Cocoa Island
Cocoa Island, known locally as Makunufushi, was once home to photographer Eric Klemm who arrived in the Maldives in 1976. He built a home there and in 1980 opened a four-bungalow hotel. Then in 2002, the Como Hotels and Resorts development opened, retaining the original beauty and charm of the island.
With a simple yet stylish mix of the contemporary and the indigenous, it offers guests a serene and soulful getaway.
All 33 rooms at the resort are offshore and reached by wooden walkways. They have floor-to-ceiling glass windows and open decks offering unhindered views of the pristine azure waters. The airy interiors combine whites and blues and soft shades of stone, oatmeal, chocolate and earthy reds.
Visitors looking for a special local touch can book into the converted dhoni boat rooms, which are built into the boats used by Maldivian fishermen.
At the resort's restaurant, called Ufaa which means 'happy', you can eat under cover or alfresco. Indian and Sri Lankan-inspired meals are on offer, using seasonal and organic vegetables and the day's catch supplied by local fishermen.
