Holly Kintuka visited JA Manafaru in the Maldives for the first time and was struck by the resort's beauty and its dedication to supporting local communities. The journey involved two flights and a seaplane, but the warm welcome from the hospitality team made it worthwhile.
Sunrise Water Villa with Private Infinity Pool
Kintuka stayed in a sunrise water villa featuring a private infinity pool, huge windows, and a bed positioned to overlook the deep blue ocean. The villa was equipped with air conditioning, a selection of herbal teas, chocolate powder drink, snacks, bottled water, a kettle, mini fridge, and a mini bar. Bikes parked outside each residence became her favorite way to explore the island.
Dining Experiences and Floating Breakfast
Breakfast at Kakuni offered a wide selection including cereals, breads, pastries, crepes made to order, fresh mangoes, and hot options like eggs and a full English spread. The floating breakfast included cereal, pastries, a muffin, fruit, charcuterie, and orange juice, though flies and keeping the tray afloat proved challenging. Dinner at Ocean Grill was a highlight, featuring lamb chops, truffle mash, grilled vegetables, and chocolate lava cake. The Teppanyaki dinner combined food with humor and impressive cooking skills. Kintuka also attended a cooking class where she made Faru Mas Kirugarudhiya, a reef fish soup with coconut milk and spices.
Activities and Rainy Day Plan
Activities included an alchemy class to create bath soaks, a visit to the resort's gardens and chicken coop named Cluckingham Palace, and a tour of the underground wine cellar with over 3,000 bottles. When rain disrupted plans for a castaway island trip, the resort's rainy-day itinerary included painting and a visit to Andiamo bistro, which felt like a beach club with a DJ. Kintuka noted that the resort employs about half Maldivians and promotes local culture through excursions, a cultural awareness centre, and locally sourced cuisine.
Pricing and Booking
JA Manafaru has 84 villas and residences. Starting rates are 500 USD (approx. £380) in low season and 800 USD (approx. £608) in high season. Flight rates from the UK: British Airways direct £1,180, Etihad one stop £832, Emirates one stop £1,007, SriLankan Airlines one stop £1,540.
