Tofo
- Wide sandy beach, gentle beach breaks
- Dive shops, restaurants, the main square, the market
- Most lodges and accommodation
- Where most travelers stay
- Beginners surf here — see surf lessons
Tofinho, Mozambique's surf point.
Surf point. Cliffs. Two minutes from town.
Tofinho is the rocky headland 1–2 km south of Praia do Tofo, on Mozambique's Inhambane coast — home to the country's most famous right-hand point break and a quieter alternative to the main beach.
Two beaches, one bay
Tofo & Tofinho, side by side.
Tofinho
- Dramatic cliffs and tide pools
- The famous right-hand point break (south swells)
- Closest spot to the humpback migration corridor
- Clifftop houses and small lodges
- Quieter — fewer people, fewer bars
The marine life is the same — both beaches sit inside Tofo Bay, fed by the same plankton-rich currents that keep whale sharks here year-round. The texture is what changes. Tofo is the lively side; Tofinho is the quiet one.
The surf
Mozambique’s most-recognized right-hand point.
Tofinho’s point wraps off the southern end of the headland on south swells. When it’s working, you get long, powerful right-handers — the kind of wave South African surfers drive across the border for. It picks up best from April through September, when the southern winter swells push north up the Mozambique Channel.
It is not a learner’s wave. The takeoff is over rocks, the paddle-out is committing, and the wave moves quickly. Experienced surfers will love it. If it’s your first time on a board, the right answer is a lesson at Praia do Tofo, ten minutes’ walk north — gentler beach breaks, sand bottom, and instructors who’ll meet you where you are.
A half-day in Tofinho
More than just a surf spot.
Walk the headland
A path runs along the cliff edge — tide pools at the bottom, ocean spray on big days, and the best vantage in town for spotting humpbacks (June–November) without a boat.
Watch the surfers
Even if you don’t surf, the lineup at Tofinho on a south-swell morning is the kind of thing locals turn out for. Bring coffee, sit on the rocks, watch.
Catch the sunset
The headland faces east — sunsets aren’t over the water — but the cliffs catch warm late light and the ocean stays glassy after the wind drops. The clifftop bars close earlier than Tofo’s; come for the light, head back for dinner.
Walk back via the beach
Time the return for low tide and walk Praia do Tofo all the way back to town — about 30 minutes, the kind of beach walk that’s the reason people come to Tofo in the first place.
Common questions
What people ask.
Where is Tofinho?
Tofinho is a small headland on Mozambique's Inhambane coast, about 1–2 km south of Tofo town. You can walk it through the dunes in 20–30 minutes, or drive in five. Same bay, same marine life — but a rockier shoreline, fewer people, and a famous right-hand point break.
What's the difference between Tofo and Tofinho?
Tofo is the long sandy beach and the town — dive shops, restaurants, lodges, the daily market. Tofinho is the headland just south — a small cluster of clifftop houses, a famous point break, and the dramatic rocky coastline that Tofo proper doesn't have. Most travelers stay in Tofo and visit Tofinho for the surf, the walk, or the sunset.
Is Tofinho good for surfing?
Yes — it's Mozambique's most famous surf spot. The right-hand point break wraps off the headland on south swells through the cooler months (April–September) and produces long, powerful rides for experienced surfers. It is not a beginner spot. Beginners learn at Praia do Tofo, which has gentle beach breaks ten minutes' walk north.
Can I see whales from Tofinho?
In humpback season (June–November, peak August–October) yes — the cliffs at Tofinho put you closer to the migration corridor than anywhere else in town. Bring binoculars and walk the path along the headland early morning or late afternoon. Sightings from the boat are still more reliable; the cliff is a bonus.
How do I get to Tofinho from Tofo?
Three options. Walk south down Praia do Tofo at low tide — about 20–30 minutes along the sand and dunes. Drive the inland road from the main square — five minutes by car or quad. Cycle on one of the e-bikes available in town. The walk is the right call if you have time; the views off the headland are worth it.
Where does the name come from?
"Tofinho" is the Portuguese diminutive of Tofo — literally Little Tofo. It refers to the smaller, quieter character of the headland compared to the main beach.
Is there accommodation at Tofinho?
A handful of clifftop and back-of-dune houses and small lodges, mostly self-catering, mostly booked direct. Tofinho is quieter than Tofo proper — more "house with a view" than "town with bars." Most travelers still stay in Tofo and walk over.
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Tofinho is walkable
from Tofo.
If you're heading to Tofo, Tofinho is a half-day side trip — walk the dunes, watch the point, see the cliffs. Tell us when you're coming and what you want to do. We'll help you fit it in.
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