Why Patina Maldives is Far From Your Typical Luxury Resort 

7 mins

Edgy, stylish, and naturally beautiful, Patina Maldives is on a mission to save the corals of the Maldives, and introduce a more ethical blend of high-end relaxation 

‘Last year some of the coral started to bleach,’ says my snorkelling tour guide Mohammed. ‘The water temperature rose too high. But it will grow back, and we are doing our best to help it.’

I have just completed one of the most memorable and magical hours of my life snorkelling off the coast of Patina Maldives, an island resort in North Malé Atoll. 

Exceeding my experiences in Mauritius, Fiji, and even Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, it allowed me to swim right alongside one beautiful hawksbill turtle, two fairly scary (but actually harmless) big reef sharks, and countless gloriously colourful fish. It was an experience I will never forget. 

Indeed, while the most obviously impressive thing about dreamy Patina Maldives is its surreal over-water villas with private pools, pristine white sand beaches, and spectacular bars and restaurants, diving into its surrounding oceans underscores the importance of its considerable conservation efforts – particularly its coral restoration initiative. 

One of the best places on earth for immersing yourself in nature and wildlife, Singapore-born Patina Maldives takes all classic features of honeymoon-esque luxury, and serves them up with an edgy, contemporary, and distinctly eco-friendly twist. 

It’s a place like nowhere else on earth, and there are so many reasons why it should be on your bucket list… 

Blending luxury with sustainability 

Made up of over 1,100 postcard-worthy coral islands, tourism has boomed in the Maldives in recent years.  Now home to over 170 luxury resorts and many more hotels and guest houses, the Maldives welcomed 1.8 million international visitors in 2023, and this number continues to rise with each passing year.  

Just a five-hour flight away from the UAE – including a very affordable Wizz Air route from Abu Dhabi – its sensational beaches and oceans are now more accessible than ever before. 

But, while this is a good thing for travellers, the negative side is that it puts it’s environment in danger. The landscapes of Thailand and many countries have already suffered due to over tourism, and the Maldives needs to be careful not to meet the same fate. 

While the Maldivian government enforces a $12 daily ‘green tax’ for all tourists at resorts with more than 50 rooms, Patina Maldives also makes its own efforts to involve visitors in its conservation activities. 

Along with inviting you to enjoy luxuries such as a glass of champagne in the hammock of your own private villa, a massage just steps from the bluest water imaginable, and sunrise yoga on soft white sands – guests are encouraged to join in with morning litter picks, adopt their own turtle, and actively contribute to coral restoration, too. 

Involving daily free ceramic coral making sessions, the latter is a particularly creative initiative, and one that does far more than just encourage you to unleash your artistic side. 

You can decorate your coral ceramics exactly as you like – whether it’s with cartoon characters or octopus tentacles – and the only condition is that each one must have holes where coral fragments can be planted and grown. 

Several times a week, Patina Maldives’ marine biologists free dive down to the bottom of the ocean to arrange the ceramics in coral nurseries, where they are carefully monitored and protected until they grow into fully fledged healthy coral.  

With small sharks, huge blue fish, rays, and more amazing creatures all easy to spot from the beach, being able to do anything to protect the area’s incredible marine life is a happy feeling. 

R&R

However, there’s plenty of opportunities for pure relaxation, too. Spread over 42 hectares, Patina Maldives is one of the biggest islands in the country. A place that sucks you in from the moment you arrive, you immediately lose track of time and surrender to its laid-back pace. 

Cycling along the island’s palm-lined sandy tracks, we rarely see another person. Although the resort has 90 villas and 20 studios, it’s laid out in such a way that gives everyone complete privacy and peace.

The 12 restaurants and bars are tucked away down narrow tracks through the undergrowth, and every meticulously designed building blends seamlessly into the surrounding environment. 

A poignant example of how people and animals can live peacefully alongside each other, the wildlife of the island seems to have no fear. The enormous cute-and-cuddly-like fruit bats soar right past our heads, while elegant herons stand by serenely as we stroll next to them on the shore. 

Ethical in every sense, the staff quarters are purposefully built off island to give the team a healthy break from work, and the restaurants are all cooled by wooden fans rather than energy consuming air conditioning.  

Organic veg and incredible cuisine   

Of course, no holiday is complete without plenty of delicious food, and the restaurants of Patina Maldives are out of this world.  

Spanning Roots – an ethical restaurant that uses vegetables grown in the onsite organic garden, to the extraordinary breakfast buffet and stunning venues offering Chinese, Latin American, Greek, Italian, Japanese, and every kind of cuisine you can imagine, there’s something to satisfy every craving. 

Vegan and vegetarian options – including scrambled tofu for breakfast and vegan meat burritos for lunch on the beach – are found in abundance, too. In a surprise twist, one of our favourite meals of the trip was served from the vintage burger van. Offering just a handful of burgers (including a delicious Beyond meat option), we enjoyed our cheat-day feast on handcrafted wooden furniture under lofty palms, and just steps from the calm lapping waves.

Uniting artists and creative minds   

Starkly different to stereotypical five-star hotels that boast marble floors and sparkling chandeliers, the design of Patina Maldives is modern, fresh, and cutting-edge. 

Designed by renowned Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan and the proud flagship of the Patina brand, the resort effortlessly allows the natural beauty of the island to take centre stage. We love that all the restaurants are outdoor, and that each table is carefully positioned to allow you to drink in the views of the ocean from every angle. 

A revolving line up of art installations is dotted around the island, while the tempting lifestyle boutiques feature a bespoke Patina collection by LA fashion designer Chris Stamp, and many other small, independent, and sustainably crafted brands. 

If you plough through your books too quickly, you can just take a browse through the onsite library, while the sheltered bay of the main beach is a lovely place for practicing your front crawl. 

A new spa and state-of-the-art gym is currently under construction, while the complimentary fitness classes, sports matches, sound healing, and watersports make it the ideal place for people who don’t like to stay still too long.

Wildlife safaris, tennis sessions with world-leading stars of the game, cooking classes, and even submarine diving expeditions can all also be arranged for an extra cost.  

A restorative break for the body and soul 

While it’s certainly one of the pricier hotels in the Maldives, Patina Maldives rewards you with a truly transformative experience that reminds you that there’s more to life than just work, deadlines, and the daily grind.  

Good for the soul – and for the environment – it is truly the holiday that dreams are made of. 

Patina Maldives, Fari Island, North Malé Atoll.

For more information vist the website patinahotels.com

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THE ETHICALIST. INTELLIGENT CONTENT FOR SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLES