Villa Nautica: our unforgettable stay in the Maldives above and below the water

Villa Nautica was recently rebranded from Paradise Island and is one of four resorts of Villa Hotels. It is located only 20 minutes by speedboat from Malé International Airport. The five-star resort has amazing crystal clear blue waters surrounding it which you immediately see when arriving. We were greeted with a, much needed, cold drink at check in and then were escorted to our water villa by buggy. The island is very lush and green which makes for a beautiful contrast with the white sandy beaches.

Accommodation

The 282-room resort offers accommodation in beach villas as well as overwater villas in 9 different categories, such as Ocean Beach Pool Villa, Water Villa with Whirlpool and Two-bedroom Beach Pool Villa.

We stayed in a One Bedroom Ocean Suite with Pool which counts with 255 square meters of space. It offers a living room, social bathroom, bedroom, walk-in closet, spacious bathroom with dual rain shower and separate toilet, a private terrace with jacuzzi, pool, outdoor shower and direct access to the water. The beautiful interior of the Villa mixes wood with Asian décor and natural stones and it had a very oriental feel to it. We absolutely loved our luxurious villa and it´s the ideal accommodation type for families. This villa is also the perfect setting for honeymooners who are looking for privacy in a romantic setting.

The Resort

Villa Nautica offers 2 main buffet restaurants (Bageecha and The Lagoon) and 3 á la carte restaurants: Ristorante Al Tramonto, Fukuya Teppanyaki and Farumathi. The Lagoon is located along the overwater villa jetty and is only accessible to guests staying in the overwater villas. There is a great variety of food, ranging from Western cuisine to Indian cuisine. The views over the water from the terrace of the restaurant make for a beautiful experience.

We were lucky to also have tried all three á la carte restaurants. Al Tramonto is an Italian restaurant at the end of the arrival jetty and has stunning sunset views over the water. Fukuya Teppanyaki is a Japanese restaurant and offers food prepared on the teppanyaki grill, sushi and tempura. Farumathi was our favorite restaurant and serves fresh seafood and can be found at the end of the water villas jetty. There are two bars on the property: Hulhangu, is the largest bar and is located besides the main pool. The other bar, Athiri, is located next to the water sports center.

There is one main pool on the property, which is a stunning glass-edge pool lined with palm trees. There is a shallow part perfect for kids, and a deeper part if you´d like to have a swim. From the pool you have views over the lagoon and the arrival jetty. There are plenty of loungers around the pool and also on the deck, if you prefer to face the lagoon rather than the pool.

 Activities

Villa Nautica has a fitness center and offers a wide range of activities and excursions, as snorkeling trips, fishing trips and dolphin safaris. During our stay we went on the semi-submarine, which is perfect for those who would like to see the underwater world, but don´t like or cannot snorkel. In this boat you can see everything through the windows without getting wet. We also went on a snorkeling trip to a sandbar and snorkel point, which was an amazing experience. The water at the sandbar was so clear and blue and we had so much fun running around on the sand in what seems to be the middle of the ocean. At the turtle point we saw several turtles and lots of fish. It´s a very easy trip to do, also for kids, and my 6 year old had so much fun seeing the turtles for herself (wearing a life vest).

At the water sports center you can rent various motorized and non-motorized equipment, like kayaks and stand-up paddle boards, as well as seabobs and jet skis. The resort also has an on-site diving center where you can book dive courses and dive trips.

Araamu Spa

The Araamu Spa is a beautiful oasis with outdoor pavilions where you get your massage. It is such a serene place that only being here will already put you in a relaxed place. The massage was excellent and before and after your treatment you receive a refreshing drink. I would definitely recommend booking a treatment here during your stay.

Sustainability

Villa Hotels, the group to which Villa Park belongs, is very passionate about sustainability and has demonstrated a great commitment towards implementing sustainable practices, such as

·       Energy efficiency and paperless initiatives. Implementation of integrated energy-saving strategies, efficient waste management and eco-friendly technologies to reduce energy consumption across all resorts. To educate and inform, we regularly hold awareness programs for both employees and guests on the importance of reducing water consumption and of the energy saving methods used at the resorts. The group believes in the power of change and raising awareness to actively take care of our planet for future generations. In addition to energy and water-saving initiatives, the DiveOceanus dive centers are 100% paperless, with all training material, administration forms and material provided to guests digitally. 

·       Self-sufficient water production. All of the islands harvest and process rainwater with on-site treatment centers. Reusable glass bottles are offered. Producing their own drinkable water avoids usage of plastic bottles, which are a constant danger to the Maldives' wildlife and marine life. 

·       Conserving coral reefs. The coral reefs surrounding the resorts are part of the eighth largest reef system in the world. They're also home to a variety of endangered marine species. In recent years, climate change and coral reef bleaching have damaged large portions of the Maldives' ecosystems, so working to maintain what's left is vital. Reef cleaning is done regularly and resort guests ae welcome to join in this collaborative effort.

·       Cleaning up coastline. Villa resorts have some of the most idyllic white sandy beaches and uninterrupted shorelines in the Maldives. The group´s aim is to leave nothing but our footprints behind, so all of the resorts pledge to protect the natural environment with several key initiatives, including regular clean-ups on the islands and nearby sandbanks, and planting coconut saplings for a greener and brighter future. 

·       Growing organic food gardens. Villa Park produces more than 20 000 coconuts per month, and a wide variety of tropical fruits, vegetables and herbs are picked daily for resort restaurants. To protect the biodiversity of the islands, the gardeners only use organic pesticides.

·       Championing sustainable fishing. Fishing in the Maldives has a long history and is an integral part of the country's culture. The Maldives maintains a sustainable fishing industry with most fish, including tuna, caught by the traditional pole-and-line method. Protecting the oceans is the main priority and preserving marine biodiversity is critical to people's health and our planet. We believe that careful management of our essential resources and marine protected areas is a key feature of a sustainable future. In addition to pole-and-line fishing, sustainable obster fishing in accordance with size criteria is implemented.

·       Plastic recycling. Plastic is donated for recycling in a partnership with Parley for the Oceans – an organization that addresses major threats to our oceans and fights for environmental protection through recycling initiatives and global projects. 

Villa Nautica has installed 2,621 solar panels, generating 4,500-5,000 units of daily electricity and significantly reducing diesel consumption and CO2 emissions. In January 2023, the resort was awarded the prestigious International Environmental Green Key Award, a leading standard of excellence within the tourism industry. 

One thing I´d like to mention is the shark and stingray feeding that the resort offers. Although I can imagine it is a great way to show guests the beauty of these creatures, this practice is only entertainment for the guests, rather than maintaining a stable and thriving marine environment. There are many reasons why feeding marine life is something that should be avoided, which you can read about here.

Our stay at Villa Nautica was truly amazing and it was impressive to see how the resort is representing itself after the renovation. There is something for everyone, whether you like to be active, or you prefer to relax. This is the perfect resort for those who are looking for a honeymoon destination as well as for families.