The Islands of Mozambique — Bazaruto, Quirimbas, Inhaca, and Ilha

Mozambique’s islands include several distinct visitor regions: the Bazaruto Archipelago off Vilanculos (five islands, the main visitor destination), the Quirimbas Archipelago in the far north (31 remote islands, UNESCO Biosphere), Inhaca Island off Maputo (the easiest weekend escape from the capital), and the historic Island of Mozambique (a small coral island and UNESCO World Heritage Site that gave the country its name). They are not interchangeable — each is a different trip, a different price point, and a different reason to come.

Why “Mozambique islands” can mean two things

Travellers searching for “Mozambique islands” run into a confusing fact: the same English phrase points at two different places.

• The islands of Mozambique (plural) — the country’s archipelagos and offshore islands. Mostly Bazaruto and the Quirimbas, plus Inhaca and a handful of smaller ones.
• The Island of Mozambique (singular, Ilha de Moçambique) — a specific 3-km coral island in northern Nampula province with a UNESCO-listed colonial old town. It was Portuguese Mozambique’s capital until 1898 and gave the country its name.

Both are worth your time. They’re a thousand kilometres apart and are completely different trips.

How many islands does Mozambique have?

Mozambique’s island groups have published counts, but this guide does not claim a verified total for the country. Adding a few archipelagos produces a selective list, not a national inventory.

The Quirimbas biosphere profile describes eleven islands within its site, a different boundary from the wider chain. Inhaca, Portuguese Island and historic Ilha de Moçambique are also part of the country’s island geography. Use the destination names to plan the trip rather than a misleading “47 islands in total” headline.

The Bazaruto Archipelago

The Bazaruto Archipelago is five islands — Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magaruque, Santa Carolina, and Bangué — sitting 10–25 km off the coast of Vilanculos. White sand, turquoise water, towering dunes that reach 100 m, freshwater lakes inland, and seagrass beds offshore that hold the last viable population of dugongs in East Africa. It’s the place most international travellers come to see, and for most travellers, it should be. Compare the actual room location, board and transfer arrangements when choosing an island lodge; a photograph alone does not show how the stay works.

Bazaruto Archipelago National Park was proclaimed in 1971 — one of the oldest in southern Africa — and extended in 2001 to its current form. The marine area is patrolled and entry fees fund conservation. It is, in practical terms, the reason these islands still look like this.

The five islands:

• Bazaruto — the largest. 10,700 hectares, 37 km long. Towering dunes, freshwater lakes, the namesake of the park.
• Benguerra — 2,399 hectares. Quieter than Bazaruto, dune forest, the seagrass channels where you find dugongs.
• Magaruque — 189 hectares. The closest island to Vilanculos, a shallow lagoon on the leeward side, soft sand, no resorts.
• Santa Carolina (Paradise Island) — 59 hectares. The 1950s “Paradise Island Hotel” ruins on one end. The most cinematic beach in the country.
• Bangué — 15 hectares. The smallest. The smallest of the five main islands; access is subject to park and operator arrangements.

How you visit. Fly into Vilanculos (VNX) from Maputo or Johannesburg. From the bay, day trips by speed boat or dhow reach Magaruque in 25 minutes, Bazaruto and Benguerra in about an hour. We run a regular Bazaruto + Benguerra island day trip and longer overnights. If you’re staying out at one of the island lodges rather than day-tripping, confirm whether the crossing is included in the room package or booked separately — see our Bazaruto island boat transfers. For the full picture — the five islands, the marine park, where to stay — see our complete Bazaruto Archipelago guide.

The Quirimbas Archipelago

The Quirimbas Archipelago is Mozambique’s northern island chain in Cabo Delgado. UNESCO’s tentative-list description names 31 islands; its separate biosphere-reserve profile describes a smaller protected-site boundary. A biosphere designation and a World Heritage inscription are different recognitions.

Names found in the archipelago’s geography and travel history include Ibo, Quirimba, Matemo, Medjumbe, Quilálea and Vamizi. Ibo’s settlement and trading history offer a different interest from an island beach stay. These names are not a current list of open, recommended lodges.

Before considering a visit: check the FCDO restricted-area map and your own government’s advice. Cabo Delgado and Pemba cannot be dismissed as simply far from the conflict. Assess the specific island, mainland transit, insurance and receiving operator together; an operating flight does not resolve those questions.

For a southern island holiday, compare the Bazaruto options before adding a northern leg. The safety guide explains why regional boundaries and access routes matter.

Ilha de Moçambique — the Island of Mozambique

Ilha de Moçambique (the Island of Mozambique) is a 3-km long, 500-m wide coral island connected to the mainland by a 3.8-km bridge in northern Nampula province. It was the capital of Portuguese East Africa from 1507 until 1898, and gave the modern country its name. UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991, listed for the unbroken architectural unity of its town. (UNESCO World Heritage: Island of Mozambique)

Two halves to the island:

• Stone Town (the northern end). Coral-stone Portuguese-era buildings, the Fortress of São Sebastião (1558), the Palace and Chapel of São Paulo. Check opening arrangements for the historic sites before visiting. The streets feel medieval-Mediterranean, transplanted to the Indian Ocean.
• Macuti Town (the southern half). The traditional Swahili neighbourhood, palm-thatch (macuti) roofs, lived-in, busy. This is where most of the island’s 14,000 people live.

This is not a beach trip. The water is mostly tidal flats; you come for the history, the architecture, and one of the most atmospheric places in southern Africa. Check the mainland route and current regional advice before combining it with another northern stop.

Inhaca Island

Inhaca Island is a small island just off Maputo, in Maputo Bay. The capital’s weekend escape — reached through an arranged crossing from Maputo; confirm current operators, departure point and weather arrangements. Marine biology research station, a coral reef system protected as a national reserve, simple lodges, and the kind of fishing-village pace that disappears two hours from a capital city. Worth a couple of days if you’re spending time in Maputo and want a low-key island break.

The Primeiras & Segundas Archipelago

The Primeiras & Segundas Archipelago is ten islands off the central coast of Nampula and Zambézia provinces — five “Primeiras” (first) and five “Segundas” (second) — and it is the wild card among Mozambique’s island groups. In 2012 it was declared a large marine protected area. The CARE-WWF programme explains the community and conservation work in the region. Intact reefs, vast seabird colonies, and good surf in the right season.

There is almost no tourism infrastructure here, and that is exactly the appeal for the few who go. This is for surfers, marine scientists, and travellers who value solitude over comfort — not for anyone who wants a hammock and a cocktail. How you visit. Fly into Nampula (APL) or Quelimane (UEL), then arrange road and boat transfers locally; there is no scheduled tourism transport, so most trips happen through surf charters, research expeditions, or self-organised logistics with local operators.

Magaruque, Santa Carolina, and the smaller Bazaruto islands as standalones

You can also visit the smaller Bazaruto islands directly from Vilanculos as their own day trips:

• Magaruque Island day trip — closest, calmest, best for swimmers and snorkelers who want a relaxed pace.
• Santa Carolina day trip — most photogenic. The Paradise Island ruins. Longer boat ride.

Day trip or island overnight?

A Mozambique island day trip and an island-lodge stay should be compared as different packages. The room rate is only one part of the overnight cost.

Confirm swimming ability, child lifejackets and boarding access before paying. Carry essential medicines and documents in a protected bag, and keep a mainland buffer if required for the onward flight. Read marine life and habitats for what the protected water supports.

Which island is right for which trip

Choose a Mozambique island by the kind of visit and its access requirements, then compare the actual package:

Still not sure?

The right island depends on your budget, your time, and what you’ve come to do. Send us a message on WhatsApp — tell us how long you have and what kind of trip you want, and we can help compare the southern options and flag the questions a more remote route needs answered.

For more, see our Vilanculos page, things to do in Vilanculos, the Bazaruto + Benguerra day trip, best time to visit, and safety guide.

Last reviewed: 7 September 2026. Sources: UNESCO Quirimbas Biosphere Reserve, UNESCO World Heritage: Island of Mozambique, ANAC: Quirimbas National Park, our own day-to-day operations in Mozambique.