After spending a few days on the beautiful Maldives’s Fulidhoo Island and the gorgeous beaches in the Vavuu Atoll, it’s time to head to Male’s Velana International Airport to catch your flight home.
What is the best way to go from Fulidhoo to the Airport?
There are two transportation options to take – a speedboat or the public ferry. Both are fantastic options depending on what time you need to get to the airport and your budget.
We took the ferry route which actually needed two different ferry rides. They were slow-paced, pleasant rides that were super affordable.
So, continue reading to learn more about these options and see which is suitable for you!
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Here are some things to consider before taking either the speedboat or public ferry
- How much time do you have to get to Male or the Airport?
- How much do you want to spend?
- Do you get seasick?
Take a Speedboat – Quicker & More Expensive Route
Quick Summary
- Fast transfer in 1 hour
- 2 Departures a day
- $40 per person
You may have taken a speedboat when transferring from Male Airport to the other local islands or during snorkeling excursion tours.
The 25 to 28 passenger speedboat rides will take you from Fulidhoo to the Airport in only 1 hour on any day of the week! If you’re pressed for time and need to get to the Airport ASAP, the speedboat ride is the best option.
How can you reserve the ride? Ask your accommodation to arrange.
Our accommodation, Luau Beach Inn, asked us the day before our departure date if we wanted to take a speedboat to the Airport.
The speedboat companies they work with have two departure times – 7:30am and 1:30pm.
The cost is $40 USD per person.
If you have motion sickness or seasickness, the speedboat ride may be a bumpy ride. It’ll be better to sit closer to the front of the boat and take motion sickness medicine. Or, consider the ferry route option below.
I had severe seasickness from the bounciness of the boat ride on the whale shark snorkeling tour from Maafushi.
Take the Government Public Ferry & Airport Ferry – Slower & Cheaper Route
Quick Summary
- Slower route as you need at least 3 hours 30 minutes for two rides
- Limited departures of 3 times per week
- May be canceled due to poor weather
- Total cost is 68 Maldivian Rufiyaa ($4.50) for two rides
If you have more time (at least 3.5 hours) and want to spend less on transportation, consider taking the public ferry to return to the Airport. This is the local and cheaper way to travel around Maldives.
You’ll need to take two ferry rides – 1) From Fulidhoo to Male, and 2) Male to Airport.
As mentioned earlier, we took this route and didn’t have any issues. It was a slow comfortable ride and great for those who don’t like fast speed boat rides. We already experienced the ferry from Male to Maafushi, so we knew what to expect.
One of the downsides is the long transfer time, especially with the first ferry ride. Also, there aren’t any bathrooms so don’t drink too much liquids on board.
Ferry Ride #1
The public ferry starts from the southern islands (Thinadhoo, Felidhoo, Keyodhoo, and Rakeedhoo) and then stops by Fulidhoo and Maafushi before heading to Male.
The ferry picks up at Fulidhoo at 10:45am and arrives in Male at 2:05pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. So, if your departure day is Tuesday, Thursday, or Sunday, you’ll need to take a speedboat.
Check the schedule for the ferry and change the departure island to Fulidhoo.
Just know that you’ll need at least 3 hours 20 minutes for this ride.
No need to reserve as you show up at the pier 10 minutes before the ferry’s arrival. If there is terrible weather, the ferry may be canceled.
The cost is 53 Maldivian Rufiyaa ($3.50) per person.
Ferry Ride #2
Once you arrive at Male’s Henveiru Terminal, exit the terminal and then turn left to enter the Terminal Ticket Office. Continue walking to the ticket office next to the waiting area, and then buy the ticket for the Male to Airport Ferry.
The ferry arrives every 15 to 30 minutes and only takes 10 minutes to cross the water.
The cost is 15 Maldivian Rufiyaa ($1.00) per person.
Final Thoughts
Which option do you want to take from Fulidhoo Island to Velana International Airport?
We recommend the public ferry so you can experience what local residents take to transfer between islands. It was a safe ride and very comfortable – we napped a lot on the ferry!
If you have any questions, please ask in the comment section below.
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