Maldives in February: weather, Ramadan and Valentine’s

February sits in the middle of the northeast monsoon, which the Maldives Meteorological Service calls the dry season (January to March). Winds blow lightly from the north-east, skies are mostly clear, and rain is rare.

The Met Service’s long-term figures for Malé, shared with the World Meteorological Organization (1981–2000 averages), show why February has its reputation:

• Rain: about 38 mm over the month, on around 3 rainy days. That is the lowest of any month. January averages about 114 mm and March about 74 mm.
• Temperature: highs around 31°C and lows around 26°C.
• Sunshine: the Met Service puts January to March at 10 to 11 hours of sunshine a day, against 7 to 9 hours in other months.
• The sea: about 28 to 29°C, warm enough to snorkel for an hour without a wetsuit.

Rain usually comes as a short shower with sun either side. Averages are not promises, so allow for the odd unsettled day.

This is the calmest part of the year for most of the country:

• Smooth crossings. Speedboats and ferries usually have an easy ride.
• Good visibility. Calm, dry weeks generally mean clearer water on the reefs.
• Little surf. The swell that feeds Maldivian surf breaks comes with the southwest monsoon. December to February is often flat, so February is a beach-and-reef month, not a surf trip.

Marine life this month

Research by the Manta Trust shows manta rays tend to gather on the western sides of the atolls during the northeast monsoon, then move to the eastern sides in the southwest monsoon. So in February, manta trips are more likely from islands on the western rims. Whale sharks are found all year in the South Ari Marine Protected Area, according to the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme, and calm February seas make the long day trip more comfortable. Turtles and reef fish are around in any month. No sighting is ever guaranteed. More in our Maldives marine life guide.

Ramadan begins (around 8 February)

The big event is the start of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting. Based on astronomical estimates, it is expected to begin around Monday 8 February 2027 and run to about 8 or 9 March, with Eid al-Fitr around 9 or 10 March. The exact start depends on the sighting of the new moon, so it may move by a day. The first day of Ramadan is a public holiday.

So February 2027 has two halves:

• 1 to 7 February: normal island life, with cafés open through the day.
• From about 8 February: Ramadan. Local people fast from dawn to sunset, and days are slower.

See our festivals and public holidays guide for the full 2027 calendar.

Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day

• Chinese New Year falls on 6 February 2027. It usually brings a busy week of arrivals, so boats, excursions and good-value rooms book up fast.
• Valentine’s Day is on Sunday 14 February. It is not a Maldivian holiday, but February’s calm weather makes it a popular month for couples. In 2027 it falls during Ramadan, which shapes how you celebrate on a local island (see below).

February is high season. Peak months run from roughly December to April, and February’s settled weather puts it near the top for demand. In practice:

• Book rooms, speedboat seats and popular trips well ahead.
• Rates are usually higher than in the wet season, and taxes come on top: Tourism GST of 17% (since July 2025) plus a green tax per guest per night.
• A local island rarely feels crowded; it is rooms and boat seats that run short.

February suits anything that depends on calm water:

• Snorkelling. Flat seas and clear water make house reefs and boat snorkelling at their easiest. Start with our snorkelling guide.
• Diving. Good visibility and gentle crossings to dive sites. See diving in the Maldives.
• Sandbanks and beach days. The most reliable month for a picnic on a sandbank or a long, lazy beach day.
• Surfing. Usually not worth a dedicated trip now. If you want waves, look at the surfing guide and plan for March onwards.

Dhiffushi, on the eastern rim of Kaafu Atoll about 40 to 50 minutes by shared speedboat from Malé, shows what this month looks like on a local island. February is usually its driest and busiest month too.

Ramadan days and evenings

Once Ramadan begins, island life shifts:

• Daytime is quiet. Many cafés close in daylight or open only for takeaway, then open around sunset for iftar, the meal that breaks the fast.
• Don’t eat, drink or smoke in public in daylight. Your guesthouse will still serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, usually in its own dining area.
• Evenings are lively. After sunset, families gather, the streets fill and the island stays up late. Nightly prayers at the mosque mean more people walking about; keep noise down nearby.
• Transport times can change. In recent Ramadans, MTCC has adjusted ferry schedules so the last trip ends before sunset. The public ferry does not run on Fridays on most routes, whatever the month. Confirm speedboat transfers a day ahead.

Excursions generally run as normal, though times may shift around iftar. Our guide to visiting Dhiffushi during Ramadan goes into detail.

Valentine’s on a local island

Local islands do not mark Valentine’s Day, and alcohol is not allowed on inhabited islands at any time of year. In Ramadan, a romantic dinner simply moves to after sunset, when the island is at its most sociable. A sandbank trip or sunset cruise works well; ask your guesthouse how they handle meals on excursions during the fast. Keep public affection low-key in the village. For ideas, see a Maldives honeymoon on a local island.

Sunrise

Dhiffushi is the easternmost inhabited island, so it sees the Maldives’ first sunrise. February’s clear skies give some of the best dawns of the year. During Ramadan the island is often very quiet at that hour.

• Sun protection. With 10 to 11 hours of sunshine a day, bring high-factor reef-friendly sunscreen, a hat and a long-sleeved rash vest.
• Light, modest clothes that cover shoulders and knees in the village; this matters even more in Ramadan. Swimwear is for the bikini beach only.
• A refillable water bottle. Keep it in your bag and drink discreetly in daylight during Ramadan.
• Some rufiyaa in cash for small shops and the public ferry.

January is also dry season, though a little wetter on average, and has no Ramadan in 2027. March is hotter, with surf swells starting and Eid al-Fitr around 9 or 10 March. For the whole year, see the best time to visit the Maldives and the best time to visit Dhiffushi.