Maputo Retreat
Hotel
Days 1, 8
Mozambique — 9 days (Maputo, Tofo, Vilanculos, Bazaruto & Benguerra)
Nine days up the coast, three ocean safaris and a dhow. Nine days with both domestic flights, three ocean safaris and beachfront lodges at Tofo and Vilanculos.
Tidewrack Voyages
Runs this trip
Snorkelling
Nine days up the coast, three ocean safaris and a dhow
Group Tour
Join a fixed-date departure with other travellers
Top Highlights
Central marketNine days up the coast. InhambaneTofo sits on one of very few places where whale sharks are resident rather than passing through. Tofo reefThe boat launches straight through the surf, which is the memorable part.
Itinerary
Nine days up the coast. Maputo's railway station was designed in the Eiffel office and is still the best building in the city.
MaputoHow the day runs
- 1 hrsTransfer into the baixa
- MealsDinner
- AccommodationMaputo Retreat
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
- Hotel night
LANDMARKS Central market Railway station Feima Start point Maputo, Maputo International Airport (MPM), Maputo 00:00 - 23:59Tofo sits on one of very few places where whale sharks are resident rather than passing through.
Maputo, TofoHow the day runs
- 1 hrs10:00 AM — the flight to Inhambane
- 1 hrs12:00 PM — over the sand road to the beach
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationTofo Lodge
Included Activities
- Domestic flight
- Beach lodge
LANDMARKS Inhambane Tofo beach Dhows The boat launches straight through the surf, which is the memorable part. Sightings are good here and still not promised.
TofoHow the day runs
- 4 hrs7:00 AM — out through the surf on a rigid inflatable
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationTofo Lodge
Included Activities
- Ocean safari with guide and gear
- Beach lodge
LANDMARKS Tofo reef Manta cleaning stations Whale sharks Manta Reef is a cleaning station where giant mantas queue to be picked over by wrasse. They tolerate snorkellers who keep still and leave if you chase them.
TofoHow the day runs
- 4 hrs7:30 AM — out to the cleaning stations
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationTofo Lodge
Included Activities
- Second ocean safari
- Beach lodge
Optional Activities
- A guided dive for certified divers
LANDMARKS Manta Reef Giant mantas Reef fish Seven hours and the road is decent by regional standards. The alternative is a light aircraft that costs several times as much.
Tofo, VilanculosHow the day runs
- 7 hrs7:00 AM — seven hours north on the main road
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationVilanculos Inn
Included Activities
- Transport
- Beach lodge
LANDMARKS EN1 Vilanculos Bazaruto archipelago Bazaruto holds the last viable dugong population in the western Indian Ocean, which is why the whole archipelago is a national park.
Vilanculos, BazarutoHow the day runs
- 2 hrs8:00 AM — the dhow across to the archipelago
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationVilanculos Inn
Included Activities
- Dhow with lunch
- National park fee
- Beach lodge
LANDMARKS Bazaruto Sand dunes Two Mile Reef Dugongs The reef is only workable around slack water, so the day is set by the tide table rather than the clock.
Vilanculos, BenguerraHow the day runs
- 2 hrs8:00 AM — out to the reef on the tide
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationVilanculos Inn
Included Activities
- Dhow with lunch and snorkel gear
- Beach lodge
LANDMARKS Two Mile Reef Benguerra Sandbars An evening in Maputo, which most itineraries skip entirely and should not.
Vilanculos, MaputoHow the day runs
- 2 hrs11:00 AM — the domestic flight back
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationMaputo Retreat
Included Activities
- Domestic flight
- Hotel night
LANDMARKS Maputo Baixa Central market Maputo connects through Johannesburg, which is an hour away.
MaputoHow the day runs
- 1 hrsTransfer to the airport
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationNot included — onward travel
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
- Day 1Airport transfer
- Day 1Hotel night
- Day 2Domestic flight
- Day 2Beach lodge
- Day 3Ocean safari with guide and gear
- Day 4Second ocean safari
- Day 4A guided dive for certified diversCosts extra
- Day 5Transport
- Day 6Dhow with lunch
- Day 6National park fee
- Day 7Dhow with lunch and snorkel gear
- Day 1 · 1 nightMaputo Retreat
- Day 2 · 3 nightsTofo Lodge
- Day 5 · 3 nightsVilanculos Inn
- Day 8 · 1 nightMaputo Retreat
- Day 1Maputo to MaputoTransfer into the baixa
- Day 2Maputo to Tofo10:00 AM — the flight to Inhambane
- Day 2Tofo to Tofo12:00 PM — over the sand road to the beach
- Day 5Tofo to Vilanculos7:00 AM — seven hours north on the main road
- Day 8Vilanculos to Maputo11:00 AM — the domestic flight back
- Day 9Maputo to MaputoTransfer to the airport
Where you'll stay
All accommodations are subject to change
Tofo Lodge
Lodge
Days 2–4
Vilanculos Inn
Hotel
Days 5–7
What you'll eat
8 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 7 dinners across 9 days, at the lodges you sleep in. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 9.
- DinnerServed on days 1–7
- BreakfastServed on days 2–9
- LunchServed on days 6–7
17 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking
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Customer reviews
Overall rating
4.2/5
Based on 52 reviews
Review summary
Food4.1/5
Guide4.0/5
Itinerary4.0/5
Transport4.0/5
Accommodation4.3/5
Tour operator4.1/5
Sort by:Recommended
4
N
Nikhil Joshi – Indore2026-05-09 · Verified booking
Great few days in the water. Briefings were clear and nobody was pushed beyond their level. Would send friends their way.
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5
K
Karan Shah – Jaipur2026-05-09 · Verified booking
Visibility was excellent and the boat ran on time every morning. Rooms were comfortable and the locations meant we could walk most evenings. Crew were professional without being stiff about it.
Reply from Tidewrack Voyages
Glad you enjoyed it. Hope to see you on another trip.
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5
S
Sneha Kulkarni – Hyderabad2026-05-09 · Verified booking
Visibility was excellent and the boat ran on time every morning. Hotels were clean and central, which saved a lot of time. Would send friends their way.
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4
P
Priya Nair – Jaipur2026-05-09 · Verified booking
Great few days in the water. Briefings were clear and nobody was pushed beyond their level.
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5
D
Dev Chatterjee – Chennai2026-02-24 · Verified booking
Instruction was patient — I came in nervous and finished wanting to book the next level. Hotels were clean and central, which saved a lot of time. Meals were good throughout and the vegetarian options weren't an afterthought. Solid operator.
Reply from Tidewrack Voyages
Thank you for travelling with us — glad the route worked out.
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5
N
Nina Hoffmann – Dublin2026-02-24 · Verified booking
Kit was in good condition, which matters more than people realise. Rooms were comfortable and the locations meant we could walk most evenings.
Reply from Tidewrack Voyages
Appreciate the honest feedback; we're looking at the pacing on that section.
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5
A
Arjun Pillai – Jaipur2026-02-24 · Verified booking
Visibility was excellent and the boat ran on time every morning. Rooms were comfortable and the locations meant we could walk most evenings. Solid operator.
Reply from Tidewrack Voyages
Thank you for travelling with us — glad the route worked out.
Was this helpful?
4
M
Marc Dubois – Stockholm2026-02-24 · Verified booking
Instruction was patient — I came in nervous and finished wanting to book the next level. Would send friends their way.
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Questions people ask
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