Cocoon Maldives
Lhaviyani Atoll · 30 minutes by seaplane · All inclusive
A colourful, design-led island in Lhaviyani Atoll, 30 minutes from Velana by seaplane, with 150 villas furnished by the Italian design house Lago and a long row of water villas over a shallow lagoon. It is all inclusive, children under 12 eat free, and the Lagoon Suites have their own slide into the water. The catches are a seaplane that stops in the afternoon, a reef that is a boat ride away rather than a swim, and à la carte restaurants that close two nights a week. Everything worth knowing before you decide, in one page.
- Getting there
- 30 minBy seaplane, in daylight only
- Latest you can land
- 15:30Later means a night near Malé
- House reef
- 2 of 5A sand lagoon; the reef is by boat
- Villas
- 150Eight types, beach and lagoon
- Restaurants and bars
- 5Three restaurants, two bars
- Kids' club
- Ages 3 to 11Under-12s eat free
Location and transfers
Landing after 15:30? You spend the first night near Malé. The resort can arrange that night at Joy Island, its sister island close to the airport, with an evening boat.
Send us your flight times at least a week ahead. The resort plans the seaplane around them, and late details can mean a longer wait. Seaplane luggage is 20 kg in the hold and 5 kg in the cabin per person.
Island time is one hour ahead of Malé.
The villas
| Villa | Where | Size | Sleeps, at most |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beach VillaOn the sand, with a terrace. 50 on the island. | Beach | 50 m² | 3 adults, or 2 adults and a child |
| Beach SuiteA larger beach room with wildwood furniture. | Beach | 70 m² | 3 adults and a child |
| Beach Suite with PoolThe beach suite with a private pool. | Beach | 70 m² | 3 adults and a child |
| Family Beach VillaTwo villas joined by a terrace door. | Beach | 100 m² | 6 adults, or 4 adults and 2 children |
| Lagoon VillaOver the lagoon, with steps to the water. | Over the water | 65 m² | 3 adults |
| Lagoon Suite with SlideOver the lagoon, with a slide straight into the water. | Over the water | 70 m² | 3 adults |
| Lagoon Suite with PoolFar out in the lagoon, with a private pool. The most private on the island. | Over the water | 90 m² | 3 adults |
| Cocoon SuiteTwo bedrooms, a large living room, a plunge pool and a butler. | Beach | 300 m² | 6 adults, or 4 adults and 2 children |
Pools are in the suites. The Beach Villa, Beach Suite, Lagoon Villa and Lagoon Suite with Slide have none; the pool suites and the Cocoon Suite do.
For privacy, go far out. The Lagoon Suites with Pool sit furthest into the lagoon.
Families of four or more. The Family Beach Villa and the Cocoon Suite take six. The sofa in every villa converts to a bed.
Meal plans
All inclusive covers
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner at Octopus, and afternoon tea
- Beer, house wine, sparkling wine and pouring spirits by the glass, 10:00 to midnight
- Selected cocktails and mocktails
- Soft drinks and water in the minibar, refilled daily
- Canoes, paddleboards and snorkel gear
Charged on top
- Dinner at Manta and the Japanese Garden
- Drinks after midnight, and the premium list
- In-villa dining
- Spa treatments and excursions
- Babysitting
| Plan | What it covers |
|---|---|
| All inclusive | Every meal at Octopus, afternoon tea, drinks by the glass from 10:00 to midnight, and soft drinks in the minibar |
| Extreme All Inclusive | Adds a stocked minibar with beer and wine, a daily excursion, a fifth off the spa, one romantic dinner at Manta on three nights or more, and one beach barbecue on six nights or more |
Packages add more
The packages we sell often add a spa treatment, a dinner at Manta, a local island trip and a daily snorkelling boat. Ask us what yours carries for your dates.
Restaurants and bars
| Venue | What it is | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Octopus | The main restaurant, buffets and live stations, a different theme each night including Indian | 07:30 to 10:00, 13:00 to 14:30, 19:30 to 21:30 |
| Manta | À la carte over the lagoon, candlelit at night | Lunch and dinner, closed Sunday and Thursday |
| Japanese Garden | Teppanyaki and Japanese à la carte in a garden facing the ocean | Lunch and dinner, closed Saturday and Monday |
| Kurum Bar | The sunset bar, with a barbecue lunch | 10:00 to 19:00 |
| Loabi Loabi Bar | The pool bar, with a DJ, live music and theme nights | 10:00 to midnight |
Book the à la carte
Manta and the Japanese Garden need a reservation. The dress code is island chic, and swimwear is discouraged at meals.
Indian and vegetarian food
Octopus runs an Indian night each week, and the kitchens cook to dietary needs. Tell us about vegetarian, Jain or other needs when you book and we will pass them on.
The water
Come for the lagoon, not the reef
The house reef is a seven to ten minute boat ride away, not a swim. The island sits in a shallow sand lagoon, and the villa ladders drop you onto sand rather than coral. Nurse sharks, stingrays, eagle rays and turtles still turn up under the water villas. It goes very shallow at low tide, so bring reef shoes. The lagoon is generally safe to swim in calm weather. We score the house reef 2 out of 5.
By boat
Guided snorkelling trips go out to the reef, and manta rays, reef sharks and dolphins are found around the atoll. Ask us which trips your package includes.
Children and safety
Cocoon Kids
The kids' club takes children aged three to eleven; younger children can join with a parent or babysitter, and babysitting is booked ahead. Children under 12 eat free from the kids' buffet or menu in every restaurant except in-villa dining.
On the island
On the island
A main pool, a spa, a gym and morning yoga. Room service runs round the clock, laundry is available every day, and the Cocoon Suite comes with a butler. Wi-Fi is free throughout. Drones are not allowed.
Who it suits
✓Yes
- Indian families.Under-12s eat free and there is an Indian night every week.
- Design lovers.Every villa is furnished by Lago.
- Couples who want a slide.The Lagoon Suites have one.
✕No
- Snorkellers who want a reef off the steps.The reef is by boat.
- Anyone landing after mid-afternoon.The seaplane stops after 15:30.
- Anyone who wants à la carte every night.Both à la carte restaurants close twice a week.
Things we would rather you heard from us
- The reef is a boat ride. A sand lagoon at home, guided trips for coral.
- The seaplane sets the clock. Land by 15:30, or spend a night near Malé.
- The wait can be long. One to three hours at the seaplane terminal.
- Low tide is very low. Bring reef shoes.
- Drinks stop at midnight. After that, they are charged.
Shall we price it for you?
Tell us your dates, your flight times and who is travelling, with the children's ages. We will check the seaplane both ways, match the villa to your family and price three and four nights side by side. We reply within 24 hours.