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Maldives |
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Maldives
If ever a country were shaped by its geography, it’s the Maldives, composed of 1,190 islands (250 are inhabited) scattered across the Indian Ocean. The islands’ extreme low elevation leaves them vulnerable to climate change. Their isolation means they remain relatively unspoiled. And their shallow ocean location allows for innumerable sheltered lagoons providing some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world.
Activities and Attractions:
The capital of Malé, essentially an island city of 75,000, is a good place to start exploring the Maldives. This is your best chance to experience local culture. Visit the 400-year-old Friday Mosque, and then stroll the Old Bazaar for some handcrafted souvenirs, including beautiful wooden lacquer ware and hand-woven mats, both national specialties.
Other Maldives islands offer incomparable beaches and lagoons for visitors. Sands are white, powdery, and uncrowded. The diving is some of the best you’ll ever encounter, with visibility of up to 150 feet. A dive safari on a modified, live-aboard dhoni (the ubiquitous diesel water taxi of the Maldives) is something you won’t ever forget.
A well-kept Maldives secret is its quality surf. The breaks at Male Atoll are becoming known around the world—give them a try before everyone knows about them.
Another local secret: The Maldives are one of the best places in the world for whale watching. Twenty-five percent of the planet’s species pass through the Indian Ocean annually, and dolphins frolic daily in coastal waters. They know something the rest of the world is just catching onto: The Maldives are one of the most idyllic spots on earth.
Insider Tip:
The Maldives are located on the equator, and the weather is warm and humid year-round. December-early April is the driest period. Divers believe that the transitional months of November and April are the very best times to visit because the water tends to be the clearest and calmest then.
-Exclusively for Perfect Escapes by Nicole Clausing |
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