This review is kind of special as it is to the date the 5th year of my blog and I am back in the Maldives, where it all began.

The first time was at Conrad Rangali. This time it is with Como, at their stunning Cocoa Island resort.

The 45 minute private speedboat transfer from Male is a fun start to what will be a great 4 nights on this small island of about 33 overwater villas.

We arrive and are greeted by Dianne who tells us we have been upgraded from our booked Dhoni Loft to a Loft Villa Suite which, as we enter, is a huge 2-level overwater +\-120 sqm with stairs that take you into the aqua blue waters below.

The Suite is splendidly adorned with light tones, wooden flooring, TV, Nespresso machine, cookies, outdoor deck with lounges, 2 bathrooms, additional outdoor shower, and comfy bed on the second level.

We start our Como journey with some snorkeling off our terrace and see an array of beautiful fish above a white sandy floor. The afternoon progresses to happy hour drinks at the Ufaa Bar before dinner at the adjacent Ufaa Restaurant.

The next morning we wake up early to join complimentary Sunrise Hatha yoga at the Sandbank, followed by breakfast (included in the room rate), more snorkeling, using the Hydrotherapy pool, lunch, relaxing, doing nothing, doing more of nothing, watch the world go by, followed by drinks again and dinner.

And repeat for days 3 and 4.

Other activities we indulge in include treatments at the Shambhala Spa, a snorkeling tour, and a marine life talk.

There are probably about 30 guests during the time we are there, but outside of meal times and yoga, we feel like we are the only ones.

Like elsewhere in the Maldives, the views at Sunrise and Sunset, and in fact anywhere you look, are out of this world.

The food is excellent and order the Shambhala cuisine most of the time. Service overall is very good. Especially the F&B staff. Very friendly and eager to please. Special mention to Sithin, Ramesh, and Faisal. Our yoga instructor, Anand, was a superstar who patiently guided us over 5 yoga sessions. And special thanks to Benjamin, the resort’s GM, who looked after us on our anniversary during our celebration dinner.

A lovely stay and highly recommended.