Azura Quilalea is a hidden gem, somewhere to retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily life, with a relaxed and understated ‘Robinson Crusoe’ castaway style that belies the comforts and experiences on offer in the 9 handcrafted seafront villas. A wholly uninhabited island paradise, ensuring total privacy and exclusivity for our guests, and surrounded by the magnificent pristine waters of a marine sanctuary.
There are just 9 seafront villas on this private island, accommodating a maximum of eighteen people in absolute privacy. They are hewn from local materials, with natural coral stone walls, makuti thatch roofs, carved beams and reed shuttered windows. The four Kaskazi Villas have fantastic views across multiple turquoise seas to Quirimba Island beyond. The four Kusi Villas have more exclusive locations, an extra outdoor bush shower, our ‘gym in a bag’, and hammocks for relaxing. The cliff-top Villa Quilalea offers the most astounding accommodation for a couple in the whole Archipelago, located on its own private part of the island where guests can enjoy magnificent views over the turquoise seas with dhows sailing by. The largest of the 9 villas, it has a romantic 4 poster bed, feature bathroom, extensive decking and lounging areas, and its own plunge pool.
Azura Quilalea is located in the pristine Quirimbas Archipelago, a scattering of beautiful unspoilt islands in remote northern Mozambique. It’s an absolute paradise for lovers of marine life, and uniquely in Mozambique there is superb snorkelling and world class scuba diving available straight off the main beach at our house reef. Learn to dive or refresh your skills at our Padi 5 star dive facility, before heading out to discover one of our many and varied nearby dive sites. Back on the island, you can watch pods of dolphins cruise past your sun deck, or look out for humpback whales or nesting turtles in season.
The surrounding waters are world renowned for superb fishing, be it for Giant Trevally, for which we have become famous and see our guests return time and again, or deep sea fishing for tuna or king mackerel. Culture buffs will enjoy a visit to nearby Ibo Island, where time has stood still, and the silversmiths still make jewellery the traditional way outside the ancient fort. More relaxing activities include kayaking through the mangroves on nearby Sencar Island, a nature walk, spotting one of our 182 species of birds, or a massage at our cliff-top spa.
Cuisine is focused on the natural produce available locally in line with the island’s eco-ethos. Lots of fresh fish and seafood dominate the menu, with dining a relaxed affair. Our butler-hosts will delight in surprising you with a range of different dining locations and set-ups in the way that Azura has become known for, beneath our towering ancient baobabs, at a remote beach picnic, or candle-lit on the beach beneath the stars.
Quilalea Private Island is an unspoilt paradise for just a discerning few guests to discover. The whole island can also be booked for sole use by a group of friends or family, for the ultimate in privacy and exclusivity.