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Private speedboat transfer to the Bazaruto islands, Mozambique

Vilanculos · Bazaruto Archipelago

Transfers to the Bazaruto islands

A Bazaruto island transfer is private boat transport from Vilanculos out to your island lodge in the Bazaruto Archipelago — whether you’re booked into Pestana Bazaruto Lodge, Anantara or Bazaruto Sands on Bazaruto Island, or andBeyond, Azura or Kisawa Sanctuary on Benguerra. You’ve flown into Vilanculos and your bed for the week is across the water: we meet you at the airport, and run the crossing for you and your luggage — that pick-up is included in the fare, and so is collection from your Vilanculos hotel if you’re already in town. Fares are per crossing, so the journey home is a second leg most guests book at the same time. It’s a transfer, not a day tour, and if your lodge sends its own boat we’ll simply get you to the Vilanculos jetty in good time.

From $450 one way

Fares run $450 to $600 depending on the island, and are per crossing, including your pick-up on the day — from your hotel in Vilanculos, or we meet your flight at Vilankulo Airport (VNX). The journey home is a second crossing, quoted the same way. What the figure itself depends on is the island, your group size, and whether you need the full crossing or just the jetty drop — we confirm it before you book.

Request your island transfer on WhatsApp
  • A private speedboat to your lodge — Pestana, Anantara or Bazaruto Sands on Bazaruto, andBeyond, Azura or Kisawa on Benguerra
  • Your pick-up included — from your hotel in Vilanculos, or we meet your flight at Vilankulo Airport (VNX) and connect you to the boat
  • One crossing, or both — the fare covers the journey out; add the leg home and we time it for your flight
  • Boat fuel included — the fare we agree covers the whole crossing, nothing added at the jetty

No queue at the harbour

How an island transfer
works.

One WhatsApp message books the crossing — out to the island, and the leg home too if you want it. Here’s how it goes.

  1. 1

    You tell us your island and lodge

    Which island you’re staying on, your lodge, your dates, and how many of you. A sentence is enough to start.

  2. 2

    We confirm the boat and quote it

    We line up the right boat for the crossing and the sea, and send your fare per crossing, and the leg home if you want it — no surprises.

  3. 3

    We run you across

    We meet you in Vilanculos, load your bags, and take you over to the island — and collect you again when you leave.

The crossing

How to get to the Bazaruto islands.

Getting to the Bazaruto islands means crossing open water from Vilanculos — there is no bridge and no scheduled ferry to the Bazaruto Archipelago, a national marine park co-managed by African Parks since 2017. In practice that leaves two ways over: a boat, or a helicopter. We run the boat, and the lodges that fly their guests across are set out further down, so you can see which applies to you. The lodges sit on two islands: Bazaruto Island, home to Pestana Bazaruto Lodge, Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort and Bazaruto Sands, and Benguerra Island, home to andBeyond Benguerra, Azura and Kisawa Sanctuary. Benguerra is the closest — 25 to 45 minutes by speedboat to Azura and andBeyond depending on the sea, and 30–45 minutes to Kisawa at the southern tip; the Bazaruto Island lodges are farther out, about an hour to Anantara, about an hour and ten minutes to Bazaruto Sands, and about an hour and a half to Pestana at the northern tip. (Magaruque’s island lodge is currently closed, so it’s a day-trip stop for now rather than a place to stay.)

We run that crossing as a private transfer for you and your luggage — by speedboat, not by dhow. The traditional sailing dhow is lovely for a slow day on the water, but a speedboat is faster and drier for you and your bags, and easy to time around a flight: Benguerra is 25 to 45 minutes depending on the sea, and even the far northern tip of Bazaruto is about an hour and a half. Your airport pick-up and drop-off are included in the fare — we meet your flight at Vilankulo Airport (VNX), connect you to the boat, and bring you back for your flight home. If your lodge prefers to send its own boat, we’ll simply get you to the jetty in good time instead.

This is transport to an island stay, not a sightseeing trip. If you’re after the islands for the day — the snorkelling, the sandbanks, the dune at Bazaruto — that’s our island day tours instead.

New to the archipelago? See our Bazaruto Archipelago guide, our guide to getting to Vilanculos, and the wider Vilanculos guide — then let us handle the crossing.

Your lodge

The lodges we transfer to.

Six lodges take guests in the Bazaruto Archipelago, spread across the only two islands with places to stay. Bazaruto Island has Pestana Bazaruto Lodge, Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort and Bazaruto Sands (the eco-lodge that traded as Zenguelemo until its rebrand); Benguerra Island has andBeyond Benguerra Island, Azura Benguerra and Kisawa Sanctuary. We run the private boat crossing from Vilanculos to any of them, one way or both, with your pick-up included in the fare — so whichever name is on your booking confirmation, tell us and we’ll plan the arrival around your flight.

The fare

What a transfer to the islands costs.

A private speedboat transfer from Vilanculos to a Bazaruto Archipelago lodge costs $450 to $600 one way, priced by how far out your lodge sits. Almost nobody publishes this — the lodges and the agents all say “arranged on request” — so here it is plainly, before you have to ask for it.

CrossingLodgesTime from VilanculosFrom
Benguerra IslandandBeyond Benguerra, Azura Benguerra, Kisawa Sanctuary25–45 minutes$450
Bazaruto IslandAnantara Bazaruto Island Resort, Bazaruto SandsAbout 1 hour – 1 hour 10$500
Bazaruto Island, northern tipPestana Bazaruto LodgeAbout 1 hour 30$600

Every fare is per crossing and for your group, not per person, and your pick-up on the day is inside it — from your hotel in Vilanculos, or we meet your flight at Vilankulo Airport (VNX) and connect you straight to the boat. Boat fuel is included; nothing gets added at the jetty. The journey home is a second crossing, priced the same way, and most guests book both at once so we can time the return around the flight out. Group size and a jetty-only drop can move the figure either way — tell us your lodge and your dates and we’ll confirm your fare before you commit to anything. No deposit, and no online payment.

Bazaruto Island

Staying on Bazaruto.

Pestana Bazaruto Lodge
At the northern end of Bazaruto Island — the farthest of the island lodges from Vilanculos, roughly 65 km up the coast and about an hour and a half by speedboat, so we time the crossing carefully around your flights. The lodge itself notes the same crossing is only about 45 minutes if you start from Inhassoro instead. The longest run we do, and the one worth telling us your flight numbers for.
Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort
The flagship resort on Bazaruto Island, closer in than Pestana — about an hour across, and the one most guests are booked into. We meet your flight, run you straight across, and collect you again when you leave.
Bazaruto Sands
The eco-lodge on Bazaruto Island's channel-facing west coast, about twenty minutes north of Anantara and roughly an hour and ten minutes by speedboat from Vilanculos. It traded as Zenguelemo Lodge until it rebranded, and a lot of booking sites still carry the old name — if your confirmation says Zenguelemo, this is the crossing you want.

Benguerra Island

Staying on Benguerra.

andBeyond Benguerra Island
Thatched casinhas in the dune forest on Benguerra — the closest island to Vilanculos, about 14 km offshore and 25 to 45 minutes by speedboat depending on the sea, which still makes it the shortest crossing we run.
Azura Benguerra
An eco-boutique retreat on the same island, a little further along the coast. The same 25-to-45-minute crossing from Vilanculos, with your bags and your airport pick-up handled either way.
Kisawa Sanctuary
The newest lodge on Benguerra, on the island's southern tip and about 30–45 minutes from Vilanculos, with its own research station on the island. We run the private boat out, and the leg home when you leave — with a drop at Vilankulo Airport for your flight.

Before you book a boat

Does your lodge already include the transfer?

Some Bazaruto lodges arrange the crossing for you and some leave it to you, and knowing which yours is changes what you should book. We run a private boat to all six — Pestana, Anantara and Bazaruto Sands on Bazaruto, andBeyond, Azura and Kisawa on Benguerra — so there is always an option here whatever your lodge does. Most of the lodges put their own guests on a helicopter from Vilanculos rather than a boat, and Anantara is the only one running a scheduled boat of its own. Here is what each lodge publishes alongside what we’d run for you, so you can see the choice in one place.

LodgeIslandWhat the lodge itself offersOur private boat
Anantara Bazaruto Island ResortBazarutoIts own shared road-and-boat transfer — about 45 to 60 minutes on the water, depending on the tide. A private boat can be arranged on request. Helicopters are quoted separately through a charter company.About an hour, just your group, at a time you choose.
Bazaruto Sands (formerly Zenguelemo)BazarutoPublishes no transfer details at all — its own site and the agents listing it say only that the crossing is arranged on request.About an hour and ten minutes, to the island’s west coast about twenty minutes north of Anantara.
Pestana Bazaruto LodgeBazarutoRecommends a 20-minute helicopter. By boat it is about an hour and a half from Vilanculos — or about 45 minutes if you start from Inhassoro instead.About an hour and a half — the longest crossing we run, timed around your flight.
andBeyond Benguerra IslandBenguerraA roughly 10-minute helicopter, included in some packages and charged separately in others.About 25 to 45 minutes depending on the sea — the shortest crossing we run.
Azura BenguerraBenguerraAn 8-minute scenic helicopter, with a 20 kg soft-sided luggage allowance per person.About 25 to 45 minutes depending on the sea, with room for the bags a helicopter won’t take.
Kisawa SanctuaryBenguerraA 5 to 10 minute helicopter, or a private boat of about 35 minutes, arranged when you book.About 30 to 45 minutes to the island’s southern tip.

One detail nobody mentions until you’re standing on the sand: there is no jetty at the island end. Anantara tells its own guests they will wade through knee-deep water to reach the boat, and that is true of any boat arrival on Bazaruto, ours included — you step onto a beach, not a pier. Wear something you don’t mind getting wet and keep the bag you want dry on your shoulder.

A private boat earns its place when a helicopter seat is more than you want to spend, when your lodge doesn’t include the transfer at all, when you’d rather leave on your own schedule than wait for a shared departure to fill, or when you’re carrying dive gear, boards or hard suitcases that a 20 kg soft-bag helicopter allowance simply won’t take. Your pick-up — from your Vilanculos hotel or off your flight at VNX — is in the fare either way. Some lodges include a transfer in their package and some don’t, and packages change, so it’s worth confirming what yours covers — then tell us and we’ll run the crossing to any lodge on either island.

Transfer details and distances as published by the lodges themselves: Pestana Bazaruto Lodge (65 km north of Vilanculos; 20-minute helicopter, about 45 minutes by boat from Inhassoro), Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort (its own How to get to Anantara Bazaruto sheet: a 15-minute road transfer, a 45–60 minute shared boat, and no jetty at the island end) and Azura Benguerra (Benguerra Island, 14 km from Vilanculos) and Kisawa Sanctuary (the southern tip of Benguerra; a 5–10 minute helicopter or a 35-minute private boat). Crossing times depend on your lodge, your group and the sea on the day — we confirm yours before you book.

No surprises

What's sorted before you cast off.

A private boat to your lodge
Just your group across to your lodge — Pestana or Anantara on Bazaruto, andBeyond, Azura or Kisawa on Benguerra — with room for your luggage, no shared crossings, no waiting for a full boat.
Your pick-up included
We collect you from your hotel in Vilanculos, or meet your flight at Vilankulo Airport (VNX) and connect you straight to the boat — that pick-up is part of the fare, not an add-on.
One way, or both
The fare covers one crossing. Add the leg home and we run that too, back to Vilanculos for your flight, timed around your dates.
A transfer, not a tour
This is transport to your island stay, with your bags. For a day on the water — snorkelling and sandbanks — see our island day tours instead.

Before you ask

The questions we get most.

How do I get to the Bazaruto islands?
You reach the Bazaruto islands by boat from Vilanculos — there's no bridge and no scheduled ferry, so every lodge is a private speedboat crossing over the archipelago. Benguerra Island is the closest — 25 to 45 minutes by speedboat to Azura and andBeyond depending on the sea, and 30–45 minutes to Kisawa at the island's southern tip; the Bazaruto Island lodges are farther out, about an hour to Anantara and about an hour and a half to Pestana at the northern tip. First you fly into Vilankulo Airport (VNX) — we meet your flight, connect you straight to the boat and run you across, with that pick-up included in the fare. Fares are per crossing, so most guests book the leg home at the same time and we time it for their flight.
How much is a boat transfer to the Bazaruto islands?
Speedboat transfers to the islands run $450 to $600 one way, priced by how far out your lodge sits: $450 to the Benguerra lodges (andBeyond, Azura, Kisawa Sanctuary), $500 to Anantara and Bazaruto Sands on Bazaruto Island, and $600 to Pestana at the island's northern tip — the longest crossing. Each fare covers the crossing itself and your pick-up on the day — either from your hotel in Vilanculos or straight off your flight at Vilankulo Airport (VNX). The journey home is a second crossing and is quoted the same way, so tell us whether you need one leg or both. Group size and a jetty-only drop can shift the figure — message us with the details and we'll confirm it; no online payment, no obligation.
How long is the boat across to the islands?
It depends which lodge you're headed to. Benguerra Island is the closest — 25 to 45 minutes by speedboat to Azura Benguerra and andBeyond Benguerra depending on the sea, with Kisawa Sanctuary, on the island's southern tip, about 30–45 minutes. The Bazaruto Island lodges are farther out: about an hour to Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort, and about an hour and a half to Pestana Bazaruto Lodge at the northern tip. We'll confirm the exact timing for your lodge when you book.
Which islands and lodges do you transfer to?
Bazaruto Island and Benguerra Island — the two islands with lodges to stay at. On Bazaruto that's Pestana Bazaruto Lodge, Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort and Bazaruto Sands; on Benguerra, andBeyond Benguerra, Azura and Kisawa Sanctuary. Santa Carolina has no accommodation and Magaruque's lodge is currently closed, so both are day-trip spots rather than transfer destinations.
Can you take me to Pestana Bazaruto Lodge?
Yes. We run private boat transfers to Pestana Bazaruto Lodge, at the northern end of Bazaruto Island — it's the longest of the island crossings, about an hour and a half from Vilanculos, so we time it carefully around your flights. Tell us your dates and we'll line up the boat — one crossing or both — with your pick-up included in the fare.
Can you take me to Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort?
Yes. Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort is on Bazaruto Island, about an hour by speedboat from Vilanculos, and we run the private crossing with your pick-up included in the fare — we meet your flight and connect you straight to the boat. Book the leg home at the same time and we'll time it for your flight out. Tell us your dates, your group size and your flight details, and we'll plan the whole arrival around them.
Can you take me to Bazaruto Sands, or Zenguelemo Lodge?
Yes — and they are the same place. Bazaruto Sands is the eco-lodge on Bazaruto Island that traded as Zenguelemo Lodge before it rebranded, so if your booking confirmation says Zenguelemo you are headed to Bazaruto Sands. Plenty of booking sites still list the old name, which is why the two get confused. It sits on the island's channel-facing west coast, about twenty minutes north of Anantara, and the crossing from Vilanculos is roughly an hour and ten minutes by speedboat — from $500 one way, with your pick-up included in the fare. Tell us your dates and we'll run it.
Can you take me to Kisawa Sanctuary?
Yes. Kisawa Sanctuary sits on the southern tip of Benguerra Island, about 30–45 minutes by speedboat from Vilanculos, and we run private boat crossings out to it, with your pick-up included in the fare — one way or both, whichever you need. Send us your dates, your group size and your flight details, and we'll confirm the boat and the fare — no deposit, no online payment.
Can you take me to Azura or andBeyond on Benguerra?
Yes — Azura Benguerra and andBeyond Benguerra Island are both on Benguerra Island, and we run the private boat crossing to either one from Vilanculos. Your pick-up is included in the fare, and we can run the boat one way or both, timed around your flights. Tell us which lodge and your dates, and we'll confirm the boat and the fare.
Does my lodge already include the boat transfer?
It depends which lodge, and it is worth checking before you book anything with us. Most of the Bazaruto island lodges put their guests on a helicopter from Vilanculos rather than a boat: Azura Benguerra publishes an 8-minute flight, andBeyond Benguerra about 10 minutes, Kisawa Sanctuary 5 to 10 minutes, and Pestana Bazaruto recommends a 20-minute one. Anantara Bazaruto is the exception — it runs its own shared road-and-boat transfer, about 45 to 60 minutes on the water depending on the tide. Kisawa also offers a private boat of about 35 minutes. Some packages include the crossing and some don't, so it's worth confirming what yours covers before you book — and either way, we run a private boat to all five lodges.
Can I take a helicopter to the islands instead of a boat?
Yes, and for some lodges it's the normal way in — but we don't operate helicopters, so that one is arranged through your lodge or a charter company rather than through us. Azura, andBeyond, Kisawa and Pestana all publish helicopter transfer times from Vilanculos, and Anantara quotes helicopters through a charter operator. What we run is the boat: a private speedboat for you and your luggage, on your schedule, with your pick-up included in the fare.
Is there a ferry to Bazaruto Island?
No. There is no bridge to the Bazaruto Archipelago and no scheduled ferry service of any kind, so every arrival is either a private boat or a helicopter. That's also why crossings are timed around the tide and the sea rather than a timetable — there isn't one to read.
Is there a jetty, or do we wade to the boat?
You wade. There is no jetty at the island end — Anantara tells its own guests they will walk through knee-deep water to reach the boat, and that's true of any boat arrival on Bazaruto, ours included. It's a beach, not a pier. Wear something you don't mind getting wet, keep the bag you want dry on your shoulder, and our crew will handle the luggage.
Is this a day tour to the islands?
No — this is private transport to and from an island stay, not a sightseeing trip. If you want the islands for the day — snorkelling, the sandbanks, the dunes — that's our island day tours instead. The transfer is just the crossing, with your luggage.
Do you bring me back as well?
Yes — as a second crossing. Our fares are per leg, so the $450 is the journey out and the journey home is priced the same way. Most guests book both at once, and we time the return for the flight home from Vilankulo Airport (VNX), where we drop you off. Tell us your dates and we'll line up whichever you need.
What if my lodge sends its own boat?
Then we'll simply get you to the Vilanculos jetty in good time — a short road transfer to the harbour, with your luggage — and your lodge takes it from there. Tell us which lodge and we'll sort it.
Can you carry luggage and gear across?
Yes — the speedboat has room for your bags, and for dive gear or boards if you're bringing them. Tell us roughly how much you're carrying and how many of you there are, and we'll send the right boat.
Can you collect me from Vilanculos airport and take me to the island?
Yes — and it's included in the fare, not an extra. We'll meet your flight at Vilankulo Airport (VNX) and connect you straight to the boat, then drop you back for your flight home. Just send us your flight details and your lodge, and we'll plan the whole arrival.

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Tell us your lodge
and your dates.

One message and we'll confirm the boat, the timing, your pick-up, and a fare out to Pestana, Anantara, andBeyond, Azura or Kisawa — plus the leg home if you want it. No deposit to ask.

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