Cocotinos reports please

After much searching, we have narrowed our honeymoon down to cocotinos at manado. My only issue with this resort is that they have a loudspeaker that plays the call to prayer at 5am every morning! So my question is, has anyone stayed there in the suites specifically & if so, can you hear the 5am wakeup call?

Cheers Pete.

After much searching, we have narrowed our honeymoon down to cocotinos at manado. My only issue with this resort is that they have a loudspeaker that plays the call to prayer at 5am every morning! So my question is, has anyone stayed there in the suites specifically & if so, can you hear the 5am wakeup call?

Cheers Pete.

I stayed there for two nights in July. I did not hear the loudspeaker from my room.

I stayed there prior to leaving Manado onward, and did not dive there (not enough time) so am unable to comment on the dive services.

There is a small swimming pool, and internet available at the restaurant. Hope you enjoy your selves.

Thanks for that, how did you find the food. There seems to be very mixed reports on the net about the food quality not only at cocos but the whole bunaken/lembeh area.

Cheers Pete

Have you looked at Tasik Ria? If youre looking at Bunaken, their food was spot on, and all their dives off their pier were free of charge if you were diving off their boat for other trips, see my report on my website..no hills either!

Thanks for that, how did you find the food. There seems to be very mixed reports on the net about the food quality not only at cocos but the whole bunaken/lembeh area.

Cheers Pete

The food was OK but nothing to write home about, and I was glad that I was only there for the two days. Staying there for much longer, I would be looking for other options. And I do try the Indonesian/Asian options when I travel in the area. You may like it better than I did.

Thanks, there are so many mixed reports about the food & service! We are leaning towards going back to fiji now, the food is always good & the sharks are big!

Thanks, there are so many mixed reports about the food & service! We are leaning towards going back to fiji now, the food is always good & the sharks are big!

I guess it depends upon what you are looking for.... a fabulous diving vacation or a vacation with some diving.

Lembeh, to me is a fabulous diving vacation, and offers some of the best diving in the world. (Can't comment about Bunaken side, as I've only dived Lembeh)

There are some very high end, great diving resorts that offer it all over in Lembeh. Well worth the $$.

Fiji is very different than Lembeh in diving options, but also has some really high end resorts, some of which are diving oriented.

Both locations would make for a great trip.

Are you interested in a certain stuff in diving??? Big pelagics.... macro.... weird and wonderful critters???

Don't know about Cocotinos but can recommend Guesthouse 4 Fish, diving with Thalassa. The 6 bedroom Guesthouse is really intimate and secluded: veranda overlooking coconut palms, pool and nice chill out area, great local Indonesian food. I stayed there for 4 nights. The couple that run it are Dutch and everyone is really friendly. Just like being at home and you have your own privacy.

The Dive Centre is 5 minutes walk up the road and they really look after you as well. The guides are fantastic and flexible. They do day trips to Bangka and Lembeh as well if you want a bit of variation. If location and convenience is important for you diving-wise, they're in exactly the right place. 5-10 minutes boat transfer to most sites; 45 minutes speedboat transfer to Bangka; 2 hours car transfer to Lembeh.

Loads of info on www.thalassa.net

Good-luck!

Kima Bajo is north of Cocotino's and has upscale bungalows over looking Bunaken. The calling for prayer is from a mosque south of Cocotino's. I find the calling for prayer to be no more annoying then church bells and I accept the calls for prayer to be part of the ambiance of the country. The calls were not a daily occurrence. Also, at Kima Bajo they were faint when present since the mosque was far away.

I stayed at Cocotinos about 18 months ago for about 2 weeks. The Resort is very nice and I think the rooms are simply beautifully laid out. I didnt have any problems with the meals as I enjoy the local style food and more so when its available as a buffet so I can pick and choose small samples first and go back for the stuff I liked.

I stayed in the room closest to the recpetion and I didnt hear the call to prayer. I heard that others could hear it from rooms further away from reception. I also heard that these rooms away from the reception/dining area are very very nice and would be suitable for a honeymoon couple. The people who stayed in there called it the "honeymmon suite".

I found the diving out infront of the little bay where Cocotinos is located actually quite good. I preferred to dive there than going to Bunaken.

Here are some shots from that trip:

The business end

Hairy?

The poser

The jet

Regards Mark

I stayed at Cocotinos about 18 months ago for about 2 weeks. The Resort is very nice and I think the rooms are simply beautifully laid out. I didnt have any problems with the meals as I enjoy the local style food and more so when its available as a buffet so I can pick and choose small samples first and go back for the stuff I liked.

I stayed in the room closest to the recpetion and I didnt hear the call to prayer. I heard that others could hear it from rooms further away from reception. I also heard that these rooms away from the reception/dining area are very very nice and would be suitable for a honeymoon couple. The people who stayed in there called it the "honeymmon suite".

 

I found the diving out infront of the little bay where Cocotinos is located actually quite good. I preferred to dive there than going to Bunaken.

 

Here are some shots from that trip:

 

 

The business end

Hairy?

The poser

The jet

 

Regards Mark

Hey Mark

WOW Those shots are fantastic! I love the turtle one talk about crisp sharp focus

Gaz Cooper