Azura Quilalea

Quilalea Private Island, Mozambique

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Stay at Azura Quilalea

Set in the waters of the Quirimbas Archipelago marine sanctuary Azura Quilalea Private Island is a sanctuary, somewhere to retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Beach-chic Quilalea sits quietly in its forest surroundings. Throughout, sandy pathways lead through the dappled shade of the forest to the villas and beaches, and a simple building style – adobe-style walls topped with traditional palm and simple timber shuttered windows – that taps into Robinson Crusoe fantasies. It’s enchanting and relaxing; the kind of place where you might never bother lock your room, and spend your time barefoot in swimware, circumnavigating the uninhabited island, identifying birds, turtle spotting, snorkelling, swimming and feasting on fresh food.

The rooms at the hotel are so large you could happily call them home for a week or more: at 75sqm, with plenty of indoor and outdoor space including a shady terrace and loungers overlooking the ocean. Most importantly, each of the nine cottages are very private. Huge shuttered windows and doors throughout give you plenty of light and fresh air coming throughout and the showers enjoy sea views. Perhaps best of all, there are no telephones, docking stations or Wi-Fi – nothing to distract from the island life.

Why we love it

Remote, wild and extraordinarily beautiful, Quilalea is part of the Quirimbas archipelago in northern Mozambique, and lies within a protected marine reserve
It is the only island in Mozambique with a house reef, accessible directly from the main beach, meaning you can snorkel to breakfast
Every meal sees a new menu with a selection of two to three starters, mains and desserts; breakfast and lunch are served in your room or the dining room while dinner tables are set up in different areas under the stars

Facilities

WIFI

Luxury Spa

Private Dive Centre

Scuba Diving and Courses

Daily Laundry

Experiences

Turtle Beach Picnic

Set off on a nature walk through the baobabs and other indigenous vegetation, before enjoying a breakfast picnic on the beach beanbags.

Helicopter Ride

See Quilalea Island from above on a flight over the coconut plantations and nearby islands, to get a real perspective of the archipelago.

Ibo Island

Explore one of the most important heritage sites in Mozambique on Ibo Island, where you will see ancient ruins and silversmiths at work.

Snorkelling

Swim just off the beach to explore Quilalea's house reef, to see colourful corals teeming with reef fish such as parrotfish and sweetlips.

Baobab Island

Follow the marked trail to learn about the most iconic African tree - the baobab - and the birds and butterflies that call them home.

Turtle Sightings

Quilalea is a primary nesting site for green, hawksbill and leatherback turtles, where you can see the hatchlings make their way to the shore.

Birding

Embark on a nature walk with a guide to see the 134 species of birds that call the island's giant baobabs home, including bee eaters.

Baobab Bath

Experience a once in a lifetime bath under a 3,000 year old baobab, complete with bubbles in a cast iron bathtub and a glass of champagne.

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The Haughtons

We really loved our time at Azura Benguerra - the beach here was perfect. The tide came right up to the edge of our beach cabana each evening at sundowner time. Both the staff and food were great and we were really well looked after. There was just the right amount of things to do, including fly fishing from the beach or from SUP and snorkelling. Overall it was just an incredible experience and we absolutely loved it – a real once in a lifetime trip.