Resorts · North Malé Atoll

Baros Maldives

The Maldives' third resort ever opened (1973) and one of the few that has stayed independent. 75 villas on a small island in North Malé Atoll, 25 minutes by speedboat from Velana.

The MT Verdict

One of the original Maldivian resorts, still independent and still itself. Discreet, adult-leaning, and a quiet pioneer of the country's diving programme.

Atoll

North Malé Atoll

Villas

Opened

1973

Transfer

25 min speedboat

Dive Grade

Advanced

From

$$$$

The Villas

Baros has 75 villas — 24 Deluxe Villas, 10 Baros Villas with beach access, 8 Baros Pool Villas with private plunge pools, and 30 Water Villas over the lagoon. The architecture is restrained and timber-led, deliberately quieter than the post-2010 generation of Maldivian resorts.

Dining

The flagship venue is The Lighthouse Restaurant — overwater, fine-dining, with the resort's wine cellar. Cayenne (all-day) and the Lime Bar handle the casual side.

Diving Heritage

Baros opened the first dive centre in the Maldives in 1979 and has continued the programme ever since. The house reef and adjacent dive sites in North Malé remain a draw for repeat divers.

Logistics

Transfer is a 25-minute speedboat from Velana International Airport. Baros has stayed independently owned and operates as a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH).

In the Same Atoll

Other properties our editors have reviewed in North Malé Atoll.

All Resorts →

North Malé Atoll

Coco Bodu Hithi

A reliable, locally-owned mid-tier-luxury option with a long overwater chain and a short speedboat. Coco Collection's flagship — not flashy, but consistent.

98 villas$$$$

North Malé Atoll

Gili Lankanfushi

The original all-overwater barefoot resort, two decades old and still distinctly itself. Wood-and-thatch villas, a no-shoes-no-news policy, and Crusoes that you reach by boat.

45 villas$$$$$

North Malé Atoll

Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives

A confident newcomer with the longest pool in the Maldives, a serious surf address, and a 30-minute speedboat from the airport. The Indian-developer-built spec is unusually generous.

95 villas$$$$