Hotel Review: COMO Cocoa Island, The Maldives
A few days ago, Oliver and I landed in the Maldives for a trip of a lifetime. Crystal clear waters and white sand beaches are often phrases thrown around to refer to ‘paradise found’, and I can assure you that nowhere else comes close to matching this archetype than the Maldives. This cluster of remote islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean is so remote and separate from the rest of the world, that part of the luxury in escaping here is that almost every hotel you’ll find is on a private island of its own: cue said crystal clear waters and white sand beaches. I’ve been wanting to revisit the Maldives for a long time with Oliver (I’ve been once before with family, which isn’t quite the same experience), given that it’s easily one of the most romantic places in the world. Our five year anniversary seemed like a good excuse to finally make the trip happen, and use the opportunity to visit three different hotels. Our first stop? COMO Cocoa Island. Read on for my full review…
First impressions: 5/5
Arriving at Malé International Airport (after a 10 hour flight from London), you’ll be greeted by a smiling member of the team before being whisked off by private speedboat to Cocoa Island - if you’re lucky, you might spot some dolphins along the way. After a 40 minute ride, you’ll step straight into a scene out of The White Lotus (minus all of the drama, of course), as you’re greeted on the jetty by the smiling team that will be looking after you throughout your stay. There’s no waiting around: after a long flight, you’ll want to head straight to your bedroom to freshen up and dive into the ocean, and the team wastes no time at all by checking you straight into your water villa.
The unique thing about COMO Cocoa Island is that all of the hotel’s 33 bedrooms are water villas suspended above the ocean. Let’s face it: one of the greatest novelties when planning a visit to the Maldives is staying in one of these over-water bedrooms, which are usually at the pricier end of the (already pricey) accommodation scale at other luxury resorts. The great thing about Cocoa Island is that every guest stays in one of these, enabling that journey from bed straight into the ocean for every resident on the island. Each of the villas (which range from 1 to 3 bedrooms) are designed in the gently curving shape of a classic ‘dhoni’ boat, and inside, you can expect lofty ceilings, and minimal, whitewashed interiors. Rooms are filled with natural light thanks to the floor-to-ceiling doors leading onto private decking - complete with sun loungers, and steps that lead directly into the ocean. Some villas are two-storied with the bed upstairs, and an ensuite loo in case you need the bathroom in the night (a very thoughtful touch given that no one wants to be stumbling downstairs in the dark). We didn’t spend much time inside (other than when we needed to escape to some air conditioning), but each villa comes with a generous sofa area, huge flat-screen TV, and minibar that includes complimentary snacks that are topped up every day.
From the jetty where the water villas are situated, it’s only a short walk over to the restaurant and bar, whereas on the other side of the island, you’ll find the COMO Shambhala spa and endless white sand beaches to explore (more on both later). Thanks to the hotel’s recent renovation in 2020, everything still feels beautifully pristine, and you’ll find the same minimally chic furnishings in the bedroom mirrored throughout the rest of the resort.
To do: 5/5
Naturally, you’re here to relax, and the beautiful thing about Cocoa Island is that it’s relatively small, meaning you can easily explore the island’s entire perimeter of white sand beaches during your stay. Despite the hotel being fully occupied throughout our visit, there were always multiple sun loungers to choose from, whether we preferred to sprawl ourselves out on the quieter side of the island near the spa, or by the bar and restaurant, where you’ll also find the outdoor pool. Snorkelling here is a must, and there are three hotspots where you can see an incredible array of multi-coloured fish as soon as you dip into the water (and if you’re lucky, sharks, turtles and stingrays too); guests can pick up complimentary snorkelling gear, as well as kayaks and paddle boards from the on site water sports centre, so no need to pack any gear with you. There’s a daily changing schedule of activities throughout the week that you can opt into (including some that come with an additional cost), from sunrise yoga on the island’s sandbank, to private excursions where you can swim with sharks and candlelit dinners on the beach.
On one evening, the hotel treated us to a sunset fishing expedition, which involved us taking a boat out onto the ocean for a couple of hours - it was definitely harder than I had anticipated, but the setting was magical, and Oliver managed to catch a barracuda. The best part? We were able to enjoy our catch the following day, and choose how we’d like it to be cooked: we opted for a delicious Maldivian coconut curry, which turned out to be one of our favourite meals from the entirety of our stay.
After you’ve tired yourself out from splashing in the water, there is of course, the famous COMO Shambhala spa to enjoy. COMO hotels the world over are best known for their focus on wellness and impressive Shambhala spas, so we checked ourselves in for a couple’s massage. Our joint treatment room was beautifully spacious (and even came with an outdoor shower and bathtub), and both of us felt incredibly relaxed while our muscles were expertly pummelled and soothed. Afterwards, guests can relax on swinging sofas that look out onto the lagoon, or take a dip in the incredible hydrotherapy pool, housed in a beautifully vaulted building. There’s also a gym and pilates studio to use, as well as a rotating calendar of visiting practitioners, who you can book specific treatments with.
Food and drink: 4.5/5
I’ll be totally honest that ahead of my stay, I was a little hesitant that we might be quite limited by the culinary offering at the hotel: reason being that there’s only one restaurant on the island. When staying at an resort like this, the onsite offering is the only option really available to you, so it’s important to pick a hotel that has a spectacular restaurant - and I’m glad to share that I was proven very wrong.
The hotel’s restaurant Ufaa spills out near the pool so you can either dine inside or with your toes in the sand, before or after enjoying a drink at the adjoining bar. The atmosphere is laidback and relaxed, and you’ll rarely see any guests dressed up to dine, which is exactly what we were hoping for after days spent lazing on the beach. As soon as you sit down, you’ll be greeted with a basket of freshly baked naan (delicious!) and some not-to-so delicious bread rolls (similar to the ones you get served on airplanes) that were probably the only critique I have of our entire dining experience here. Happily, these were soon forgotten when perusing the extensive menu, which spans multiple cuisines (from pizza and pasta to Indian curries), and often features daily-changing dishes. The overriding theme is that all dishes are comforting and hearty, yet also elegantly plated: my favourites were the local options, with memorable dishes including a delicious chicken biryani and tasty masala dhal served with fresh chapati. On certain days of the week, there might also be a set menu on offer, such as a seven-course thali, and every day the additional Shambhala menu offers lighter options such as healthy salad bowls and vegan-friendly curries.
The following morning, guests can graze from a buffet of tropical fruit, homemade pastries, and freshly squeezed juices before ordering whatever cooked dishes you like: favourites of ours included the refreshing acai smoothie bowl topped with berries and coconut flakes (I ended up ordering this every single day - it was THAT good!), the fluffy pancakes with pineapple and maple syrup, and the eggs royale, which was one of the best we’d ever tasted: expect a perfectly toasted muffin and hollandaise sauce with a hint of brown butter. Of course, if you prefer to have breakfast in your room, that’s possible too.
If you’re still hungry throughout the day, lunch can be ordered at the restaurant or from whichever sun lounger you’re sprawled across on the beach: opt for tasty fish tacos, washed down with a smoothie plucked from the never-ending list of options to try. The all-day bar is a chic affair, complete with rattan furnishings and green bean bags scattered across the sand.
Comfort and service: 4/5
Overall, I would happily head back to COMO Cocoa Island as soon as I can, and would definitely recommend this resort for those looking for a quiet and restorative island paradise . When it comes to The Maldives, there are so many options to choose from that it can feel a little overwhelming, but if you’re looking for somewhere boutique and luxurious, where you’ll be well looked after and have all of the comforts you could possibly want - all within easy reach - this is it. As soon as you step off the plane and are greeted by a member of the team, to the moment you leave the island, you will feel incredibly looked after: the team are all super friendly, and throughout your stay, you’ll likely get to know them all by name. Despite the hotel being fully occupied during our stay, it never felt busy: instead, there was a lively but relaxed buzz around the restaurant at dinner times, and during the day, we often had entire stretches of beach to ourselves, as guests were spread out among their bedrooms and the spa, or on excursions.
It is worth mentioning for those looking to escape here on a romantic holiday (as we ourselves were), that there were a few families with young children staying on the island. As there isn’t a separate children’s pool at the hotel, you might find kids splashing around in the main pool (which is right by the restaurant) while you’re trying to have a relaxing meal, which can be a bit distracting. Our bedroom was also right next door to a family with young toddlers, who were almost always creating some kind of noise in the water, which is why we didn’t end up spending that much time relaxing on our private deck either. Luckily, there are a number of places around the island where guests can spread themselves out, and I’d still recommend the hotel for honeymooners. The novelty of being able to dip into the water directly from our bedroom never quite wore off during our stay - so if you’re looking for somewhere where you can almost always be on the water, yet also within easy walking distance to the restaurant and spa, I’d definitely recommend a stay here. I loved how easily walkable the island was, how every corner of the resort was beautifully maintained, and how the hotel felt luxurious without any sense of pretension.
This was a press stay - all opinions are my own.
