Secret Paradise Maldives Tours — Local services in Malé

TLDR; Everything was great, contact Ruth at Secret Paradise you won’t regret it! Our first trip to the Maldives was a huge success, thanks to Secret Paradise Maldives Tours. A huge thank you to Ruth for being very responsive and informative prior to us booking the trip and excursions! She answered very promptly (especially considering the time-zone difference), with relevant and accurate information and answers to all our questions. We went to the Maldives for a week. We did not want to stay at a single resort. Instead we tried to maximize our exposure to different experiences and the local culture and food. Secret Paradise helped us tremendously by offering a huge variety of local experiences. We booked multiple day and part-day experiences through Secret Paradise: our boat dives, local island sightseeing, dining with a local family, etc. We also booked two day-passes at different resorts via Ruth. The scuba diving was through a local (to Hulhumale) dive shop, and you could tell they had a good relationship with Secret Paradise. It was also easy to tell why Secret Paradise used them as their service was great, and the dives were fun and well guided. So much colorful fish, corrals, even a sea turtle! Of the two resorts we went to via day-passes (Cinnamon Dhonveli and Embudu Village), Cinnamon was superior in terms of amenities and the service! They made us feel like valued guests and customers even though we were visiting on a day pass. They had lock-boxes for day-guests, and nice shower and bathroom/changing rooms we could use. The all-inclusive bar, snacks, and lunch buffets were also very nice. We spent half the day by the pool relaxing and enjoying drinks and snacks, and the second half of the day snorkeling. The snorkeling was pretty good, with some colorful fish and some coral. The dive store was very reasonable in rental price for the fins. (We had our own mask and snorkels). The second place, Embudu village, was a totally different experience. From the first moment, we were treated like second class citizens. The package was sold to come with 'a beach towel and a large bottle of water' each. The towel we got were washed out, worn, brown shower towels, while the rest of the people that arrived with us got much larger white and blue beach towels. When we asked about the water we were told that we would not get the water until the lunch was served. They had no changing rooms or enclosed showers for day guests, and the whole service experience felt like it was setup to nickle and dime you. On the plus side, the buffet was huge (though day guests are placed immediately next to the dining area bathrooms), and the reefs and snorkeling was INCREDIBLE. We spent quite a bit of time swimming with a group (at one point 7 of them) blackfin sharks (small and "friendly" sharks that stay close to shore). It was a very cool experience and the whole time they were just swimming in and out of huge schools of silver fish, very docile and non threatening. For those that don't like the idea of sharks, they stayed at this one area the whole time. We also snorkeled around MOST of the entire island (no sharks). That was a 2 hour snorkel adventure without compare. So many different fish, and corals and mussels and anemones and so on. It was the best snorkel experience of the trip. If Ruth was fantastic pre-trip planning and organizing in the background, her team of great local guides was every bit as good when we arrived! Every day they met us at our local guest. And every day they took great care of us, making sure all our questions were answered, informing us about the local traditions, politics, sights etc. It was a blast, and felt like we were island hopping with old friends of ours, instead of people we just met. If you are still reading, you should stop reading and instead contact Ruth at Secret Paradise and get cranking on your tour plans! Whatever your goals are for the trip, Ruth can help you...

Signed up at the last minute with zero expectations.

Surprised that my last minute request was accommodated since bookings were closed (but I had sent an email).

Arrived in Maldives and had no idea what the week had in store for me.

Left with unforgettable memories and priceless moments. Left in awe of the beauty of the places. Left with so much knowledge that was shared about the local life, culture and people. Left with a better understanding of the Maldives that people don't take the time to learn.

The guide: got paired with the BEST guide. I've done quite a few tours around the world but never had a guide as good as Mash. I was surprised to see how amazing of a photographer he is as well and how caring he was (especially when it came to safety). I'm not a good swimmer but Mash ensured I get comfortable in the water and stay safe, no matter where we went. He also shared extensive knowledge and made the guest a top priority, which I appreciated. I didn't feel uncomfortable or worried. He was also open to feedback and always available to help. I also loved that I was able to cross a few items off my list and it's all thanks to Mash.

For one, I mentioned I wanted to see the glowing planktons and he made it happen, even if it meant having to walk me to the beach at 11:30 pm.

I also wanted to experience a day at a resort and he made sure I could go through with it on my free day. I'm very thankful to have had a caring guide who became a friend.

Though I couldn't walk much/properly unexpectedly, Mash also helped me by giving me advice on things I could and ensured I got enough rest so I could heal.

The people we came across were also nice. I love to support Secret Paradise as I know where my money is going and I also give back to the community in a way (Mash had also found an alternative for me to beach cleanup since I couldn't walk much and I planted trees instead).

I loved the accomodation in Maafushi the most. I found the accomodation in Hulhumale and Guraidhoo to be just okay (Guraidhoo needs some improvements). Breakfast at the guesthouse was good. The excursions we did were fun. Checked out a restaurant in Hulhumale as per the locals recommendations and loved every bite.

Excellent customer service. Quick response from Ruth. Easy to reach guide at any time of day/night for any concerns and issues. Felt welcomed and receive useful welcome gifts. The Farewell dinner was good. Local restaurants we went to had great portions and fantastic meals. I loved the hedhikaa.

I loved my experience and though strongly disliked the local ferry's cleanliness of the washroom (this has nothing to do with SP though), I had a wonderful experience that I wouldn't have had otherwise if I just had my solo adventures instead of booking this tour (I was a solo traveler). I got to discover hidden gems I wouldn't have been able to discover otherwise either.

Made it to the airport back on time for my early morning flight despite having to take 2 transfers to get there.

Special thanks to Mash for the memories and...

I seldom write reviews, and I only do it when I am elated, satisfied and would like to happily share the amazing experiences I had.

I just came back from a recent 7-night South Male tour. It was never my intention to spend a week of island hopping honestly. I thought it was a bad idea. I was ready to be exhausted. I didn't know what I was putting myself into. But Ruth answered all my queries thoroughly and quickly. I was so amazed on how she responded on my emails so fast that sometimes I couldn't keep up with her. :) She put me really at ease and made me look forward to the trip.

But turned out that doing the 7-night South Male tour was the best decision ever. I gained so many wonderful insights and experiences that I have never imagined possible. I have seen, felt, and experienced Maldives in the most authentic way. I left with better understanding of the local life, the culture and the people. I learned to be more sensitive with all our cultural biases and differences. I gained so much knowledge on how to care and protect our ocean. I feel like the whole experience made me become a (more) responsible traveler, and a better human being in general. Ahhhhhhhh. What a life changing trip it was. 🤍

Archie, our guide, happens to be the most chill, most friendly, most knowledgeable, most excellent swimmer(as what he claims), and the best guide you could ever ask for. And oh, a certified betel nut dealer. :) He would always throw us a random tidbits about life. He wasn't too rigid when it comes to itinerary. But he always made sure that we all agreed on the time and on what we wanted to do, and that we felt safe and comfortable. I was with a fellow solo traveler and Archie respected our solitude, our space and boundary. And I don't think I have ever thanked Archie for this. :) Archie is undoubtedly the guide you would want to be with on your next Maldives getaway. 2030, eh? :)

I can actually go on and on and on. Thinking of going to Maldives? Look no further, experience the real Maldives with Secret Paradise and #letthemguideyou. Just a heads up though, once you book with Secret Paradise, you would want to plan your next Maldives trip with them again even before leaving the country. Don't say I did not warn you. :)

Thanks again Ruth and Archie, and the rest...