Location: Firpro, Mirihi Magu, Maafushi, Maldives
Google maps: Click here
Web: Facebook
Opening hours: 9am to 11am and 2pm to 11pm
Friday: 3pm to 10pm
Price: Day pass $10 ($5 between 9am and 11am).
Review: Until recently, the Maldives has been the preserve of the ultra wealthy, or splurging honeymoon couples. But since 2010, there has been a growing number of guesthouses, local businesses and infrastructure development on some of the lesser known public islands, meaning that the Maldives is open to everyone.
All you need to know is which of the 1200 odd islands to visit, where to stay and who to book your once in a lifetime excursions with. Luckily for you, we loved the Maldives so much that we decided to write our own guidebook - Quit Pack Go's: Backpackers Guide to the Maldives. The book is with the designer at the moment and we hope to have it on sale by early-August. You can check out a little more about the book on my travel site: Quit Pack Go.
During the month that we spent in the Maldives, the only public gym that we found was FitPro, on the main tourist island of Maafushi. Thankfully, its a pretty decent gym, despite its small size.
Since opening on the 1st of July 2016, the gym sees a steady stream of locals and tourists through its doors. Unlike the other shops on the island, the gym does not shut down at prayer times (the Maldives is an islamic country, meaning most shops on the islands shut down at prayer time.) The gym is shut between 11am and 2pm, during the heat of the midday sun, so it is best to workout in the morning or the evening. If you do like to work out in the morning then you even get a discount of 50% on the cost of a day pass.
The gym also sells a week pass, which works out a lot cheaper than buying individual day passes. If you are spending more than a few days on Maafushi, then this may work out to be a better option. A week pass here will cost you $25 (£20), but you can find an exclusive discount in the Backpacker's guide to the Maldives!
Thankfully the gym is air conditioned, so it never gets too hot in there. They also have a pretty good range of cardio and weights, so what ever your routine you should be able to get a pretty decent workout in on the island (It also boggles my mind as to how they would have gotten all of this equipment to the island given how remote it is).
Equipment wise, the gym has:
- Dumbbells up to 20kg
- Adjustable benches
- Squat rack
- Olympic bar
- Easy bar
- Pull up bar
- Lat pulldown
- Chest press machine
- Chest fly / rear delts machine
- Seated low row machine
- Leg press
- Leg curl machine
- Swiss balls
- Treadmills
- Static bikes
- Cross trainers
- Toilet and showers
The setup in the gym was clean and professional and even the bathroom was pretty clean. Given how small the island is, it is probably better to wait and shower at your hotel.
The gym does sell water, so remember to grab a bottle and stay hydrated in the heat!
Who is this gym for? I have no reservations in recommending this gym to everyone. Whilst I was here I saw men and women training here together, both tourists and locals. Honestly, the island and its waters are so beautiful, it can be hard to want to head inside and leave them, but if you have to, a gym like this is a pretty good reason.
Tips? The gym apparently used to sell protein but they had run out when I was there, so remember to stock up before you go. You can check out my article about where to buy protein in the Maldives here.
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