Guide to Fulidhoo Island: Shark & Stingray Beach in Maldives
Fulidhoo is a charming and affordable local island that we recently explored in the Maldives, along with Dhigurah island, known for its beautiful beaches and sandbar.
In addition to scuba diving, one of the main highlights in Fulidhoo is the shark and stingray beach. Here, visitors can observe nurse sharks, sea turtles, and stingrays in the shallow waters and even have the opportunity to take photos with them.
Certainly, Fulidhoo boasts the usual white sandy beaches and crystal clear blue waters that are characteristic of the Maldives. There are small, family-run hotels available for as little as $60 USD per night, making it a budget-friendly choice for those seeking a tropical getaway without breaking the bank.
In this travel guide, you will find information on how to reach Fulidhoo island, activities to do there, accommodation options, and essential tips for your trip. The guide includes sections on where to stay, transportation on the island, popular attractions like Shark & Stingray Beach, additional things to do, recommended length of stay, tips for visiting Fulidhoo, hotel options, the best time to visit the Maldives, and other travel guides for the Maldives.
Accommodation options in Fulidhoo include Huvan Inn.
Vacation on an
Kinan Retreat is a place
Hurry up Villa
To reach Fulidhoo Island, you will need to first fly into Male International Airport (MLE), the capital of the Maldives. From there, you can travel approximately 55 kilometers (35 miles) to reach Fulidhoo since there is no airport on the island itself.
You have the option to travel from Male to Fulidhoo either by speedboat or ferry.
Experiencing swimming alongside a stingray in Fulidhoo!
Traveling to Fulidhoo can be easily done by taking a public speedboat, which is the most common transportation option used by visitors. These speedboats operate daily, with departures available in the morning and afternoon from both Male airport and the city.
The trip to Fulidhoo by speedboat lasts just under 1.5 hours and is around $40 USD per person each way. Our ride was quite rough, but the conditions may vary depending on the weather.
Fortunately, the boats are brand new and offer comfortable seating. They also have restroom facilities, ample storage space for luggage, and provide complimentary bottled water for passengers during the journey.
Boats leave from Male to Fulidhoo twice a day at 10 AM and 4 PM, with an additional departure on Fridays at 9:30 AM. The return trips from Fulidhoo to Male are scheduled for 7:30 AM and 1:30 PM, with an earlier departure on Fridays at 7 AM.
It is important to note that there are several speedboat companies that run this route, and the schedule may change from time to time. It is recommended to confirm the timetable with your hotel before heading out on the journey.
If you're staying at a hotel in Fulidhoo, you can ask them to arrange a speedboat booking for you. You can then simply pay for the speedboat ride using your credit card when you check in, which is a convenient way to avoid carrying a large amount of cash with you during your trip.
Excursion boat observing stingrays near Fulidhoo.
Traveling by a private speedboat can be pricier compared to public speedboats, but it can be more convenient for groups of 4 or 5 people who require a direct connection to Fulidhoo island.
You can make arrangements for this with the hotel you are staying at in Fulidhoo.
There are many stingrays present at the shore!
Another way to get to Fulidhoo from Male is by taking the public ferry. While it may take longer than a speedboat, it is a more affordable option. The ferry ride lasts around 4 hours and the cost for a one-way ticket is $5 USD.
Travelers can catch a boat from Male to Fulidhoo on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 10 AM. The return trip from Fulidhoo to Male is available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 10:30 AM.
It is recommended to check the ferry schedule with your hotel in Fulidhoo before traveling, as the times may vary. Tickets cannot be booked in advance, so arriving early is advisable to secure a seat on the ferry.
The ferry departs from the ferry terminal in Hulhumale, which is located in Male city. It is worth mentioning that this is not the ferry terminal within Hulhumale itself, but rather the one with the same name in Male city. The terminal can be accessed with a short 10-minute taxi ride from the airport.
Just a quick tip: If you are traveling from Maafushi island, you have the option to take a direct ferry to Fulidhoo instead of having to make a stop in Male.
Aerial view of Fulidhoo from a high vantage point. The island is quite small in size.
Navigating the island of Fulidhoo is easy due to its small size, allowing visitors to reach their destinations on foot.
Cars are not found on the island, instead there are small electric buggies used to transport luggage between the pier and the hotels.
The island is relatively small, with dimensions of 700 meters in length and 250 meters in width. As a result, it is easy to walk from any hotel to the beach or pier within 5 minutes, or to walk around the entire island in less than 30 minutes. This convenience makes it a great feature of the island.
Fulidhoo town has a Greek-inspired street atmosphere.
One of the biggest draws at Fulidhoo is the beach where visitors can see sharks and stingrays. This beach stretches along the southwest side of the island and is known as the 'stingray observation point' on Google Maps.
Every day and night, stingrays visit this beach in search of leftovers from the fishermen to feed on. Occasionally, a nurse shark or sea turtle will also make an appearance.
There is no certainty that stingrays will appear, but during the two days spent on the island, stingrays were frequently spotted at the beach. Additionally, others have shared similar encounters with stingrays on the island.
We observed over twelve rays at once, which was an enjoyable experience. You have the option to view them from the beach or take photos with them in the shallow parts of the water. It is important not to touch the rays, but it is safe if they come in contact with you.
Beach where sharks and stingrays can be
Before arriving, we were curious about the safety of being close to sharks and stingrays in this area. It's a valid question. In all honesty, the sharks in Fulidhoo are nurse sharks, which are not known to pose a threat to humans.
What about stingrays? Unfortunately, we all recall the tragic incident involving Steve Irwin, but I believe it was an uncommon occurrence. Steve was swimming in the water to capture footage of the ray, and it may have perceived him as a danger.
Stingrays are typically gentle creatures, and if you avoid stepping on them, chasing them, or making them feel threatened or bothered in any way, they are unlikely to harm you. Additionally, the water in this area is very shallow.
While it is not guaranteed to be completely safe, many tourists visit Fulidhoo daily to observe stingrays and take photographs with them. There have been no reported incidents of harm occurring during these encounters.
A picture taken by a drone showing stingrays.
Additional activities available in Fulidhoo
Enjoy beautiful beach scenery on Fulidhoo Island.
Ray bay
Recommended Length of Stay
Due to Fulidhoo being a tiny island, most visitors would likely find 2 or 3 days to be sufficient, but extending your stay could also be enjoyable. My personal recommendation is to stay at least 2 days, as anything less may feel rushed.
Many tourists from nearby islands visit this place to observe sharks and stingrays, but we noticed that these organized tour groups appeared to be in a hurry as we observed them from afar.
The majority of the tour groups were departing the island after only 30 minutes, which was not sufficient time to explore or take quality photos. We were happy we chose not to do the same. I believe it is more enjoyable to spend at least 1 or 2 days on the island.
Nurse shark spotted near the surface of the water
Additional advice for those planning to visit Fulidhoo.
Fridge magnets that serve as souvenirs are available for purchase
I
Accommodations in Fulidhoo
Huvan Inn
Vacation on an
Kinan Retreat is a place
Villa Rushkokaa
The ideal time to travel to the Maldives is during the dry season, which spans from January to April. During this period, Fulidhoo is particularly enjoyable to visit as the weather is generally less rainy and more sunny.
Currently, the Maldives has an increased number of tourists, however, when we visited in January, the island did not feel overcrowded.
In the Maldives, the months with the most rain are typically from September to December. Although you can still travel to Fulidhoo during this period, you should expect some rainfall.
Our experience on Fulidhoo island was enjoyable.
Additional Maldives travel guides are available. Thank you for reading! I hope you found this travel guide for Fulidhoo island in the Maldives helpful. We had a great time observing the kind sharks and stingrays at the beach.
Make sure to take a look at my travel guide for Dhigurah island, another local island we explored during our trip to the Maldives. We enjoyed Dhigurah even more than Fulidhoo!
You might enjoy exploring Mount Karangetang Volcano in Siau, Sulawesi, visiting Maya Bay in Thailand, discovering Ternate Island in Maluku, exploring Khao Sok National Park in Thailand, exploring Ciletuh Geopark in West Java, or visiting Dhigurah Island in the Maldives on a budget. There are also five comments on the post expressing excitement.
Wonderful insight. Please continue sharing more.
The stunning views are indescribable! I am eagerly looking forward to exploring these places in person one day.
I appreciate the thorough guide you provided. My partner and I are looking forward to our first trip to the Maldives and are interested in both islands. We are currently struggling to find information on traveling between the two islands. Could you share how you moved from one to the other? Thank you!
Hello! Unfortunately, there is no direct transportation between the two islands, so we had to return to Male first. We traveled from Dhigurah to Male in 2 hours, then waited for 1 hour before taking a 1-hour boat ride from Male to Fulidhoo. In total, the entire journey took about 4 hours.
Please feel free to share your thoughts
Please remember my name, email, and website in this browser so that they are easily accessible the next time I want to leave a comment.
Get the element with the ID "ak_js_1" and set its attribute "value" to the current timestamp.
Personal Introduction
Hello! My name is David Leiter, a citizen of the United States who has been exploring different countries non-stop for the past 9 years. My partner, Intan, and I spend most of our time in Bali, where we consider our second home, but we also visit various places around the globe. Join us on our adventures!
Explore some of the most iconic landmarks and natural wonders around the world with our travel guides. From the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt to the Haiku Stairs in Oahu, we have all the information you need to plan your next adventure. Discover hidden gems like the Lamanai Ruins in Belize and the Blue Lakes Trail in Colorado. Whether you're interested in beach destinations like Indonesia or cultural experiences in Cambodia, we have you covered. Stay connected by subscribing to our newsletter for the latest blog posts and travel tips. Let's embark on new adventures together!
The World Travel Guy 2025 website includes affiliate disclosures, a privacy policy, and terms of use. By clicking on affiliate links on my travel blog and making a purchase, I receive a small commission without any additional cost to you. I only promote products and services that I believe are of good quality and beneficial to my audience. Thank you for your support.
