trips to see whale sharks and mantas are organized in the region. You can reach the island by local ferry with a change at Mahibadhoo, speedboat, or a flight to nearby Maamigili followed by a 10-minute boat ride. Our stay at Fushi Beach Guest House was a success, largely thanks to the owner, who was incredibly hospitable, polite, and helpful. He picks guests up at the port by car and drives them across the island in about 2 minutes. After check-in, he showed us around, including the old mosque and cemetery and the tourist beach, where the guesthouse has sunbeds for guests. He even joined us for breakfast at a local restaurant the next day and looked after us throughout the stay. He would change room and beach towels and refill the tea and coffee supplies when asked. He was also a big help arranging transfers to and from Male. Keep in mind that Friday is a public holiday, so local ferries don’t run. The alternatives are a USD 45 speedboat or help booking a flight from Maamigili. With the owner’s help, that cost half as much as trying to buy a ticket ourselves. The guesthouse also works with White Tern, where you can book trips to see whale sharks and mantas nearby. The building is spacious and shaded from the sun, less than 100 m from the local beach. Bikini beach is across the island and takes under 10 minutes to reach on foot. The clean, large rooms have bathrooms, garden view windows, air conditioning, a kettle, and a fridge. Breakfast is included at a local restaurant about a 5-minute walk away. All in all, 5+.