Located just 1.6 km/1 mi. off the southern tip of Guam, Cocos Island is an uninhabited getaway for residents and visitors alike. The island is 1,600 meters long but only between 200-300 meters wide. Transportation by ferry is available from Merizo Pier to Cocos Island Resort for $40 per adult and $20 per child. Residents should ask for the local rate and pay only $25 per adult. Admission includes a very basic cafeteria style lunch of salad, noodles, meat, and tea or water. Luxury dining, it ain’t.
Cocos Island Resort is a day resort with a pool, volleyball court, cafe, ice cream parlor, restaurant and bar, and water sports equipment rentals. Visitors to the resort can snorkel, dive, kayak, dolphin watch, parasail, jet ski and bike. Prices for activities range from $15 for a mini jungle tour to $100 for two adults to parasail.
The resort sells day packages that include meals and extras such as entry to SandCastle dinner show, Mandara Spa, and a beachside BBQ at Fiesta Resort. All the water activities available on Cocos Island are also available on Guam’s mainland, but bird lovers will enjoy simply sunbathing under the trees on the north facing beach. There are far more birds on Cocos Island than on Guam’s mainland.
The “resort” is less of a resort and more of a remote beach — there are no rooms or overnight stays — minus any luxury amenities. Activities can be purchased and scheduled upon arrival. The resort operates like an amusement park on a ticket basis — meaning you can’t buy anything around the island with cash. Cocos Island Resort charges for everything, even towels must be rented for $3 each and beach chairs will set you back $10-20. Residents would do well to bring their own towels, snacks, snorkel gear, and floats which could save a family of four around $100.
Comments 14
August 31, 2014 at 10:15 pm
I feel like it could be SO much more! Can we make it a campground? I would LOVE to bring my tent and camp there. Can you imagine the stars!
September 1, 2014 at 10:13 am
All you have to do is join the Boy Scouts of Guam because they were camping on Cocos Island when I was there! You might contact them to see how they got permission for that. It would be beautiful!
September 13, 2014 at 9:11 pm
Cocos Island is a favorite place of mine to go to. although is very different from the way it was in the 1980’s when there are 1500 or more tourists each day, there were cottages you could stay overnight, and beaches were more untouched and natural. Marine pollution has reduced the live coral and fish you can see if you are snorkeling. In that period, Thirty years ago, on a trip away from Guam, I met a New Zealander who had been there and he described it as a piece of “heaven on earth”. I felt very proud being from Guam. Cocos island is still a beautiful place. Last time I was there, I found a hammock between two trees, and enjoyed a nap. The wildlife is wonderful, with many more birds visible than anywhere on Guam.
November 5, 2014 at 7:31 pm
That sounds awesome. I would love to stay there overnight. Too bad they haven’t redeveloped that industry.
January 15, 2017 at 6:45 pm
I have never actually heard of Cocos Island until I read your blog post about it. Your photos are stunning! The activities sound like so much fun and it sounds like a lovely place to visit! Thanks for sharing!!
January 15, 2017 at 8:29 pm
Your pictures of Cocos Island are so colourful. A real paradise island by the looks of things. My dad was a merchant seaman and used to tell me stories about the pacific islands – Guam and New Caledonia, were his favourites; we’re Scottish and New Caledonia is ‘New Scotland’. He told me that his ship had to drop anchor at New Caledonia (back in the 1950’s) because a big storm was forecast. The crew were allowed on land and my dad couldn’t believe that the locals spoke French in New Scotland. He loved it though; Guam too.
January 15, 2017 at 10:44 pm
As always, love your pics. The beach looks pristine. And the views are just amazing. Sounds like a perfect destination to unwind.
January 16, 2017 at 9:48 am
Cocos Island looks like a beautiful place! It must be an amazing spot to bird watch. I guess once I’ve been to all the US states, I’ll need to visit all the territories and finally visit Guam.
January 16, 2017 at 1:34 pm
Cocos Island looks like paradise! We were just in the Belize Cayes over the holidays and it reminds me of Caye Caulker. Would love to visit Guam one day, just wish it were closer to home!
January 16, 2017 at 5:31 pm
Wow those photos are superb. I can almost hear the crystal clear water lapping at the shore. I would love to go kayaking there.
January 17, 2017 at 5:51 am
Looks like an amazing place to visit. Thanks for the tip on the additional costs. I don’t usually do resort style things so this cost would have caught me out!
January 17, 2017 at 4:13 pm
It looks like paradise to me- I love the idea of the water sports – especially the paragliding and the jungle looks quite dense and great to go exploring in. Thanks for. the tips bout bringing your own towels and lunch! Always good to save a bit of money!
January 1, 2018 at 12:53 pm
The indigenous name of the island is Dåno’.
December 12, 2018 at 6:19 pm
Im gonna leave a honest no sugar coated review….the place is completely ruin down and away below expectations like much of guam. Its potential is there but guam doesnt bother to make it what it could be. Examples of it being run down the sign for coco island isnt even in tack most the letters have fallen off. The pool is broken and unuseable. They have a dun buggy ride that the pics look cool but when your actual dun buggy shows up its a rusted death trap that looks like its gonna fall apart the moment you start moving i feared putting my family in them. The package includes a meal when you visit which looks like your old elementary school cafeteria lady made which isnt even fair to say about her because she was actually proply a better cook then them. The food saftey score they got was a C. The extra drinks like water and soda and snacks are way over priced you would think you were at Disneyland or something looking at the prices. The only positive thing i think i could say about the whole experience is that it was the best parasailing locations on island. If your only going for the beach then stay way from the run down tourist trap there are better beachs on the island of guam and this place is just not worth your money you will be disappointed