Mauritius vs The Maldives: Which Paradise Should You Pick & Why?
Choosing a winner on the matter of Mauritius vs The Maldives is like asking a parent to pick a favourite child. It’s a toughie. Both are incredibly beautiful interesting and relaxing locations (obviously). But you came here for answers, so that’s what we’ll give you.
First of all, there are worse problems to have than trying to pick a winner out of Mauritius vs The Maldives as the ultimate holiday destination. So we’re going to start this blog by saying no matter which destination you choose you’re guaranteed an unforgettable escape.
However, there are clear distinctions between the two. So let’s dissect the arguments for each location and deliver a verdict on which is best. Then you can get on with booking and enjoying your paradise found.
Straight into it then. Which is best?
Mauritius vs The Maldives: The Quick Answer
The holiday argument of Mauritius or Maldives is a doozie. But getting it right very much depends on what you want from your escape. Here’s the short version of why you should choose either destination.
Choose Mauritius If You Like….
- Wildlife
- Exploring new places
- Hiking & adventure
Choose The Maldives If You Like…
- Seclusion
- Diving or snorkelling
- Limited excursions
But Which One Should You Choose?
As we said, both are idyllic paradise locations, so choosing between Mauritius vs Maldives for your next break depends on what you want from your escape.
If you want to merge some exploration into your holiday by taking in some local towns, cities and other cultural spots, then Mauritius is going to be better for you.
However, if you’re more interested in kicking back and enjoying stunning landscapes without moving too far – or making a dent in that list of must-reads you’ve been building, then the Maldives is perfect for you.
But there’s more to the story than that in each location. So why don’t we take a closer look and unpack this argument a little more?
Why Visit Mauritius?
You can almost have your cake and eat it in Mauritius. Stretch out on stunning white sand beaches one day then head inland and explore the island’s green heart on another. And it’s in this joined-up experience that Mauritius has The Maldives licked.
There are high-end resorts all over Mauritius. But if you stay up around the north-western area of the island then you’ll be well-placed to see everything it has to offer.
Here you can spend time lounging on spectacular beaches like Grand Baie, Pereybere or Trou aux Biches. Or move slightly further south and inland to discover Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens to get a concentrated dose of local flora & fauna.
Now you’ve done the beaches and nature, you could journey slightly further south and spend a couple of days exploring Port Louis. The island capital is a vibrant hub of culture, art and religion in the nation – not to mention the trendy bars, restaurants & night spots.
Why Visit The Maldives?
Having said all that, is there anything quite like the utter oasis that is The Maldives? If you’re a classic holidaymaker in that you love to do as little as possible on holiday – then you’ll think there isn’t.
It has to be said that, while the resorts in the Maldives are classically slightly more expensive than their Mauritian counterparts, you definitely get more space to move around. The bungalow, water villa or beach villa selection ensures you have palatial space in your setting.
Meanwhile, if you can make it out of your incredible room, you’ll find some of the most spectacular beaches you’ve ever seen in your life (seriously, there’s no comparison). Plus, water babies will adore being so close to the submarine life. Literally walk out into knee-high, bath-warm water and see black-tip reef sharks and other colourful critters flitting around the shallows. Grab your snorkel and head out further – we’re sure you’ll come to a reef soon.
It’s also worth mentioning that, although we haven’t mentioned them yet, you can go on excursions in the Maldives. But you will almost certainly need to travel for longer to get to them than you would in Mauritius. This is mainly due to the fact that the Maldives is basically at water level, so any transport needs to be completed by either speedboat or seaplane.
Where To Stay In Mauritius
Resorts in Mauritius may not share the same square footage as their Maldivian counterparts. But that doesn’t mean they’re not jam-packed with awesome sights, sounds and things to do. We think these 3 are tip top too.
- Radisson Blu Azuri Resort & Spa
- Casuarina Resort & Spa
- Maritim Resort & Spa
Radisson Blu Azuri Resort & Spa
A bona fide five-star paradise plonked on the shores of the Indian Ocean. Over on the northeast coast of Mauritius, Radisson Blu Azuri Resort & Spa places you not far from Port Louis and the amazing botanical gardens which make for amazing days out.
However, with 3 bars, 3 restaurants, a pool, spa, fitness centre and a choice of water sports, you’ll also find plenty to entertain you in the resort if you don’t fancy heading out in search of adventure.
Casuarina Resort & Spa
Probably the most affordable of all the resorts we’ll outline in this piece. Casuarina Resort & Spa offers that chance to experience paradise without breaking the bank. And that more modest price tag doesn’t mean your trip will suffer or be more closed off.
At the beachfront resort, you’ll be right on the sand of one of those best beaches in Mauritius we mentioned earlier – Trou aux Biches. Plus, you’ll also have unfettered access to 3 restaurants, 2 pools, a stunning spa area, a gym and, as a cheeky bonus, you’re just 5 minutes from the amazing 18-hole championship golf course at Mont Choisy Le Golf.
Maritim Resort & Spa
Staying up on that glittering northwestern coast of Mauritius for our final resort, Maritim Resort & Spa delivers everything you could want from a five-star island escape.
Boasting a truly unique setting in the stunning Ruins of Balaclava historical site and right on Turtle Beach, the resort offers 7 restaurants, 6 bars, 2 pools, an award-winning spa, gym, in-resort golf course and a host of water sports.
Vote For Bule Bay In The BTAs & Be In With a Chance Of Winning Your Next Sunny Escape
Where To Stay In The Maldives
Meanwhile, over in the Maldives, the resorts are serious. Because, for the most part, they all take up a whole island you can honestly say you’re holidaying on your own private island (you’ll be sharing said private island with other hotel guests, but why let that get in the way of a good story?).
- Eriyadu Island Resort
- Cocogiri Island Resort
- Kurumathi Island Resort
Eriyadu Island Resort
Kicking off our trip around 3 top Maldives resorts is Eriyadu Island Resort. This heaven on earth is settled serenely on a speck of land no bigger than seven square acres. You’re literally living out a Robinson Crusoe dream living on a dot in the Ocean.
While in the resort you could enjoy making the most of the 2 restaurants, bar, pool, spa, and gym. Or, if you prefer to get out on an adventure then head over to the PADI dive centre and the team will take you out to some of the local hotspots – which also happen to be some of the best diving locations in the world.
Cocogiri Island Resort
With only 40 rooms available, getting to spend time at the exclusive, five-star Cocogiri Island Resort is a challenge in itself. But once you’re there you’ll see why so many people do take on the task of getting a booking – we should probably also mention that Blue Bay is the only place you can secure a villa.
Tranquillity in abundance is the modus operandi here. With a restaurant, pool, bar, spa , gym and water sports all available to you, the amenities match the exclusive nature of the resort.
Kurumathi Island Resort
One main reason why people choose Mauritius over the Maldives is the choice of amenities in resort. But KurumathI Island Resort has taken care of that with 9 restaurants, 6 bars, 3 pools, a spa and fitness centre.
In addition, the 1.8 km of pristine silver beach will take care of your need for a stretch of white sand. Then if you want that adventure element too, Kurumathi island is located in the Rasdhoo Atoll – just 56 km from the capital Male. There’s also something for underwater adventurers as that positioning also places you 45 minutes from over 20 different renowned dive sites.
Which Is More Expensive?
As we said earlier, you might find that the resorts in the Maldives are more expensive than those in Mauritius. However, this doesn’t mean the cost of your overall trip will be cheaper.
In fact, when you take into account flight costs and the time of travel, there’s not much to choose between the two. In terms of travel time, both trips call for an average 12 hours in the air. But the Maldives will see you needing a connecting domestic flight from Male to the closest Atoll with seaplane or speedboat access to your particular island paradise.
So it is probably marginally easier to travel to Mauritius.
Listen To The Blue Bay Podcast Now For More Insights on Our Fave Destinations
When’s the Best Time to Visit Mauritius or The Maldives?
Now you know which destination is best for you and where to stay once you get there, why don’t we take a closer look at when you should be booking your trip for,
Best time to Visit Mauritius
The best time to visit Mauritius is between April and June or September to December. Those are relatively short travel windows, but it does ensure you see the island at its very best. Because Mauritius only has two seasons (summer & winter), planning your stay in the windows we just mentioned means you can avoid the hottest and wettest months (January – March).
Best Time to Visit The Maldives
If you’re thinking that the Maldives is the place for you then the best time to visit the atolls is between November and April. This means you can avoid the dreaded monsoon season. October is the wettest month with up to 9 inches of rainfall being recorded and May sees the windiest conditions on the islands – so avoiding those times is best.
However, there are also changeable temperatures running in that November – April window. In fact, during this 5-month period, the archipelago sees its hottest and coldest months. December is the coldest month – but this means temperatures are 27 degrees rather than pushing to the 30s (so nothing like our winter) whereas if you time your trip for April, you could see the mercury rise to 33 degrees.
Which One Will You Choose?
There can be no doubt when it comes to Mauritius vs The Maldives – the holidaymaker is always the victor. Both are stunning locations that guarantee an unforgettable escape.
But adventure travellers will definitely favour the former while kick-baack-and-chillers will be Team Maldives all day. So if you’ve made your mind up, why not secure your escape today?
Click the button below to check out our latest money-saving escapes whether you’re Team Mauritius or Team Maldives
