A palm-covered reef island in Baa Atoll with overwater villas, family residences on the beach and an award-winning wine cellar.
Vakkaru is a reef island in Baa Atoll's UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, about 30 minutes from the airport by seaplane. More than 2,300 coconut palms cover it, and white sand and a house reef for snorkelling ring it.
Villas start with the 140 m² Overwater Villa, which has a hammock over the lagoon, and the 115 m² Beach Villa with Plunge Pool; bigger pool villas follow on the beach and over the water. Seven residences run from one-bedroom beach and overwater homes to four-bedroom beach houses and the two-storey Vakkaru Overwater Residence, at 1,050 m² one of the largest in the Maldives, with its own chef and butler.
Amaany serves breakfast buffets and themed dinners, Onu South-East Asian food in a bamboo pavilion, Vakku grilled meat and seafood, and Isoletta Italian by the main pool. The Lagoon Bar serves sushi over the water, Anguru Teppanyaki seats ten around the grill, and Vakkaru Reserve is a wine cellar recognised five times by Wine Spectator. Merana Spa's treatment rooms are overwater pavilions, Splash runs the diving and water sports, and there are clubs for children and teens.
The return seaplane is charged on top and flies in daylight only: to connect the same day, international flights need to land between 06:00 and 15:30. The entry Overwater Villa has no pool and takes two adults only.
Over the lagoon, with a sundeck, steps into the water, a hammock for two and a bathtub with a lagoon view.
King bed and a daybed
Under the palms on the beach, with a 12 m² plunge pool, a newly added Jacuzzi and a daybed on the terrace.
King bed and a daybed
Over the lagoon, with a 23 m² pool on a 49 m² sundeck and steps down into the water.
King bed and a daybed
A garden villa by the beach with a newly built 34 m² pool and a lounge that becomes a children's room.
King bed and a daybed
Over the lagoon, with a 24 m² infinity pool, a reading room and a freestanding tub facing the water.
King bed and a daybed
In the island's tropical forest by the shore, with a separate living area, a pantry kitchen and a 35 m² garden pool.
Facing the lagoon, with a living room, a broad beachfront terrace and a 35 m² pool.
Over the lagoon, with a separate living room, a 50 m² infinity pool and direct access to the house reef.
For families or friends, with a newly built living room, a 38 m² pool and outdoor dining, steps from the sea.
King bed, two twin beds and two daybeds
A two-bedroom residence and an adjoining Beach Villa with its own plunge pool, around a new 55 m² pool and a shaded gazebo.
Three king beds and three daybeds
A two-bedroom core residence with a large pool and dining gazebo, flanked by two Beach Villas with plunge pools, on one of the island's quietest beaches.
Four king beds and four daybeds
A two-storey, four-bedroom residence over the lagoon with a 55 m² infinity pool, a butler's pantry, a spa terrace, and a private chef and butler.
The same resort and the same villa, booked through people who live here.
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International breakfast buffet with live cooking, and buffet dinners on selected evenings
Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian and Malaysian dishes from an open kitchen
Open-air grill for premium meat and seafood, dinner only
Italian trattoria with an open kitchen, for lunch, pool snacks and dinner
Teppanyaki set menus for ten guests around the grill, by reservation
Cocktails with sushi, sashimi and Asian tapas, and hammocks over the water
Poolside lounge for cocktails and light bites
Wine cellar for tastings, pairings and private dinners with the sommelier
Massages, facials and body treatments, plus Ayurveda and yoga
Guided diving, snorkelling trips and water sports around Baa Atoll
Kids' club for ages 3 to 12, with crafts and outdoor play, 8.30am to 6pm
Games room and library for teens and adults, open around the clock
The shape comes from OpenStreetMap, simplified: a guide to the layout, not a survey. © OpenStreetMap contributors.
About 30 minutes by shared seaplane from Velana International Airport, in daylight only, or a 20-minute domestic flight to Dharavandhoo and a 30-minute speedboat ride. The return seaplane is extra: $960 per adult before any offer discount.
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