Maldives beaches, the best places in paradise
Just hearing the word Maldives brings to mind a beach of fine, white, golden sand surrounded by a turquoise sea, with transparent waters reflecting the green palm trees that seem to grow freely and happily. Such an image is indeed authentic, but we also have to bear in mind that the Maldives is a Muslim country where bathing in bikinis isn’t allowed in all beach areas and we have to be aware of where to go and what to do.
Bikini Beach on the local islands of the Maldives
As mentioned above, women in the Maldives aren’t allowed to bathe in a swimming costume that doesn’t cover their knees and shoulders, which means they’re not allowed to bathe anywhere in a bikini. However, in the first decade of this century, the authorities began to become aware of how important the influx of international tourism was and opened some areas outside the traditional resorts where foreigners could bathe in swimming costumes without any problems. These are the so-called Bikini Beaches, which are usually located further away from populated areas so as not to disturb the Muslim locals and are well signposted.
Of course, if you travel to a resort you will have no problem bathing as you wish, and many of them even have private beaches. If you would like to discover more unique places or organise an independent trip to the Maldives, you should know that not all the islands have Bikini Beaches.
Among the most popular is the one on the island of Maafushi. It’s a beach with transparent water full of palm trees where you can find sun loungers under the palms. Rasdhoo and Gaafaru are similar in style.
On the island of Dhiffushi, one of the most touristic islands in the Maldives, there are two Bikini Beaches, almost next to each other, which are more isolated from the main towns, but still very beautiful.
Gulhi Island is also a good choice because its bikini beach is the very epitome of paradise, with a shallow sea and the barrier reef close by.
Playas en Resort Barceló
The Barceló Whale Lagoon Maldives is located right on the beachfront and even has villas directly overlooking the sea. This resort is located on the island of Bodufinolhu, whose beaches have fine white sand, surrounded by a shallow turquoise blue sea, which makes for a great swimming experience.
The coastline on this island is dotted with palm trees and bushes that make strolling along these beaches a pleasure at any time of the day, but especially at sunset, when it provides magical moments.
The bathing area at the Barceló Whale Lagoon Maldives also offers many of the water sports that attract thousands of tourists to this archipelago, such as scuba diving, snorkelling, and surfing.
Beaches on local islands in the Maldives
The Maldives has some 200 inhabited islands where, in most cases, the beaches require bathers to dress a certain way. These are the so-called local islands. More and more areas are being designated as bikini beaches and we will mention some of the most important ones.
One of the most striking ones is in Malé, the capital of the Maldives, which didn’t have an idyllic spot typically found in tourist brochures covering the archipelago, so it created an artificial beach for the local population, which means you can’t bathe in a bikini there. The same goes for the island closest to the capital, Hulhumale, which also has no beach for tourists.
On the islands that welcome more visitors, such as Maafushi, there’s an area tailored for foreigners, although it tends to be quite crowded in high season. There are other bathing spots in Maafushi with the same characteristics, white sand and a deep blue sea, but they are governed by local rules, so you have to make sure to respect them.
Another island well known for its beaches and diving is Rasdhoo. While it’s true that the bikini beach is quite small, this magical place is surrounded by uninhabited sandbanks where you can take a boat trip for a day in an exclusive bathing area with no strings attached. The most prominent ones are Madivaru and Madivaru Finolhu, although they are also popular diving spots because of their rich marine life.
Dhigurah has one of the largest beaches for tourists as it’s one of the large islands of the Maldives, as the translation (“long island”) of its name suggests. It has an enormous stretch of sand that forms an incredible spectacle in the deep blue sea that surrounds it, as the island is only 250 metres wide. If you’re close by, it’s well worth enjoying this less touristically developed place.
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Coast and beach for locals of Dhigurah Island in Kaafu Atoll in Maldives
Another island not far from Malé that’s worth a visit is Guraidhoo. This place doesn’t have a bikini beach, but is connected to another island by a pedestrian bridge. There’s a bathing area for tourists, which is very striking simply because of the way visitors travel to get there.
Lastly, there’s Thoddoo, the so-called agricultural island as it has several inland fruit farms from which it exports to the rest of the country. There are two bathing areas for foreigners, which are both large and very nice, as well as for locals, where the dress code must be respected.
Hotels in the Maldives
The Barceló Whale Lagoon Maldives is located in the South Ari Atoll with stunning beaches and a unique turquoise sea. The resort has 100 villas, seven of which are suites that have plunge pools, equipped to offer peace and quiet, relaxation, and privacy.
This hotel is located in a unique place for snorkelling and scuba diving, since very close to its facilities you can enjoy sightings of whale sharks and manta rays. The South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA), which is considered a symbolic place because of the number of species that inhabit it, is just a short distance away.
There are also three restaurants, a snack bar, and three bars in which to enjoy your stay, with the main ones being the buffet-style Sea Salt and the seafood restaurant Aqua.
Alcohol is allowed in this resort and there are several bars near the pool, such as Pool Bar, Breeze, or the Lagoon Pool Bar, Magical, where you can have a cocktail while enjoying the sunset, which is one of the best on the island.
Alongside its two infinity pools, the Barceló Whale Lagoon Maldives has a Mandara spa with personal treatments, a complete fitness area, and offers the chance to do yoga and pilates at sunrise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most beautiful beaches in the Maldives?
It's difficult to name the most beautiful beach in the Maldives but if we were to list a few, Vaadhoo beach is incredible because of the bioluminescence effect, as well as the bikini beaches of Maafushi, Gulhi, Kunfunadhoo, or Rangali.
Which beaches are ideal for snorkelling and diving in the Maldives?
There are many great snorkelling spots, but the beaches of Ari Atoll, Baa Atoll, North Malé, and South Malé certainly stand out.
Are there private beaches in the Maldives?
It's important to remember that you can't bathe in a bikini on just any beach, only on the so-called Bikini Beaches. In addition, the big resorts have their own private beaches, just for their guests.
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