For my 6th visit to Maldives I chose Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa resort due to very good reviews and fantastic photos. However, I wasn’t aware that “one of the largest shallow lagoons in the Maldives” means no swimming during winter. Although the resort facilities, as well as its staff are wonderful, I did come to Maldives to swim. The management of Hakuraa was very helpful with relocating us to their sister island Cinnamon Velifushi. To cut things short, this resort has it all and here is my Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives honest review.

Location

Cinnamon Velifushi is a 5-star island resort in Vaavu Atoll, about 1.30 hours drive by speedboat south from Male. Guests also have the option of booking a seaplane transfer, which is a lot more expensive, but very scenic and much shorter. From my experience the island is medium-sized when it comes to Maldives private islands and resorts. Small enough to handle on foot and big enough to have your own space under the sun at anytime.

Accommodation

The resort comprises beach lofts and bungalows, water bungalows (some of them feature a jacuzzi), and water suites with small pool. Beach lofts and bungalows are placed in one “beach house”, which means each house has 2 separate units. Hence, the lowest price, but still a great deal if you are lucky with quiet neighbours.

Water bungalows and suits are all single-unit and offer more privacy. The ones in the south and north are very similar, but the north-oriented have better view in my opinion. The sunset water bungalows have a direct access to the reef and feature a terrace jacuzzi. The water suits with pool have the best location and they are of course the priciest.

Our sunset water bungalow

We stayed in the sunset water bungalow which comes with a terrace jacuzzi and a hammock. A wooden staircase gives you a direct access from the spacious deck to the house reef. I’d like to point out that the supporting pillars are made of concrete, which make the bungalows very “solid” and quiet.

The bungalow is very spacious with separate bathroom and toilet. The access to the bedroom area is by 2 wooden stairs, which makes the entire space very attractive. The bed mattress was very hard, and this is the only negative point about the water bungalow. Surprisingly though, it didn’t keep me awake, I slept like a baby each night.

The bungalow has tinted windows which block the heat and keeps the space “darkened” at all times. Each detail is carefully selected, from sockets and light switches by the bed, to handy bathrobes and proper AC position (thank you!). All-inclusive option offers a minibar with beer, water, tea, coffee and non-alcoholic beverages.

The beach and the ocean

The beach is the one and only reason I come to Maldives. While some islands are struggling with erosion and rocky sides, Cinnamon Velifushi has a fantastic beach throughout the island. In fact, this is the reason I might return one day. During our entire stay I haven’t seen any dirt, not even one single piece of plastic swimming in the ocean. The colours of the ocean are jaw dropping and I can honestly say this is the prettiest island I’ve been too.

The same goes for snorkelling. I’ve seen many reef sharks, as well as one bigger fellow shark, I swam with a turtle, and hundreds of micro to mid-sized fish in every colour you can imagine. It was a fantastic snorkelling experience, the best I’ve had in Maldives.

The restaurant and bars

During our visit only the main Vah restaurant was open, but even though the resort was fully occupied, there was never queue for anything. Waiters are kind and quick, food never runs out and the choices are plentiful. And, the most important part, the food is fantastic. Compliments to all the chefs. After renovation, the Marlin seafood restaurant will be open, but this one is chargeable and needs to be pre-booked.

The situation was the same at the beach bar. The place was never full, even though it is attached to the swimming pool. The waiters there were a bit slower, but hey, this is Maldives. The ocean and the beach won’t disappear if you wait for a minute longer. 😉

The beach bar also offers snacks during the day. Here is another little resentment from my side: there was no fruit available, only cakes and sandwiches. By the way, the resort also offers steel water bottles for refill – they are yours to keep until the departure. Water stations are in several locations, so you are the only one to blame if you get thirsty.

Other resort facilities and sports

Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives offers a free access to a small but well-equipped gym, table tennis, darts, pool table, hand football and a volleyball court. Water sports, like kayak or SUP are availablee in the diving centre for a fee, however you can rent snorkelling gear for free. For those who want to empty their pockets, a Mandara spa is also available.

I have saved my Instagram stories from Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives in my highlights, and if you liked my review, I would appreciate a follow. 😉

Anda’s rate: 9.5 out of 10

Bottom line: Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives is a perfect 10 when it comes to upper-middle class resorts in Maldives. It has everything I expect from an island: great beach, rich house reef, fantastic food, supper kind staff and very good facilities. However, being a 5-star resort, it lacks a few touches like softer pillows (or at least a few pillow choices), and fresh fruits during snack times. We are not all made for cookies, even tough they looked delicious. 😉