Maldives Travel and Tourism Guide

Maldives - or the Maldivian Archipelago - referred to in Geographical terms - is a cluster of 26 atolls. An Atoll is a cluster of islands. The Maldivian archipelago has a total of 1,190 islands of which around 200 are inhabited, with around 100 more housing tourist resorts, although that figure is growing. In the recent years there had been an increase of tourism in Maldives, hence the number of island occupied by resorts has increased.

The local currency is the Maldivian Rufiyaa (1USD = MRF 12.75), however most shops, eateries and all the island resorts widely accept the US Dollar. The Euro is less commonly used, due to it's varying exchange rate.

From June to July and sometimes into August, the weather can be less than ideal, as strong winds and rain are the norm. Between September and April is the best time to enjoy the Maldives, when it's sunny, the water is crystal clear and the sea is calmer.

Male is the capital of the Maldives and well known for it's shopping areas as well as places of interest for tourists, like Mosques, Tombs, Presidential Palace and Museum.

Be aware that because everything in the Maldives has to be imported, prices can be steep, especially if you're buying alcohol on resort islands!! You also can't take alcohol into the country - it'll be confiscated on arrival, and you can reclaim it before you leave.