The Resort at a Glance
1998 Shipwreck Dive Bunk-Bed Family Villas Suan Bua Thai Dining Club Lounge & Pool

A South Ari island with a Japanese cargo wreck lying beside its house reef.

Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa, formerly Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa, sits on a private island in South Ari Atoll, 25 minutes by seaplane from Malé. Its 112 villas are split between the beach and the lagoon, from Duplex Beach Villas with the bed on a mezzanine to Club Sunset Overwater Pool Villas with a 12 m² infinity pool. Beside the house reef lies the Kudhi Maa, a Japanese cargo ship scuttled for divers in 1998, and boat trips run out across the atoll to swim with whale sharks. Families get Camp Safari Kids' Club, an E-Zone for teenagers and overwater villas with a separate kids' bedroom, while Suan Bua serves traditional Thai in the resort's garden.

Best For

Families who want a kids' club and villas built for children, couples looking for a private pool villa with Club lounge access, and divers and snorkelers who want a wreck and a house reef right off the island.

Exploring other options? Browse our Overwater Villas with Pool collection.

Why Clients Book With Us
★★★★★
"It truly felt like a real vacation where we didn't have to worry about transportation, food, or travel documents at all."
Mounica Paravasthu
Google Review
★★★★★
"While all the others offered higher prices initially and reduced prices subsequently, maldives calling offered the best price in their first quote itself."
Akash Sharma
Google Review
★★★★★
"Mr. Fahim is truly an expert when it comes to the Maldives, he customized our trip perfectly as per our requirements…"
Rohan
Google Review
Package Pricing

Prices subject to availability and change — final quote confirmed on WhatsApp.

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What's Included in Your Stay
Breakfast, lunch & dinner with dine-around options
Non-motorized watersports for lagoon fun
Snorkeling gear for underwater fun
Seaplane transfers pickup & drop included
Honeymoon Benefits
Sparkling wine & chocolates in your villa
Honeymoon bed décor on arrival
Why You'll Love This Resort
Diver beside the coral-covered Kudhi Maa wreck off Machchafushi's house reef
Shipwreck Dive
Children at an activity in Camp Safari Kids' Club, Machchafushi Island Resort
Kids' Club
Snorkeler swimming alongside a whale shark on a South Ari Atoll excursion from Machchafushi
Whale Sharks
Treatment room at SPA Cenvaree, Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa
SPA Cenvaree
The Kudhi Maa, a Japanese cargo ship, was scuttled beside Machchafushi's house reef in 1998 and now rests at around 30 metres, covered in soft and hard corals, with lionfish, boxfish and pufferfish around the hull. It's a dive for Advanced Open Water divers, run by the island's PADI dive centre, while snorkelers have the house reef itself right off the beach.
The Family Overwater Villa has a separate kids' bedroom with bunk beds, a PlayStation 4 and 5 and safety locks on the terrace. Younger children have Camp Safari Kids' Club, teenagers have the E-Zone above Coral Bar, and a children's pool sits next to the main infinity pool.
South Ari is known for whale sharks, and the resort runs half-day and full-day boat trips to swim with them and with green sea turtles. There are also line-fishing trips to try the traditional Maldivian way of fishing.
Guests in the Club Sunset Overwater Pool Villas and Club Two Bedroom Beach Pool Villas get The Club, a beachside lounge with its own pool, open 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. It serves breakfast, canapés, afternoon tea and all-day drinks from an à la carte menu.
Machchafushi is run by The Centara Collection, part of Thailand's Centara group, and the island mixes both cultures. Suan Bua serves traditional Thai in the resort's garden, and SPA Cenvaree offers massages, facials and wellness treatments.
Villa Types
Duplex Beach Villa living room with the king bed on the mezzanine above, Machchafushi

Duplex Beach Villa

A 76 m² beachfront villa with a living room downstairs, a king bed on the mezzanine above and an 11 m² balcony. It sleeps up to 3 adults, or 2 adults and 2 children, and opens onto the beach.

Sunset Overwater Villa sun deck over the lagoon at Machchafushi Island Resort

Sunset Overwater Villa

A 50 m² villa over the lagoon facing west, with a 36 m² sun deck, a swirl pool and steps down to the house reef. It has a king bed and sleeps up to 3 adults, or 2 adults and 2 children.

Club Sunset Overwater Pool Villa with its private infinity pool at dusk, Machchafushi

Club Sunset Overwater Pool Villa

A 79 m² overwater villa with an ocean-facing king bedroom, a 23 m² deck and a 12 m² private infinity pool facing the sunset. It sleeps up to 3 adults, or 2 adults and 2 children, and comes with access to The Club lounge and its pool.

Kids' bedroom with bunk beds in the Family Overwater Villa at Machchafushi

Family Overwater Villa with Kids Bedroom

A 59 m² overwater villa with a 34 m² terrace, a king bed for parents and a separate kids' bedroom with bunk beds. It sleeps up to 2 adults and 3 children, with a swirl pool, a PlayStation 4 and 5, and safety locks on the terrace.

Also Available
Sunrise Overwater Villa — A 50 m² overwater villa facing east, with a 36 m² sun deck, a swirl pool, steps down to the house reef and space for up to 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.
Reethi Muraka Overwater Villa — A 79 m² overwater villa along the shoreline, with a 27 m² terrace for dining outdoors, direct lagoon access and space for up to 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.
Club Two Bedroom Beach Pool Villa — A 114 m² two-bedroom villa on the beach with a king room and a twin room, a 22 m² private plunge pool and The Club access, sleeping up to 5 adults or 2 adults and 3 children.
Dining Options
The main dining room at Reef buffet restaurant by the pool, Machchafushi
Reef
Suan Bua Thai restaurant in the garden at Machchafushi Island Resort
Suan Bua
Mare Azzurro Italian and seafood restaurant beside the arrival pavilion, Machchafushi
Mare Azzurro
Coral Bar and Lounge beside the main pool at Machchafushi Island Resort
Coral Bar & Lounge
Aqua Bar at the arrival pavilion of Machchafushi Island Resort
Aqua Bar
The main restaurant by the pool, serving international buffets at breakfast (7:00–10:00 AM), lunch (12:00–2:00 PM) and dinner (6:30–10:00 PM). The buffet includes Indian dishes, and with seats for just over 200 it's the largest venue on the island.
Traditional Thai cooking served in the resort's garden, open for lunch (12:00–2:00 PM) and dinner (7:30–10:00 PM). It's the island's link to Centara's Thai roots.
Italian dishes and seafood beside the arrival pavilion, open for lunch (12:00–2:00 PM) and dinner (7:30–10:00 PM). With 58 seats, it's a quieter dinner away from the buffet.
The main bar by the pool, open 10:00 AM to midnight, with cocktails, soft drinks and the island's evening entertainment. The teenagers' E-Zone is on its top floor.
A smaller bar at the arrival pavilion, open 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM for cocktails, drinks and snacks. It sits beside Mare Azzurro, so it works for a drink before an Italian dinner.
A beachside lounge open 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM for guests in the Club Sunset Overwater Pool Villas and Club Two Bedroom Beach Pool Villas. It serves breakfast, canapés, afternoon tea and all-day drinks from an à la carte menu, next to its own pool.
Activities & Wellness
Snorkel the house reef straight from the beach, where guests regularly see small reef sharks and stingrays. The PADI dive centre runs courses, guided dives on the Kudhi Maa wreck for Advanced Open Water divers and boat dives to South Ari sites such as Five Rocks, at extra cost.
Kayaks, pedalos and stand-up paddleboards are complimentary for exploring the lagoon. Windsurfing, parasailing, water skiing, wakeboarding, jet skiing and banana boat rides are available at extra cost.
Half-day and full-day boat trips go out to swim with whale sharks and green sea turtles, and line-fishing trips teach the traditional Maldivian way. Excursions are booked on the island at extra cost.
Camp Safari Kids' Club runs supervised games, crafts and creative activities in two sessions a day. The E-Zone above Coral Bar has pool tables, air hockey and PlayStation games for teenagers, and babysitting can be arranged on request.
SPA Cenvaree offers massages, facials and wellness treatments. There's also a fitness centre, an infinity pool overlooking the ocean, and a sport court for tennis, volleyball and badminton.
Getting There
Seaplane Transfer
25 minutes from Malé International Airport

Machchafushi is reached by seaplane from Velana International Airport in Malé, a 25-minute flight south-west to South Ari Atoll. Seaplanes fly in daylight only, so if your international flight lands late in the day, you'll spend a night in Malé and fly out the next morning.

FAQs
Yes. Camp Safari Kids' Club runs supervised activities for younger children, the E-Zone above Coral Bar is set up for teenagers, and there's a children's pool next to the main infinity pool. The Family Overwater Villa has a separate kids' bedroom with bunk beds and safety locks on the terrace, and babysitting is available on request.
Your package includes breakfast, lunch and dinner with a dine-around option, so you're not limited to the Reef buffet. You can also eat at Suan Bua for Thai and Mare Azzurro for Italian and seafood.
There's no separate Indian restaurant, but Reef, the main buffet restaurant, has Indian dishes on its buffet at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Suan Bua serves Thai and Mare Azzurro serves Italian and seafood. Tell us your dietary needs at booking and we'll pass them to the resort.
Good, and easy to reach. You can snorkel straight from the beach, and guests regularly see small reef sharks and stingrays. The Kudhi Maa shipwreck lies beside the house reef at around 30 metres, so it's a dive for Advanced Open Water divers rather than a snorkel.
Yes, snorkeling gear is included for your whole stay, along with non-motorized water sports such as kayaks, pedalos and stand-up paddleboards.
The Club is a beachside lounge with its own pool, open 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, for guests staying in the Club Sunset Overwater Pool Villas and Club Two Bedroom Beach Pool Villas. It serves breakfast, canapés, afternoon tea and all-day drinks.
A copy of your wedding certificate or wedding invitation card, and your travel dates need to fall within 6 months of your marriage date.
Sparkling wine and a cake, placed in your villa on the date of the occasion or at the restaurant or bar of your choice. Let us know at the time of booking — your stay needs to include the actual date.
Check-in is at 3:00 PM and check-out is at 12:00 noon.
Yes — Wi-Fi is complimentary, including in every villa.

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