Insider Access: Discover COMO, the Maldives’ Top Boutique Resort Brand for Understated Luxury
Villas shaped like fishing boats, a wellness-led philosophy and movies by starlight: this is boutique luxury in one of the most spectacular destinations on earth.
There’s luxury and then there’s COMO. The family-owned boutique resort brand takes five-star living to a new level in the Maldives with two jaw-dropping island paradises: COMO Cocoa Island and COMO Maalifushi. Known for curating outstanding hospitality experiences all over the world, the global group has exceeded all expectations amid the atolls of this island nation, offering its iconic COMO Shambhala wellness concept along with overwater villas designed by renowned ateliers, romantic dining and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, all with a backdrop of turquoise ocean and colourful coral.
The food: wellness-led cuisine & romantic beach picnics
A delicious bowl served at COMO.
Eating well is a key part of the COMO experience, and this is no different at its Maldivian outposts. The COMO Shambhala wellness approach elevates healthy cuisine from bland to brilliant, with each resort offering a unique take on local and seasonal ingredients that support the mind, body and soul. At COMO Maalifushi, chefs emphasise plant-based nutrition to offer flavour and freshness, complemented by abundant seafood and tropical produce found on surrounding islands.
Romantic private dining is on offer at COMO.
South Indian cuisine takes centre stage at COMO Cocoa Island, with light curries, sustainable seafood and salads sitting alongside morning juices and evening broths.
For truly unforgettable culinary experiences, both boutique resorts offer exceptional private dining options, with picnics on uninhabited islands, candlelit dinners on deserted beaches or multi-course feasts in the privacy of your villa.
The experiences: dolphin spotting, sunset cruises & starlit movies
There are endless ways to enjoy the ocean in the Maldives.
Swim with whale sharks, snorkel alongside turtles or paddle your way through the turquoise lagoon: the ocean is your playground when you stay at a COMO resort in the Maldives.
At COMO Maalifushi, watch dolphins migrate through the atoll with a glass of champagne in hand, or wait for the sun to set to snorkel alongside the majestic whale shark. Cast away with the entire family with a picnic hamper, or join the in-house marine biologist for an in-depth exploration of the coral reef. Dial up the romance with a Dhoni cruise, admiring the sunset from the water with a drink in hand and a loved one by your side.
At COMO Cocoa Island, charter a private yacht to explore more of the reef, or snorkel with whitetip and blacktip reef sharks just 15 minutes from the resort. Brush up on your culinary skills with a private cooking class, before settling in for an open-air screening of your favourite movie under starlight. Finish a day of rest and relaxation with dinner on a private sandbank, butler included, or savour a selection of oysters at sunset while lounging on beanbags.
Our water villa with pool was exceptional. The linen was top quality, the pillows and duvet sublime.
The service in every area of the resort was fantastic.
Rooms were made up early in the morning whilst we were at breakfats, so when we returne, the villa was perfec again.
We had WhatsApp access to our own Butler (the amazing Anas) and he was permanently available and responded within minutes to all requests – please may we have ice for drinks (average time for ice to appear – 8 minutes), please send a buggy to take us to dinner (10-12 minutes), please book our complementary massage – done!
Asan popped up at breakfast and dinner daily (and at other times0 just to check in with us.
All the staff were super friendly, every time one walked / cycled past, one would be greeted with a cheery 'good morning', 'hello', 'how was your dive….'
Resort massages are generally not great – these were superb.
The food was excellent – beautifully cooked yellow fin tuna, fabulous theme evenings, a sensational Japanese restaurant. We had a wonderful waiter, Niall, who gave great suggestions and was, as was everyone, charming.
The Manager, Sobah, was always around, and charming, from our first welcome drinks evening through to our farewell. He was extremely knowledgeable and was available but never intrusive.
The level of training of the staff was exceptional, service was seamless, and everyone was just so LOVELY!
I have had many island holidays in my life, nothing compares, or even comes close to this. I am already planning my return.
Thank you, Como Maalifushi and Luxury Escapes for a truly fabulous experience..
10.0
Bradley F.1 escape · 1 review
Everything at COMO Maalifushi was simply perfect and exceeded our expectations for our honeymoon getaway. The food, service, bungalows, amenities and selection of activities were second to none. We have both left here with our cups full of goodness, and had a really enjoyable time in the process. Special mention to Nasiba, who did an amazing job looking after us during our stay and made it extra special 🙂
If you are looking for a secluded and remote slice of paradise outside of the hustle and bustle of the commercial resorts closer to Male, make sure you consider the short, scenic seaplane ride to COMO Maalifushi for peace, quite and a top tier resort.
10.0
Kevin R.35 escapes · 3 reviews
Doesn't get any better than this!
10.0
Nerissa L.AU · 2 escapes · 1 review
The food was outstanding and the service was impeccable. The water was teeming with marine life and the villa was very luxurious. Highly recommend and we cannot wait to return!
8.0
Colin S.1 escape · 1 review
There were a lot of very good things about this resort, but one disappointing thing.
First, the positives:
1. The over-water villas are really excellent. We've stayed at 7 other resorts in the Maldives before and these were possibly the best best we've stayed in.
2. Wonderful early morning Yoga provided in the spa.
3. An excellent buffet breakfast
4. Good evening meals from the a la carte menu. Every other day you can sign up for a special meal for a surcharge. We had a really great Chinese New Year buffet.
5. The staff were all really friendly and helpful.
6. The sea-plane transfer was good.
The negative is that the house reef is really quite poor. The house reef and marine life at all the other places we've stayed at were significantly better. The main reason why we go to the Maldives is for the snorkelling so, for us, the resort was disappointing.
If you are not interested in snorkelling and sea-life and want a nice place to stay for a reasonable cost, this might work for you.
The villas: overwater havens & extravagant residences
Overwater villas in the Maldives.
Tick off a bucket-list adventure at the COMO resorts in the Maldives, where you can spend your days diving into a crystal-clear lagoon from the jetty of your overwater villa, or take in sensational sunrises from your beach suite, complete with private pool and direct beach access.
Embrace every element of local Maldivian culture at COMO Cocoa Island, where just 33 overwater suites and villas pay tribute to the gently curved Dhoni fishing boat in design, docked at a wooden boardwalk over the lagoon. Soak up the sunshine from your private sundeck, before slipping into your private pool or the lagoon to cool off.
Escape with friends or family to COMO Maalifushi, where the four-bedroom residence combines endless ocean views with contemporary living spaces.
Wellness: yoga by the lagoon & overwater spa serenity
The beach at COMO Maalifushi.
With such a globally respected concept, there’s no doubting the wellness credentials of these remarkable resorts. Work through your sun salutations in an open-air pavilion at COMO Maalifushi, or indulge in an exclusive hydrotherapy treatment at COMO Cocoa Island – it’s one of the few resorts in the Maldives that offer this therapy.
Relaxing comes easy in an environment as beautiful as COMO Maalifushi’s overwater treatment rooms – let the sounds of the ocean below lull you into serenity as the qualified therapists take you through a wellness immersion, including over two hours of treatments.
Bathing at COMO Cocoa Island.
At COMO Cocoa Island, enjoy complete privacy with a COMO Shambhala bath or deep-tissue massage, or stretch out with daily yoga sessions overlooking lush foliage and the lagoon beyond.
The extensive program of wellness activities is complemented by menus that celebrate vibrant local ingredients, prepared simply to retain as much nutritional value as possible. COMO Shambhala cuisine menus are available at Madi at COMO Maalifushi and Ufaa at COMO Cocoa Island.
COMO Maalifushi and COMO Cocoa Island are part of the new Ultra Lux collection. Discover more here.
The resort is conveniently located a 40 minute boat ride from Male airport. I prefer that because it avoids frequent waiting times at the water plane airport.
The resort is small (30ish water villas) and its focus is on serenity and a very personal customer experience. They only have one restaurant and one bar, both of which are excellent. The bar is the best I know in the Maldives (have visited 15 or so different resorts over the years). The whole resort has very experienced and capable service staff – the level of competence (e.g. mixologist, sommelier, waiters) is outstanding in the Maldives. Staff churn is very low.
The house reef is great for snorkelling and the resort‘s location provides 15-minute boat ride access to some great dive sites, with a focus on channel dives. Most sites have strong currents and are catered to more experienced divers. Lots of pelagic fauna. They offer three separate dives a day (8.30, 10.30, 14.30) which is very convenient for jet-lagged travellers.
Rooms are relatively small for the otherwise top notch resort standards, but we can easily live with 60+ sqm. Water villas offer direct reef access for snorkelling. Reef quality is very good.
I highly recommend this resort for people looking for a high end personal service and a quite and private holiday experience. I would recommending changing resort after 5 or 6 days though, as the dining and also the scuba diving experiences start to repeat after that.
10.0
Eiloj
Setting.
My 6th time in Maldives and 4th time at extraordinary Como Cocoa
Explore.
We took boat trips to go fishing, look for dolphins, swim with sharks, rays and turtles. But why leave? there is no shortage of marine life at the many reefs surrounding Cocoa island
Rooms.
All rooms have floor to ceiling glass facing an outdoor deck. We were in 818 and 820, both airy refuges from reality. There is a robust program of daily activities but we also spent a lot of time chilling in our own rooms
@ the hotel.
Small, 30+ rooms, all designed so you can go straight in the water anytime you want . With a picture perfect scenery, every walk out of the room was a surreal experience. The hotel has an awe inspiring open air yoga pavilion, a great spa and pool areas. But nothing else beats the heartfelt service, and revisiting the corals we plant over 10 years ago
Food & drinks.
All the meals were great but my favourites were the seafood bbq & yakiniku nights
Rating. 5/5
10.0
Carlena D.
There are luxury resorts, and then there is COMO Cocoa Island. A place so breathtakingly beautiful and thoughtfully run that it almost feels unreal. From the moment we arrived, the entire experience carried this effortless sense of calm, warmth, and understated luxury that instantly made us feel completely at peace.
The water was impossibly clear. The villas looked like something out of a dream. The Maldivian sea life came to life from all the books and photos you see throughout your life. Every corner of the island felt serene, intimate, and perfectly curated.
But what truly made this trip unforgettable was the people.
Muru, our butler, was nothing short of extraordinary. He somehow anticipated every need before we even had to ask. Every detail was handled flawlessly and with genuine care. From coordinating activities to thoughtful touches throughout our stay, he made us feel incredibly special without anything ever feeling forced or overly formal. Muru turned an amazing vacation into a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Shimi deserves an enormous shout out as well. Windsurf instructor, adventure guide, nurse shark expert, and all-around fantastic human. Whether he was patiently helping us on the water, guiding us through unforgettable nurse shark encounters, or leading an incredible night fishing expedition under the stars (and even enjoying our catches the next day—prepared by the resort’s talented team of chefs), he brought so much energy, humor, and passion to every experience. Every outing with him became a highlight of the trip.
Ali made snorkeling around the island feel magical. His knowledge of the reef and marine life was incredible, and he always seemed to know exactly where to find something spectacular. He made every snorkeling trip feel safe, exciting, and personal, and his enthusiasm was contagious.
Dileep walked us through a personalized cooking class (set in the heart of the restaurant!) where we learned the versatility and tastes of South Indian curry. We had a blast working alongside him and later getting to enjoy our meal! In fact, every meal we had was fantastic. COMO emphasizes health, fresh, quality ingredients, and this resort was no different. Awesome!
And then there were Hindra and Yuka, who completely elevated our evenings. These two created such a fun and lively atmosphere at the bar every night. The cocktails were fantastic, but their personalities made the experience unforgettable. Warm, engaging, funny, and genuinely welcoming, they turned casual evenings into some of our favorite memories from the trip.
Arta, the Resort Manager, made a point to introduce herself, check in with us periodically, and she was beyond warm, welcoming, and incredibly knowledgeable and professional. She was an absolute delight with every interaction!
What impressed us most about COMO Cocoa Island was the extraordinary attention to detail and the sincerity of the hospitality. Every staff member, from the marine center to the spa, house and groundskeeping, seemed deeply invested in making our stay meaningful and memorable. Nothing felt transactional. Everything felt personal.
This was not simply a beautiful vacation. It was the kind of experience that stays with you long after you leave. The kind that resets your soul and reminds you what true hospitality feels like.
Five stars honestly do not feel high enough.
COMO Cocoa Island gave us memories we will treasure forever. Thank you!!!
10.0
Nohl M.
SECOND VISIT REVIEW: COMO Cocoa Island is one of those rare places that quietly becomes part of you. It’s intimate, peaceful, and deeply personal in a way that’s hard to find.
The ease starts immediately with the short speedboat transfer from Malé, and continues throughout the stay. The team is exceptional—Binoy, in particular, stood out, remembering details from our visit over a year ago. That kind of care defines the experience here.
The overwater villas are beautifully understated, many inspired by traditional dhoni boats, and the lagoon is stunning—especially in the evening when everything softens and slows. With just over 30 villas, it never feels crowded, and that sense of space is clearly intentional.
The outdoor showers are one of those quiet luxuries—we found ourselves using them almost exclusively. Completely private, warm, and open to the air, it’s the kind of detail you end up missing long after you leave. (note ensure you book for villa types with outdoor shower)
The house reef is a highlight. You can step straight into the water from your villa, and the marine life is incredible. We even saw octopus mating—twice. The reef continues to improve with active coral regeneration, and the complimentary talks with the marine biologist add a deeper layer to the experience.
Food is thoughtful and consistently excellent, with a diverse menu that works especially well for plant-based dining. Federico, the Italian head chef, brings a warm, personal touch. The COMO Shambhala wellness program is another standout—flexible, not overbooked, and genuinely restorative.
There’s a reason so many guests return again and again. It’s not about being busy or showy—it’s about finding a rhythm, in and out of the water, and settling into it.
Again thanks to Aarta, Wisam Hinta, Federico, Binoy!, and each and everyone…oh and Ismael, the older gentleman keeping our rooms so tidy…everyone is a gem – happy and authentically welcoming.
FIRST VISIT 14 months earlier approx:
A True Maldivian Gem – Serene, Luxurious, Unforgettable
COMO Cocoa Island exceeded every expectation. From the short, scenic boat ride from Malé airport to the moment we stepped into our overwater villa, everything was flawless. The serenity, the service, the design—it’s luxury that whispers, never shouts.
The food is phenomenal. The chefs are passionate and creative, offering everything from health-focused Shambhala dishes (like açai bowls and plant-based meals) to Michelin-worthy tasting menus. Every meal was a delight, especially under the stars or watching the sunset from the covered outdoor dining area.
The house reef is among the best in the Maldives—vibrant and alive. We’ve visited many luxury resorts over the years, and the snorkel gear here is by far the best we’ve used. Every detail is top-tier: linens, towels, spa, yoga, hydrotherapy pool, and even the transfers. The staff—especially our butler Binoy—were warm, professional, and intuitive.
COMO Cocoa Island offers a unique blend of privacy and community. Many guests are return visitors (we even witnessed a beautiful birthday celebration with international guests), which says a lot. And special thanks to the incredible medical team on-site who helped us with care and grace.
If you're a discerning traveler seeking peace, wellness, and natural beauty—this is the Maldives resort to choose. We’re already planning our return.
