Riu Palace Maldives
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Overview

  • Two resorts in one, with access to the extensive facilities of Riu Atoll
  • Sample flavours from around the world in several restaurants and bars
  • Experienced dive and watersports centre with over 30 years experience
  • Explore Dhaalu's reefs, or try your hand at different watersports

Riu Palace is a five-star all-inclusive private island resort located in one of the Maldives’ more peaceful and secluded atolls. Just next door to its partner resort, Riu Atoll, this island escape boasts seclusion and intimacy, whilst still offering a wealth of enticing facilities. Stroll between the two islands at will, along the meandering 800-metre wooden walkway, making the most of gourmet restaurants, inviting pool bars, and sports and spa services. And, if the feeling grabs you, explore Dhaalu Atoll underwater with an experienced partner dive centre, searching for wrecks and manta rays cleaning stations.

Rooms

Amenities

About Riu Palace

If you’re thinking of having a luxury holiday in a paradise destination, Riu Palace Maldivas is the ideal place for you. This five-star all-inclusive resort in the Maldives is located on the private island of Kedhigandu, Dhaalu, and is connected to its partner resort, Riu Atoll, by a curving wooden walkway standing high above the water. As the smaller of the two resorts, Riu Palace offers a slightly more secluded atmosphere, but is still just a stone’s throw away from the extensive facilities of Riu Atoll.

Riu’s portfolio of resorts are all about delivering unforgettable experiences in some of the world’s most stunning destinations, and Riu Palace is no different. Guests can enjoy all-inclusive 24-hour service, free Wi-Fi throughout the resort, and a wide range of cuisines to sample at several different eateries - each offering its own unique charm. And, with unrestricted access to Riu Atoll, which lies just a short walk away, you can also make the most of massages and beauty treatments in the spa, watersports such as diving, kayaking and paddleboarding, and a vibrant entertainment programme full of shows and live music.

Explore the resort

Riu Palace Maldivas’ wide range of cuisines will both surprise and entice you. The main restaurant, Palm, serves buffet breakfasts, lunches and dinners with live cooking stations, while the Yu Hi Japanese and Krystal fusion eateries offer delicious à la carte dishes for dinner. Or, if you’re in the mood for some Western delights, neighbouring Riu Atoll offers an Italian restaurant and a steakhouse which deliver comforting classics with passion and flair. When it comes to thirst-quenchers and sundowners, the Paradise poolside and swim-up bar is the place to be, serving a full selection of delicious beverages at the water’s edge. 

This island resort is fringed by powder white sand dotted with loungers that can be accessed from anywhere on the island within seconds, providing ample space and opportunity to relax and soak up the idyllic setting. If you wish to increase the excitement, a range of complementary watersports are also provided from the dive and watersports centre at Riu Atoll, including kayaks, pedalos, stand-up paddleboards, and snorkelling equipment. Riu Atoll is also where guests will also find the well-equipped gym, with group fitness activities in the RiuFit area up to six times a week, and the Renova spa which offers a variety of massage and beauty treatments.

Diving from Riu Palace

Diving at Riu Palace is organised by ScubaCaribe - one of the world’s leading PADI 5-Star dive and watersports operations. Backed by over 30 years of experience, ScubaCaribe’s mission is to provide guests with fun right from the beginning - no matter the activity and regardless of experience level. With a presence at coveted four and five star resorts throughout the world, ScubaCaribe’s team is well-versed in delivering exceptional service, ensuring guest comfort and safety throughout every experience.

The resort’s PADI 5-Star dive centre is located on the beach of Riu Atoll and features a classroom, 56 sets of quality scuba equipment to rent, and watersports gear of all kinds. Two dive boats are on hand to transfer guests to and from nearby dive sites which can include vibrant reefs, as well as encounters with sharks and manta rays.

Top tips

  • All-inclusive guests at this resort are entitled to one introductory scuba diving lesson.
  • Riu Atoll has a children’s pool and the RiuLand kids’ club so that children can have fun too and parents can get some down time.
  • Transfer to the island is by scheduled flight to Kudahuvadhoo, followed by a 15-minute speedboat ride to the resort. Seaplanes are also a popular choice.
  • Live music and DJ sets can be enjoyed at Riu Palace several times a week. 

Diving in Dhaalu and Faafu Atolls

  • Main Selection Shark
    Sharks
    Year round
  • Main Selection Turtles
    Turtles
    Year round
  • Main Selection Rays
    Rays
    Year round
  • Main Selection Rays
    Manta Rays
    January - April
  • Sweetlips
    Schooling reef fish
    Year round
  • Healthy Coral
    Healthy corals
    Year round
Lying just beyond the typical tourist path, and all-too-often overlooked by visitors, the neighbouring atolls of Faafu and Dhaalu are among the most captivating in the country. These secluded and largely uninhabited atolls may seem unassuming at first, but scratch - or scuba dive - beneath the surface here and you’ll discover a wealth of enticing treasures, from ancient relics to untouched reefs protected by vast pelagic-packed channels. Perfect for those seeking both adventure and escape, Faafu and Dhaalu deliver an unparalleled insight into a more meaningful Maldives, one that balances luxurious hospitality with unbridled nature, authentic culture and fascinating folklore.

Resort checklist

Number of rooms

176

Official dive center rating

PADI 5-Star

Courses offered

Discover Scuba Diving, Open Water, Nitrox