Thousands of miles from reality resides a glamorous five-star villa-only resort that blends luxurious amenities with authentic Mauritian heritage. Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa is an oasis offering a beachfront retreat along the idyllic shores of Mauritius‘ world-renowned coastline. As a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, indulge in world-class hospitality with a Mauritanian touch, immersing yourself in the ambience of the tropical island way of life.
Location
Off the coast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, Maradiva Villa Resort & Spa is nestled on 27 acres of lush tropical gardens bordering the white beaches and lagoons of the western coast of the island, backdropped by the rugged green silhouette of the Le Morne Mountain (inscribed on the world’s heritage list). Located just a 5-minute stroll from the bustle of Flic-en-Flac, the name of the village is derived from the Dutch term meaning “free and flat” land. Overlooking Tamarin Bay, this exquisite gateway is an hour’s drive from Sir Sreewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport and a 30-minute drive north of Port Louis, the island’s capital.
The Maradiva Vibe
Driving along the beachfront, we passed along the run of luxury hotels that take up prime spots; while the majority of them are international chains, Maradiva stands out from the well-heeled crowd as being Mauritian owned by none other than the in-laws of the prime minister of Mauritius.
The resort takes architectural inspiration from Mauritius’ colonial past and seamlessly blends the architectural style with the unspoiled Mauritian environment. Upon entering the open-air reception, we marvelled over the ornate path along the tranquil koi pond, which set the ambience for total relaxation.
The resort consists of a total of 65 elegant pool villas that are discreetly hidden from view, arranged along avenues of lush gardens, all in the proximity of the main hubs of the resort and beach, meaning nowhere is too far a distance to walk. All villas have their own private pool, but if you ever got bored of your own, there is an infinity pool overlooking the beach that looks as if it seamlessly blends into part of the lagoon, lined with inviting sun loungers. We recommend enjoying a cocktail there as the sun sets off into the ocean.
Walking through the perfectly groomed gardens and palm tree-lined pathway, our senses are enthralled by the perfumes of hibiscus and frangipani trees dotted throughout. We get a sense of total privacy, as no one is to be seen or heard, with the exception of the singing exotic birds and gentle beach waves in the distance. Unsurprisingly, this place is a haunt for international celebrities, from Anne Hathaway to Matthew McConaughey. The resort’s boutiques offer beachwear, sun cream, and all your other beach holiday essentials. Those looking for something sparkly and extravagant can browse the Carl F. Bucherer boutique for watches and jewellery.
Our Suite Pool Villa
You won’t find rooms here – everyone gets a villa to themselves. We stayed in the Suite Pool Villas, spanning 163 sqm, featuring a veranda offering a spacious outdoor seating and dining area perfect for al fresco dining. The star attraction of our villa was the private 15 sqm infinity plunge pool next to the comfortable-sized daybed. We sat back and relaxed in the refined comforts and natural, understated luxury that are further enhanced by the remarkable exotic garden and surroundings.
The exquisite details continue inside our villa; the interior incorporates a choice of calming earth tones and touches of bright orange, original artworks, dark wooden floors, and the impressive custom-designed Hermes wallpaper behind the headboard of the kingsize bed, complementing the colour choice. The amenities include a roomy walk-in closet, a working desk, and all your usual suspects of world-class standards.
Another highlight is the dreamy bathroom, featuring an oversized bath and a walk-in rain shower room with floor-to-ceiling glass panels viewing your private and secluded garden. We were spoilt and pampered, using Bvlgari toiletries. There is also an outdoor garden shower available, so swimming in the pool, showering in the open-air garden shower, or anything else you do in your villa’s garden or terrace can be completely private.
Facilities
The resort offers a modest boathouse near the main restaurant. Various included activities are available here, including paddle boats, kayaks, water skiing, stand-up paddle boards, and sailing. They also offer snorkelling and glass bottom boat excursions once a day. We tried out water skiing and being first-timers. It was a thrilling experience going out into the ocean with majestic views of the resort and Le Morne mountains for a breathtaking backdrop.
Good news for the beachgoers: Flic-en-Flac Beach is one of the island’s longest and loveliest; along the resort, it offers an idyllic escape from the bustle of the main party hub down in Flic-en-Flac village. We advise you not to miss an early morning swim with the dolphin pod in Tamarin Bay. A family of dolphins frequently visits the area, and excursions are offered to view the marine mammals.
Maradiva organises unique island trips for those that want to explore the gorgeous surroundings at an additional cost. From exotic boat excursions to exploring Mauritius’ untamed rainforests and sugar cane farms, everyone will find something to enjoy, from sports to cultural activities, sightseeing, and embracing nature.
Spa
The award-winning spa sits tucked away in the heart of the resort behind a wall of evergreen trees. There are a total of six treatment rooms surrounding the interior garden, along with a heated pool, a chill pool, a steam room, and a sauna.
The treatments available span more than just your usual idle massages, with most taking a strong influence from Indian philosophy. We took a holistic journey through a selection of Ayurvedic therapies to harmonise our mind, body, and soul. Starting off with a 30-minute consultation to evaluate our holistic needs performed by an Ayurvedic doctor from Kerala, India. Next, based on the outcome of our consultation, the spa treatment was then tailored accordingly to our specific needs. Using herbs with which massage oils are mixed is prescribed with the goal of complementing your “dosha” or body type in the Ayurvedic methodology.
The spa also offers an expansive list of traditional massages, ranging from deep muscular to relaxing aromatherapy massages and body scrubs and wraps. The sense of relaxation extends outside of the spa as the resort offers yoga lessons each morning and afternoon and private sessions for everyone at all levels of experience.
World-class dining
Maradiva’s three restaurants and two bars provide a variety of gastronomic experiences, including Mauritius delicacies, Mediterranean flavours, Asian cuisines, and exquisite Indian fusion food, all in a chic and relaxed atmosphere. The food quality here was impressive and one of the key choices in choosing Maradiva.
Coast2Coast
Coast2Coast serves as the main restaurant where you can savour the Mediterranean, Mauritian, and international cuisines in a considerably relaxed environment from within the restaurant’s lounges or out on the terrace. Operating in buffet style for breakfast, we appreciated the culinary nod to Mauritius’ Indian and French heritage; there’s a large selection from Indian snacks to chocolate croissants. For lunch, the restaurant serves an à la carte menu full of classics, while for dinner, the chef presents a special menu.
Teppan
As the name suggests, Teppan is a Teppanyaki restaurant designed to be an intimate experience, seating only 12 guests twice a day. The restaurant consisted of a large counter encircling the kitchen space; the theatrics of large flames while the chef prepared in front of us was one of the highlights of our stay there. One of the island’s finest Japanese chefs oversees the Teppan counter. Our chef produces her unique Japanese culinary art in a friendly and festive setting. We enjoyed the most tender Australian fillet steak from the grill, which had such a deep, rich taste.
Cilantro
With its charming appearance, Cilantro is the shrine of modern Indian cuisine led by Chef Yanish. This speciality restaurant serves à la carte meals and the best Indian cuisine. It is the larger of the two specialist restaurants, with dark tones and Indian patterns and motifs. We really appreciated the soothing Indian sitar music playing in the background. The food from Chef Yanish is varied and so flavourful, with a tandoori salmon and butter chicken the highlights.
Sands Suites Resort
When you stay at Maradiva, you will also be treated to a thorough dine-around programme that will allow you to eat at the neighbouring sister property Sands Suites Resort, with an authorised amount of credit. Tamarind Terrace serves delectable local flavours, while Spices serves sumptuous Indian cuisine.
What makes Maradiva special?
What distinguishes Maradiva is the intimacy and solitude of villa living that you will not find anywhere else on the island. Nonetheless, its distinctiveness stems from its rich, authentic Mauritius experiential heritage. Because Maradiva is all about quality, authenticity, and nature, it’s difficult to single out one element that defines it. The charm and magic of Maradiva are the culmination of the entire experience.
To discover more, visit: maradiva.com
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All imagery courtesy of Maradiva Resort & Spa.