Fares-Maathodaa

Fares-Maathodaa lies in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, roughly 450 km south of Malé, and is home to 858 residents according to the 2022 census. The island is actually two former islands, Fares and Maathodaa, which were merged in the 1990s when the shallow channel separating them was reclaimed, giving the settlement its combined name.

Fishing has long underpinned the local economy, and the island remains essentially a working community rather than a tourism hub. Its identity is tied to this shared, joined-up geography rather than to any resort development.

Getting here involves a domestic flight followed by a speedboat transfer, reflecting its distance from the capital. Visitors should expect an island shaped by local life and fishing traditions rather than facilities aimed at tourists.