COMO Cocoa Island, The Maldives

My wife and I had four amazing days and nights on this beautiful natural and peaceful island. The experience of these days will be one of my most unforgettable memories of all time.

We spent four nights in September 2025 at COMO Cocoa island. This was our second trip to COMO Cocoa and it won’t be our last if I have anything to say about it! It’s hard to quantify exactly what makes COMO Cocoa such a magical spot—there’s just a certain something about it that I love. What we loved most and what was just as good as our first trip: - The sandbank and walking around the island. COMO Cocoa has the most gorgeous sandbank I’ve ever visited in the Maldives. It’s accessible at all times of day, although it obviously grows or shrinks depending on the tides. Our waiter suggested we walk up it under the full moon one night and it was truly magical. - The bungalows. We had a Loft Water Villa this time and the resort graciously gave us the exact villa we requested (801). It was truly spectacular to be over the sand when the tide came washing in. There were quite a few sharks swimming past and one afternoon we actually had a small manta. The outdoor shower was also lovely. - The reef is still excellent. It was quite windy when we were there so I could not snorkel the coral garden off the pool, but I went along the drop-off in front of the villas and up the sandbar multiple times. Excellent! There were almost always turtles along the sandbar and currents were minimal. Unfortunately, the trigger fish were nesting halfway down the drop-off, but fortunately the dive shop had added a buoy to mark the point at which one should turn around. - The team is one of the friendliest, nicest group of people ever. Our housekeeper Ismail was such a pleasure and did an amazing job keeping us tidy. Wissam is still there and as efficient and charming as ever. We even ran into Fanny again! - The special set menus. We absolutely loved the Thai night—it was so much fun. Although there’s technically just one restaurant, we could have room service as part of our full board plan (for a $25 tray charge) and they offered both a “main” menu and their Shambhala menu. The inclusion of soft drinks and juices in the minibar at no-charge is also quite appreciated. - The transfer is extraordinarily easy. We arrived on the 5:40am Etihad flight and they were waiting to whisk away. Although we were delayed by a half hour as another passenger accidentally took our suitcase instead of theirs, they got us on the boat right away (we were the only passengers) and then straight into our villa. We were at the resort as fast as possible and we absolutely appreciated being able to go straight to the villa. - The lagoon in front of 801 was crystal clear, sandy-bottomed, and entirely free of coral rubble and sea grass. It was perfect for bobbing around in. I know that there are some complaints about boat traffic (it didn’t bother us, although we grimaced when a snorkel boat unloaded its passengers literally right on top of the trigger fish buoy), views of the local islands (still think the local prison is weirdly pretty), and the lack of restaurants (worked for us just fine and not having to make dinner reservations was lovely). COMO Cocoa is deeply serene, laidback, wonderful for beach walks, and has both lagoon and coral for snorkeling. For us, it’s really a place that “has it all” and is a completely relaxing experience. We look forward to returning!

Thirty seventh time in the Maldives and fourth on Cocoa Island. Our first island in the Maldives and still one of my favorites among the more than 30 we've visited. What we liked: - The tranquility throughout the island. - The peaceful atmosphere in the restaurant. - Amazing beaches and lagoon. - The quality of the food. - The snorkeling, with the option of doing it in front of the water villas with lots of fish, or on the arrival jetty side with the most beautiful coral. - The hydro pool. - The service. Everyone was extremely friendly and did everything they could to make us feel welcome. What we liked least: - Although we were told we could order food off the menu, it would be nice to have a more varied menu, especially for those who don't enjoy Asian food. - Very boat traffic in front of the water villa. - Lagoon with lots of seaweed. It doesn't detract from the lagoon's beauty, but I have to say that on our first visits it was much prettier. - Drink prices. Cosmopolitan $25 plus tax... Excessive. We loved Cocoa Island and will definitely be back for a fifth visit.

We had a great family time in a peaceful relaxing environment. The stay was wonderful and the dining experience excellent. Our hostess and server Phoo was friendly, attentive, and helpful. It truly felt like a home away from home. I recommend this place for anyone looking for a calm escape from city life.

The place is very quiet and beautiful. The family dinner under the stars was romantic. Breakfast and dinner were always good. Phoo and Sultha are very nice staffs and made our stay comfortable.😊