Vilanculos is the place to go if you want to scuba dive and also feel like you’re the only one on an island. Vilanculos is the coastal town right across from the Bazaruto Archipelago. It’s well known for its diversity in marine life and is a truly off-the-beaten-path destination.
Getting there
There are a couple of ways to get to Vilanculos. The most direct option is to fly into the small Vilanculos airport and arrange a taxi through your lodging. I strongly recommend planning ahead and arranging transport through your lodging if you fly into this airport – often it’s included in the price, and it is so much safer than trying to figure it out and negotiate a fair price once you arrive.
If you’re on a budget, it might be slightly less expensive to fly into Maputo (the capital city airport) and catch either a minibus or Greyhound up to Vilanculos. Minubuses will be the cheapest option, but they make more stops, are less comfortable and are less safe than Greyhound buses.
Lodging options
Options for places to stay in/near Vilanculos range from backpacker-friendly lodges to beautiful resorts.
If you want to go all-out, stay at the Anantara Resort on Bazaruto Island. I’m fairly certain this is the only place you can stay on Bazaruto Island, which makes it special. Resorts are your best bet if you aren’t very comfortable traveling internationally, or if you don’t have the time and energy to manage logistics. Resort staff will stay in close contact and ensure you are safe and taken care of every moment of your trip.
If you want somewhere more affordable, check out the boutique hotel, Casa Babi. I had the pleasure of going here for a scuba diving trip – the people are truly wonderful and the hotel has more “island vibes” than a resort does, while still offering to arrange activities. They also have a patio and a pool that overlook the beach.
For a low-budget option, I recommend Baobab Beach Backpackers. I enjoyed the time I spent at this place. They have dorms, private huts, a huge communal hang-out space, decent food, and kind staff. This place is situated just off the beach, with easy access.
A note about the beaches at Vilanculos
Vilanculos is primarily a fishing village. People are busy moving boats in and out of the water, kids are out playing and helping their parents, men and women use the beach as a path to travel from one end of the village to the other. The beaches are beautiful for walking and taking photos (just ask first if you’re taking photos of people), but you will get strange looks, and probably be stared at, if you walk out on the public beach to hang out in your tiny bikini. For that reason, if you want to soak up the sun and swim, I would recommend booking a hotel with a pool and a yard. Alternatively, the island resorts have private beaches. I went on diving trips with Casa Babi, which took us out to the archipelago where we had entire stretches of beach to ourselves to relax – it was amazing. Many of the hotels along the beach have elevated yards with pools that look out over the water, which provides a truly stunning view, while also allowing you to have some privacy.
I captured the photos below on Bazaruto Island. It’s the main island in Bazaruto Archipelago National Park with pristine beaches and clear shallow water. The national park is made up of 5 islands and the surrounding waters. This park is a popular spot for scuba diving because of it’s diversity of marine life (including Dugongs, if you’re lucky!) and healthy reef. I saw sharks, massive turtles, eels, so many fish, and beautifully bright plant life. PSA: if you snorkel or dive anywhere, be mindful not to touch or disturb the environment.
Things to do in Vilanculos
- Scuba dive or snorkel. This is the company I dove with, and they were great!
- Walk the beaches and take photos of the fishing boats.
- Take a local cooking class with Zita. She lives right next to Baobab Beach Backpackers.
- Learn to kitesurf at Kitesurf Centre.
- Take a dhow (boat) sunset tour.
- Wander around the Municipal Market in town. I spent hours just browsing and comparing fabrics here.
- Visit the Machilla Magic craft market.
- Go fishing.
- Rent paddle boards or kayaks.
