Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa

On Mauritius’ sheltered west coast sits Flic-en-Flac, a modest fishing village turned relaxed vacation haven. If you were to walk south along the beach (one of the longest in the country) you’d hit Wolmar and eventually, the sand would give way to the black volcanic rock that the island is known for.

On this stretch of pristine sandy beach, you'll find Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa. Founded in 2004, the hotel was once a part of Taj Exotica (a Mauritian hospitality company) before going independent in 2009. To this day, it's the only five-star resort on the island owned and run by a Mauritian family, the Ramadanees.

In 2023, Maradiva closed for seven months to give the property a thorough facelift. There are now 16 additional two-bedroom villas, an expanded fitness center, a new restaurant, and a selection of soon-to-debut villas and penthouses available to purchase. All the villas also got an update during the renovation and now have Mauritian-inspired interior design with elegant touches like Hermès wallpaper, framed botanical prints, and rattan furniture.

Maradiva is the sole villa-only hotel on the island, and it's not unheard of for guests to share the property with a Hollywood star or a member of royalty and be none the wiser. There's even a small on-site garden, known as “Jardin des Stars,” where celebrities like Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway have planted trees in honor of their stays.

And it's no wonder why this property is such a draw for the rich and famous—it's exceedingly private. Even during the high season month of December, I woke up and strolled from my villa’s patio onto the beach, where I took a dip in the ocean. I only had to exchange a few quick bonjours with a couple of staff members on my walk. Every villa here has a private plunge pool, but there is one large, communal infinity pool that overlooks the ocean and mountains—this is where you may catch a glimpse of other guests who have managed to tear themselves away from their villas.

Mauritius is known for its lush outdoor spaces, vibrant culinary scene, and rich history, but the luxurious and peaceful grounds of the resort make it hard to leave the property.

Here's what it's like to stay at Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa.

The Rooms

There are 65 villas at Maradiva, and six accommodation types guests can choose from, some of which have easy beach or pool access. However, even the most “basic” rooms here are pretty spacious—the Luxury Suite Pool Villa sprawls out over 1,765 square feet. Visitors can expect plenty of natural interior design elements such as solid wood furniture, woven textiles made from natural fibers, an easy breezy indoor-outdoor flow, and marble countertops in the bathrooms. The patios are covered by eye-catching pagoda-style roofs and are outfitted with enough dining space for two people, lounge seats, and sun beds for the plunge pool. If you are traveling with little ones or a large group, opt for a two-bedroom villa. Each of the accommodation types also have private options, which are more secluded than their standard siblings.

But if luxury is the name of the game during your visit, spring for the two-bedroom Presidential Suite Pool Villa. Each one comes with 24-hour butler service, a private kitchen, a living room with an in-home cinema, outdoor dining space, and a 602-square-foot swimming pool.

Food and Drink

There are five restaurants at Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa: Cassine, Cilantro, Haiku, Beach House Grill, and Lantana. They're all overseen by Michelin-starred head chef Yannick Hochet.

Fresh off a flight and an hour-long car ride from the airport, North Indian fusion restaurant Cilantro sounded like the best option to me. I feasted on a thali-style (where lots of small dishes are served on a round platter) dinner and enjoyed my meal to the sounds of a live tabla (a percussion instrument) player.

The main on-site restaurant is Cassine, which serves fine dining all day long—I loved taking my breakfast of fresh fruit, cloud-like Belgian waffles, pastries, and detox juice here with views of the lawn and waves. The adorable red-whiskered bulbuls were welcome avian companions, even if they did try their luck with my berries.

Haiku is the Japanese-inspired, two-room eatery. Culinary enthusiast and former Japanese ambassador to Mauritius, Shuichiro Kawaguchi, consulted on the washoku (traditional Japanese) menu, and it even has a teppanyaki station. But, if you're looking for something more low-key, head to the Beach House Grill for fresh seafood and meat served under the shade of a large tree, with breathtaking ocean views.

No trip to Mauritius is complete without at least one encounter with rum, the island’s most popular drink. Whether you're looking for a poolside beverage, afternoon tea, predinner aperitif, or a nightcap, Lantana Bar & Lounge has you covered. One of my favorite places to sit here was at the window, which perfectly framed Le Morne Brabant and the infinity pool. Steps away from the bar, you'll find the resort’s cellar and cigar humidor which is home to an array of top-shelf liquors and almost 2,000 cigars—the largest collection on the island.

Activities and Experiences

Gym enthusiasts will delight in Maradiva's expanded fitness center, which is open 24/7 and has a cardio room, a weight room, and two tennis courts. There's also a roster of group exercises to participate in, including morning yoga on the beach. Some activities require advance booking, so be sure to check the weekly schedule that will be available in your villa.

If you're into all things nautical, head to the boat house, which serves as a convenient starting point for things like offshore sports fishing, catamaran outings, snorkeling, water skiing, and other fun ocean activities.

For those in need of retail therapy, there are two on-site stores. There's Essentials Boutique, specializing in locally-made clothing and artisanal goods, as well as Maradiva Boutique, which carries designers such as Missoni, Peninsula Swim & Wear, Balushka Resort Wear, and other high-end clothing brands. There's also an on-site art gallery, one of eight on the island curated by Adamah Fine Arts. It's a vibrant, modern space where the work of an artist-of-the-month (or an artist in residence) is shown. Select pieces are available to purchase.

If you want to explore the property, the concierge can arrange for you to be taken out in the resort’s Rolls-Royce Phantom for sightseeing. Or, you could indulge in one of Maradiva's signature experiences, like a luxe picnic with a view, complete with champagne and caviar served by a butler.

The Spa

The spa more than earns its spot as one of the main draws of Maradiva, and it specializes in Ayurveda, a system of traditional Indian medicine. I started my time here with a consultation from the in-house Ayurvedic doctor (and Kerala native), Dr. Praveen Nair. I learned some Aryuveda basics and what my dominant doshas (energies or “humors” that influence mental and physical health) are. I was then whisked away to receive my recommended treatment: a sweeping abhyanga massage involving a medley of oils matched to my specific needs and constitution.

However, there is a wide range of treatments here, including classic massages, ayurvedic oil treatments, facials, and body wraps. There are also cold and heated pools, a steam room, a sauna, as well as a laconium. Guests can enjoy a warm or cold tea before or after their appointment, or even book some time in the yoga studio or meditation room.

Family-friendly Offerings

Children are welcome at the resort, and it has the Peter Pan Kids Club, which has a shallow swimming pool, an outdoor playground, padded play rooms, a dining area that's open every day until 6 p.m, and a daily roster of activities suitable for kids up to 12 years old. Babysitting services (both in-villa and at the Kids Club) are also available on request.

The young (and young at heart) will appreciate the property's new game room, which has a PlayStation 5, pool table, plenty of board games, as well as a rich collection of books covering history, art, geography, and more.

Accessibility and Sustainability

All villas at Maradiva are at ground floor level and are wheelchair-accessible. There is one Luxury Suite Pool Villa that has been completely adapted for wheelchair users and is available on request. If you are traveling to Maradiva and need extra assistance, contact the resort in advance.

Maradiva has an on-site bottling plant for the drinking water provided in villas, restaurants, and the fitness center, which uses glass and biodegradable bottles made from local sugarcane. The resort also uses a fleet of electric vehicles for day-to-day operations.

Location

Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa is located across the island (about 36 miles or a one-hour drive) from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU). Thanks to Mauritius' small (but mighty) size, any mountains, waterfalls, reefs, islets, or cities you may want to see are seldom more than a two to three-hour drive or boat ride away.

The hotel is located on the shores of Tamarin Bay, and just across the water you'll find the Tamarina Golf Club with its Rodney Wright-designed course—some categories of villas even get a waived green fee. For nature lovers, Le Morne Brabant, the famous peak just across the bay from the resort, and the Black River Gorges National Park are worthy day trip options for some light hiking and taking in the island's legendary sights. But, if you want to get a taste of what the local culture is like head to Flic-en-Flac, which is just a short car (or bicycle) ride away and has a wide range of restaurants, bars, boutiques, public beaches, and supermarkets.

Book Now

Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa is a part of American Express's Fine Hotels + Resorts program. If you have a qualifying card, such as the Platinum Card by American Express, and you also book on the FHR website, you can get fun perks like early check-in, late check-out, and a $100 property credit that you can use to spend on things like dining.

The hotel is also a member of the Leading Hotels of the World program. If you are a Leader Club member, you can enjoy benefits such as prearrival upgrades and on-property benefits such as complimentary breakfast for two.

Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.