Mauritius or Maldives: Which Island Suits You?

Soft white sand, turquoise water and a warm sea bring travellers to the Indian Ocean, and Mauritius and the Maldives are the two names that come up first. They have the beaches in common, but once you are there they are very different places, and the choice comes down to what you want to do with your days.

Nature and Beaches: What Kind of Island Do You Want?

Mauritius has jungle-covered mountains, waterfalls and volcanic peaks, and it rewards you for leaving the beach. I hiked down to Tamarind Falls in Black River Gorges National Park, a short but near-vertical trail, and swam in the pool beneath it with nobody else there. I kayaked through the mangroves of Ile d’Ambre in Islets National Park, and in La Gaulette I watched fishermen unload their catch at sunset.

The Maldives is a different kind of place. The land is flat and small, and what draws you is under the water: reefs full of fish, with turtles, manta rays and whale sharks. Several resorts have a house reef, so you can snorkel from the beach. Almost everything you do there happens in or on the sea.

What You Spend and What You Get

Mauritius covers a wide range of budgets. You can stay in a five-star resort, a guesthouse or a self-catering place, and eat in a resort restaurant or at a beach barbecue with the locals. I spent a week at the SunLife Long Beach resort, then hired a car and stayed in self-catering places around the island. The barbecue at Cap Malheureux was the best I have eaten.

The Maldives costs more, and the reason is the layout. Most resorts occupy an island of their own, which you reach by seaplane or speedboat from Malé, and what you pay for is seclusion: private overwater villas, butler service and overwater spas. There is a lower-cost route. Since the rules limiting tourism to resort islands were relaxed, guesthouses have opened on inhabited local islands, mainly near Malé. They offer the same snorkelling and diving trips, but the islands follow local custom. Women are expected to dress more modestly than at a resort, and alcohol is frowned upon, so check before you book if either matters to you.

Who Is Coming Along?

The Maldives suits couples best, and honeymooners in particular. It also suits a solo traveller who wants to rest and has no need for company or a full day. The seaplane or speedboat transfer from Malé adds time to the journey, which matters with young children. If you are planning a honeymoon, my article on a honeymoon to remember and my honeymoon holidays page may help.

Mauritius suits a group with mixed interests, because there is more to do away from the beach, whether that is walking, kayaking, markets or museums. My family travel page shows how I plan trips for different ages.

Culture: History or Beach?

In Mauritius the culture is part of the trip. I visited the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden at Pamplemousses and L’Aventure du Sucre, a museum in a former sugar factory that explains the island’s history of slavery and indentured labour. You can also eat Creole food, walk through colourful markets and visit Hindu temples. African, Asian and European influences all show.

The Maldives offers less cultural immersion. If you want a taste of local life, the capital, Malé, has the National Museum and a busy fish market, and a guesthouse stay on a local island shows how people live there.

When to Go and Getting There

The Maldives has a dry season from about November to April, and underwater visibility is best from January to April. Manta rays and whale sharks are seen mainly from June to October, so the best months for the weather and for the big marine animals differ. From London, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic fly direct to Malé in about 10 hours in peak season.

Mauritius is at its most comfortable from about May to early December. January and February are cyclone season. The island itself is rarely hit, but the sea is rougher, which affects divers and watersports. The flight from the UK takes about 12 hours.

Wildlife: Choose Your Trips With Care

Swimming with and feeding turtles is not allowed in Mauritian waters, yet some operators still sell these trips. I joined one that was advertised as responsible, and the boats crowded and chased the turtles. It was distressing for the turtles and for the snorkellers. The same care applies in the Maldives when you book a trip to see manta rays or whale sharks. My Animal Welfare Policy and my article on rethinking wildlife tourism explain how I judge any wildlife experience, and my marine wildlife holidays page shows what I offer.

My Choice: Mauritius

If you asked me to choose, I would choose Mauritius. There is much more to do and see, and not only on the water. You can hike to a waterfall, kayak through mangroves, drive round the island, eat at the market and spend an afternoon in a garden or a museum.

The Maldives is the better choice if you want seclusion and the sea above everything else. Tell me what you want from the trip and I will tell you which island fits. My article on my Mauritius road trip shows what I did there.

Planning an Island Holiday With Me

This is a personal service from start to finish. I plan the route and book every part of it, and if anything changes while you are travelling, you call me and I deal with it.

As a travel agent I have 30 years of adventure travel experience, and I have visited around 80 countries myself, so my advice comes from experience and not from a brochure.

There is a belief that travel agents cost more. Booking with me does not. Many suppliers charge the same price whether you book direct or through me, and others sell to the trade only, on contracts with competitive pricing. Either way you pay no more for having me plan and book the trip, and your booking carries ABTA and ATOL protection where stated on your booking. You can read more in why book with me.

Call or WhatsApp 0117 452 1159 or email bridget@worldclassadventures.co.uk