Cocos Island: Unique Vacation Spots

Cocos Island is often called "Island of the Sharks". The 10-square-mile landmass, which lies between Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands, is the place to visit if you want shark adventures. Whitetip reef sharks, whale sharks, and hammerheads are amongst the varieties that love the area.

The Cocos offer everything you'd want from an island: breathtaking sunsets, warm lagoons, dolphins, snorkeling, and great fishing. You can enjoy walking, biking, or taking a glass-bottom boat to look for shells. But one of the most awesome attractions is the many sharks.

There are basically two seasons in Cocos. One is the trade wind season from about April to September. The other is from October to April, and it's the calm season. It rains quite a lot from March to July but temperatures are comfortable year-round.

You won't find giant resorts or luxurious hotels at Cocos but you will find relaxation, plenty of sun, and many activities. If you're hoping to do lots of shopping, the Cocos is the wrong destination for you. Cocos is a small island but offers a piece of paradise to all who visit.

Swimming, diving, napping, driving, or walking are some of the activities offered on the island. You'll see plenty of forests, filled with the native hibiscus and palms. There are some local restaurants and plenty of places to picnic.

The Cocos Malays are Muslims and appreciate visitors who dress in an appropriate fashion. While visiting, take a day trip to Direction Island or just lie around on white sandy beaches. Bring a camera and take underwater pictures of manta, turtles, sharks, dolphin and a huge array of colorful fish.

During your stay be sure to remove your shoes if invited into a home or mosque. It's proper etiquette to knock on someone's back door rather than the front, unless the front door is standing open. In this region, the right hand is used for eating, giving and receiving. It would be unacceptable to do any of these activities with the left hand, considered unclean. And, it's recommended that you never touch someone on the head, for any reason, since this is the same as laying a curse on the person.

When it comes to accommodations you have a few choices. Cocos Beach Motel is located right by the beach, with the local airport and supermarket just across the street. Many rooms have ocean views but the rooms are somewhat small. Rooms are air conditioned and there's an on-site restaurant called The Tropika.

Cocos Seaview hotel lies only a short distance from Indian Ocean. The rooms are modern with large beds, air conditioning and verandas overlooking beautiful tropical gardens and seas.

Cocos Village Bungalows is near the ocean and offers rooms with kitchen, bath, tv, decks, BBQ areas and laundry access. Nearby Cocos Cottages are also self-contained rooms featuring spacious bedrooms, nearby tennis courts, golf club, restaurant and more.

A visit to Cocos Island is not your typical beach vacation, with plenty of vendors, large crowds with kids, and lots of noise from passing boats. Instead, it is a small getaway island that promises peace and quiet, lots of water sports, and the chance to see unchanged nature.