Bahia Mar Boutique Hotel

Bahia Mar sits on a green hillside above the beach at Vilankulo, on Mozambique's south-east coast, with the Bazaruto Archipelago visible from the terraces. The hotel has twenty-two rooms in several categories: eight sea-view bedrooms on the upper floor, each with a queen bed, en-suite shower, and a veranda with sun beds looking toward the islands; ten garden suites set among the grounds, with outside shower and a choice of twin or king beds; three luxury beach suites on the lower floor, each a self-catering unit with king bed, bath, kitchenette, and private splash pool; one presidential suite with a private pool and barbecue area in the garden; and four family units combining an upper double room with a ground-floor suite.

The infinity pool overlooks the Indian Ocean. Two French head chefs, each with more than two decades in Mozambique, run the restaurant — the kitchen draws on local seafood and produce. The spa opened in 2019. A gym offers group classes.

On the water, the hotel's speedboat, Mothassane, runs trips to the archipelago — snorkelling on Two Mile Reef, reef fishing, and sandbank visits. Traditional dhow trips go to Magaruque, the closest island to Vilankulo. Kitesurfing, scuba diving, whale watching, and helicopter scenic flights are all on offer.

Bahia Mar is the only hotel in Mozambique to hold Fair Trade Tourism certification, and has supported community preschools in Vilankulo since 2014 through its Bonguili project. Staff speak English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Russian.