A good-value island on a long reef in Baa Atoll, with a sunrise cove, a wide sunset beach and sixty villas over the lagoon.
Dhigufaru, whose name means 'a long reef', sits in Baa Atoll's UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, about 40 minutes from the airport by seaplane. Its two beaches face opposite ways: Boaku on the east is a sheltered cove that forms a natural pool, good for sunrise and for small children, and Veli on the west is a wide, flat stretch of white sand for the sunset.
The 83 villas sit around the edge of the island. Twenty Sunrise and Sunset Beach Villas (49 m²) open onto garden verandas, ten Pool Beach Villas (103 m²) add a plunge pool, and ten Semi Water Villas (53 m²) step straight into the lagoon. Over the water are twenty Water Villas (74 m²) and twenty Pool Water Villas (89 m²), and there are two two-bedroom family villas and the Sangu Suite (151 m²), which has its own sauna.
Dhandifulhu is the main buffet restaurant, with a Maldivian night of local food and traditional entertainment, Athiri Grill does seafood and meat on the beach, and Muraka is a 20-seat fine-dining room over the water. Raagudi Bar keeps a large whisky and champagne list, and Thundi Pool Bar has lounge huts around the pool. There's the Funa Spa, a PADI dive school with a water sports centre, a recreation centre with a gym, and the Baraveli Kids Club.
The entry beach villas are compact at 49 m². We couldn't find published transfer prices, so ask for them before booking; the seaplane flies in daylight only.
Twenty villas, eight facing the sunrise cove and twelve the sunset beach, each with a garden veranda and a semi-outdoor shower.
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Ten villas with a plunge pool on a private deck, a few steps from the lagoon.
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Ten villas facing the sunrise, with a big sundeck that steps straight into the lagoon.
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Twenty villas over the lagoon, each with its own staircase down into the water.
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Twenty villas over shallow water, with a plunge pool on the deck and steps into the lagoon.
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Two on the beach facing the lagoon, each with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a big veranda.
The only one, where land meets lagoon: a private pool, steps into the water and its own sauna.
King bed
The same resort and the same villa, booked through people who live here.
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Main buffet restaurant with a Maldivian night and its own bar
Grilled seafood and meat with salads, for 40
Maldivian and international fine dining for 20
Cocktail bar with a large whisky and fine champagne collection
Pool bar with bistro food, afternoon tea and three lounge huts, by the sunset beach
Treatment cabanas in a garden, reflexology, sauna, steam and a salon
PADI dive centre and water sports, with trips to Hanifaru Bay
Kids' club with a library, an indoor playground and nature programmes
The shape comes from OpenStreetMap, simplified: a guide to the layout, not a survey. © OpenStreetMap contributors.
About 40 minutes by seaplane from Velana International Airport, in daylight; in the evening, a 20-minute scheduled flight to Dharavandhoo and a 30-minute speedboat ride instead.
Dates, budget, who is coming. We will come back with three resorts that fit, and why.
