Bahia Mar Boutique Hotel
Bahia Mar Boutique Hotel Is A 4 Star Hotel Overlooking The Ocean On The Northern Outskirts Of Vilanculos.
Bahia Mar Boutique Hotel is located just outside the town of Vilanculos and has an impressive, elevated position with expansive views over the crystal clear waters of the bay towards the Bazaruto Archipelago. The comfortable rooms have a simple, modern décor with lots of natural light and have large terraces to the fore. With a good restaurant which focuses on fresh, local ingredients, a decent sized swimming pool and an impressive wellness centre with state-of-the-art spa and fully equipped gym, Bahia Mar offers a sophisticated and relaxed environment in which to unwind without the expense of being on one of the Mozambican islands.
Rooms
Bahia Mar provides accommodation in a variety of rooms and suites. Most are located in four buildings on a hillside, each one with two Sea View rooms on the top floor and one Luxury Beach suite taking up the ground floor (families can book an entire building giving a flexible ‘Family Unit’ accommodation option over three rooms – note the top floor and ground floor are linked by an external staircase). The rooms have a very contemporary decor and are full of light. The Sea View rooms are quite compact and include a semi open plan bathroom with basin, toilet and shower. Further facilities include a safe, tea and coffee station and air-conditioning. Sliding glass doors lead onto a large private sun deck with sun loungers and parasol. The Luxury Beach suites are closer to the beach and are much larger. In addition to the sleeping area, there is a separate lounge with television and a small kitchenette. There is a large sun deck with a private plunge pool. It is worth noting that the views are better from the sea view rooms. The Presidential Suite is similar to the Luxury Beach suites but is a private self-catering unit with a garden as well as terrace. The rooms are all accessed by a wooden staircase from the main areas and there are further steps to reach the beach. There are also 10 Garden Suites; two of which are interconnecting, making them a great option for families.
Central Areas
The main areas are made up of an elegant dining room and bar which lead on to an extensive lawn. There is a large swimming pool with pool bar, a smaller children’s pool, wellness centre and well-equipped gymnasium
Facilities
Wi-Fi – Yes
Power for Charging – Yes
Swimming Pool – Yes
Area
The Bazaruto Archipelago lies some 10 to 15 kms offshore of Vilanculos in the southern Mozambican province of Inhambane. It consists of five islands, Santa Carolina (also known as Paradise), Bazaruto (the largest by a long way), Benguerra, Margaruque and Bangue and was gazetted as a Marine National Park in 1971. Some 3500 people, mostly involved in fishing, inhabit the islands (supported by a number of freshwater lakes on each island). Both Bazaruto and Benguerra islands have a number of hotels offering exclusive beach getaways. Diving is very good (both the 2 and 5 mile reefs), as is deep-sea fishing, reef and fly fishing, and snorkelling.
Activities
Bahia Mar can offer trips to the islands in their own boat or alternatively they will arrange activities through local licensed activity operators. Options to consider include snorkelling trips to the islands of Bazaruto, Benguerra and Magaruque, scuba diving, kite surfing, SUPs, biking using special fat tyres ideally suited to the sandy conditions, canoeing and cultural tours.
Seasons
The best times to visit Vilanculos and the Bazaruto Archipelago are from mid April through to late May, and then from August through to December. June and July are very pleasant but can be a little cool due to the southern Africa winter (average daytime temperatures around 23/24 degrees), whilst the rainy season technically runs from November through to March, with most rainfall falling in January and February which is also the peak cyclone season.
Children of all ages are welcome and some of the suites have lounge areas that can be converted to have extra single beds for children. Rooms within one cottage can also be combined for families with older children who do not require internal access to their parents.
With an ethos of responsible tourism, Bahia Mar strives to address the many challenges of operating in this fairly remote area of Mozambique with its developing infrastructure.
The hotel makes every effort to minimize any negative social, economic, and environmental impact the hotel may have, whilst providing upliftment for the community as a whole.
Efforts include training and employment in the local community and the sponsorship of community projects including pre-schooling support.
They endeavour to source as much product as they can locally and ensure the products used are low-impact and environmentally friendly. Waste is sorted and recycled, their predominantly indigenous gardens are water-sensitive, and guests are encouraged to participate in their endeavours.
The lodge supports a community-led conservation project to protect sea horses and are also involved in a tree planting project.
Bahia Mar is proud to be the only hotel in Mozambique certified by Fair Trade Tourism, a recognition of our commitment to ethical, responsible, and sustainable travel.
