Dreaming of a Maldives holiday that won’t break the bank? We thought it was impossible until we discovered this hidden gem. Join us on a journey to Thinadhoo, where nature, tranquillity and authenticity come together to create a truly unique experience.
By Carlota von Hafe Pérez – Nos No Mundo
Photography courtesy of Carlota von Hafe Pérez – Nos No Mundo
We are a down-to-earth family, drawn to the art of simplicity and the philosophy of slow living. For the past seven years we’ve been on a journey together, and in the last two years we’ve welcomed our beautiful children, Tata and Lua, just a year apart. Sebastião, a former commercial model, and I, Carlota, trained as a photographer, met accidentally. It was during this fateful meeting that we made a bold decision – we packed no more than two backpacks and a simple tent and bought two one-way tickets with no fixed date of return.
We spent over four years travelling the world, swapping work for accommodation, couchsurfing, delivering pizzas from a caravan, working in construction and gardening – all in search of self-discovery. Our travels have taken us to countries in South America, Asia, and even Australia, New Zealand and China.
Our desire to explore the world never left us, and with the addition of our two wonderful children, who are already fascinated by travelling, nature, animals and people, our passion for exploring only grew. For the past four years we’ve been running a small rooftop bar in Porto, Portugal, called Graça Rooftop Bar, where we welcome a mix of locals and people from all over the world. Here we share experiences with live music. It is the most relaxed terrace in Porto. The rest of the year we devote ourselves to our life project, Nos no Mundo (We in this world), a school of life for parents and children. Instead of focusing on celebrities and trends, we want to teach our children how to be real people, appreciating the little moments in life, the different realities, the names of plants and animals.
The way we like to travel takes time. These days we are bombarded with package holidays, trendy destinations and hotel chains that are the same all over the place. But where is the essence of a place? What really matters is the people, the local businesses and the accommodation that integrates and respects cultures. We have moved away from what we call “fast tourism”, a kind of “fast food” approach to travel. We want to experience the emotions, the essence of each place and, above all, to feel a deep respect for the environment, a concern for the local population, for the place itself, for the planet and for future generations. We therefore choose to travel based on ecologically sound principles. Ecotourism is available for all budgets; it’s just a matter of finding the destination and method that aligns with your values.
In this article, we share one of our recent travel experiences on Thinadhoo, a hidden gem in the Maldives, where we discovered a perfect blend of nature, tranquillity, and authenticity.
Thinadhoo: A Hidden Paradise in the Maldives
Thinadhoo is a picturesque island in the Maldives full of surprises, with just 40 residents, one student at the school, and a small market.
The entire island can be explored from one end to the other in a 25-minute walk.
Every corner of this island is so magical. We found ourselves sighing with gratitude for the opportunity to experience such a unique reality.
Thinadhoo’s magical moments:
Imagine walking into one of an island’s bays and stumbling upon a nocturnal gathering of sharks and rays. Witnessing over 50 of these majestic creatures coexisting peacefully after dinner made our children’s bedtime routine an unforgettable experience. Watching these sea creatures in the moonlight, we knew this special yet simple moment would be impossible to forget.
These routines continued and in the mornings, after a delicious breakfast of fresh fruit, we would take the kayak out on the sea.
The calm, transparent water and the breeze from the sea made the mornings a very special experience. At sunset we would walk along the beach just as the crabs emerged from their burrows and began to crawl across the fine sand. The colours of the sky enhanced our second to last dive of the day, and even when the sharks were playing close to the shore, we rarely missed the opportunity to dive in the moonlight.
Life on the island of Thinadhoo:
There are no cars or motorbikes on Thinadhoo, and the ground is entirely sandy, so shoes were never an issue for us. The people of Thinadhoo are Muslim, and there are certain rules that derive from their religion that we have come to respect and appreciate. While you are allowed to walk around in your bikini in the designated areas, it’s not allowed in the central area or in the restaurants. There’s no alcohol on the island, making it ideal for those looking to detox and make their holiday healthier. Prayers are heard at certain times of day and the small mosque fills with the few inhabitants of this special place, faithfully answering every call.
Beach bliss:
Fifty per cent of the island is covered in its original vegetation, mostly coconut palms, so you have to be careful of falling coconuts – that’s probably the only danger on the island. After just two days of walking, we were already saying hello to the villagers and getting to know their faces, and they were getting to know us as well.
The beach at Thinadhoo is simply perfect, with clear sand and crystal-clear water that allows you to kayak and see fish and coral in all the colours of the rainbow. With temperatures in excess of 30 degrees Celsius, it was impossible not to take a dip during the day and at night. Can you imagine swimming under a starlit sky?
Explore marine life:
Life on the island may be simple, but it is far from monotonous. Each day we boarded a typical Maldivian wooden boat, eager to showcase this destination’s most interesting aspect: its marine life. There was one boat that had a local captain at the helm who steered with his foot, in the company of two companions who knew the area like the back of their hands.
The most memorable experience was swimming with nurse sharks, which are common in the area and, although carnivorous, are harmless. It was a unique mix of feeling free while swimming with them and the adrenaline rush of knowing that these almost 2-metre-long creatures are still sharks. They even touch you, brushing their rough “toad skin” over you. Realising how small we are in the vast ocean was a once in a lifetime feeling. On other days we also saw turtles in the open water and had a swim with the rays. We even went fishing for dinner. With the wealth of fish in these waters, most of the island’s population live on fresh seafood. We visited a sunken ship which, with good lungs, could be explored to see its interior. It had become its own ecosystem, with corals and fish making it their home.
Just a few metres away, right in front of the hotel, and with the water up to your legs, we were able to experience one of the best snorkelling sessions we’ve ever had. Even the little ones were able to join in on the fun, looking for the little fish and enjoying the whole experience. It was truly magical, and I would highly recommend it to families.
Eco-friendly accommodation:
Our chosen hotel, Ecoboo, like all our recent choices, is eco-friendly, environmentally conscious, and respectful of locals and nature.
It’s made entirely of bamboo and is situated right on the beach, offering a breath of fresh air in what can often be a hectic world. On arriving, we were greeted with a refreshing lemonade and had an informal chat about how the island works and the rules designed to ensure that both visitors and locals feel comfortable and respect each other. We should never forget that when we travel, we are entering someone else’s world and must accept their principles and see the beauty in our differences. We were given a glass bottle to carry our water with us throughout the journey. Within the first five minutes we heard, “There are no plastic bottles here,” and you know what? We didn’t see a single plastic bottle for the whole of our stay in that hotel.
Rain and sea water are treated and used for a variety of uses, such as drinking, irrigation and bathing. Potable water is always provided by the hotel and free of charge. Most of the construction and decoration of the hotel is made of bamboo and other natural resources found on the island. Even the children’s playground has slides and swings made of wood.
In this hotel you can stay with meals included and a package of tours starting from $120 USD per person per day, depending on the time of year.
Conclusion:
Going to Thinadhoo left an indelible mark on our hearts and we want to share more. We are planning our first group trip with Nos no Mundo in 2024, taking a group of adventurers to this paradise. Be on the lookout for the programme and dates!
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