Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu
A private island in the Maldives' only UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
An island resort on Baa
Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu occupies a private island in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, about 118 km from Velana International Airport and 30 minutes by seaplane. The setting is the main reason to come: a house reef on the sunrise side, a seagrass lagoon with resident turtles, and on-island access to the Maldives' first veterinary-run marine turtle rescue centre. The resort runs 98 villas in total — 84 on land and 14 overwater — ranging from garden-facing beach villas to overwater categories with private plunge pools. Three restaurants, two bars, Coco Spa, a fitness centre, and an on-site PADI dive centre round out the facilities.
Is this stay right for you?
A four-star private-island resort with a strong marine focus, barefoot-luxury character, and villa prices starting above $1,150 per night.
Best for
- Divers and snorkellers drawn to Baa Atoll's reef system
- Couples wanting overwater or pool villas
- Turtle and marine conservation enthusiasts
- Families needing extra sleeping capacity
Less suited to
- Budget-conscious travellers
- Those with very heavy luggage (seaplane 20 kg limit per person)
- Travellers who need to arrive at night (seaplane runs daylight hours only)
Baa Atoll's reef and lagoon
The house reef runs along the sunrise side of the island. On the lagoon side, seagrass beds support a growing turtle population that guests can snorkel with. Both sit directly off the resort's beachfront, reachable without a boat trip.
Turtle rescue centre on the island
The Olive Ridley Project Marine Turtle Rescue Centre — the first veterinary-run facility of its kind in the Maldives — is on the island. Guests can visit, watch feeding sessions, and join volunteer programmes.
Villas: land, lagoon, and overwater
The 98 villas split across 84 land-based and 14 water villas. Top categories include the overwater Sunset Lagoon Villa with a plunge pool at 154 sqm. All villa types are standalone, each with a private patio or balcony.
Coco Dive — on-site PADI centre
Coco Dive Dhuni Kolhu is a full PADI dive centre on the property, listed independently on padi.com. Diving and a dedicated 'Dream Dive' experience category are available directly from the resort.
Three restaurants, two bars
Cowrie is the resort's largest restaurant — an open-air buffet pavilion with an international menu. Cornus covers Asian cuisine. In-Villa Dining runs a room-service menu. The Beach Bar handles sundowners on the sand, and Conch Bar offers a second drinks option.
The barefoot-luxury character
The resort's own design language is described as rustic-elegant. Sand underfoot rather than polished surfaces, and open-air dining rather than glass-enclosed rooms. The style fits the atoll setting without attempting to fight it.
Rooms & suites
Beach Villa
87 m²
- Garden view
- Landmark view
- Air conditioning
- Patio
- Attached bathroom
Sunset Beach Villa
87 m² · sleeps 2 · 1 queen bed
- Entire villa
- Garden view
- Landmark view
- Air conditioning
- Patio
Deluxe Villa
87 m² · sleeps 2 · 1 queen bed
- Entire villa
- Private pool
- Garden view
- Pool view
- Landmark view
Deluxe Pool Villa
87 m² · sleeps 2 · Bedroom 1: 1 queen bed Living room: 1 sofa bed
- Entire villa
- Private pool
- Garden view
- Landmark view
- Air conditioning
Lagoon Villa
87 m² · sleeps 2 · 1 queen bed
- Entire villa
- Private pool
- Balcony
- Sea view
- Pool view
Inside Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu
Amenities at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu
Most popular facilities
- Airport shuttle
- Spa and wellness center
- Fitness center
- 3 restaurants
- Room service
- Beachfront
- Tea/Coffee Maker in All Rooms
- Bar
Great for your stay
- 3 restaurants
- Private bathroom
- Air conditioning
- Spa and wellness center
- View
- Terrace
- Free Wifi
- BBQ facilities
Bathroom
- Toilet paper
- Towels
- Bath or shower
- Private bathroom
- Toilet
- Free toiletries
- Bathrobe
- Shower
Bedroom
- Linens
- Wardrobe or closet
View
- Landmark view
- View
Outdoors
- Picnic area
- Outdoor furniture
- Beachfront
- Sun deck
- Private beach area
- BBQ facilities Additional charge
- Patio
- Terrace
Arriving
Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu is reached by seaplane from Velana International Airport in Malé, a flight of approximately 30 minutes covering around 118 km to Baa Atoll. Seaplanes run during daylight hours only, carry a surcharge, and have a 20 kg per-person luggage allowance. Plan arrival and departure times around these constraints.
Seaplane transfers typically run $250–600 per person round trip, booked through the property. A few islands in this band are also served by a domestic flight to a nearby regional airport plus a short boat — ask the property which routing is faster for your dates.
Across 769 Google reviews, Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu holds a 4.7/5 rating. The location within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve draws consistent recognition, and the property has received award citations from Condé Nast, TripAdvisor, and World Travel Awards. Recent guests rate the location particularly highly.
Reviews scoring 9–10: 25 · average 9.8
They wrote about: staff, breakfast, room
Reviews scoring 7–9: 2 · average 8
They wrote about: breakfast, comfort, location
Reviews scoring 5–7: 2 · average 6
They wrote about: staff, bathroom, noise
Reviews scoring Under 5: 1 · average 4
They wrote about: staff, cleanliness, room
No reviews in the selected score range.
Guest reviews summarised from Booking site partners.
Worth knowing
House rules
- Check-in
From 2:00 PM
Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card at check-in.
You need to let the property know what time you'll be arriving in advance.
- Check-out
Until 12:00 PM
- Cancellation/ prepayment
Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodation type. Enter your stay dates and check the conditions of your selected option.
- Pets
Pets are not allowed.
- Accepted payment methods
Cash
As published by the booking provider · always reconfirm with the property
Questions & answers
How do I get to Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu from the airport?
The transfer is by seaplane from Velana International Airport in Malé. The flight takes approximately 30 minutes and covers around 118 km. Seaplanes operate during daylight hours only, and there is a surcharge for this transfer.
Is there a luggage limit on the seaplane?
Yes. The seaplane operates a 20 kg per-person luggage limit. Plan accordingly, especially if you are travelling with dive or camera equipment.
What villa types are available?
The resort has 98 villas in total: 84 land-based and 14 overwater. Land categories include the Sunset Beach Villa, Deluxe Villa, and Deluxe Pool Villa. Overwater options include the Lagoon Villa and the larger Sunset Lagoon Villa with a plunge pool at 154 sqm.
Which villas have private pools?
The Deluxe Villa, Deluxe Pool Villa, Lagoon Villa, and Sunset Lagoon Villa with Plunge Pool all include a private pool. The Sunset Beach Villa does not have a private pool.
Is there on-site diving?
Yes. Coco Dive Dhuni Kolhu is an on-site PADI dive centre. It runs dives in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and lists a 'Dream Dive' experience category. It appears separately on padi.com.
Can I snorkel directly from the resort?
There is a house reef on the sunrise side and a seagrass lagoon on the other side of the island. The seagrass beds have a resident turtle population. Both are accessible from the beachfront without needing a boat excursion.
What is the turtle rescue centre?
The Olive Ridley Project Marine Turtle Rescue Centre on the island is the first veterinary-run turtle rescue facility in the Maldives. Guests can visit, watch turtle feedings, and participate in volunteer activities.
What restaurants does the resort have?
Three dining options: Cowrie (open-air international buffet, the largest on-property), Cornus (Asian cuisine), and In-Villa Dining. The Beach Bar and Conch Bar handle drinks, with the Beach Bar positioned on the beachfront.
Is the resort suitable for families?
Family rooms are listed among the facilities. The Deluxe Pool Villa sleeps up to 3 with a sofa bed alongside the main double. The resort also has a fold-up bed option listed in room amenities.
What is the best time of year to visit Baa Atoll?
Baa Atoll is known for manta ray aggregations, typically between May and November. For the calmest seas and reliable seaplane conditions, the dry season from November to April is generally preferred by most visitors.
What does a stay here cost?
Villa prices start at approximately $1,153 per night for the Sunset Beach Villa and rise to around $1,499 per night for the Lagoon Villa. These are per-night rates and do not include the seaplane transfer surcharge.
Is there a spa and fitness centre?
Yes. Coco Spa is on the property, alongside a fitness centre. The spa is listed among the resort's primary facilities, though specific treatment menus are not detailed in the information available to us.