The Maldives has no road network connecting islands, so everything moves by boat or plane. Getting from the airport to your resort or guesthouse is the first logistics puzzle — and often the most expensive part of the trip.
Seaplanes are the most scenic option and reach the greatest number of resorts. Trans Maldivian Airways, the world's largest seaplane operator, serves over 80 resorts. The flight itself — skimming over turquoise atolls — is genuinely spectacular. The catch: seaplanes only operate in daylight (roughly 6am to 4:30pm). If your international flight lands at night, you'll need to overnight in Malé or a transit resort and take the seaplane the following morning. One-way fares to distant atolls typically run US$200–400 per person, usually pre-arranged through your resort.
Speedboats are the workhorse of short- and medium-distance travel. Resorts within an hour or two of Malé almost always use them — faster, cheaper than seaplanes, and operable at any hour. Shared speedboat transfers between the airport and nearby resorts cost roughly US$50–100 per person each way; private charters cost more. Atoll Transfer and similar operators run scheduled public speedboat services between islands.
Public ferries connect Malé to the inhabited islands of each atoll on fixed schedules. They're cheap — a few dollars per journey — and perfectly comfortable, but slow and infrequent. They don't go to resorts. If you're doing guesthouse tourism on local islands, the ferry system is your friend; build in flexibility for your schedule.
Domestic flights serve airstrips on several of the outer atolls, including Addu (Gan), Hanimaadhoo, and Kaadedhdhoo. Maldivian (the national carrier) and FlyMe operate these routes. A domestic flight typically runs 40–60 minutes and costs US$100–200 one way.
In Malé itself, taxis are available and there are bicycles for hire, though the island is small enough to walk across in 20 minutes.