| Filitheyo | |
| Archipelago: | Faafu Atoll |
| Length Km: | 0.9 |
| Width Km: | 0.5 |
| Country: | Maldives |
Filitheyo is an island in the Faafu Atoll. It is also home of one of the newer resorts in the Maldives;, Filitheyo Island Resort is the only resort operating in the Faafu Atoll, but three islands (Himmithi, Mushimasgali, and Maafushi) have since been leased for tourism development.[1] Launched in 1999, the resort consists of 125 guest bungalows along with a main restaurant, two bars, a Thai spa and a dive school. In May 2022, the resort was cited by the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority for having not paid their dues to the state as rent for resort islands.[2]
Geographically, the island is located approximately 120 km south west of the capital island Malé and can be reached by a 35-minute sea plane flight followed by a ten-minute dhoni ride.
The island is encircled by its own 'house' reef with safe swimming on the north and southwest shores.
Filitheyo has a large collection of lizards of various types, a colony of fruit bats based at the south-east end of the island, at least two herons, crows, at least eight cats, several species of land-dwelling hermit crab and tree-dwelling rats. In 1999, a small marine protection area was established around Filitheyo and fishing around the island ceased.[3]
When the island was being cleared for the construction of the resort, a graveyard marked by approximately 30 headstones was discovered about 25m inland from the south-west shore. The origins of those buried and the reason for their burial on the island is unknown.