Isola Di Cocco Review: Our Stay at Poovar

During our Kerala and Tamil Nadu Trip, our stay wasn’t exactly in Kovalam. Instead, we chose to stay at Isola Di Cocco in Poovar, which turned out to be one of the best decisions of our trip.

Poovar is around 7–8 km from Kovalam, but the overall experience is completely different. If you’re looking for luxury resorts, peaceful surroundings and a relaxed vacation, I would personally recommend staying in Poovar rather than Kovalam. We found the atmosphere, cleanliness and overall vibe much better than Kovalam.

First Impressions – The Road Doesn’t Do Justice to the Resort

The journey to the resort gave us mixed feelings initially. The approach road we took was narrow, full of potholes and at many places it almost felt like a single-lane road. For a few minutes, we honestly felt that we might have chosen the wrong resort. However, the moment we entered the property, that thought disappeared completely.

Later we realised there are actually two approach roads to the resort. One starts near the entrance of Poovar, while the other comes after crossing the local market. The second road is much better and faster. Had we known about it earlier, we would have preferred taking that route.

A Resort Built Within the Backwaters

The location of Isola Di Cocco is what makes it truly special. The resort is surrounded by the backwaters, and the property has been designed in such a way that canals flow around different parts of the resort, making it feel like a small island within the backwaters itself.

What we enjoyed the most was the unique combination of the backwaters and the beach. Beyond the backwaters lies the beach, and from the restaurant as well as the swimming pool, you can actually enjoy views of both while having your meal. Sitting there with the water on one side and the beach on the other creates a completely different experience compared to staying in a regular hotel.

Reception and Check-in

The reception area itself gives a premium feel. It is spacious enough to comfortably handle multiple check-ins and check-outs at the same time without feeling crowded. There is also a small shop near the reception where guests can purchase daily essentials and souvenirs if required. The check-in process was smooth, and the staff guided us properly throughout.

Room Categories

The resort offers three different types of accommodation. The first category consists of Heritage Rooms, which are located in multi-storey buildings. There are around 15–16 such rooms. These rooms are spacious but feel more like traditional hotel rooms.

The second category is the cottage accommodation, where we stayed. The third category offers cottages with private pools.

Most of the accommodation at the resort consists of cottages, which gives the property a much more spacious and resort-like feel.

Our Cottage Experience

We were allotted one of the cottages, and honestly, we loved it. The room itself was large and comfortably accommodated our family of four—two adults and two children. There were three beds, additional chairs, a refrigerator and enough space to move around without feeling cramped. Every cottage also has its own small lawn and sit-out area.

Isola Di Cocco Review - Lake View from the Room

Our cottage overlooked the lake, and we spent some quiet time sitting outside, enjoying the greenery, the lake and the peaceful surroundings. It became one of our favourite parts of the stay.

The Open Bathroom

One feature that immediately caught our attention was the bathroom. Unlike most hotels, Isola Di Cocco has an open bathroom design. Initially, it felt a little unusual because it isn’t something we are culturally used to. However, after spending some time there, we actually started enjoying the concept. The design allows you to experience nature while still maintaining privacy.

The only similar experience we had before was at Flying Elephant Resort in Havelock. However, that was a much smaller two-star property, whereas Isola Di Cocco offers the same concept with the facilities and comfort of a premium four-star resort.

The bathroom was fully equipped with dental kits, shaving kits, grooming kits and all the essential toiletries that you would normally expect in a good resort.

A Resort Full of Greenery

The property itself is huge, spread over a large area. Everywhere you walk, you are surrounded by greenery. We noticed mango trees, chikoo trees, guava trees and several medicinal plants spread across the gardens. Instead of feeling like a commercial hotel, the entire property actually feels like a nature resort. Morning and evening walks inside the campus were enjoyable because there was always something green around you.

Facilities at the Resort

The resort has almost everything you would expect during a holiday. There is a large swimming pool with separate sections for adults and children. There is a yoga room, indoor recreational facilities, cycling, badminton, cricket equipment and several other activities. Guests can also take a boat towards the beach from within the resort. Children have enough activities to keep themselves occupied, including water-based games and play areas.

There is also a souvenir shop for those who wish to purchase local artefacts. One thing worth mentioning is that while facilities like the swimming pool are included, several recreational activities are chargeable. It is always better to check beforehand if you are planning to participate in those activities.

Restaurant and Vegetarian Experience

Being pure vegetarians, we always pay special attention to how hotels handle vegetarian food. Before having our meals, I specifically asked the staff how their kitchen operates. I was happy to know that they maintain separate kitchens for vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.

The two kitchens are separated by a partition, and the utensils and cutlery are not shared between them. Even the serving counters are maintained separately so that vegetarian dishes remain completely separate. This gave us a lot of confidence while dining at the resort.

The breakfast buffet had around 12–13 vegetarian options along with a few non-vegetarian dishes. The food quality was consistently good throughout our stay, and we never faced any issues.

Service and Hospitality

One thing we genuinely appreciated was the attitude of the staff. Everyone we interacted with was courteous, supportive and quick to help. Whether it was housekeeping, reception or the restaurant staff, the service was prompt and professional. Small things like these make a big difference during a holiday, and they certainly added to our overall experience.

Our Final Verdict

Looking back, staying at Isola Di Cocco was one of the highlights of our Kerala and Tamil Nadu Trip. The peaceful location, beautiful backwaters, spacious cottages, greenery, well-maintained property and excellent hospitality made it much more than just another hotel stay.

If your itinerary includes Kovalam or Poovar and you’re looking for a premium resort where you can slow down and enjoy nature, I would definitely recommend considering Isola Di Cocco. For us, it wasn’t just a place to spend the night. It became one of the experiences that we will remember long after the trip ended.