The Maldives is a top destination on many travelers’ bucket lists, and for good reasons. While it is difficult to reach, I can attest that it is totally worth it! If visiting a 1,192-island nation surrounded by stunningly blue waters doesn’t have you convinced to make this destination a priority, then check out these five reasons to visit the Maldives.

Lovely Temperatures

Due to its proximity to the equator, the temperature in the Maldives is consistently between 77 and 86 degrees. It’s quite pleasant and difficult to experience a day that’s too hot or too cold. That also means your packing list won’t change much whether you’re traveling there in April or November.

However, keep in mind that it is monsoon season from May to October. So although the temperature may be great, it could be quite rainy during your stay if you go during the wrong time of year. Ideally, opt to travel to the Maldives from November to April. We traveled at the end of November and did not see one drop of rain (though it had rained a few days before we arrived).

Incredible Marine Life

There’s so much to see here under the sea! During our snorkeling adventures on the house reef (a house reef is the coral reef that’s just offshore at your resort and can typically be reached right from the beach) we saw a TON of fantastic marine life.

There were many species of gorgeous fish as well as lobster, octopus, sharks, sea turtles and more. Every day we’d spot something new and different. It’s also possible to swim with whale sharks and manta rays in the Maldives. We were lucky enough to spot two manta rays during our trip!

There’s an Option for Everyone

With over 145 resorts and counting – not including many liveaboard and sailing options – there’s a perfect option for everyone. Whether you’re looking to do a lot of excursions, enjoy views of endless sandy waters or explore an amazing house reef, it’s here!

Plus, there are resorts that suit a variety of price points. Additionally, most resorts offer several packages, so you can choose to go the all-inclusive route or pay individually for meals, drinks and other items. It can be exhausting sorting through all those choices to find what’s best suited for you (trust me, I would know!) so definitely consider enlisting the assistance of a travel expert to make the process a little easier and stress-free!

Peace, Quiet, and Isolation

The Maldives really feels like an escape from reality. There are some larger resorts with more people, but many are moderately sized or boutique properties. With such few travelers on each island, it feels like your own slice of paradise. Especially if you stay in an overwater bungalow where you can relax above the water away from the “busyness” of the rest of the island. The sounds we heard most of the day were the waves lapping, fish jumping and seaplanes occasionally flying overhead.

On a COVID-related note, we felt incredibly safe here. The resort was only at 38% occupancy during our stay (probably no more than 150 guests total) so it never felt crowded. Additionally, all of the restaurants were open air, seating was spaced out appropriately, all staff members wore masks, and we watched them scrub – and I mean scrub – tables. I could go on, but suffice it to say the resort was doing everything they could to keep their staff and guests healthy and safe.

It Really Does Look Like THAT!

We’ve all seen it before: amazing pictures of clear blue water, lush foliage and sprawling white sand beaches, quite like the image at that top of this blog post! We book the destination and then arrive to find something a bit different. It can be very disappointing.

But when it comes to the Maldives…the pictures are real! It really does look that gorgeous and the water is actually that blue and clear. It’s not just photoshopped! In fact, the water is so blue it makes a perfectly blue sky look, well, not that blue. Every day we were mesmerized by the beauty around us and thrilled that the Maldives met all of our expectations.

Ready to get planning your own trip to the Maldives? Contact Beyond Travel Explorations for insider information and assistance with finding the perfect option for you!