The Best Vilanculos Accommodations

It’s hard to decide between the different types of Vilanculos accommodations. For such a small town, there are plenty of options. All these suggestions are what I’ve personally looked up for our own stay in June 2022 and are located right on the beach!

We opted for a reasonably priced guest house instead of splurging (which is easy to do at the resorts) because (1) we wanted access to the town to try out restaurants and (2) to do more boat activities. Boat rides and activities are around USD 100 per person so this can add up quickly. That said, if you’re at an all-inclusive resort, your food and some activities will be taken care of by your overall rate anyway.

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Guest house-style accommodation

Baobab Beach Resort and Backpackers— We chose to stay here for our Vilanculos accommodation and I highly recommend it. The cute cabins with hammocks spoke to my soul. The cabins were right on the beach so we could hear the waves crashing at night and it was lovely. The staff here is so helpful and the manager organized all our tours for us easily. I booked via WhatsApp with manager Rebecca at +258844133084. For 3 nights with 1 breakfast, drinks, and water, we spent MZN 16,000 (USD 250). Rebecca was also amazing becuase she organized all our boat activities for us, which made planning a whole lot easier.

Casa Babi— Located next to Baobab, Casa Bibi has 4 rooms available. Online reviews say this spot has an amazing breakfast.

Vilancool Beach Resort— Fun fact: we booked our first visit to Vilanculos with Vilancool but had to cancel due to lockdown restrictions in 2021. When we rebooked our tickets, Vilancool wasn’t available. However, this spot is also on Airbnb and booking.com and is right on the waterfront. The lodge is a non-profit, providing employment and education to locals.

Casa Cabana Beach— With bungalows, rooms, and chalets, you can easily have a chill vacay at Casa Cabana. We had breakfast here and then lounged until lunch. The space is really nice! Get the prawn special for lunch.

Self-catering Vilanculos accommodations

Self-catering options are perfect for longer stays as there aren’t many breakfast options around town. There is also a lot of fresh fish and delicious-looking fruit available so having your own kitchen would work really well in Vilanculos.

Golden Sands Apartments by Sol Resorts— As we passed this lodge, we were told that this is a favorite for visiting South Africans.

Vila Do Paraiso—There are several villas available here as well as a restaurant on site. Perfect for a family or large friend trip, the villas have 4 bedrooms that can accommodate 8 people.

High-end accommodation

Most of the high-end Vilanculos accommodations are located in the northern part of town and beyond. It’s more secluded and you’ll have to get a tuk-tuk to transport you around or see if your lodge can get you a bike to explore. However, if staring out into the ocean is all the activity you need for a relaxing vacation, then you won’t need to move about at all!

Bahia Mar Boutique Hotel— If we were going to splurge on our Vilanculos accommodation, this would have been our top choice. The grounds are modern with a Mozambique twist. There are suites and a beach house.

Villas do Indico Eco-Resort & Spa— There are 10 suites, a bungalow, a house, and camping grounds on this coastal property. The infinity-style swimming pool is a plus and the food here looks delish. Check booking.com for deals.

Vilanculos Beach Lodge— This popular lodge has several awards and has a cool “modern Africa” vibe to it.  

Luxury Island Hotels

Bazaruto Island

Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort—There is no better way to splurge than to stay at an Anantara resort. I personally haven’t built up the courage to spend my money here, but it looks incredible. Located on Bazaruto island, you can explore, lounge, or take boat rides around.

Benguerra

andBeyond Benguerra Island— This all-inclusive resort also has activities included such as scuba diving, horseback riding, and sunset dhow rides.

Kisawa Sanctuary— If you’re looking for a lodge straight out of Conde Nast Traveller, look no further than Kisawa. In fact, CN Traveler wrote an article about it in April 2022. The rate includes a lot of extras like transfers, spa treatment, kayaking, dining, and laundry. There are one- and two-bedroom options as well as a three-bedroom option. It’s dreamy.

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Did I miss your favorite Vilanculos accommodation? Let me know in the comments!