Cocoa Island

This resort looks out towards calm, cerulean waters. The island is long and thin (about 350 metres in length) with sand snaking out into a perfect spit that disappears with the evening tide. The natural landscape has not been interfered with, and the island features palms, wild sea grapes and hibiscus. The house reef, which encircles Cocoa, delineates a gin-clear lagoon that’s rich in sealife, including ray and baby sharks. It is a sea without currents, making Cocoa Island an ideal choice for families. At Cocoa, the style is deliberately restrained; a simple yet sophisticated mix of the contemporary and indigenous. Certain room types occupy ‘dhoni’ boats, based on the designs used by Maldivian fishermen. They are not unlike the houseboat typical of Kerala, the nearest Indian state.

Each of these 33 rooms sit offshore on the southern side of Cocoa, overhanging the lagoon. They are reached by planked walkways. Structures combine New Zealand pine with Kajan thatched roofs. Natural materials are carried through to the interiors, with high raftered ceilings and glossy teak flooring. The restaurant is called Ufaa, meaning ‘happy’ in Maldivian. The restaurant is designed as a foot-in-the-sand space, seating 60 both covered and uncovered flanks and created the resort’s infinity edged pool, in natural wood and Kajan thatch. Ufaa serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. An all day dining menu is also available.

Cocoa Island is located in the Maldives Islands, each a perfect smudge of white. Here, in the quiet waters of the Indian ocean, the strongest winds are gentle breezes, and the highest points, leaning palm fronts. Each lagoon is a point of stillness, but the encircling reefs bristle with life. The private island resort is found in the less developed South Male Atoll, a 40 minute speedboat ride from the international airport.