Holidays Off the Beaten Track in Santa Maria

Join tourists who love holidays off the beaten track, in nature, when you book your Mozambique holiday to stay in the resorts of the magnificent Santa Maria Peninsula. Discover this wild, untouched piece of land jutting into the Indian Ocean on the eastern side of Maputo Bay, close to Inhaca Island. Indulge in world-class fishing, exquisite bird sightings, and mind-boggling snorkelling. The Santa Maria Peninsula is one of the best Mozambique family holiday destinations that offer all-year-round satisfaction.

Self-drive to a paradise as a keen traveller to Mozambique wanting a beach holiday with a difference. This gorgeous holiday destination just outside Maputo promises an idyllic escape from real life to endless white beaches in a remote location, and some of the best beach accommodation in Mozambique!

A holiday escape at Santa Maria effortlessly combines adventures into pristine African forests, endless walks along golden sandy beaches and a wide range of water sports in the azure ocean.

Select the perfect Mozambique beach resort on the Santa Maria Peninsula – such as the luxurious Machangulo Beach LodgeThis beachfront resort is one of our best sellers and offers amazing service, activities and value for money. we also have some of the best rates to Machangulo around – so let us help you with your holiday plans. Find Santa Mariaon our Mozambique map here.

Machangulo Beach Lodge

Machangulo Beach Lodge

Machangulo Beach Lodge sits on the dunes of the Santa Maria Peninsula in southern Mozambique. This is one of our top selling beach lodges based on value and service. It’s also easily accessible from Maputo and worth a visit soon.
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Cabo Beach Villas Mozambique

Cabo Beach Villas Mozambique

Situated at the very tip of the Santa Maria Peninsula these truly unique beach facing villas define simple, yet barefoot self-catering luxury in Mozambique. Easy to get to, just one hour by boat from Maputo, this is one of Mozambique’s best kept secret holiday spots.
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Colina Verde, Machangulo Peninsula

Colina Verde, Machangulo Peninsula

Colina Verde is superb. There is no other way to describe this brand new holiday destination in southern Mozambique. Visit this crème de la crème of beach hotels in its pristine setting in the Machangulo Reserve, away from the madding crowds.
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The Monarch Villa, Machangulo

The Monarch Villa, Machangulo

Named after the eye-catching African Monarch butterfly, this definitive Machangulo Nature Reserve villa sleeps 12 in style in vast lavish suites made for family holidays and group reunions. Getting back and giving back to nature has never been so glamorous!
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Loggerhead Beach Villa

Loggerhead Beach Villa

An eco-lodge with a huge heart, Loggerhead is the place where you want to learn about turtles, you want to swim like a turtle, and you want to be part of something greater than you and something that brings joy to all nature lovers out there. Magnificent luxury accommodation in the dunes at Machangulo.
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Leatherback Beach Villa

Leatherback Beach Villa

Named after a rare turtle that migrates across the oceans and lays eggs in the sands, Leatherback Beach Villa is indeed the setting you need for a complete reconnection with yourself and the environment. The entire villa sleeps 8 people in sheer world class luxury on the Santa Maria Peninsula.
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Kilima Sanctuary, Machangulo

Kilima Sanctuary, Machangulo

Imagine a villa so spacious and so decadent that the silence is deafening? A place where time stands still in handpicked accommodation in a five-star Mozambique villa on the Santa Maria Peninsula. Fully serviced, fully catered luxury meters from the beaches and Indian Ocean, you are part of an ecotourism adventure.
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The highlights of a holiday to Santa Maria Mozambique

  • Extraordinary fishing at Hells Gate estuary for kingfish species, barracuda, speckled snapper, sailfish, sharks, rays and much more.
  • Drive to the Maputo Special (Elephant) Reserve to see game and birds deluxe.
  • Arrive in whale season, July until early November, to see Humpback whales in abundance – breaching and tail lobbing happily.
  • Explore the dune forests and trails in the area, some marked off by lodges and rehabilitated too.
  • Experience local living by visiting the small village of Santa Maria. Enjoy a scrumptious lunch at the local restaurant Teka Teka.
  • Explore Inhaca Village on the island where many shops and even a restaurant can be found. Take a stroll on the beach to the village a great place to enjoy local food and drink.

Santa Maria Facts and Figures

  • Santa Maria is at the end of the bay of Maputo that stretches 38 kms from Maputo. Inhaca and Portuguese Islands lie just offshore and the area is a nature reserve.
  • Fishing trips to catch some of these species: Giant Kingfish, Golden Kingfish, Blue Fin Kingfish, Big Eye Kingfish, Black Tip/or yellow fin Kingfish, Green Spot Kingfish, Amberjack, Lesser Amberjack, Tropical Yellow Tail, Green Job fish, Prodigal Son, and more.
  • Santa Maria Bay and Estuaries – fun exploration between Inhaca Island and Santa Maria Village in mangrove forests. Flocks of flamingos, sea turtles and dugongs, flying fish and local sailing boats in this unbelievable ecosystem, teeming with life.
  • Excellent diving in the Marine reserves surrounding the Machangulo Peninsula. There are plenty of options for advanced divers, so the ideal location for those looking for a unique and new diving experience.

Getting to the Santa Maria Peninsula is easy – self-drive to Maputo then arrange a boat transfer to Machangulo, Villa Ukuthala or Colina Verde from the Maputo harbour. Our seasoned Mozambique consultants will be happy to do just that as part of your holiday package. Browse our accommodation and package options to Santa Maria Mozambique below.