West Island and its Beaches

West Island, the largest of the Cocos and home to its airstrip and administrative hub, though most islanders live on Home Island, is the laid-back main hub of this remote Indian Ocean atoll. A long, narrow ribbon of coral fringed with swaying coconut palms, it offers a relaxed island base and access to a string of beautiful beaches: calm, turquoise lagoon shores on one side, ideal for swimming and snorkelling, and wilder ocean beaches on the other. The steady trade winds and flat lagoon waters make it a renowned destination for kitesurfing and windsurfing, while quiet lanes invite gentle cycling and the reefs teem with fish. With its palm groves, empty beaches and easygoing pace, West Island is a delightful and unspoiled tropical escape at the heart of the Cocos.

What you actually see

• The lagoon beaches - the calm turquoise shores for swimming.
• The ocean beaches - the wilder Indian Ocean sands.
• The kitesurfing - the trade winds and flat lagoon waters.
• The palm groves - the relaxed coral island and its lanes.

When to go

April to October, the drier season with steady trade winds, is ideal for the beaches and kitesurfing, and the most settled weather; the tropical climate is warm year-round, with a wetter season around December to March. Calm days are best for snorkelling the lagoon side.

Honest expectations

West Island is small, remote and quiet with modest facilities, so it suits travellers seeking beaches, water sports and tranquillity rather than resorts or nightlife. As the laid-back main island of the Cocos, fringed with beautiful lagoon and ocean beaches, palm groves and world-class kitesurfing waters, though, West Island is a genuinely delightful and unspoiled escape.

Nearby

Direction Island, Home Island and the deserted southern isles lie nearby.