Cocobay Resort (Antigua)
Cocobay Resort is Antigua's answer to the question of what a romantic resort looks like when it puts views, silence and intimacy ahead of everything else. Its 65 colorful wooden cottages step down 10 hillside acres on the southwest coast above Ffryes Bay, and the resort sits directly on two beaches, Valley Church and Little Ffryes. The west-facing position delivers sunsets that come up in nearly every review, and there are no TVs in the cottages on purpose. It is adults only, 18 and over, deeply quiet, and built for people who want to disconnect.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Staggering sunset views from the hillside cottages - the west-facing slope over Ffryes Bay is one of the best vantage points on Antigua, and the private verandah on every cottage makes the most of it
- +Truly boutique scale with 65 cottages spread over 10 hillside acres, so it never feels crowded and staff get to know guests by name within a day or two
- +No buffet anywhere - Rafters, the main restaurant, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner a la carte, and guests feel like they are eating at a proper restaurant rather than queuing at a line
- +Sits directly on two beaches, Valley Church and Little Ffryes, with calm, clear water, and Jolly, Big Ffryes, Darkwood and Turner's beaches are all a short taxi ride away
- +Four pools for a small guest count: the Main Pool by Rafters Bar, the infinity-edge Sunset Pool above Little Ffryes, and the Romance and Black Rock plunge pools at The Cliffside
- +Kayaks, snorkel gear, stand-up paddleboards, guided nature walks, yoga and fitness sessions are all in the all-inclusive rate
- +Adults only (18+) with no TVs in the cottages by design, which makes it genuinely quiet and romantic rather than just marketed that way
- +Staff earn the most consistent praise in reviews - warm, attentive and personal in a way that larger resorts struggle to match
Cons
- −The hillside layout means a lot of steep steps between cottages, restaurant and beach, and some paths are poorly lit at night - a real issue for anyone with mobility concerns
- −Quiet evenings by design: Rafters has live music five or six nights a week, but there are no shows, and the Sunset bar shuts at 6:30pm with the Main Bar closing around 11pm
- −Sheer Rocks, the much-photographed cliff restaurant on the property, is an independent business and is not included in the rate, which surprises guests who assume it is part of the package
- −The Cliffside restaurant and its plunge-pool deck are reserved for top-tier Starfish guests, with priority for Silver Sand guests, so entry-level Sea Breeze bookings may not get in
- −No TVs in the rooms, which some guests find frustrating on rainy days or late evenings
- −Valley Church Beach is a public beach that draws day-trippers on busy afternoons
- −Priced for the views and atmosphere rather than the facility list - the dining, bars and fitness setup are compact for what a night costs
The cottages come in three levels: Sea Breeze garden and partial-view cottages, Silver Sand cottages and suites with private plunge pools and ocean views, and Starfish oceanfront pool suites. Rafters is the main restaurant and serves every meal a la carte with no buffet, backed by the Sandy Ground beach bar for drinks and paninis and the Cocoa Coffee Cafe. The Cliffside restaurant and its Romance and Black Rock plunge pools are reserved for Starfish guests, with priority for Silver Sand, while everyone shares the Main Pool and the infinity-edge Sunset Pool. Sheer Rocks, the cliff restaurant on the grounds, is run independently and is not included. Kayaks, snorkel gear, paddleboards, yoga, nature walks and fitness sessions are in the rate; Hobie Cat sails cost extra.
Cocobay is most rewarding for honeymooners, anniversary couples and anyone planning a trip around romance, rest and scenery. If you need a big gym, a packed activity calendar or late-night entertainment, look elsewhere, and if stairs are a problem, think carefully before booking. Compare it to Curtain Bluff or Hermitage Bay for its tier: a similar intimate proposition at a more accessible price. The resort is about 45 minutes from V.C. Bird International Airport and 25 minutes from St. John's, with English Harbour and Nelson's Dockyard within reach by taxi.
Common Questions
Is Cocobay a good choice for a honeymoon?
How do you get from the cottages to the beach?
Is the all-inclusive dining buffet or a la carte?
Which cottage level should I book?
Are there TVs in the rooms, and what do you do when it rains?
What watersports and snorkeling are included?
Restaurants (3)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Mediterranean & Spanish | Sheer Rocks Restaurant (extra charge) |
| Caribbean & local | Rafters Restaurant & Bar, Cliffside Restaurant (extra charge) |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. Venues marked "extra charge" are not covered by the all-inclusive rate; the others are, per the resort.
What's nearby
Shirley Heights35 min drive · 17 mi
Devil's Bridge40 min drive · 19 mi
Darkwood Beach4 min drive · 1.2 mi
30 min drive · 15 mi
Galleon Beach30 min drive · 16 mi
Jolly Harbour Marina6 min drive · 1.8 mi
More things to do (24)
- Long Bay Beach · beach30 min drive · 19 mi
- Ffryes Beach · beach10 min walk · 0.5 mi
- Stingray City snorkel trip · excursion30 min drive · 16 mi
- Deep Bay Beach · beach25 min drive · 10 mi
- Turners Beach · beach5 min drive · 2.1 mi
- Jolly Beach · beach7 min drive · 2.0 mi
- St. John's · town13 min drive · 6.9 mi
- St. John's Cathedral · historic site13 min drive · 7.3 mi
- Museum of Antigua and Barbuda · museum13 min drive · 7.1 mi
- Government House Museum · museum13 min drive · 7.4 mi
- Barbuda day trip by ferry · excursion14 min drive · 7.3 mi
- Antigua Rainforest Zip Line · adventure park14 min drive · 8.3 mi
- Wallings Nature Reserve · nature15 min drive · 8.5 mi
- Dickinson Bay Beach · beach20 min drive · 9.9 mi
- Fort James · ruins20 min drive · 10 mi
- Cedar Valley Golf Club · golf25 min drive · 10 mi
- Fort Barrington · ruins25 min drive · 11 mi
- Jabberwock Beach · beach25 min drive · 14 mi
- Betty's Hope · ruins30 min drive · 15 mi
- English Harbour · town30 min drive · 15 mi
- Falmouth Harbour Marina · marina30 min drive · 15 mi
- Antigua's Donkey Sanctuary · wildlife30 min drive · 17 mi
- Pigeon Point Beach · beach30 min drive · 16 mi
- Dow's Hill Interpretation Centre · museum30 min drive · 16 mi
Amenities
Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Room upgrades
Seaweed & sargassum
Antigua gets sargassum, typically worst May through August.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.6 · 914 reviews
“This is hands down one of the best hotels we’ve stayed in. Yes it’s not as modern and there are no TVs in the rooms, but this boutiquey feel is unmatched. Every member of the staff is kind and goes out of their way to get to know you and meet your ne...”
“We spent a full week at Cocobay Resort and had an absolutely amazing experience. After reading some reviews beforehand that mentioned unfriendly staff or limited food, I feel compelled to share that this was not our experience at all. The staff was...”
“My husband and I had the absolute time of our lives honeymooning here!! 10/10 recommend for honeymoon or another romantic trip ❤️. We highly recommend doing the floating breakfast, it was one of our favorite parts! The food was great, some repeats t...”
