Taj Exotica

Hotel Information

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Maldives, is an exclusive, private and romantic island resort lush with tropical plants and encircled by clear blue waters of one of the largest lagoons of the Maldives.

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa spreads idyllically along a pristine beach and the serene lagoon. The award-winning resort, now re-launched, seamlessly extends the magic of the island's blessed natural beauty in its design even as it offers the finest contemporary luxuries and services. Jiva Grande Spa (opening in April 2006), an authentic Indian spa, offers a range of signature wellness experiences. A choice of gourmet cuisine, water sports, and recreation make for a complete and exclusive destination.

For aged 16 years and over.

South Male Atoll

Location: 5 mls (15 mins by speedboat) South of Male

Rooms: 64

Hotel Facilities Information

The resort offers a spectrum of indoor and outdoor activities for irresistible fun and relaxation.

Fitness & Fun

• Billiards
• Fresh water Infinity Swimming pool
• Volleyball
• Indoor games
• PADI certified Dolphin Base Dive & Water Sports Centre
• Fitness Centre
• Indoor Games

Beach & Sports Include

• Catamaran Sailing
• Water Skiing
• Banana Riding
• Sea Kayaking
• Windsurfing

Spa

Jiva Grande Spa located on an intimate island adjoining the resort is a physical and spiritual haven for the senses. Soothing, aromatic and rejuvenating treatments are offered in elegant ocean facing pavilions.

Recreation outside the hotel

• Historical Male
• Seaplane Photo Flight
• Maldivian Fishing Village Experience
• Island Exploration
• Sunset Cruise
• Sunset Fishing
• Big Game Fishing and Casting

Dining

From casual, all-day dining to formal, fine dining, guests can savour a choice of gourmet cuisine, cool beverages and the choicest wines.

The resort offers a distinctive dining experience at its restaurants. The menus feature traditional and contemporary favourites of a variety of international cuisines that are complemented with fine wines from the resort's cellar. Guests can dine at the restaurants or any spot on the island of their choice.

Room Facilities Information

Each of the resort's luxuriously designed 62 villas is furnished in natural tones and textures. The warmth of wood, the fragrance of flowers and the soft glow of lamps and candles create an intimate ambience in the villas. Expansive ocean views and a soothing breeze relax the senses.

All the villas are palm-thatched, built of finest natural wood finishes on the exteriors and floors and are delightfully appointed in classic Maldivian style. Amenities include air-conditioning, personal bar, LCD television with satellite channels, safe, tea/coffee-maker, satellite television, DVD/CD player, MP3, Media Centre, Internet connection, international dialing, Electronic safe, double vanity, bathtubs overlooking the ocean (in lagoon villas ) and rain showers in the bathrooms, and hairdryer. Some of the villas have a private plunge pool.

Lagoon Villas

The 24 Lagoon Villas, of 71 sq mts each, are a series of two adjacent villas on the lagoon along the island. They offer private sun decks with loungers, easy chairs and ladders with direct access leading to the lagoon Each villa has a double vanity bathroom, rain showers and bath tubs with panoramic views of the Indian Ocean.

Deluxe Lagoon Villas

The 31 Deluxe Lagoon Villas, of 60 sq mts each , are located at the far end of the island. These elegant stand-alone villas offer complete privacy as they open out to private sundecks with serene sea views and ladders leading into the lagoon, easy chairs and loungers. Stylized furniture, a double vanity bathroom, rain showers, bathtubs with an infinite view of the Indian Ocean and special in-villa furnishings create a special ambience. 10 Deluxe Lagoon Villas feature a private deck with a freshwater plunge pool and an alluring day-bed area with spectacular views.

Deluxe Beach Villas

The 4 Deluxe Beach Villas, of 89 sq mts each, are just 5 metres from the picturesque lagoon. Each of the luxuriously styled villas offers an oversized plunge pool, a private veranda with sun beds, a tropical outdoor shower in a private walled garden and an infinite view of the lagoon.

Spencer Beach Park

Spencer Beach Park is a protected by a fringing reef that makes this a perfect year-round beach if you have small children or don't like big waves. Access to the beach is easy using paths from the parking area and public rest rooms. The white sand slopes gently into the water and there are plenty of trees for shade.

Part of Spencer Park’s attraction is the history that surrounds it. Pu'ukohola Heiau, Hawaii's most famous and largest heiau is located here. Stop at the National Park Service station to learn more about the history of this place and the role it played in King Kamehakameha’s rise to power. It is quite possible that the King himself enjoyed relaxing on this beach. Another small heiau as well as an information shack and nice trails to the coast are all at the same location. The history of these ancient temples built by King Kamehameha is fascinating. The heiaus are located midway between the park and the harbor. In the late afternoon, the heiau is great place to watch an ocean sunset.

From this area you can see the four largest mountains from one spot: Hualalai, Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and the Kohala Mountains. The park is idyllic with tropical birds living in the trees on the grounds.

White sand and clean facilities make this a popular beach for locals and tourists. This is one of the nicer beach parks where camping is allowed. Snorkeling and shore diving are good to the south and sea turtles are often spotted here. Overall this is a really terrific spot to sun, fish, catch up on some reading or just kick back and coast.

There are cooking and camping facilities and a large covered pavilion with electric hookups. Other facilities include tennis courts and showers. This park is popular with local families because of its safe swimming and convenient amenities including weekend lifeguard services.

Cinnamon Bay

Cinnamon Bay is a National Park campground with a fabulous beach lined with sea grape trees, featuring gin-clear water, white sand, good snorkeling, water-sports rentals, a restaurant and a store, as well as scenic views of the nearby islands.

Cinammon Bay's crystal clear waters will tempt you to spend your time swimming and snorkeling, while the palm trees will call you to spread your beach blanket in their shade and relax.

Cinnamon Bay is a fantastic beach and is great spot for camping. Close to the campground take the self-guided nature walk. The trek takes about an hour and you will pass mango, cacao, and giant kapok trees. After your walk , relax on the beach or enjoy a swim inthe crystal clear waters.

Few visitors are aware of the westernmost beach in the campground, which means you’ll have the postcard-perfect white sands mostly to yourself. To there, go left as you get down to the water and walk over or around the rocks that border the beach.

Cinnamon Bay is the longest and often windiest beach on St. John and faces some pretty cays just offshore. Unless you are going sailing or windsurfing, this beach is better in the morning or at midday, as afternoons are likely to be windy. The windsurfing can be excellent. A concession rents windsurfing equipment, kayaks and mountain bikes.

There is good snorkeling off the point on the right side of the beach, however the swim can be a bit challenging and long, though definitely worth the effort. A rocky point north-east of the cay harbours an incredible diversity of marine life.

Lifeguards are on duty during the day. You can arrange for scuba tours or sailing trips right on the beach. During the winter months, the waves are big enough for surfing and boogie boarding.

The campground has air-temperature showers, a restaurant and a commissary and overnight facilities.

Swimming: Calm
Beachside: Soft, White Sand
Food/Refreshments: Yes/Restaurant
Water Sports Center: Yes
Snorkeling: Average
Amenities: Small Store, Archeological Site, Camp Ground, Bathroom
Child Friendly: Yes