Azura at Quilálea Private Island
Quilálea Private Island Area Information
Quilálea Private Island is an idyllic Mozambique island nestling in a forgotten corner of Mozambique’s Quirimbas Archipelago in the tropical Indian Ocean. Completely uninhabited, this Indian Ocean island offers complete exclusivity and unparalleled natural beauty. Azura at Quilálea’s 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, Azura at Quilálea 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.
BACKGROUND
Azura at Quilálea is the second luxury Indian Ocean retreat from Christopher and Stella Bettany. Just as the name suggests, it brings Azura’s trademark African-chic style to Quilálea Island, a private, wholly uninhabited island paradise surrounded by the pristine waters of a marine sanctuary.
STYLE
The vision is to provide the ultimate in private luxury hideaways in stunning undiscovered destinations. Azura at Quilálea 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. Attention to detail, as ever with Azura, is paramount in the design, the finishes, and the overall wow factor of the island experience.
ECO – RETREAT
Azura at Quilálea is an Eco-Boutique Retreat. Whilst the Quirimbas Archipelago stretch from Pemba to the Northern border with Tanzania, only the very southern part of the archipelago, where Quilálea is located, forms a fully protected marine sanctuary.
Conscious of this pristine natural environment and the need to preserve it, Azura at Quilálea has embarked on a unique energy saving project, whereby solar power, wind generation, rainwater harvesting, and eco-friendly rechargeable crystal batteries are used in combination with normal generators and desalination to provide the island’s power and water. The aim is for all basic functions to run without the need to switch on generators for lengthy periods, and also to switch generators off completely at night to ensure maximum tranquility for our guests.
Uniquely at Azura at Quilálea, guests can control their own energy consumption through a wall switch at their villa. They can opt for ‘ECO’ or ‘LUXE’, Eco resulting in power for the bare minimum requirements for the room, such as basic lighting and fan, or Luxe providing all mod cons including Aircon.
ACCOMMODATION
In keeping with the uninhabited nature of the island, the retreat consists of only nine seafront villas, accommodating eighteen guests.
The 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 finishings, indoor/outdoor showers, private decks stretching out to the beach, daybeds and sun-loungers for relaxing.
Guests can choose between three categories of villa: 4 Sunrise Villas, 4 Sunset Villas, and Villa Quilálea. The island may also be booked out in its entirety for a complete private island experience.
Sunset Villas have the premium locations, with an additional outdoor shower and beach sala. The cliff-top Villa Quilálea offers the most astounding accommodation for a couple in the whole archipelago, with a private plunge pool, feature bathroom & dressing room, an outdoor shower, and its own separate sitting/dining area.
The villas are open-plan and spacious, with stylish décors of wood, cotton and materials such as rope, pebbles and rattan, all blending in seamlessly with the island surroundings. Guests need only take a few steps to the gleaming white beach, or they may choose to bask on their sunlounger, recline in their sala, or cool off in their outdoor shower.
ROOM AMENITIES
All of the villas have a unique energy control system whereby guests can take control of their own eco-footprint. All mod cons are there if desired, including mini bar and air-conditioning, or guests can throw their villa open to being air-cooled by the natural breezes.
Villas can be configured as kingsize or twin, with oversized mosquito net and feature bathrooms, including indoor/outdoor showers, double vanities and separate toilet/bidet.
Outdoors there are daybeds on the deck and sun loungers.
Villa Quilálea additionally has a feature bathroom with free-standing bath and separate dressing room, a romantic draped Kingsize 4 poster bed, and enlarged sitting area. It also has a private infinity pool, sitting/dining area, extended decking and relaxation areas, and a stunningly private location, including ocean access from a clifftop stepladder.
COMMUNAL AREAS
Each ‘public’ area of the retreat is designed with its own particular ethos in mind, creating unique vibes and experiences out of which guests will find their own favourite haven, be it a hammock under the trees, a perch at the bar, or a dip in the main feature pool.
The main bar/pool area has been substantially reconfigured, including a chill zone with large cushions for lazing around. The kitchen has been completely re-designed and fitted with state of the art equipment, to provide the standard of cuisine that Azura is famous for, and the Dining Room has an all new Wine Cellar for private dining and to showcase the owner’s wines. There is also an all new fully equipped Padi Dive and Watersports Centre, and TV and media room for those who want to stay in touch, and a Boutique with local crafts and designer beachwear.
LOCATION
Quilálea Island is one of the Southernmost islands in the pristine Quirimbas Archipelago, 30 nautical miles North of Pemba. It has one of only a few safe deepwater 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.
The island is approximately 86 acres in size, and apart from Azura at Quilálea staff and guests, it is completely uninhabited. The island is covered in indigenous vegetation, with statuesque age old baobab groves and stunning flora and fauna, a real nature lowers paradise. There are 4 large sandy beaches on the island, the villas are spread along 2 of them, the main beach always has boat access, and remote and beautiful turtle beach is home to dozens of
nesting turtles and is an excellent spot for a private picnic lunch.
It’s just as amazing below the sea, with snorkeling accessible off the beaches and around most of the island, patrolled by huge potato bass and schools of hunting jacks, and a spectacular house reef for diving just a short fin kick away from the main beach. This is paradise for lovers of marine life and marine experiences.
CLIMATE
Azura at Quilálea is hot and humid year round, with long sunny days and temperatures rarely below 24 degrees day and night. Trade winds do bring cooling breezes, North Easterly from October to March with the chance of some showers, and the slightly stronger but dry South Easterly trade wind from April to September. The villas are positioned to take best advantage of the natural breezes.
Rainy season: ‘Mango Rains’ commence in late October, bringing occasional light showers. Jan – March are hot and humid months, where temperatures often hit 35 degrees+, with tropical rainbursts, most often in the late afternoons or overnight bringing welcome relief from the heat. April to October are normally hot and dry months.
Weather patterns globally are changing, and rains in the past couple of years have become more unpredictable, with the rainy season having become shorter and later most recently. This is however no predictor of future weather patterns!
The water temperature is warm year round and ranges from 28-32 degrees +.
DINING
Cuisine at Quilálea is focused around 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 and laid back affair.
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. Should you have particular dietary requirements it is advisable to alert us as far in advance as possible, as some specialist ingredients may take time for us to procure.
For the wine connoisseur, there is a wine cellar stocked with fine wines from the owner’s 5 estates, as well as wines from Azura’s own Chateau flown in from France’s Loire Valley.
The wine cellar makes an excellent venue for a more formal private dining experience.
Normal meals, house wines, local spirits, soft drinks, water, tea and coffee are included in the rate.
ACTIVITIES
- Cliff-top African Spa
- Beach picnics / private dining experiences
- Island Baobab nature walk
- Mangrove Kayaking on nearby Sencar Island
- Scuba Diving and scuba diving courses
- Snorkelling and guided snorkelling trips
- Deep sea fishing
- Sea kayaking
- Dhow sailing
- Dhow Sunset Cruise
- Island hopping and remote beach picnics
- Cultural visits including nearby historic Ibo Island
- Tours of the working coconut plantation on Quirimba Island and the local village
SPA
Azura at Quilálea uniquely African spa offers signature treatments based on local ingredients and traditions. These include being rubbed down with ground coconut shells, covered head to toe with tamarind and aloe, or gently massaged with warm marula oil. The Spa has a stunning location on the Island’s headland where there is a natural rock alcove with rhythmical splashing of the water at high tide to aid in the relaxation process.
ACCESS
Closest major airport is Pemba. There is then a light aircraft flight to Quirimba Island, a short scenic drive across the coconut plantation, followed by a max 20 min boat ride to Quilálea private island. There is always deep water access at the main beach at Quilálea, but a walk through water is needed at Quirimba Island except at high tide. Quirimba transfer $30pp each way.
CFA
Pemba – Quirimba Island (daily)
Dep 09h00; Arr 09h20
Dep 14.15; Arr 14h35
Quirimba Island – Pemba (daily)
Dep 12h15; Arr 12h35
Dep 16.15; Arr 16h35
WEDDINGS
Blessings can be arranged on request.
FAMILIES
Children are welcome in the Sunrise and Sunset Villas at Azura at Quilálea, and the marine paradise offers numerous possibilities for children and families. We ask that guest privacy always be respected, and younger children may be asked to dine earlier or in villa.
DRESS CODE
Informal/casual beach chic.
PACKING ESSENTIALS
Bathing suits, sunglasses, sunhat, sunscreen, torch, kikoys or wraps and shoes for the beach (that can get wet e.g. flip flops).
Batteries or chargers for cameras, phones etc. we provide electrical converters.
Flip-flops or sandals are useful for walking about during the day, and for beach dinners in the evenings. A lower heel/wedges in the evenings is also manageable as there are pathways to all villas.
American Express is not used in Mozambique, so if you are likely to pay using a credit card, we suggest you bring along a Visa or Mastercard
Please bring along any diving certification cards. It is now possible to undertake the theory part of a PADI qualification on-line with the practical dives completed on site.
VISA REQUIREMENTS
Visas are required by all nationalities except South Africans. (approx. US$80) It is advisable to arrange visas before travel however they can be issued on arrival in Pemba.
ARRIVAL
An Azura at Quilálea representative will be there to assist you when you arrive in Pemba airport. Please note that this is likely to be a local man with English as a foreign language.
He assists guests everyday at the airport and knows the procedures and will make sure that you do the correct thing. Kindly have patience when communicating and know that you are in good hands, and be aware that procedures will not be as speedy as you may be used to elsewhere.
Be prepared for luggage to be searched upon arrival at Pemba, and this might include hand luggage. It will also be searched upon departure, as they will check that you are not taking anything from the protected parks, like shells. Please pack soft bags only with a maximum 20kg including hand luggage.
RECOMMENDED LENGTH OF STAY
To take full advantage and enjoy everything on offer at Azura at Quilálea we recommend a minimum of 5 nights, preferably longer.
HEALTH
Mozambique is a malarial area and suitable prophylactics are advised. Quilálea Island is considered a low risk malarial area as it does not have a local population or any natural standing water.
Guests coming to Mozambique from countries that are known to be at risk of yellow fever (including Kenya, Tanzania, Congo and Angola) are now required to present vaccination certificates.
Medical facilities locally are extremely limited. We stock basic first aid supplies and popular medications. Please bring any medication that may be required. Azura has Medivac Insurance from Pemba for medical emergencies.
MARINE LIFE/ FLORA & FAUNA
The Quirimbas National Park extends from just south of Quilálea, to just north of Rolas and Matemo Islands. A WWF study in 2007 concluded that Quilálea and its sister Sencar island were the only totally protected area in the park, and an important breeding and nesting ground for Olive Ridley, Green and Hawksbill Turtles. The turtles breed from August, nest from October to January, and hatch up until April each year. Humpback whales can also be seen from July to October.
In the ocean surrounding Quilálea, there are near-pristine inshore and offshore coral reef; sea-grass beds, upon which the turtles feed; good stocks of pelagic fishes, and long stretches of sandy beaches, ideal for swimming, walking or just relaxing.
Animal sightings
- Turtles – year round
- Turtle Nesting Season: October to April
- Whales – humpback – mid July to mid October
- Dolphins – year round
Quilálea is home to ancient baobab groves, and a variety of flora and fauna, including a fascinating array of butterflies.
ENVIRONMENT & THE COMMUNITY
Azura’s Rainbow Fund registered charity, the only one of its kind in Mozambique. Will undertake a number of initiatives at Azura at Quilálea Private Island, including steps to further protect the pristine natural and marine environment, aided by the Eco energy control initiative. The Rainbow Fund also assists the nearby communities at Quissanga and Quirimba with donations and events like World Children’s Day. A discretionary donation of $10 per villa per night will be added to guest bills.
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