Maldives vs Mauritius: The Honest Comparison [2023] You Need!

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When it comes to tropical Indian Ocean paradises, you probably can’t get much better than the Maldives or Mauritius. However due to their remote nature, visiting either is costly and the airplane journey long.

So making the right choice between the Maldives or Mauritius for your dream getaway is vitally important. However other than their remoteness and stunning beaches, these island nations are vastly different….

For example, if you’re looking for an all-inclusive resort holiday where you’re guaranteed great beaches, world-class snorkeling and a real sense of luxury, then the Maldives will probably suit you better. Resorts are what this country excels in, however the prices are expensive, and excursions can be limited.

Mauritius, on the other hand, will provide a vacation with great beaches and resorts, but also other excursion possibilities like hiking and wildlife spotting. Tourists and locals intermingle throughout the island, so a Mauritian holiday will also be more of a cultural and local experience than one in the Maldives. 

But that’s just the beginning when it comes to how these Indian Ocean paradises compare!

Luckily after spending time in both, we compare Maldives vs Mauritius below, showing you what to expect in each, and some of the best places to check out.

We also look at which has the better beaches, as well as how the activities, culture, and food compares, and even more. All so you can make the right vacation decision!

A Quick Overview & Comparison

For beach lovers, you will find spectacular beaches and turquoise swimming waters in both the Maldives and Mauritius. We tell you some of our favorites further on in this article.

Although the Maldives – made up of over 1000 different islands and cays – definitely has the better beaches of the two.

However many islands in the Maldives are privately owned by a resort complex (see photo below as an example). So activities on the island revolve around the resort and what it offers. That also means that many of the beaches in the Maldives are not public.

That’s not the case in Mauritius where all beaches are public. So you have the right to sunbathe and swim on them all.

Mauritius therefore tends to give you a more local experience where you can explore the country, go for picnics on the beach, and interact within the community.

There are also many accommodation options in Mauritius – from guest houses through to five-star hotels. That makes it a far more affordable destination than the Maldives, which is focused on high-end resorts.

Although because the Maldives specializes in this, the resorts tend to be exceptionally well run with great service.

Mauritius, as a volcanic lush green island, also has many different excursion possibilities. Be that swimming in waterfalls, hiking up mountains, or going monkey spotting in jungles.

In contrast, the Maldives has no mountains and is very much a beach-focused holiday.

Although it also has some of the world’s best snorkeling and diving spots (better than what Mauritius has), so expect a lot of underwater fun in the Maldives too.

Below we look at some of the sights you must see in both countries, before comparing the culture in this battle between Maldives vs Mauritius. Spoiler alert – they’re very different!

How Do The Beaches & Landscape Compare?

Maldives: The Beaches & Landscape

Ever seen pictures of crystal clear turquoise water, with those stunning wooden hotel huts sitting over it? That’s what you can expect throughout the Maldives, a country that specializes in up-scale resorts and honeymoon vacations.

Some of the world’s best beaches happen to be in this nation too.

One of our favorites is the powder white coastline at Lhaviyani Atoll where the palm tree lined beaches look like a computer screensaver. We’ve found that the west side of the atoll has wider beaches and softer sand, so is perfect for a day’s sunbathing.

As many of the islands are privately owned by resorts, you may be limited as to where you can go on each island in the Maldives. That’s not an issue in Mauritius though.

However what this means is that if you’re staying at a Maldives resort you are pretty much guaranteed to have a spectacular beach, and a coral reef for snorkeling, right beside your room. When it comes to high-end beach vacations, this country really does excel.

It also excels when it comes to snorkeling, with a spectacular colorful underwater life that can be seen easily thanks to the gin-clear water. However most snorkeling is done with a resort, due to the privately owned nature of many islands in the Maldives.

If you can do your own excursion, then one of the best snorkeling spots to head to is Manta Point, which is home to Manta Rays!

Also known as Emas Thila, this is probably one of the best places in the world to swim alongside these gentle giants. Just make sure you take a great underwater camera with you – like this one.

For a burst of color, Banana Reef is another great spot to snorkel and dive. Here you’ll see rays, sharks, and many different types of reef fish including Royal Blue Tangs. You might not have heard that name before, but you will recognize the fish if you’ve seen ‘Finding Nemo’ – ‘Dory’ was a Blue Tang!

Recommended: Snakes and Sea Snakes in the Maldives

Apart from gorgeous beaches, colorful reefs and gently swaying palm trees, the Maldives is quite limited when it comes to the landscape. However for sun, sea, sand and swimming, the Maldives really is hard to beat.

Mauritius: The Beaches & Landscape

Mauritius is home to many spectacular beaches, all with their own quirks. However with a local population of 1.4 million, the most popular beaches tend to be busy – particularly at the weekend.

You can find a huge stretch of beach at Flic en Flac, which is perfect for dipping your toes in the water as you walk the coastline.

With bars and food stalls lining the beach, this is a fun and lively place to visit. Unlike the Maldives – where drinking on public beaches is banned – you can drink a beer on any beach in Mauritius, and Flic en Flac can turn into a bit of a party beach at the weekend!

One of the best swimming beaches can be found at Pereybere. The fine white sand there continues into the sea for dozens of meters. That makes it the perfect place to swim without fear of stepping on rocks or sharp coral.

Grab a coconut from one of the friendly sellers at the beach edge, and settle down for the day. However this is probably the most popular swimming beach in Mauritius – and is one of the smallest too – so it can get very busy.

Just off the west coast is the beautiful little Ile aux Cerf. This private island can be reached by boat from the little fishing village of Trou d’Eau Deuce, and is also a great swimming spot that is quieter than popular and easy to reach Pereybere.

You’ll find plenty of watersports at Ile aux Cerf too, like jet skis, kitesurfing, riding on giant inflatables across the sea, as well as boat tours to smaller nearby islands. This is another way Mauritius differs from Maldives, there’s activities for tourists everywhere.

Mauritius also happens to have some of the best snorkeling spots in the Indian Ocean. Ile aux Cerf, again, is a fantastic snorkeling spot.

As is Blue Bay in the south of Mauritius where you can see countless colorful fish living among the coral. Locals often bring bread to feed the fish when snorkeling. Try it out and you will be surrounded by fish within minutes!

This island is far more than just sun, sea, and sand though. The dramatic Le Morne mountain is a national heritage site and climbing it will bring spectacular panoramic views of the island and ocean.

Black River Gorges National Park is a huge expense of jungle-covered interior with spectacular waterfalls, hiking trails, and friendly monkeys. The village of Chamarel is nestled beside it at high altitude, and the drive from there down towards Black River will expose you to some of the island’s best views.

All in all, Mauritius has lovely beaches. But you shouldn’t visit this island to just sit on the sand all day. There’s mountains to hike, lots of wildlife to spot, waterfalls to swim in, jungles to trek through, lots of watersports and plenty of culture and temples (more on those later) to discover too. So if you’re looking for a slice of adventure with your vacation, then Mauritius could be perfect.

How Does The Culture Compare?

As the Maldives is more focused on resort-based holidays, interaction with the local community and culture tends to be limited. That’s unless you make a trip away from the private island resorts, and into the population centers.

Hotels and guest houses in Mauritius are more integrated into the community, so a Mauritius vacation will have more of a ‘local’ feel than one in the Maldives. That also opens up opportunities for excursions away from the hotel, as well as the opportunity to try street food – which is very cheap!

The infrastructure in Mauritius is also well developed, however buses can be slow between cities and areas. Although within cities and towns they are effective and cheap, as we’ve written about before.

In both countries, English is widely spoken and understood. In Mauritius much of the population speaks English and French.

Below we show you a snapshot of the cultural experiences in both countries, so you can see which looks the best to you!

Maldives: The Culture

As a majority Muslim country, the Maldives is a conservative nation. Although within resort complexes you are free to act as you would in any liberal Western country.

However if you plan to make any excursions into population centers – like the capital Malé or public beaches – then be sure to dress conservatively, and avoid things such as alcohol.

The culture in the Maldives is vibrant, interesting, and definitely worth discovering though.

Bodu Beru is a traditional rhythmic dance performed by upwards of 15-20 people, and was introduced to the Maldives around 1000 years ago. It’s been a tradition here ever since, and many resorts have cultural nights where dancers perform.

If venturing into Malé, a visit to the Maldives National Museum is a must. Not only does it give an insight into the history of this nation, but it also has a great collection of historical artefacts from the region, some several centuries old.

Mauritius: The Culture

Mauritius is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious country which makes it a unique and interesting country to explore. It’s a country where people enjoy themselves and live for picnics at the seaside!

There’s a strong Indian influence here due to many Mauritians being descendants of indentured Indian workers brought here by the British in the 19th century. Indentured work was a form of forced work which was increasingly used after the abolition of slavery in the colonies.

Over half a million indentured workers passed through Mauritius’ capital of Port Louis, and the immigration depot where they were brought, Aapravasi Ghat, now serves as a museum and is worth visiting.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site, Le Morne, should also be visited to understand Mauritius’ turbulent history. The mountain was used as hiding place for slaves that managed to escape.

Out of that history came Sega – the rhythmic dance and music that’s heard on beaches up and down the island. It originated as the songs and dances of slaves, and is heritage as much as it is a form of dance. You can often see people enjoying Sega at the weekend on popular beaches such as Flic-en-Flac.

For something a little different, head to the Botanical Gardens in Pamplemousses to walk in the shade among an incredible variety of colorful plants and exotic trees.

Mauritius also has a significant Chinese population, and subsequently the capital – Port Louis – has its own China Town. Situated in the city center, look out for the colorful murals and numerous Chinese restaurants to try out.

Simply put, it’s definitely easier to experience a different culture and way of life in Mauritius than in the Maldives. The island is far more integrated with tourists and there’s still areas where the tourist trade hasn’t completely taken over yet.

Where To Stay According To Your Budget

Mauritius

Budget: SALT of Palmer is actually one of Mauritius’ best hotels, but if you book well in advance it is sometimes possible to get a room here at a third of the price of other five-star hotels. This adults-only resort has all the luxuries you’d want to, and straddles a gorgeous white sand beach. See photos and rates!

Luxury: Set right on the beach and with exceptional sea views, a stay at Constance Prince Maurice is going to feel as luxurious as it feels relaxing.

This five-star, all-inclusive resort, has spa facilities, incredible swimming pools and restaurants, and the tour desk can organize any excursion you want – from rum tasting to helicopter tours. See photos and rates!

The Maldives

Budget: The word ‘budget’ is a rarity in the Maldives, but on the stunning Fonimagoodhoo Island you can find private villas at the four-star Reethi Resort at a tenth of the price as other Maldives stays.

With everything catered for, and a white sand beach on your doorstep, this resort makes the Maldives affordable to most. See photos and rates!

Luxury: At Amilla Maldives you get the opportunity to stay on an overwater villa that sits directly over the gorgeous waters of the lagoon. The sea views are, of course, breathtaking. But even more so from your own private pool.

Couple that with the world-class service and you have one of the best resorts in the world and the perfect honeymoon stay. And incredibly it’s still a lot cheaper than similar stays in the Maldives. See photos and rates!

A Taste Of The Tropics: How Does The Cuisine Compare?

Both island nations have delicious seafood and have been influenced strongly by Indian cuisine.

Maldives: The Food

Considering the first settlers to the Maldives came from India and Sri Lanka, it’s no surprise that the food here has an Indian twist.

Curry is therefore one of the most popular dishes. We recommend trying Mas Riha. Made with freshly caught tuna, coconut, and a good number of chilies, this is a truly unique and delicious Maldivian dish.

Seafood is also popular and traditional dishes include Garudhiya (a type of fish soup) and Kulhi boakiba, which is a fish cake made from smoked tuna, coconut, ginger and rice.

As for what to drink, resorts in the Maldives have countless number of cocktails to try. However the coconut water in the Maldives is delicious and refreshing – especially when enjoyed direct with a straw.

However as most resorts in the Maldives are on their own private island, you’re unlikely to have many options for dining out when visiting. But the resort restaurants in this nation do tend to be exceptionally good, so while you may not get the chance to try street food, you certainly won’t miss out on good food.

Mauritius: The Food

The Indian influence also shines through in Mauritius where popular street food includes dholl puri, which is a wrap made from yellow split peas garnished with different curries or lentils.

Another popular street food worth trying – and a personal favorite of ours – is boulette. This is a dumpling usually filled with either chicken, lamb, fish, or Chayote (chouchou in Mauritius), served hot with soup and chili. It’s delicious.

Fried noodles, and fried rice are also popular here – a hat tip to the Chinese population in Mauritius.

To wash it all down, try the local beer of Mauritius, Phoenix. Of course rum is also very popular. Many different kinds are made on the island, but La Rhumerie de Chamarel has some of the best – they also do tours and tastings.

Lastly, we’d say that the food scene in Mauritius is definitely more accessible than in the Maldives. It’s easier to find local restaurants and traditional dishes, so if you’re a foodie, then we think Mauritius will likely suit you more.

Maldives vs Mauritius: Which Is The Better Choice?

Both Maldives and Mauritius will provide an unforgettable experience, but also very different holidays.

But if you’re looking for an all-inclusive resort holiday where you’re guaranteed great beaches and world-class snorkeling, then the Maldives may suit you better. Resorts are what this country excels in. However the prices are expensive, and excursions can be limited.

Mauritius, on the other hand, will provide a vacation with great beaches and swimming waters, but also other excursion possibilities like hiking and wildlife spotting.

Tourists and locals intermingle throughout the island, so a Mauritian holiday will be more of a cultural and local experience than one in the Maldives. Accommodation and food options in Mauritius are far cheaper than the Maldives too.

Recommended For Your Trip To Maldives Or Mauritius