Cocoa Island

Eating

At the restaurant, Ufaa, you sit beneath a thatched pavilion of alang alang grass on large sofas swamped with soft cushions - perfect for lazy lounging. There’s no fussy formality here and the emphasis in all the communal areas is on the sheer natural beauty of the place - even the toilets look out to sea, cleverly hidden behind green bushes.

Breakfast is fabulous – a buffet of the freshest fruit, the sweetest pastries and the healthiest juices. You also have the choice of an ever-changing list of freshly cooked dishes. There is also an ever-changing list of freshly cooked dishes: not just bacon and eggs, but more adventurous creations such as smoked salmon on brioche with lemon-infused ricotta and banana pancakes with walnuts and a blueberry coulis.

In the evening, gaze out over reddening seas while browsing a varied dinner menu of seafood and tandoori. The energetic Australian chef combines Indian, Sri Lankan and Thai styles, going light on spice and heavy on local produce, and the results are colouful and tasty, and on a par with top restaurants in cities across the world. There is a high percentage of vegetarian dishes on all menus such as tandoor aubergine with organic brown rice pilaf. Don't be surprised if, during a two-week stay, you see some repetition: there's a limit to what you can ship in. But there's an impressive wine list to match the food, plus some excellent energising juices. For those of you travelling with babies, you'll be pleased to hear that freshly prepared purees and mini meals are available for the globetrotting tot.

Unless you have a vast appetite, the full board option is too much - we didn’t think it was possible to eat so much in one day - half board is definitely enough. Those with a smaller appetite should stick to a la carte; the prices are quite reasonable, given the location and the quality.

If you want to come back from Cocoa Island a few pounds lighter (and I'm not referring to your wallet), choose the healthy COMO Shambhala-inspired items on the menu: even their egg-white omelette tastes divine.

You can, of course, arrange for breakfast on your sundeck, or dinner in a private location on the beach.