From Madrid to Bel Ombre — Matías Juda Ungar's perspective

Matías Juda Ungar works in luxury travel. Together with his wife, he co-founded Pasifika Viajes in Spain — an agency specialising in premium Indian Ocean destinations. The Maldives for years, Mauritius increasingly so. This year, he discovered Bel Ombre. We asked him three questions.

You seem to have fallen for the Bel Ombre region and its heritage...

"Absolutely. What is fascinating about Bel Ombre is its aesthetic coherence. The Château de Bel Ombre — its historic architecture and refined atmosphere — brings a depth you only find in places steeped in history. A luxury of character."

« This estate pulls off the difficult feat of blending wild, mountainous nature with coastal elegance. »

You mentioned the architecture of Heritage Le Telfair. Why is that an asset?

"The Telfair architecture is remarkably refined. It pays tribute to the island's colonial past with a very contemporary lightness — a constant visual pleasure for the discerning traveller. Where the Maldives lean into organic, futuristic design, Mauritius bets on timeless elegance. That diversity is a gift for our clients: they can choose between the poetic isolation of an atoll or the historic charm of a Mauritian estate."

What role does the MTPA play in shaping this perception in Spain?

"The MTPA does essential ground-level work. By being more present in the Spanish market, it helps travel agents articulate these nuances. It's not about saying one destination is 'better' than the other — it's about advising clients based on what they're seeking in that moment: the total intimacy of Maldivian lagoons, or the natural and cultural richness of Mauritius. Respecting both models is the key to great advice at Pasifika."

What Matías Juda Ungar describes so elegantly is perhaps the essence of authentic travel counsel: never oppose, always reveal. And in that revelation, Mauritius doesn't need to prove anything — it just needs to be well told.