A South African honeymoon couple marooned in the Maldives finally left on Saturday along with some of the few remaining tourists trapped by the coronavirus pandemic.

Olivia and Raul De Freita were the only guests left at an upmarket island resort in March as the hotel began shutting down due to Covid-19.

They reportedly spent their life savings on the dream trip.

The De Freitas were among 40 South Africans evacuated Saturday, April 11.

Local authorities organised discounted rates for anyone left stranded. But "everyone was really happy...and eager to get home", said the South African consul in the Maldives, Mohamed Ali Manik.

The De Freitas had arrived in the Maldives on March 22 on a six-day honeymoon, which started going south when international travel restrictions were rapidly put into place.

The couple eventually became the only guests at the Cinnamon Velifushi, a resort meant to accommodate 180 people.

“Everyone says they want to be stuck on a tropical island, until you’re actually stuck,” Raul De Freitas told the New York Times. It only sounds good because you know you can leave."

Almost all tourist resorts have now shut in the Maldives. The staff at remaining hotels must quarantine for 14 days from the date the last guest checks out.

The couple considered taking the hour-and-a-half speedboat ride to the main island and trying their luck at the airport. But the Maldives had also announced their own lockdown around the same time, banning any new foreign travelers. If they left the resort, they might not be allowed back in. So, they stayed.

This would all get sorted out, and, besides, they were in paradise.

The resort comprises the entirety of its speck of an island. There is nowhere to go. The couple reign like benign yet captive sovereigns over their islet. The days are long and lazy. They sleep in, snorkel, lounge by the pool, repeat.

It’s incredible that we get this extra time,” Olivia De Freitas said. But the financial toll is weighing on them, heavily. Though the couple has been paying a generously discounted rate, the bill grows ever larger. Each day that ticks by is a chip taken out of their savings that had been set aside for a house down payment.

On Sunday, April 5, according to the couple, they were given an hour’s notice by the South African embassy, communicating via WhatsApp, to pack their bags. After saying their goodbyes and thank-yous, they were taken by speedboat to another five-star resort, where South Africans were being consolidated.

South African officials said special arrangements were made to operate Saturday's flight on April, 11.

Nothing in life is as beautiful as it seems!

A paradise becomes boring without the smiles and joy of people around...

Endless snorkeling time.
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