Why we love Azura Quilalea
A holiday that ticks every box imaginable. Truly authentic, warm, professional staff and your own personal butler takes the pampering to a whole new level! The Azura Team deliver inimitable style and refined luxury in presenting Quilalea. Unforgettable culinary experiences, great quality food served in imaginatively varied places, every day. Relax or stay active, as you prefer, Azura Quilálea caters for everyone. Fantastic snorkelling literally on the beach, be surrounded by a kaleidoscope of miraculous coral reefs and fish.
Azura Quilalea Private Island Mozambique
Azura at Quilálea Private Island is an idyllic Mozambique island resort nestling in a forgotten corner of Mozambique’s Quirimbas Archipelago in the tropical Indian Ocean.
It is the second luxury Indian Ocean Resort from the Azura Retreats group, bringing Azura’s trademark African-chic style to Quilalea Private Island a luxurious eco-retreat. It has one of the only safe deep-water moorings in the area, where the Portuguese and Arab traders traditionally found sanctuary for their dhows. Along with its sister island Sencar, it is one of the few properties in the entire Archipelago to lie within a fully protected marine reserve, ensuring an abundance of marine life. Completely uninhabited, this Indian Ocean island offers complete exclusivity and unparalleled natural beauty.
Azura Quilalea Private Island in Mozambique boasts nine private villas each offer magnificent sea views, providing a haven of luxury island accommodation. Surrounded by the sparkling, azure waters of the warm Indian Ocean, Quilalea Island lodge is the ideal honeymoon destination for those in search of the perfect romantic island getaway, or the ultimate holiday for those in need of relaxation, adventure and rediscovery. It is the only island in Mozambique with a house reef, accessible directly from the main beach, making it a fabulous destination for snorkelers, scuba divers and lovers of marine life.
The resort villas are built from natural coral stone and makuti thatch, and have all been revamped to increase comfort and make better use of the interior space, with natural finishing’s, indoor/outdoor showers, private plunge pools, private decks stretching out to the beach, daybeds and sun-loungers for relaxing.
Guests can choose between three categories of the villa: 4 Kaskazi Villas, 4 Kusi Villas, and Villa Quilálea. The island may also be booked out in its entirety for a complete private island experience.
KASKAZI VILLAS
The 4 Kaskazi villas are open-plan and spacious, with stylish décors. Guests need only take a few steps to the gleaming white beach, or they may choose to bask on their sun lounger on their private deck on Quilalea Private Island.
KUSI VILLAS
The 4 Kusi Villas at Quilalea Island have been beautifully revamped in that subtle yet stunning Azura way, with spacious bathrooms, natural furnishings and pure African elegance.
VILLA QUILALEA
The Ultimate Honeymoon Villa. The cliff-top Villa Quilalea offers the most astounding accommodation for a couple in the whole Quirimbas Archipelago. Guests can access the ocean from their own clifftop step-ladder, which leads into a private alcove with a small beach at low tide, and immediate swimming and snorkelling at high tide, so to experience the impressive underwater world!
The main bar/pool area has been substantially reconfigured, including a chill zone with large cushions for lazing around.
The Jellyfish Dining Room is open on the sides to make the best use of the trade winds that are wonderfully cooling on a summer night. Boasting a fully equipped PADI Dive and Watersports Centre, a feature Baobab reception and a boutique with local crafts and designer beachwear.
At Quilalea island Mozambique, dining is all part of the experience, from breakfast at the water’s edge, to a picnic on a sandy island, to dining on a candlelit beach beneath the stars. Menus are based on what is fresh and available, with a focus on light meals, simple ingredients, and lots of fresh fish and seafood. The host will set up a private candle-light dinner on your deck or on the beach in front of your villa, surrounded by candles and lanterns arranged in the sand. The ultimate in romantic dining!
Guests receive Azura’s trademark Mozambican Butler/Host service, where they try to make the dining experiences different through a range of unique and special venues and set-ups.
For the wine connoisseur, there is a wine cellar stocked with fine wines from the owner’s 5 estates, as well as wines from Quilalea island lodge’s own Chateau flown in from France’s Loire Valley.
In the charming restaurant, or private dining hideaway, and passionately prepared phenomenal food creates a warm, friendly atmosphere.
Azura Quilalea Private Island offers unique African Spa treatments at the beautiful cliff top spa with the calming sounds of the waves lapping against the rocks. Signature treatments use only natural ingredients sourced from the wilds of Africa, for the ultimate relaxing and pampering African Spa experience.
Turtle Beach is the most beautiful beach on Azura Quilalea Island – Mozambique. Enjoy an aerial view of the islands. Fly over the coconut plantation on Quirimbas Island or enjoy a view of Ibo Island from the air.
Experience the romance of bygone Africa with a unique Baobab Bath experience. A cast iron bathtub will be brought to your villa, and a special baobab bath will be prepared for you to relax in with a glass of bubbly as the sun goes down, the moon rises and the stars come out above you. Perfect for celebrating a special occasion. Such as a very special honeymoon Azura Quilalea are masters of making honeymoons unforgettable and boast the most amazing Mozambique honeymoon destination!
There’s a fantastic honeymoon package with 40% off for the bride and loads of other extras.
Kayaks are available for your pleasure at any time, if you would prefer, one of our accomplished guides will accompany you on a kayaking safari!
A time honoured tradition in East African waters, set sail in a traditional Mozambican Dhow sailboat, and watch the sunset as you drift along on the ocean breezes. And if you would like to see where you will be sailing off to see our Mozambique map of Quilalea Island here.
Azura Quilalea Facilities
- 4 X Kaskazi villas
- 4 X Kusi Villa
- 1 X Villa Quilalea
- Beachfront location and view
- Air-conditioning and fans
- Mozambican Butler-host service
- Mini bar
- Tea/coffee making facilities
- Beds can be set up as twin sharing
- Large bathroom with feature indoor/outdoor shower
- Sundeck with loungers
- Private undercover deck with daybed
Getting to Azura Quilalea Mozambique
Guests will access Azura Quilalea Private Island via Pemba International Airport in Mozambique.
Pemba can be accessed from South Africa with flights from Johannesburg on SA Airlink and LAM, From Tanzania flights are on with LAM from Dar es Salaam and from Kenya with flights on LAM via Nairobi – both twice weekly.
There is also good and usually daily access from centers in Mozambique including Maputo, Beira and Nampula. On arrival our representative will meet you and assist with customs and immigration formalities. Please check with us beforehand on your visa requirements, but do note that all nationalities require a visa. South African Residents receive an automatic free visa on arrival. Most other nationalities can purchase a visa on arrival but please do check.
Once you have collected your baggage at Pemba International Airport there is a short walk to the transfer company for your helicopter transfer.
Flights over the archipelago to Azura Quilalea are truly spectacular and you will have brilliant views of all the islands and the Quirimba’s National Park. Expect to spot whales in season (July to September)
Helicopter transfers land on Quilalea Island, and light aircraft make use of Quirimba Island and then a boat transfer over to Quilalea.
Boat transfers to combine with Ibo Island are easily arranged. This area is a 45 minute transfer through the mangrove channels and an innovative way to get between the two properties. See our Ibo Island Lodge/ Azura Quilalea island package here.
Azura Quilalea is located 30 nautical miles north of Pemba and one of the southernmost islands in the Archipelago.
Private Charter flights are available to Pemba through various charter companies in Johannesburg at reasonable rates. Aircraft seat 8-19 pax.
Quirimba Island has a 1000m grass runway which is in excellent condition year round.
GPS coordinates for Azura at Quilalea Island
12.4911° S, 40.6001° E