Patina Maldives: taking barefoot luxury to another level

I have just returned from my first visit to the Maldives, and feel mighty smug. Visitng the country is a rite of passage for any seasoned traveller, and was something I had wanted to tick off the list ever since I saw the Bounty chocolate bar advert in the 1980s as an eight-year-old.

Having finally made it to the tropical archipelago this year, it became evident that I could have easily spent a blissful break doing nothing apart from soaking up the rays and exploring the intriguing sea life off the balcony of my villa; but with a personal Essentialist (private butler) to cater to my every whim during my stay, it would have been remiss of me not to explore the 42 acres that made up my mini village for the duration. 

The Patina Resort on the newly developed Fari Islands (four interconnected enclaves which were only completed in 2021), is the brainchild of luxury hotel powerhouse Capella Hotels & Resorts. With sustainability at the forefront of its design, the resulting hamlet is a luxury, eco-friendly collection of low level villas and buildings, shrouded by greenery so they are hard to distinguish from the natural habitat. With a commitment to protecting the planet, each villa has solar panels as well as a combined heating and cooling system to allow the water tanks to perform simultaneously, thus saving energy. 

Consciously homely with Persian rugs and grey bed sheets, each room has an entrance hall, living area, and large bathroom complemented by mid-century modern wood and rattan furniture. My biggest dilemma was choosing a beach or overwater villa, and it was a tough call choosing between pure white sand or Maldives’ notorious magical sunset. I opted for the overwater pad, which enabled me to take some very Instagram worthy shots.

Accessible by a winding wooden walkway, each spacious bungalow is designed to be at one with nature, and all of them are fitted with sliding glass doors that open directly onto the deck. I could have easily frittered away some time in the standalone bathtub, private plunge pool or hammock, but instead I utilised the handy ladder which gave me direct access to the ocean and was a first class vantage point for the visiting dolphins who loved to frolic in the waves. 

Even though the logical choice after almost 20 hours of travelling would involve taking advantage of my beautiful balcony, and perhaps grabbing a little snooze, the Maldivian sun, sea and sand inspired me to explore. Like most of the archipelago's islands, Fari is blissfully car free and if you’re not zipping around on an electric buggy, you’ll probably be on your bike. 

Cruising down the sand-groomed pathway, I was met by the occasional sand sweeper as the gentle sea breeze cajoled me towards the beach. I cursed myself for not changing into swimwear, as soon as my feet caressed the sultry sand grains and I made my way to dip my toes in the crystal sea, nevertheless thankful that I had arrived at the oasis that was going to be my playground for the next five days.

With the white sands sharply contrasting with the blue skyline and aquamarine sea, the vista seemed to go on forever, but I left my footprints in the sand as I went  to explore a large sail-like structure that was on the other side of the bay. Designed by Porto-based studio architects Filipa Frois Almeida and Hugo Reis, this simple swooping gesture is made out of a large slab of white concrete and visitors are invited to interact with it however they like.

The Resort embraces art, and along with specially commissioned photographs in every room, guests are welcomed in the lobby-come-library by a six-metre-wide textile by Hiroko Takeda. This New York based artist created an exclusive piece to conceptualise the ecology of the island setting, which is bothe thought-provoking and beautiful. Whilst in a clearing amongst the palm trees, Netherlands based Chinese artist Hongjie Yang has installed a series of eight mirrored columns that are designed to immerse viewers in reflections, not only of themselves, but also their natural surroundings. 

However, the most prominent work of art on the island is the Skyspace Pavilion, a signature piece by James Turrell. A member of the California Light and Space movement since the 1970s, Turrel uses natural light as a tangible material resulting in unfiltered, mesmerising structures that work with nature. I visited this peaceful Pavilion at nightfall, and was hypnotised by the open ceiling that frames the skyline in such a way that it appears to be within reach, whilst hidden lights altered the perception of the sky’s colour, distance, shape, and density, as I allowed myself to be engulfed in the ambiguity of art and nature. 

Boasting 12 food outlets all offering a different experience you’ll be spoiled for choice for dining. With menus overseen by charismatic and inventive Director of Culinary, John Bakker, there is a gamut of international cuisine, with award winning chefs offering a variety of playful concepts including experimental Japanese and Scandi plates dishes such as kimchi, seaweed and soft shell crab at at Kōen; inventive south American barbequing at Brasa; farm to table vegan offerings at plant-based Roots, where guests can pick their own produce and enjoy the Chef’s Daily tasting menu, or perhaps you’d prefer food by the pool, listening to chilled beats along with a cocktail and the best views of the sunset at Helios. 

It wouldn’t be frowned upon if you switched off your Smart Watch, after all why would you want to monitor your heart rate or calories in the Maldives? But if you get a little twitchy, like me, Patina offers a fully inclusive timetable of tempting activities. Early birds can start the day with a Pilates or yoga class, or perhaps you’d prefer a game of tennis on the pro-courts. Less energetic activities include learning how to cook Maldivian specials, which includes lots of yummy coconut milk and ginger; or finding out more about how ceramics can aid in the restoration of our coral reefs with the Resort’s marine biologist. 

Diving, snorkelling, paddle boarding and surfing equipment is also available to rent, and the Spa offers a range of holistic treatments including Watsu hydrotherapy. Designed to stimulate and relax, it may seem a little unusual, as it is involves a one on one session with a practitioner in chest-deep warm water. As the therapist gently cradles, moves, stretches, and massages, the goal is to allow your body to completely submit to ultimate relaxation.

Ideally you will spend at least one day exploring the stunning coral atolls that are sprinkled like stepping stones in the surrounding sea. Either charter a private yacht from the jetty or join a hotel tour, depending on whether you want to head to a dive site or jet on over to the surf breaks a little further afield. My outing culminated at a sandbank which was a slice of paradise. The private beach, surrounded by two-tone ocean, was in the middle of nowhere and was the pinnacle of the trip for snorkelling. Or perhaps you’d rather stay aboard and admire the underwater kingdom from above. If you time it right, you’ll be able to spot leaping manta rays or dolphins who love to come and play. Whilst after dark, during mid summer to mid winter, head to the shoreline to catch a glimpse of nature’s showiest organism, luminescent plankton, which performs its glow-in-the-dark light show at the water's edge.

With friendly staff speaking over 40 languages, it is easy to forget you’re on one of 1200 minute islands located in the northern Indian Ocean. Promoting eco-conscious living, where food waste is composted, drinking water is processed and bottled by the island’s Nordaq plant (a patented Swedish water filtration system) and single-use plastic is almost entirely eliminated, little details mean a lot. There is a pro-active marine conservation programme where guests are invited to do regular beach clean-ups with plastic waste being turned into Parley ocean plastic material, which is a giant step for sustainable tourism, and the Resort supports the Olive Ridley Project which works on sea turtle rehabilitation. Even the Kid’s Club is solar powered, and children have activities that allow them to turn recycled ocean plastic into models using 3D printing. Patina has nailed the experience and will guarantee you have a holiday to remember.  

patinahotels.com