Goidhoo Island in Maldives - Tourism and How to Get There

Goidhoo is the epitome of tropical paradise and authenticity of the Maldives. It has not yet turned into another local island with mass tourism, so this corner of the archipelago is ideal for immersing yourself in the local culture.

Goidhoo is an amazing island with freshwater lakes, which is a rarity for the Maldives. It is located in the Baa Atoll. Although the island is quite large by local standards, the village itself is very small: only 500 people live there. The rest of Goidhoo is covered with tropical vegetation - mainly palm trees and rubber trees. There are only a few guest houses on the island, which makes it a paradise for those who want to escape from civilization.

Facts about the island:

• The size of the island is 2 km long and 1.5 km wide.
• Population: about 500 people.
• Distance from Male International Airport: 95 km.
• Goidhoo is a farming island with many vegetable and fruit plantations.

Visit Shaviyani Goidhoo

History of the island

In the 19th century, an African woman named Salam settled on Goidhoo, who had served in the Sultan's palace in Male for many years. The ruler of the Maldives officially freed her from slavery. After gaining freedom, a house and a well were built for Salam on Goidhoo. Today, there are several families on the island who are her descendants.

Infrastructure

Goidhoo is isolated from the other coral islands. It is not a mass tourist destination. People often come here for a day. Tourists are met from the boat by a truck with an open back - this is a local transport that is used for excursions. But to escape civilization, you can stay on the island longer. Goidhoo has two mosques, including the Old Friday Mosque, a pharmacy, several local shops, souvenir shops, four cafes.

Beaches and where to stay

The main problem with the coastline is that the island is surrounded by seaweed. Therefore, you can only swim in one area. Since the Maldives is an Islamic country, women are allowed to wear swimsuits that are typical for Europeans only in specially designated areas - "bikini beaches".

Tropical Village Guesthouse is located about 300 meters from the guest house. Bikini Beach of two other guest houses White Lagoon Fehendhoo and Fehendhoo Stay is located almost at the edge of the island, about 2 km from the guest houses. By the way, White Lagoon Fehendhoo offers a transfer to the beach by golf cart. It takes guests in the morning and picks them up at an appointed time in the afternoon. If guests want to return at another time, they covered the route through the palm forest on foot.

The house reef can only be reached by boat, as the water near Goidhoo is too shallow. Another option is Rocky Beach, but the entrance is full of dead corals and rocks. So special shoes for walking on corals are a must.

There are only a few guest houses on the island. Here you will find rooms with a sea view, hospitable service, dishes from the chef (both local and continental cuisine are prepared). You will be helped with organizing cruises and excursions.

Tropical Village Guesthouse

Things to do in Goidhoo Island

Scuba diving . The island is surrounded by coral reefs. Explore the underwater world full of colorful fish and unique marine life. Right off the coast you can meet stingrays, and while diving - dolphins, whale sharks and sea turtles. By the way, even small sharks, turtles and dolphins often swim up to the shore.

Excursions . Take a tour to the popular natural site - Hanifaru Bay . This is a unique place in the Baa Atoll, listed as a UNESCO reserve. Here from May to November, during the plankton bloom, you can see a huge accumulation of manta rays, nurse sharks and other marine inhabitants.

Water activities : Goidhoo reef is suitable for kitesurfing and windsurfing.

Crab hunting . You will constantly encounter huge crabs on the island - some specimens reach 30 centimeters! There are especially many of them near the lakes. Mud crabs live in wetlands. Their holes look like craters in the sand around the lagoon! Sometimes they hunt for crabs, pulling them out of their mud holes. Be careful, this entertainment can cost your fingers dearly.

Night Fishing : Enjoy the peace and quiet of the night under the stars as you fish for snapper or bass. End your evening around a campfire cooking your own catch.

Culture : Goidhoo offers an insight into the traditional way of life of the indigenous Maldivians. The locals are very friendly and will gladly share their culture with you. Try Maldivian cuisine, fresh seafood and tropical fruits.

Island Hopping - Head to one of the nearby islands of Feridhoo or Fulhadhoo to see local life on different islands.

Vacation on a desert island . The desert island is located near Goidhoo - you can go there for romance.

Visit the resort . Want to relax at the resort with a cocktail in hand and swim in the pool? Goidhoo organizes excursions to the neighboring resort Cocoa Palm Dhunikolhu to fully enjoy a classic hotel holiday in the Maldives.

Freshwater lakes . Freshwater lakes are very rare in the Maldives, as there are no rivers or mountains. But there are two mangrove lakes with fresh water on Goidhoo Island. They are very shallow, so you can just walk around them.

Hike to the mangroves . The island does not look like a fairy tale from an advertisement with turquoise waters. Nearby there are vast wetlands. Locals believe that the local mud helps rejuvenate the skin. They even use it for mud baths. Mangroves are the most important part of the Maldives ecosystem. Their roots protect the shores from erosion.

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Food on the island

As we have already mentioned, there are several local cafes on the island. Fish and coconut are the basis of traditional recipes. Tuna is the largest export product of the Maldives and therefore is present in most dishes. Traditional cuisine includes fish soup, mashuni (traditional salad of tuna, coconut, lime and chili pepper), various types of fresh fish and rice, roshi (soft flour flatbread). The islanders love to dip local fruits in riha akuru - a paste of fish and spices. An interesting experience that is worth getting on Goidhoo. Food is also prepared in guest houses - check the menu when booking.

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How to get to Goidhoo

Goidhoo is well connected by ferry to the main island of Baa Eydhafushi Atoll and other islands including Dharavandhoo, where you can catch a domestic flight to Male. The islands are also connected by seaplanes and private speedboats.

The ferry from Male takes about 8 hours to get to the island. This is the cheapest form of transport. By speedboat the journey will take about 1.5 hours. By domestic flight - 20 minutes from the international airport to Dharavandhoo, and then about 30 - 40 minutes by ferry.

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