Inhaca, Santa Maria and Portuguese Islands Tour from Maputo

Inhaca Island

Inhaca Island lies at the mouth of Maputo Bay, around forty kilometres by sea from the city, and is the best-known island escape from the capital. Its landscape mixes white beaches, dunes, mangrove swamps and patches of forest, and its waters shelter some of the southernmost coral reefs in Africa. A marine biology research station has worked on the island for decades, and parts of it are protected as a nature reserve that shelters many species of birds and plants.

On this Inhaca Island day trip from Maputo you spend about eighty minutes exploring the island's main village with your guide, visiting the local food market and the arts and crafts market and seeing everyday life in a small fishing community. You then sit down for lunch, with one meal and a soft drink or juice included. Many visitors ask whether Inhaca Island is worth visiting: for a taste of Mozambique's islands without a flight, it is the perfect choice.

Santa Maria

The first stop, about an hour by speedboat from Maputo, is Santa Maria, a quiet stretch of coast south of Inhaca across a narrow channel. Known for its tranquillity and untouched scenery, it has long sandbanks, clear shallow water and a mangrove channel where birds feed at low tide. There is little development here, which gives the place a wild, rustic feel very different from the city you left behind.

You spend about two hours at Santa Maria, with time to walk on the beach, swim and snorkel. The crew gives you a mask and snorkel and a short lesson, then helps you find the best spots to see colourful fish and marine life in the shallows. Your guide also points out birds and wildlife along the shore. Remember not to touch corals, starfish or any marine animals, and wear the life jacket whenever the crew asks.

Portuguese Island

Portuguese Island, Ilha dos Portugueses, is a small, low island of fine white sand just off the coast of Inhaca. It takes its name from the Portuguese traders who used it centuries ago, and today it is uninhabited and protected, with only dune plants, seabirds and the sound of the waves. The calm, crystal-clear water that surrounds it makes it one of the most beautiful swimming spots near Maputo.

After a ten-minute boat ride from Inhaca, you spend almost two hours on Portuguese Island, the most relaxing part of the day. The crew sets up chairs, tables and hats on the beach, and you can swim, snorkel over the nearby reefs, walk around the island or simply enjoy the feeling of isolation and serenity. The light is especially lovely in the afternoon, so keep your camera ready before the return to Maputo.

Maputo Bay by speedboat, dolphins and whales

The speedboat crossings are part of the fun. Leaving the Escola Náutica jetty on the Maputo waterfront at around 07:45, you head out across Maputo Bay with views back over the city skyline, then hop between the islands in short legs of ten to thirty minutes. The bay is shallow and mostly calm, but the sun and wind can be strong, so sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses are essential.

Dolphins are sometimes seen in the bay and around the islands, and from about June to November humpback whales migrate along the Mozambican coast, when sightings near the mouth of the bay are possible. The best time for an Inhaca island tour is the dry season from April to November, with clear skies and calm sea; summer months are hotter, with occasional storms. Sightings are never guaranteed, but they make the day unforgettable.