As you fly into the Maldives Islands, you can see Cocoa among South Male’s coral atolls, white sand melting into turquoise, indigo and deep cerulean blue.
Cocoa’s x-factor is nature’s bequest, benign, pristine and undisturbed. The sea life bristles with colour. Centuries of tides have sifted its porcelain-fine sand into a dazzling of white cushion. On Cocoa’s fringe grow wild sea grapes, hibiscus and palms. The diving, too, is among the regions best.
But for its natural graces, Cocoa also knows how to indulge its guests, a chic, barefoot style. Rooms are inspired by local dhoni boats, but refashioned in bleached wood, with ylang-ylang roofs. They are reached via planked walkways, which stretch into the lagoon.
The island is uncluttered; there are only 17 suites in addition to 2 two bedroom villas and 4 one bedroom villas. The interiors are simple, light and airy with their inspiration drawn from South Indian and colonial furniture, fabrics and traditional colours.
Cocoa has a Shambhala Retreat, a point of stillness dedicated to renewing the body’s energies, overseen by master therapists and visiting yoga teachers.
You can dine, feet in the sand, at the main restaurant beneath an ylang-ylang pavilion and huge Maldivian sky, on the best of natures larder, lobster, tuna, organic vegetables.
Location
35 minutes speedboat transfer from Male
