HOW TO GET TO HURAA FROM MALÉ?

Huraa is one of the many local islands in Maldives that is ready for tourism. Although the beach is not one of the best we saw, it may be interesting to include a couple of days to learn more about life on a local island in Maldives, especially if another island (Diffushi, which we will talk to you about soon) it's on your road map ... If this is your plan, here we tell you how to get to Huraa from Male.

Huraa is located in Kaafu Atoll, about 20 km from Male. There is 3 ways to arrive: by public ferry, shared speed boat and private boat. Let's see each one of them:

The ferry is number 308, which makes the route Male - Dhiffushi. It works every day except Monday and Friday, leaves at 2:30 pm from Malé and arrives in Huraa at 4:00 pm. To return are the same days, leaving at 08:00 from Huraa and arriving at 09:40 to Male. So the journey time is around hour and half.

It leaves from the ferry terminal Villingili, west of the island and the price is 22 MVR (approx € 1.2), in reality it is a single price for that line, regardless of where you take it and where you get off. It is best to arrive half an hour in advance and buy the ticket at the box office. To return you pay directly on the boat.

It is the option we recommend to get to Huraa from Malé if you travel with low cost budget. However, if you are going to go directly from Malé airport or from Hulhumalé, keep in mind that you will have to pay for transportation to the ferry terminal (the taxi is about 8-10 $).

There are two companies that operate speedboats between Malé and Huraa: Sea shine Y Anax. They have several schedules during the day:

• Sea shine: 11:30, 15:30 and 22:15. On Friday the 11:30 schedule is changed at 9:30.
• Anax (Legion): 11:45, 15:00, 16:45, 22:00. On Thursdays and Saturdays one is added at 7:00 p.m. On Fridays, the one at 11:45 is changed by 9:00.

Both leave from the port of Male to the north, in front of the airport (jetty 5 or 6). If you go directly from the airport, there is a boat that connects the airport with this port every 10-15 minutes for 10 MVR (or $ 1). From what we were informed, there are no direct ships from Malé airport to Huraa.

The route and the price is the same in both cases: 30 minutes Y 150 MVR (or $ 10). You can make the reservation by calling (ask the hotel to call for you), and pay before boarding:

• Sea Shine: 7741313/9866886
• Anax: 9141355/7738181/9800111

Is the most recommended option, because the price difference is not very high and there are different schedules that can fit better with your planning. In addition, the journey takes much less time than with the local ferry. We went with Sea Shine.

We stayed one night in Hulhumalé before going to Huraa and it is the option that we were offered at the accommodation. It is a smaller speedboat than the shared ones, which leaves at any time you want directly from the airport or from Malé. The price varies, although it can be around $ 150 for the entire ship.

It would be a good option. if you travel in a groupWell, distributing the expense at the end per person will not be so expensive. Or if you are left over pasta and do not mind spending money to travel like a gentleman and leave at the time that suits you

These are the three options you have to travel from Male to Huraa. Which one convinces you the most?