Honest review
Como Cocoa Island is set among the coral atolls of South Male. Everything at this resort is luxurious — from the personalized service and refined cuisine to the distinctive design, authentic culture and unique spa. The staff go out of their way to make every stay exclusive and tailored to guests' every requirement. On request they will even arrange a private cruise to a neighboring island and beach, or a private dinner in any exotic setting.
The style of the renovated overwater suites and villas is unlike any other resort in the Maldives. The resort's 33 suites and villas, with their unique local aesthetic, are inspired by the gracefully curved wooden forms of the local dhoni fishing boats. Each bungalow, linked by a winding boardwalk, stands away from the shore, suspended over the lagoon. All the suites are built of New Zealand pine with kajan thatched roofs, and feature high raftered ceilings and gleaming teak floors.
Floor-to-ceiling windows open onto massive terraces, blurring the line between indoors and out. The blue-and-white decor further accentuates the natural colors of sea, sand and sky. The renovation has left the hotel aesthetically exquisite and inimitable. Every villa has its own veranda with steps leading down into the water, and a spacious terrace — a wonderful spot from which to slip straight into the warm Maldivian waters of the ocean. Some also have private pools, from which you can watch the water's surface merge with the horizon.
The restaurant menus are contemporary, light and infused with South Indian accents. The venues offer modern interpretations of Asian and Mediterranean classics, along with the universally loved pastas and salads. The resort's signature is its healthy cooking, COMO Shambhala Cuisine — a unique dining concept built on organic ingredients rich in living enzymes, vitamins and marine minerals, without ever sacrificing flavor. Dishes are raw, steamed or grilled for maximum health benefit. The chefs also make extensive use of the tandoor, a type of Indian oven that renders the fat from meat and fish while adding a wonderful charcoal flavor.
And what would the Maldives be without spa and wellness programs? COMO Shambhala Retreat, the island's wellness center, is the embodiment of a healthy-living philosophy. It draws inspiration from its surroundings, so the building is crafted from natural wood, traditional Maldivian coral-stone walls and thatched roofs, and the treatment rooms look out onto magnificent views of the turquoise lagoon or tropical greenery. The resort also has one of the few hydrotherapy pools in the Maldives, where guests can relax in heated water as special high-pressure jets work on different areas of the body.
At this nurturing island retreat you are offered Asian therapies, fitness classes and a new Pilates studio, along with a gym and a spacious yoga studio. To round out the wellness experience, a daily schedule of activities has been designed for guests, including meditation, Pilates and a range of other wellness classes.
