It is called Barceló Whale Lagoon Maldives and is home to 100 luxurious villas.
Located on the island of Bodufinolhu in the atoll of South Ari, next to the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA), one of the most famous places in the world for diving enthusiasts, where you can see the whale sharks – Barceló Whale Lagoon Maldives is the Barceló hotel chain’s first property in the Maldives (a second opening is planned for 2024 in the capital Malé).
The resort consists of 100 villas and suites, 30 of which are overwater, nestled in an authentic natural paradise in the Indian Ocean. The facility also has two swimming pools with a large solarium where you can practice yoga and pilates, or simply enjoy the spectacular sunsets in total relaxation. And speaking of relax, there is no shortage of a magnificent SPA with plenty of personal care treatments, and a full fitness area for those who don’t want to give up staying in shape even on vacation.
The Barceló Whale Lagoon Maldives offers three restaurants, a snack bar and three bars.
Sea Salt is the main restaurant dedicated to breakfast, buffet dinner and show cooking; Aqua is a Mediterranean fusion specializing in fish and seafood; Breeze is the poolside restaurant, an ideal place for sunset drinks and evening entertainment; finally, Magical, the beach club with lounge area for cocktails and poolside snacks.
The resort has an activity center for scuba diving and all kinds of water sports, taking advantage of the wonderful flora and fauna of Bodufinolhu Island, which boasts several coral reefs and more than 700 species of fish.
Barceló Whale Lagoon is the first chain’s hotel in the Maldives, and a new one in Malé is also scheduled to open in 2024, in addition to the development of a complex of three 5-star resorts in the North Male atoll. The management of these facilities is the result of an agreement Barceló Hotel Group signed in 2019 with Browns Investments, a subsidiary of LOLC Group, a major Sri Lankan entity that owns the facilities. The agreement also includes the management of the two hotels the hotel chain operates in Sri Lanka: the Occidental Paradise Dambulla in the ancient city of Dambulla, and the Occidental Eden Beruwala, a 5-star resort located on the waterfront of the tourist town of Beruwala on Sri Lanka’s west coast.
