Welcome to Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Unique Facts

• The Cocos Islands are 27 coral islands discovered by Captain William Keeling in 1609 but uninhabited until the 19th century.
• The total land area of the Cocos Islands is 5.4 square miles.
• The two inhabited islands of the Cocos Islands are West Island, home to mainly Europeans, and Home Island, home to mainly ethnic Malays.
• The closest countries/territories to the Cocos Islands are the Maldives and Sri Lanka to the northwest, Singapore to the northeast, Christmas Island to the east and Australia to the southeast.
• There are no native mammals on the Cocos Islands – there are two species of rodents, four species of reptiles and many species of birds.

Language

The Cocos Islands do not have an official language. The spoken language is Malay English.

When To Go

The best time to go to the Cocos Islands is November through May. June through October is considered the trade wind season, while the air is calmer November through May. You can expect temperate weather year-round. The most rainfall, though still not much, is between March and July.

Airports

Cocos (Keeling) Island Airport

Passport Validity

Passport must be valid at time of entry.

Visa Required By US Citizen?

Yes

Vaccinations

The CDC recommends the following vaccines for most travelers when visiting the Cocos Islands: Hepatitis A and Typhoid. Depending on where you are traveling, you may also need Hepatitis B and Yellow Fever vaccines.

Electrical Outlets

Power plugs and sockets: type I. Standard voltage: 240V. Frequency: 50Hz.

Currency

Official local currency: Australian Dollar

Getting Around

The best way to explore the Cocos Islands is by renting a car and driving yourself. A regular ferry links Home and West islands Monday through Saturday. There are routes to Direction Island on Thursday and Saturday. Local bus service runs around the West Island Settlement as well as to and from the Rumah Baru ferry jetty.

Driver’s License

A valid US driver’s license is required.

US Embassy Info

U.S. Consulate General Sydney
MLC Centre
Level 10
19-29 Martin Place
Sydney, NSW 2000
Australia
Telephone: +(61) (2) 9373-9200
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(61) (2) 4422-2201
Fax: +(61) (2) 9373-9184
SydneyACS@state.gov

Local Visitor Info

Cocos Keeling Islands Visitor Centre
Keeling Island WA 6799
Australia
Tel: +61 8 9162 6790

Local Emergency Phone Numbers

Ambulance, Police, Fire: 000

Safety and Security

The crime rate is low on the Cocos Islands.