Manta Retreat in Dharavandhoo

What a great opportunity to be a part of a beautiful Maldives local island. So many of the islands in the area are resorts but not Dharavandoo! The Manta retreat management was great from the day we booked. I had so many questions and they were so patient and responsive to answer all of them! This guest house was perfect for the 8 of us who traveled there. We were picked up at the airport and made to feel at home immediately with a delicious passion fruit punch. To top it off, when we arrived we were told that they could provide meals for us if desired. During our week there we took advantage of breakfast daily, lunch one time and dinner twice. Rooms had "in-suite bathrooms" and were clean and air conditioned and internet was available. There was a communal living area and beautiful courtyard to spend time in. The kitchen was not for our use but the staff at the guest house went out of their way to ensure the coffee /tea bar was ready and stocked for our use at any time. They even provided us with a start of stock of bottled water and sodas. (*NOTE - there is NO alcohol on the island. ) The Manta retreat may look a little different when you travel to it but once there we had NO concerns. We had a delightful walking tour around the island to acclimate to our home for a week and the opportunities available. Yes! The entire island is walkable! Take advantage of it. Just one minute from the guest house we were at the beach - where we could snorkel at any time! The reef and wall were amazing with fish, octopus and more! You couldn't keep us out of the water! We also took advantage of Dharavandoo divers and were able to take 7 dives ( including night dives! ) We visited local restaurants (Hunny Bunny, Layers Bakery and Cafe, Taste Baa, and Kiha Beach.) LOVED Honey Bunny and Layersn( the prices and the food! ) !!!! Kiha Beach offered a standard buffet. In addition to providing meals, tours, and groceries, Manta Retreat also arranged for our flight to the island, our fast taxi back to Male airport, and even our requisite COVID Pcr test. My recommendation would be that they make note of the meal offerings in advance - this was definitely a perk. If you're looing for a real cultural Maldives experience with local community members you'll love the Manta retreat!