Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Reflects recent average nightly prices reported by our partners, and may not include estimated taxes or fees. Price at checkout may differ.
Cheaper
Average
Higher
About
4.5
#1 of 1 all-inclusive in Herathera Island
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Located in the southern-most atoll of the Maldives, Addu – a recently declared UNESCO biosphere reserve, Canareef Resort Maldives can be reached by domestic flight across the equator from Male’ International Airport to Gan Airport or a direct flight to Gan International Airport via selected airlines, and a 10-minute speedboat ride. Surrounded by turquoise waters, freshwater lakes, mangroves and unspoiled nature, the island flaunts its own private picnic island and one of the longest beaches in the Maldives and is the only resort in the country with direct access to a local island on foot via a connecting bridge. Home to 271 spacious beach villas sprawled across a 4.5 km stretch of coastline, each accommodation offers open-air bathrooms and an inviting patio, guaranteeing views of either the lagoon or the expansive Indian Ocean.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
Powered by AI
Canareef Resort Maldives offers a lively yet serene atmosphere, though some guests find the music loud. While opinions on value vary, with some questioning additional costs, the resort's amenities, including its pools and transportation options, earn high marks. The staff's warm service is often lauded, despite occasional slow service.
Cleanliness is a strong suit, with well-maintained villas and common areas. Its location is celebrated for relaxation and beach access, and the spacious, clean rooms with unique features are a highlight for many visitors.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Lively
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Budget-friendly
Cleanliness
Meticulous
Service
Friendly
Amenities
Pampering
Was this helpful?
Tripadvisor is not responsible for this summary or the opinions in it. For more information, please read the traveller reviews and learn more about how the site works.
Where can I start. We planned a trip to Maldives to spend the New Years there. During the booking I accidentally booked a day earlier. I messaged the property about it, 4 times. Unfortunately there was no response regarding my specific question. When we reached the resort, they made us wait a long time only to tell me that my room is not ready yet! How is my room not ready if they were expecting me a day earlier! They decided to “upgrade” our room to shut me up. However when we reached the upgraded room, it was a mess! Bedsheets not on the bed, pillows all over the place and jacuzzi not cleaned, ashtray with cigarette butts (attaching pictures as proof). Absolutely horrific for the price we paid. They decided to move us to another room. Now our bags still have not arrived to our room and after 12 hours of traveling we really wanted to shower. However this was impossible since our bags after 2 hours still did not make it to the room, and the room was not equipped with towels. To top it all off, no one explained to us anything about the island and what we can do, so today we walked like idiots figuring out where we can eat.
The service is very slow (waited an hour for drinks) and the food is okay (not worth the money).
I was also promised to meet with the GM of the hotel, but here I am waiting for a reply from them.
In summary, do not come here unless it is heavily discounted or they have gone through a change in management where they employ enough people to serve their guests properly.
Read more
Date of stay: December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Ahmed Ameed Naseer, Marketing at Canareef Resort Maldives
Responded 5 Mar 2024
Dear valued guest, We sincerely apologize for the numerous challenges you encountered during your stay at Canareef Resort. Your feedback is of great concern to us, and we deeply regret that we failed to meet your expectations. We always strive for guest satisfaction, and we are deeply sorry to hear this was not the case. Your feedback will be greatly helpful to improve our services. Please accept our sincerest apologies once again for the inconveniences and frustrations you experienced and appreciate your understanding while we investigate and address these issues. Kind regards.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
My husband and I have just returned from a 10 day trip to Cannareef. Here’s what we loved about it:
1.) The weather - at this time of year the northern islands can have unpredictable and stormy weather but occupying a southerly position, the weather was great, we had sun and 27C+ every day with occasional cooling breeze from the Eastern (reef) side of the Island and occasional cloud cover. Prices are cheaper at this time of year and the resort is quieter too. Staff in the bars usually approached us to offer drink service, we didn’t have to queue at all.
2.) Our room was large and well positioned. It had 3 different outside seating/lounging options. We could watch turtles bob for air from our front terrace. We enjoyed the outdoor bathroom and jacuzzi, it was also well serviced twice daily, my only comment would be is that the bed was very firm for anyone who used to memory foam at home.
3.) The customer service from the staff was second to none. The welcome and farewells were humbling and nothing was too much trouble for any staff member we spoke to. They learnt our names and used them to greet us a lot of the time, they made efforts to engage in conversation about how our holiday was going and worked quickly when we needed anything eg watching the Euros from our room. My tip - take a load of dollar bills to recognise the great service, not because you need to or because the staff expect it but just to show your appreciation for their efforts to go above and beyond what you’d expect.
4.) There is space to explore; we enjoyed cycling around Cannareef and its neighbouring Island. There is plenty of shade on the resort paths and lots of places to take in the scenery and views. The paths can be a bit bumpy in places but it is a tropical island not a tarmaced cycle path. The bikes had front suspension, good grip for any sandy patches and comfy seats, you just need to slow down over any rougher sections of the path where traffic may be a bit higher and therefore the path gets a bit more potholed.
5.) The all inclusive food options were amazing, there was something for everyone. Here are a few of our favourites: Butter chicken, rice naan Beef steak, fried potatoes, salad Lamb tagine and cous cous Lasagne Popadoms and pickles! Roast turkey Beef bourguignon and dauphinoise potatoes Chilli chicken, beef stir fry and noodles The ice creams!
This resort has so much going for it, it presents great value for money and is a more relaxed down to earth and yet still high quality but less pretentious experience of the Maldives. From our experience it’s possible to visit in June and have dry/sunny weather the entire time. I’d recommend spending a week in Sri Lanka first and then flying from Colombo to Gan (therefore skipping Male and reducing the journey time). We had a fabulous holiday, I’m sure we’ll be back
Read more
Date of stay: June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Ahmed Ameed Naseer, Marketing at Canareef Resort Maldives
Responded 10 Jul 2024
Dear Guest, Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed and thoughtful review of your stay at Canareef. We are absolutely thrilled to hear that your experience was wonderful and that so many aspects of your stay met your expectations. It's fantastic to know that the weather was great during your visit. We're glad you enjoyed the sunny days, pleasant temperatures, and occasional cooling breezes. We aim to provide a peaceful and relaxing environment, and it's great that you appreciated the quieter atmosphere and attentive bar service. We are delighted that you found your room spacious and well-positioned, with its various outdoor seating options and the unique outdoor bathroom and jacuzzi. Watching turtles from the patio of your villa sounds magical. = Your kind words about our staff mean a lot to us. We strive to offer exceptional service, and it’s heartwarming to know that our team made you feel welcome and well taken care of. It's great to hear that they made efforts to engage with you and made your stay memorable. We're pleased that you enjoyed exploring the island and local island next to Canareef on your bikes. The natural terrain of our tropical island can be a bit bumpy, but we're glad you found the scenery and views worth it. Your compliments about the food are greatly appreciated. We are thrilled that our buffet at Kilhi Restaurant offered something for everyone and that you had so many favorites. Our culinary team works hard to provide a variety of delicious meals, and it’s wonderful to know their efforts were well received. Thank you for highlighting the value and quality of our resort. We aim to provide a relaxed yet high-quality experience, and it's rewarding to hear that you found it to be so. Your recommendation is highly valued, and we are glad you had such a fabulous holiday. We look forward to the possibility of welcoming you back for another unforgettable stay. Warm Regards, Canareef Resort Maldives
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We had initially booked this destination with the first leg being Sri Lanka and then Maldives. We had never really looked at the Maldives as a destination due to its exclusiveness and isolation. Didn't think there would be much to do. We booked with Bluebay Travel and were travelling with another couple. When going to Sri Lanka wasn't and option we changed the holiday to a 2 week stay in Canareef. The headline has to be that there is enough at this destination to have a fabulous 2 week holiday. The flights were via Sri Lanka, Male and final flight to Gan(I believe there will be flights later this year direct from Dubai to Gan which would be a great improvement). We had a sunset bungalow on the beach. This resort is 4km long and you are given mountain bikes with the bungalow. There are golf buggies that constantly run up and down the resort and this was fantastic as one of the other couple found it difficult to walk further than 50m. We were near the restaurant and main pool and the best beach for snorkelling was at the other end so we could cycle for an early swim before breakfast. The island is flat and walking everywhere is easily possible if you like walking. The resort felt it was still waking up from Covid and wasn't at capacity so it felt amazing to have this whole resort to yourself. The staff were fabulous and always helpful. You get the same table in the restaurant every meal and therefore you get to know who will look after you for you dinning experience. The food was all made in the kitchen and had curries, western diet and fruit. We were happy with the amount and quality of the food available . The trips were organised through the hotel and we went on a dolphin tour (saw loads of dolphins) sunset fishing(really great experience catching fish only with a line and the crew bated the hook so no need to get mucky) Island tour to see the whole atoll, massage in the spa. took the mountain bike to the town next door for a good cycle around. Had a go at tennis(could do with updating the rackets and courts) There is another pool further down the resort and we had the choice of the 3 locations for a relaxing time in the sun during the day. The 2 bar areas(there is also a beach bar that closes in the evening) have pool tables and limited entertainment and are huge so plenty of room. amazing sunsets and cocktails. We will definitely return to this most southerly atoll of the Maldives and wish we could have stayed longer than 2 weeks!! Weather was brilliant in Nov and was completely different to the weather in Male at the same time.
Read more
Date of stay: November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What can I say. Canareef offers welcome value for all of those who want to experience the Maldives but are presented with over-priced resorts.
Went early June which going on past weather records was a good time for clear skies. Have to say this was the case with showers only on one afternoon and true rain only once overnight.
Place was not busy. Probably 40 to 80 guests compared to 400 in high season. Ramadan falling for much of our stay also likely an issue.
No issues getting to Gan. Recommend yoy fly into Sri Lanka and get direct flight run by Sri Lankan. Much cheaper than the rip off choice from Male plus you will get 30kg each as opposed to 20kg from Male - great for dive gear - as well as the chance to see Colombo!
Read more
Date of stay: May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had a wonderful stay at Canareef Resort Maldives! The experience was truly exceptional, from the moment I arrived until the time I left. The resort's stunning location amidst the crystal-clear waters and lush greenery created a picture-perfect paradise. The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive, always going above and beyond to ensure my comfort and satisfaction. The accommodations were luxurious and beautifully designed, offering breathtaking views of the ocean. The variety of activities and amenities available, such as snorkeling, spa treatments, and delicious dining options, made my stay even more memorable. I can't wait to visit Canareef Resort Maldives again in the future!
Read more
Date of stay: July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Ahmed Ameed Naseer, Sales at Canareef Resort Maldives
Responded 19 Jul 2023
Dear Benjamin, Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience at Canareef Resort Maldives! We are thrilled to hear that your stay with us was nothing short of exceptional, from the moment you arrived until the time you left. We are quite proud of our resort's spectacular setting and thick flora, which creates a picture-perfect holiday for our guests to enjoy. Our team is committed to offering warm and attentive service, and we're glad you found them to be extremely nice and accommodating throughout your stay. It's wonderful to hear you appreciated the luxury and beautifully built accommodations with spectacular beach and lagoon views. We make every effort to ensure that our guests are as comfortable and relaxed as possible throughout their stay with us. We're also glad you had the chance to check out the various activities and services we have to offer, such as snorkelling, spa treatments, and scrumptious food selections. We strive to provide unique experiences, and we're delighted you had a great time taking advantage of everything our resort has to offer. Thank you for your wonderful compliments, and we hope to see you again soon at Canareef Resort Maldives! Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require assistance with future bookings or have any specific requests. Thank you for choosing to stay with us and taking the time to offer your feedback!
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Our stay at Canareef from Oct 28 to Nov 5 was absolutely amazing from start to finish. The resort is in the south and you have to take an internal flight from Male to Gan, then a speedboat. The connections were very efficient and worth it. The island is beautifully rustic and very tropical, and is over 4km long. The service at meal times was very personal because we had the same table and waiter at each sitting. IkleeI our waiter was pleasant and attentive! The very talented Chief Laksman, who we had the pleasure of meeting, is on point. The wide variety of food in the all inclusive restaurant is delicious! From Pan Asian to pizza, there was pasta, roast lamb, chicken, roast beef, various curries, fish you name it. And a wide selection of fruits, salads and yummy desserts. The life guard Hemal also supervises the evening entertainment, from crab racing where the winning prize was an excursion for 2, to musical hats, every night there was a different exciting game. Oh and the snorkelling and Dolphins excursions were wonderful. There was an exciting Cuban band which was a lovely treat. And the resident DJ, Shashe was AMAZING! Spinning a nice mixture of popular tunes including new and old classics. We danced the night away almost every night, sipping lovely cocktails and beverages included in the price. A big THANK YOU to the Assistant General Manager Mr Malinda who we met, and was very kind, ensuring all our needs were met. Also a big THANK YOU to ALL the staff, what an amazing team. I can honestly say this was the best holiday ever and I look forward to returning real soon.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Ahmed Ameed Naseer, Marketing at Canareef Resort Maldives
Responded 12 Nov 2023
Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing your incredible experience during your stay at Canareef Resort from October 28 to November 5. We are overjoyed to hear that your journey with us, from start to finish, was nothing short of amazing. Your vivid description of the journey to the resort, involving an internal flight and a speedboat, sets the scene for an adventure that was well worth the connections. We're delighted that you found the island to be beautifully rustic, tropical, and extensive, spanning over 4.5 kilometers. It's heartening to hear that the personal touch during meal times, with the same table and waiter at each sitting, added to the overall dining experience. IkleeI, your waiter, is a true asset to our team, and we're glad that his service was both pleasant and attentive. Our talented Chef Lakshman is indeed a maestro, and we're pleased that you had the opportunity to meet him. The variety of food in Kilhi restaurant, from Pan Asian to pizza, and the wide selection of dishes and desserts, clearly left a positive impression. The evening entertainment, hosted by Hemal, sounds like a delightful experience. Crab racing, musical hats, and different exciting games each night must have added a fun and engaging touch to your evenings. We're glad that the snorkeling and Dolphins excursions were wonderful additions to your stay. The Cuban band and our DJ, Shashe, seem to have added a vibrant and entertaining atmosphere. We're thrilled to know that you danced the night away almost every night, enjoying the music and cocktails. We'll be sure to pass on your gratitude to our Assistant General Manager, Mr. Malinda and the entire team. Your declaration that this was the best holiday ever is the highest praise we could receive. We can't wait to welcome you back real soon and create more unforgettable moments together. Thank you for choosing Canareef Resort, and until your return, we wish you many more wonderful adventures!
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We had the most incredible time at Canareef resort Maldives! It was my dream to go to the Maldives for my 50th and this place did not disappoint! It is a large island and the resort is spread out along a beautiful coastline, with the lagoon on one side and the open sea on the other. It was quite busy but never felt that way as there are so many beautiful places to sit on the beach and relax, it definitely had the desert island feel that I was hoping for! That said, there are always staff around to help, serve you drinks or give you a lift on one of their beach buggies so you don't have to walk anywhere if you don't want to. The khili restaurant was ideal for me as I like buffet style, being able to pick a bit of anything I like. Having the same waiter for every meal meant you had continuity of care and our waiter, Shifaz was always ready with our usual drinks of choice the minute we walked in. He was an absolute godsend, such great friendly service and it really made our time there extra special that he arranged a table on the beach for my husbands birthday, and also for our last night. The resort was always tidy and rooms cleaned thoroughly and to a high standard. The nightly entertainment was great, even for us who tend to go to bed quite early! We did several trips that were organised by the resort which were absolutely fabulous! I would definitely go to this resort again as I feel like it would be like visiting old friends as all the staff were so lovely!
Read more
Date of stay: January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kevin Theseira, General Manager at Canareef Resort Maldives
Responded 8 Mar 2023
Dear Dawnt2019 Firstly, we hope that you had a good trip back to the UK and would like to say thank you for taking the time to write a comment on TripAdvisor concerning your stay at Canareef. We are extremely happy that you had an Incredible holiday vacation here at Canareef Resort Maldives and found our Island, bars, services, buggy services, cleanliness, excursions and our food to your satisfaction. We will make sure that Mr. Shifaz is informed of your comments made on the site. We are a very long island and very natural so even if we have a lot of guests, you will still be able to find a quiet place. As I have often commented, guests always know if staff are genuinely friendly and helpful and we are extremely fortunate that all our staff try very hard to ensure that all our guest needs are met. Again, Thank you for choosing Canareef Resort Maldives as your holiday destination and we hope to be able to welcome you back again.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
After a long journey arrived tired and hungry. Was asked to pay for transfer and NYE gala dinner then and there I expressed a preference for paying for everything at the end. They were not happy about it so I paid. The next day I received a call to the room telling me I need to come to reception to pay. There were no please or thank yous. I told them I paid yesterday. Within an hour the Russian lady from the staff was knocking on the door telling us we need to pay. Once she recognised me she remembered I had paid yesterday. There wasn't an apology or any acknowledgement that it's not acceptable to knock on customers doors and demand payment.
The website advertises two visits from housekeeping a day. We usually have to make two phone calls a day to get one visit. The guys cleaning the rooms work hard, but I don't think there is enough of them for all the customers.
Definitely 2 star service. I understand mistakes happen, but staff need to apologise and do there best to make sure they don't happen again. Faulty towers with sun.
Read more
Date of stay: December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed at Canareef for 7 nights in a Sunset Villa, and everything was fantastic. The villa backed on to the bay side of the island, so the water was calm and lovely to swim / snorkel in. The bay side comes with a lovely beach which is very quiet and relaxing. The villa was also within very short walking distance of the reception, gym, dive centre, restaurant and pool which eliminated the need to use the buggies often. That being said when we did use the buggies (to get to the beach bar only), they were very prompt and pain free. We enjoyed the dolphin cruise, morning fishing trip, private snorkelling trip and a beginners scuba diving trip, all of which were absolutely brilliant. Didi (who looked after all of our excursions except the diving, which is a private company) was just amazing. He really went the extra mile to make sure our trip was one to remember for life. We are very grateful for everything he did for us. The food was fantastic. Each night there was a different theme, all of which were just as good as the other. The restaurant dedicates a table and waiter for you for the extent of your stay so there is no worry about where you’re going to sit. The evening entertainment was great. The DJ and Live singer were always smiling and keeping everyone entertained, also the bar staff were very pleasant and friendly. They made sure you were never without a drink. The rooms were cleaned twice a day which was nice. On the whole, it was an amazing trip and we wouldn’t hesitate to rebook next year should we have the opportunity too.
Read more
Date of stay: February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kevin Theseira, General Manager at Canareef Resort Maldives
Responded 6 Mar 2023
Dear Garybl7385KV, Thank you very much for taking the time to write a review on TripAdvisor. We are happy that you had a good vacation with us and found our room, cleanliness, services, food, excursions and entertainment to your satisfaction. Will pass your comments to Didi on a job well done and thank you for your comments pertaining our dive center. Most importantly, we hope that you had the relaxing vacation with us and we look forward to welcoming you again at Canareef Resort Maldives. Until then, we wish you and your family all the best for the future.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We always travel in the off season periods. Yes it can and does rain but it is warm enough to dry you out in few minutes. This is the best time to travel as the resort is quiet and has few visitors so the island is yours. Best to ignore the snowflakes!
Non so dare una risposta per il latte di avena, probabilmente risponderà il resort a questa domanda.. Per quanto riguarda la visita dell'isola è sicuramente possibile. C'è la possibilità di un bus vicino all'uscita del resort .. oppure si può prendere un taxi facendolo prenotare dalla reception. Ci sono a disposizione anche le biciclette gratuite ma sarebbe sicuramente un problema con un bambino piccolo.. Se la differenza tra mezza pensione ed all inclusive non è alta, conviene sicuramente optare per la formula all inclusive.. A fine gennaio 2024 torneremo al Canareef per il nostro 50° anniversario di matrimonio.. Se hai bisogno di altre informazioni non esitare a chiedere..
There are more places to choose from in the Herathera Island area.
PRICE RANGE
S$126 - S$358 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
j resort handhufushi hotel addu atoll, j hotel handhufushi, j hotel addu atoll
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
J Resort Handhufushi
LOCATION
MaldivesAddu CityHerathera Island
NUMBER OF ROOMS
271
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
