Makunudu Island

This was my first trip to the Maldives, visiting Makunudu Island in December 2024 with my mother. Having traveled to many Asian countries, I can confidently say this resort is the best I've ever experienced, and I look forward to returning soon. The experience was incredible; it is truly a paradise with stunning beaches and an authentic tropical island vibe. Our bungalow, though not yet refurbished, had a nice beach on the jetty side and partial sea views directly from inside. The staff was kind and welcoming, making us feel at home. Mr. Shri, the reservation manager, contacted me via WhatsApp before our arrival, which made me feel more comfortable and reassured about our upcoming stay. Our waiter Bhasker was friendly and attentive, always mindful of our halal food preferences. While this resort isn't ultra-luxury by Maldivian standards, everything was of high quality: the accommodation, service, food, and beds, plus free Wi-Fi. Contrary to some reviews, our speedboat transfer from Velana Airport was smooth with no waiting time. The departure was also well-organized; our flight was in the evening but we were lucky to enjoy the resort until 4PM. Because it was a rainy day, we received a late checkout and could stay in our room until 1:30 PM and our last lunch was included. Our six-night stay flew by, and we wished for more time. We left the island feeling as if we were leaving home. Thank you, Makunudu, for an unforgettable stay! Small remarks: There has been leaks in the bathroom sink and hopefully will be refurbished soon. The speedboat transfer is quite expensive (249$ per person) Overall, these minor issues didn’t overshadow the wonderful experience we had. I highly recommend this resort to anyone seeking relaxation in a beautiful natural setting. Thank you, Makunudu team; we will definitely return and see you all again soon!

We have been regulars to the Maldives for over 12 years. We always stayed at a beautiful laid back island called Rihiveli which is currently undergoing renovation. In search for another island with a similar atmosphere, we came across Makunundu Island. After reading lots of reviews, I gathered that there were some bungalows with hardly any privacy and no sandy beach in front or very clumsy beach access. When making the booking directly with Makunundu, I specifically asked for a bungalow with easy beach access which was "well noted". However, when we arrived we were given possibly the worst bungalow on the island. Unless you wanted to climb over a tree trunk and sharp rocks, a blue pipe and some discarded sand bags, you had no direct access to the sea from your property. The only option was to cross over your neighbours properties to make it into the water. The sun beds were cramped into a shaded area with no space to move them anywhere else if you wanted to sunbathe. My husband went back to the reception and asked for a different bungalow, but the island was fully booked and no alternative could be offered until "maybe tomorrow". We tried to find sun beds to spend the afternoon but the handful of them in the common area were all occupied. We tried to get our free snorkelling equipment but no sizes were available for me: "maybe tomorrow". We returned back to reception to speak to the GM and also mentioned that we specifically ask for a certain type of bungalow and were told: "We do not entertain requests from first timers. When you come back as a repeat guest, we will give you what you ask for".... This was quite a harsh statement and makes you not want to come back to be honest. The next morning, we were prepared to leave the island and move to a neighbouring resort if no other option had become available, but luckily we were moved to a new place. The new location was paradise, we had privacy, direct beach access, a beautiful view. It made all the difference and we were the happiest people for the remainder of the holidays. The bungalow itself was also bigger and although not upgraded yet, it was sparkling clean and very comfortable. Apart from the unfortunate room allocation, everything else was perfect. Food was delicious with tons of choices, staff always eager to help and make your stay better (special thanks to Ismail in the restaurant and Mohammed from the housekeeping team). The island itself is tiny but beautiful and the house reef stunning. Mosquitos are an issue so bring along your repellent. Fumigation happens regularly but there are still plenty of them around. After a very rough and disappointing start, we had a wonderful holiday on the island and will definitely come back again if a bungalow in a nice location is available and guaranteed. If you would like to see a comparison of the "beaches" of our and our neighbours bungalow, check out the photos. The discrepancy between the bungalows is huge and considering everyone is pa

Fell in love with the hospitality, the scenery and the people there. The hospitality - they care about the little details, be it around food, accommodation, the bar or the activities. The scenery - such a peaceful and yet lively place it is. We have enjoyed it in all colours the sunrise, the sunset or be it the nights. The people - well just waaoo, the people are amazing here 👏. The staff here really cares. And a very special thanks to - Su and Riccardo (lots of love ❤️) you made this trip a memory for the lifetime be it our shared boat rides or water activities, we will definitely meet again. Saifu man without you we wouldn't have been able to adventure at all. 🎊 Athee you're a beautiful soul keep smiling. 😇 Thanks to all. Will visit again, and always in our heart. ❤️

Entire team’s hospitality is commendable right from a warm welcome till departure, everyone takes care of the customer like their own family which makes them stand apart from other resorts Makunudu should definitely be visited and stayed at who are planning for male trip And the management headed by especially Su and Ricardo.. these two guys are the best you can find there , they are extremely polite, took care of us in terms of adventure activities and snorkelling , their work is passion as they always go out of the box to make it a special experience for us. They are so genuine and super talented water babies .. it’s because of this kinda management , our hearts is going to cherish the moments spent there for ever. The makunudu island paradise isn’t a paradise without these people :- Su, Ricardo, Saif (water activities crew), Athi (spa) and many more at the front office, bar and restaurant.. keep rocking you guys… will miss the time spent there 🤗 Saifu made my manta ray activity a reality .. as you helped me see mantas in middle of the ocean

My husband and I enjoyed a 5th visit to Makunudu Island - it was wonderful and well worth the expenditure. If you want big, lots going on, modern and trendy, this is NOT the island for you. The joy of staying at Makunudu is its Maldivian flavour, peace, quiet, great food and excellent service. Plus a great house reef. Our room (named as ever in our favour, thank you!) was a little updated since our last visit. Very comfortable bed, better lighting in the bathroom and excellent friendly service from Farouk. :) The food was very good indeed, we very much enjoy the Maldivian, Indian and other Asian flavours. Maldivian night and BBQ night were great. As was dining under the stars when the weather allowed. We thank Makunudu for hosting us for a repeater dinner under the stars, an additional dinner with another couple and Mr Shaugy and the repeater cocktail night on the beach. The staff are really lovely and made us feel special. Thank you Ahmed in particular, great to see you again :) We were blessed with fantastic weather so made the most of the beach and the beautiful crystal sea. Snorkelling and diving are still wonderful. Small dive groups, lots of dive sites, interesting to see how the reefs are doing this year. Less moray eels and lion fish than before, however we did still see many of the usual tropical fish and certainly many sharks and turtles, every day. Dive shop was well run - adopt some coral if you visit! They are doing good work for the ocean environment. The spa was new since our last visit and I enjoyed two wonderful treatments. Prices are reasonable for what you get, would highly recommend! Thank you ladies :) We returned home refreshed and really relaxed. I would highly recommend Makunudu to those who are looking for this in an authentic oasis.

We have a wonderful short stay in this small and amazing island resort. We were greeted by warm and friendly front desk staff. We booked 4 beach villas, and our villa is spacious and has a lovely traditional Maldivian design. The white sandy beach is beautiful, and we also spotted a few baby sharks along the jetty area. The trails to the room are covered with well maintained trees and plants; providing a lovely canopy. Needless to say, it makes you connect to the beauty of nature. We enjoyed the delicious food, barbecue night, and the good service from the F&B team. A special thanks to Ms. Tharanga, who arranged our stay, Amitha and Bashka, for their friendly and outstanding services. Thank you, Manukudu Island Resort, for making our stay extra memorable, particularly a farewell for our friend.