Marine adventures are guaranteed at Baros thanks to a staggeringly special house reef. One of the Indian Ocean’s first luxury dive resorts, this Maldivian-owned, all-villa escape has stayed fresh since opening in 1973, and remains a heavenly setting for honeymoons and grown-up family holidays.
Awarded: Silver
Location
Clichés are a good thing when they involve postcard-perfect white beaches, turquoise waters and romantic dining under the stars. A tiny private coral island conveniently close to Malé, the resort’s impressive speedboat will whisk you from the international airport in 25 minutes. The remarkable house reef is a paddle from the beach, and promises an eye-popping cast of turtles, rays and exotic fish. The Maldives’ ever-developing hotel landscape means that views are no longer uninterrupted, but seeing life twinkle elsewhere does little to distract from the parade of tropical sea life and a vast expanse of an ocean so blue it looks PhotoShopped.
Rooms
Thanks to clever layouts, each of the 45 Beachside Villas open into a private leafy garden and then to the beach. The secluded yet central two-suite Baros Residence has its own private pool and the most amount of space, while the 30 Water Villas, which have their feet in the water, are a prime position for sunset, and many also have private pools.
Communal Areas
Private-island resorts make you a captive audience for the house eateries – thankfully here they get the eating and drinking just right. There’s a balance of à la carte and buffet, as well as Asian flavours and local and international classics in the air-conditioned Lime Restaurant which also has a deck. The Cayenne Grill hosts lavish spreads of dishes created in front of you. Sails Bar is an elegant sand-floored palm-covered outdoor sitting room where aperitifs and after-dinner cocktails are sigh-inducing stuff – and they always book the best singers and musicians.
Fine dining enthusiasts will be impressed by the French cuisine at The Lighthouse; the pavilion’s over-the-water perches also treat you to sightings of rays and sharks as you eat. For an unforgettable breakfast experience book the Piano Deck (also bookable for massages) or a sunset dinner cruise on the house dhoni.
Activities
Exploring each winding sandy lane and circumnavigating the entire coastline would take half a day max, yet Baros has a knack of keeping guests busy if they want to be. Dedicated divers may want to spend most of their time in the water, under the direction of the Diver Valet Service, but three restaurants, two bars, and a cute low-key spa make time on terra firma appealing. Peel yourself off a lounger by the main infinity pool, or away from the art easel set up in your garden, and enjoy a botanical therapy or a private or group yoga class. The professional dive centre with PADI-qualified instructors and marine biologists offers underwater photo shoots, so you can immortalise every exhilarating moment.
All Inclusive
When to go
Find out when is best to visit
- Excellent
- Good
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The Maldives’ weather in January is hot, with low humidity and plenty of sunshine. There may be some rain, but at this time of year, it passes very quickly. It’s a great month to visit the Maldives and booking in advance is advised. There’s also great visibility for diving and snorkeling.
February is an excellent time to travel to the Maldives. It’s the Maldives’ driest month, with less than 70mm of monthly rainfall, average maximum temperatures of 30°C, and around 10 hours of sunshine each day. Visibility for diving and snorkeling is excellent.
In March, temperatures in the Maldives rise to an average maximum of 31°C – great for long days on the beach. Possible short bursts of rain offer relief from the hot temperatures. Visibility for diving and snorkeling is excellent and March also sees the start of the surfing season in the Maldives.
April is another wonderfully hot month in the Maldives. This is the end of the Maldives’ official dry season and there are often showers mid-month. It’s also a little more humid. Water visibility for diving and snorkeling is still very good.
May is hot, with average maximum temperatures of 31°C, but is the start of the Maldives’ official wet season and comes with risks of storms and possible whole days of rain. Diving visibility is slightly reduced due to the plankton in the water. The holy month of Ramadan (known as Ramazan in the Maldives) begins in May although the exact date changes each year. Guests visiting Maldives’ resorts during the holy month are unlikely to notice anything different to any other month – meals and alcohol are served as usual. If you’re visiting a local island, there will be some restrictions that you’ll understandably be asked to respect.
June is another month in the Maldives with a high chance of rainfall. It’s a good time to take advantage of the best value offers if you’re willing to spend as much time enjoying your resort’s facilities as on the beach. Diving visibility is slightly reduced due to the plankton in the water, however, there’s a huge advantage for divers as manta rays and whale sharks come to feed on the plankton. The holy month of Ramadan continues into June.
The Maldives’ weather in July is hot and humid, with short heavy downpours. This is another time to check for great value offers and is particularly good for surfers. Water visibility for diving is slightly reduced due to the plankton in the water, but the big draw underwater is the presence of manta rays and whale sharks. 26 July is Independence Day and you may see small parades and public celebrations on resort islands.
August in the Maldives is hot and humid, with an average of 7 hours of sunshine each day and short heavy downpours. Diving visibility is slightly reduced due to the plankton in the water, but enticing offers mean this is still a popular time to visit.
September is one of the Maldives’ wettest months. It sees average maximum temperatures of 30°C, and there’s still an average of 7 hours of sunshine each day. Diving visibility is slightly reduced due to the plankton in the water, but there are great opportunities to spot whale sharks and manta rays feeding on the plankton.
October is the Maldives’ wettest month, with high humidity and with possible whole days of rain. It’s a good time to take advantage of the best value offers if you’re willing to spend as much time enjoying your resort’s facilities as on the beach. October is the last month of the Maldives’ surfing season and the last month of the year for good sightings of whale sharks and manta rays.
In November, temperatures in the Maldives are an average maximum of 30°C. The official wet season is finishing and although there are showers, the rain passes quickly.
The climate for the Maldives in December is largely hot and dry, though mid-month showers are likely. It’s an excellent choice for some winter sun. Christmas and New Year are particularly popular and may include minimum stays.
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What People Say
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The personalised service provided was far beyond my expectations. A three week trip visiting four countries in Africa, multiple game reserves, wineries and much, much more was flawless. While a close encounter with a leopard and her cubs…
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We got in touch after hearing about Hide & Seek from a friend. Have to say hats off to Jamie, he was so patient throughout, even through our indecisiveness! Ultimately we ended up with the most incredible holiday of our lives. Thank you again, we will be back!!
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Thank you for arranging our Safari holiday in Kenya and Tanzania for us. It was to celebrate our 40th. Wedding anniversary which was on July 1st. 2018, and through your arrangements, we have had a holiday that we will never forget...
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Thanks so much for a truly unforgettable once in a life time holiday. Hopefully we will be in touch again soon!
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Spot on in terms of itinerary . We not disappointed by any of the suggestions and had the best holiday ever! Thank you!
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Jamie was very helpful throughout the booking process and recommended the perfect holiday. There was nothing we would change having now been out to Tanzania. I would highly recommend Hide & Seek to friends and relatives.
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We spoke to numerous travel agents over the period we looked at booking our honeymoon and only hide and seek gave me the confidence I was looking for. Really pleased with our decision.
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Hide and seek dealt with our last minute travel plans extremely well. Obviously, our accommodations shifted as availability diminished but ultimately they came up with a vacation that we will never forget.
