COMO Cocoa Island is a 33-suite overwater resort in the Maldives' South Malé Atoll, home to a COMO Shambhala wellness center. It suits couples and solo travelers who want daily yoga, spa care and healthy food with snorkeling off the doorstep.
What it's like
When we first wrote about this place it went by the name of its wellness brand, COMO Shambhala. The resort itself is COMO Cocoa Island, a small private island called Makunufushi in the South Malé Atoll, about 30 km south of the capital. It's run by COMO Hotels and Resorts, and its COMO Shambhala center is the heart of the wellness side of the stay.
The island has just 33 suites and villas, all over the water and reached by wooden boardwalks. Many are shaped like a dhoni, the traditional Maldivian boat, and they range from one to three bedrooms. With so few rooms, it feels calm and uncrowded.
The wellness side
COMO Shambhala here is more than a spa menu. The two-storey wellness building has an open-air yoga pavilion on top and a gym below. There's complimentary daily yoga, group and private sessions by the water, and in-room mats with meditation videos for practicing on your own time. A barefoot walking meditation on a sandbank, paired with breathwork, is one of the more memorable sessions.
A few other things set it apart:
- Pilates. A dedicated studio with reformer, Cadillac, ladder barrel and chair, including sessions aimed at posture and easing pain.
- Hydrotherapy. A hydrotherapy pool, which the resort says is one of only a few in the Maldives, plus a steam room.
- Spa treatments. Four massage pavilions, three for couples, with garden showers and tubs, offering massage, body therapies, facials and holistic treatments using natural products.
- Visiting practitioners. Seasonal programs led by guest experts, such as Japanese healing in late 2026 and osteopathy in early 2027.
- Cleanse menus. Short digestive resets built around cold-pressed juices, broths and herbal teas.
Food
There are two places to eat. Ufaa blends South Indian cooking with Asian and Mediterranean dishes, while COMO Shambhala Kitchen serves lighter, nutrition-focused food made from whole ingredients. It's easy to eat well without feeling like you're on a diet.
On the water
A house reef sits right off the island for snorkeling and diving. Kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and snorkel gear are free to use. You can also join night snorkels, dolphin cruises and trips to swim with nurse sharks in Vaavu Atoll.
Who it suits (and who it doesn't)
COMO Cocoa Island is a strong pick for couples, honeymooners and solo travelers who want a gentle wellness routine with real expertise behind it, without giving up the classic Maldives experience of overwater living and reef swims.
It's not a structured retreat center with a fixed group schedule. If you want a teacher-led, week-long group retreat with set days, look at the visiting-practitioner calendar first.
Getting there
Fly into Malé International Airport. The resort is about a 40-minute speedboat ride away, so no seaplane is needed. From August 1 to November 15, 2026, boats use the island's South Jetty while the North Jetty is upgraded.
Frequently asked questions
Is yoga included?
Yes, there's a complimentary daily yoga class, and private sessions can be booked too.
How do I get to COMO Cocoa Island?
By speedboat from Malé airport, which takes about 40 minutes.
Is there good snorkeling?
Yes. The island has its own house reef, and snorkel gear, kayaks and paddleboards are complimentary.
Does the resort run wellness programs?
Yes. Visiting practitioners lead seasonal programs, and there are short cleanse menus as well as spa and Pilates sessions. Plan your stay on the official COMO Cocoa Island website.
