Spoilt rotten with sunshine all year round, dotted with sleepy sandy beaches, surrounded by turquoise waters with abundant marine life... it’s tough to choose between the Seychelles, Maldives and Mauritius. But, sun, sea and sand aside, Alannah Eames discovers what really differentiates these oceanic pearls from each other.

Famous for honeymoons, hideaways for superstars and the perfect cure for stressed out souls, the Seychelles, Mauritius and Maldives are cast away in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the world’s third largest ocean – and considered its warmest.

Despite their distance from each other, all islands share a tropical climate, a British colonial heritage, a low crime rate, friendly locals and a diet rich in coconuts and seafood, but that’s about where the similarities end.

History
Located just off Madagascar, Mauritius was colonised by the Dutch before coming under French rule for 100 years and then being taken over by the British for almost 160 years. It finally gained independence in 1968.

Originally, African slaves were brought to work on its large sugar plantations but once slavery was abolished they were replaced by workers from India and Asia. Unfortunately, due to its colonial past, its native Dodo bird and giant tortoise are now extinct.

Further north, the Seychelles were settled by the French in the 18th century and, due to the influx of African slaves, the island developed its distinctive Seychellois Creole language and culture.

Britain took control of the islands in the early 19th century and the Seychelles became an independent republic in 1976.

The Maldives, on the other hand, due to its location, has always had close ties to Sri Lanka and India.

In ancient times, it was ruled by local kings and queens, before the Portuguese, Dutch and French began meddling in its affairs.

It became a British Protectorate in the 19th century and gained independence in 1965. Originally Buddhist, the Maldivians converted to Islam in the 12th century.

People
Mauritius has a distinctly French feel to it, although English is also widely spoken. Due to the diverse mix of the population, locals tend to be classified as Indian, Chinese or French Mauritians. The mosques, Hindu temples and Chinese restaurants reflect this cultural melting pot of an island.

The Seychellois can effortlessly switch from English to Creole to French. The country has a distinctive ‘Africa meets Europe’ kind of feeling to it, a nod to its proximity to Africa and its European roots.

Like the Maldivians, they are interested in – and appreciate – tourists and are extremely friendly; as a rule they won’t try to rip you off and petty crime is almost unheard of.

The Maldivians are moderate Muslims and while you can drink and take massages (currently a source of public discussion) in the resorts, you need to show respect when you go to local islands.

Landscape
If you love the Robinson Crusoe feeling of being cast away on a deserted island, it doesn’t get better than the Maldives. Made up of atolls (large, ring-shaped coral reefs), each protecting up to 60 small islands, most islands are only one or two square kilometres and up to 1.5 metres above sea level with a few palm trees thrown in for good measure.

The stunning Seychelles, on the other hand, has secluded little bays framed with massive granite boulders, set against a dramatic jungle-like backdrop. Considered to be the world’s only oceanic islands of granitic rock, the landmass of the Seychelles is just 457 square kilometres but this is spread over 1.37 million square kilometres.

If you’re a bit more of a landlubber, the larger volcanic island of Mauritius is small enough to give you an island feeling but large enough to banish any ‘seasickness’. The ‘hub’ of the Indian Ocean is 1,865 square kilometres and has a luscious green interior surrounded by 330 kilometres of coastline protected largely by coral reefs.

Food
All islands have a diet rich in local seafood with a distinctive Asian influence. Mauritian cuisine has been heavily influenced by its French, Creole and Indian heritage, and it takes the best from each. There are plenty of top-class restaurants to enjoy fine dining.

In the Maldives, there’s just one resort per island so your options for dining outside your hotel are limited. That’s why the hotels try hard to make meals varied – there’s everything from themed dinners to local cuisine with its distinctive Indian influence to barbeques and romantic candlelit tables on the beach.

When it comes to a wide choice of fish and delicious simplicity, nothing can beat the Seychelles. Local catch like jobfish, red snapper and parrotfish, juicy barracuda and tuna steaks and giant shrimps stirred up in a coconut curry, dominate the menus in local restaurants while the resorts tend to focus on a European-local fusion to satisfy their guests.

Weather
All three island nations have a warm, humid climate all year round with temperatures rarely dropping below 24˚C. But having a tropical climate means there’s always the risk of some grey skies and thundery downpours.

Generally, they have dry winters and wet summers. Just be sure to bring some things to keep yourself entertained indoors in case you get a few days of not-so-great weather.

While the Seychelles and Maldives lie outside of the cyclone belt, Mauritius can often get hit by cyclones and anti-cyclones. If you plan on island hopping in the Seychelles, be aware that the seas can get pretty rough in July and August due to the shift of the trade winds.

Fantastic marine life
The Seychelles, Mauritius and the Maldives are paradise for divers, snorkelers and less-adventurous marine lovers. From mantra rays to giant sea turtles, 13 species of sharks, whales and a host of colourful tropical fish, all three islands offer excellent facilities for exploring the underwater world.

In Mauritius, you can even get married underwater if you like; or they have small two-person submarines if you want to dive deep under without getting wet.

Prices
Mauritius is definitely the cheapest option if you are on a budget as it has more airline connections and a wider choice of hotels.

The Seychelles and Maldives are a bit more expensive. If you plan on going to the Maldives, pick your hotel carefully because if you don’t like it, you will be pretty much stuck there for your entire holiday; it’s also worth taking an all-inclusive package as drinks and snacks can add up and there are no local stores close to stock up on basic supplies.

Prices at the top-end resorts in the Seychelles can be quite horrendous but you can keep your costs down by renting a car and eating in local restaurants.

Mauritius vs Seychelles vs Maldives

Mauritius
Pros: Large island so plenty to see and do; good value for money; island fusion mix of Creole, African, French, Chinese and Indian influences; luscious green landscape with a 330-km-long coastline; professional set-up for weddings and special occasions.

Cons: It’s in the cyclone belt so check the weather before you book.

Seychelles
Pros: Varied and stunning landscape; some of the world’s top beaches; privacy and seclusion; great local food; largest collection of giant tortoises outside the Galapagos islands; only place in the world to see the famous Coco de Mer palm tree with its peculiar shaped fruit.

Cons: Sea can be rough at certain times of the year so if you want to island hop in July/August, flying might be a better option.

Maldives
Pros: ‘Wow’ factor; out-of-this-world hotels; Robinson Crusoe cast-away feeling; abundant marine life; unique landscape of coral atolls;

Cons: Current discussion about closing the spas in resorts; check the location of the resort as it might be a three-hour motorboat ride or 40-minute seaplane ride from the hotel, after a long flight.

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