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Between the mangrove and blossoming frangipani trees is a sandy pathway covered with hibiscus flowers that change from yellow to red when they fall to the ground in the evening. We walk along the perimeter of the island shuffling our feet in the water. There are black crows that circle the island overseeing their land while the water hens, herons, and gannet keep watch of shore. Wooden swings and hammocks hang on trees, and huts with lounge chairs are scattered all over the island – each one feeling like you’ve Christopher Columbused a secret chill-out zone.

The Maldives are a place I have always wanted to visit but never thought I actually would… kind of like Mars. My husband, Dominic, stealthy booked a trip for us as a belated honeymoon and much needed break.

It’s 9am when we arrive in Male, the capital of the Maldives. I yank off the Uggs that had not left my feet for the past four months and rummage through my bag for my cherished flip-flops. As I place them on my feet, I feel like Cinderella in her glass slippers. I am in a state of wonderment as we whiz away from the dock on the 40-minute speedboat ride to Cocoa Island – it’s warm and wide open with gradients of blue as far as the eye can see. We are welcomed to our resort, Como Shambhala, with coconut juice (in the actual coconut) and a refreshing towelette. Our hostess, Widi, receives us as if we are old friends.

We are seated for breakfast at a table in the sand with a 360-view of paradise. Those legendary Indian Ocean waters are indeed turquoise. The sand is somewhere between sugar and flour in both color and consistency. The temperature is ideal at 30 C. And the flourishing foliage looks like a Garden of Eden. The island is so teeny you could hold it in your hand. The frost of life in London melts away as we play with the sand underneath our feet.

The accommodations on Cocoa Island are oh-so much more than ‘rooms’. There are just 30 secluded villas on the island, each one resting on stilts over the translucent water. The island is close to full occupancy most of the year.

The One-Bedroom Villa:
The bed is mounted on a platform of Japanese tatami mats with a beautiful rustic tapestry hung on the wall behind it. The long deck extends out to the most spectacular stretch on the island. Perfection.

The COMO Villa (aka: The P.Diddy Villa):
Fit for a Balinese king, infused with modern elegance, and glamorous enough even for Sean ‘Puffy’ Combs. Dominic and I do a stupid dance of joy on all three tiers of the deck in celebration of our palace perched at the edge of the earth.

It feels as if every fluffy white towel, every outdoor shower, and every ginger mojito is here as naturally as the warm breeze. Stillness and seclusion are ubiquitous. Although the island is only 500 paces long by 80 wide and all the rooms are occupied, we often feel like the only guests here. The service and staff on the island effuses a graceful island vibe without a trace of pretension.

The Ufaa Restaurant sprawls out underneath an alang-alang pavilion the open sky, and around the shimmering infinity pool – it’s like dining in an outdoor planetarium. The Casablanca-esque bar, Faru, is adjacent, and inspires smoking cigars and drinking something out of a snifter while wearing a tipped Panama hat. The food is fresh and flavorful, as they use locally-grown produce and seafood, seasoned with Indian and Sri Lankan spices. We snorkel in the shallow part of the reef where we see angelfish, pufferfish, triggerfish, sting rays, baby sharks, and even a looming manta ray. Snorkel gear is complimentary. So is a daily yoga class, which is held in open-air yoga studio with the still sea on one side and a sandy courtyard on the other.

The next day we return to the spa for the Como Shambhala massage given in a private glass hut at the water’s edge. Unobtrusive yoga-like music plays, and the room permeates the resort’s signature scent – a blend of eucalyptus, geranium, lavender and peppermint. The hydrotherapy pool is a must. It is encased in a stunning wooden pavilion with lush green plants woven throughout.

During our stay I noticed that there only seemed to be couples visiting Cocoa Island, and by the end of our honeymoon, I realized exactly why – they are here because they want to just be together in peace. Couples come here to rejuvenate, recharge, and reconnect. They have come here to press the reset button on their lives and, perhaps, their relationship. Cocoa is a retreat. A place to just be ¬. Next time we come to Cocoa Island, and there will be a next time, I know all I need to bring are my bathing suit, a few gauzy dresses, and sunscreen – everything else is provided.