Azura Marlin Beach

Azura Marlin Beach is on a one-kilometre-long stretch of white-sand beach in the Bazaruto Archipelago Marine National Park, an area which recently came under conservation management by African Parks. It has an elevated position on the dunes with fabulous sunset views across the ocean. Its island location means it’s close to the reefs and picnic spots to be found just off Benguerra Island for those who can leave the comfort of their daybed to enjoy the vast array of experiences on offer. It is the third property in Azura’s Mozambican portfolio, slightly more modern Mozambican in its styling with a relaxed, informal vibe.

Paradise Found

Just 10 villas are nestled along one of the last undiscovered stretches of beach in the world, with all the creature comforts you could wish for, including Mozambican butler-hosts to look after your every need, fish and seafood fresh from the ocean, a fantastic range of activities and experiences, an African Massage Pavilion for relaxation, all at a community based project where the local islanders benefit as much as you. Azura Marlin Beach is the escape to paradise you’ve been dreaming of.

The villas blend modern styling with traditional African prints. Each of the 10 villas overlooks the bay with uninterrupted Indian Ocean views. A haven of rest and relaxation, just steps from the magnificent white sand beach, with the warm sea beckoning just beyond.

Azura Marlin Beach offers 6 Beach Villas (100m2), each airconditioned with a sea view and just steps away from the beach. Light, bright and airy they have a king-size or twin bed with romantic netting and a sitting area. The bathroom has an indoor and outdoor shower allowing you to clean off the beach sand before enjoying a Mozambican sunset on your deck.

• Beachfront location and views
• Undercover deck
• King size / Twin bed with down duvet
• Day bed
• Beachside sala with sun loungers
• Bathroom with shower & double vanity
• Outside shower
• Separate toilet
• Mozambican Butler-host service
• Air-conditioning and fans
• Tea/coffee

Refined Luxury

The Beach Villas Grande have the same facilities as the Beach Villas but are larger at 132m2 with more relaxation space, a minibar, TV, and space for up to 2 children to share the sitting area. They are located closer to the main area of the hotel.

• Beachfront location and views
• Undercover deck
• King size bed with down duvet
• Day bed
• Beachside sala with sun loungers
• Bathroom with shower & double vanity
• Separate toilet
• Outside shower
• Mozambican Butler-host service
• Mini bar
• Tea/coffee making facilities
• Air-conditioning and fans

Perfect for Families

Villa Vista (380m2) accommodates up to 4 guests in 2 en-suite bedrooms which have the same specification as our Beach Villas. There is also a large indoor entertainment area with bar, dining and lounge with TV, as well as extensive outdoor space with a private pool.

• Beachfront location and views
• Undercover deck
• King size / twin bed with down duvet
• Day bed and sun loungers
• Beachside sala
• Private pool
• Bathroom with shower & double vanity
• Separate toilet
• Outside shower
• Mozambican Butler-host service
• Mini bar
• Air-conditioning and fans
• Tea/coffee making facilities

Azura Marlin Beach offers guests a whole range of activities and experiences within a short, easy boat ride from the hotel, including snorkelling and diving on magnificent Two-Mile Reef, sailing in traditional Dhows, picnics on remote sandbars and of course deep-sea fishing (tag and release). The name Marlin Beach comes from the original Marliin Lodge built on this site by one of Mozambique’s top marlin fishermen.

Hotel Amenities

Azura Marlin Beach’s public areas face the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Several different zones have been created for your enjoyment and relaxation, from the vibey lounge bar to extensive outdoor areas with comfortable four poster daybeds. Guests can enjoy breakfasts and dinner at the main restaurant, with lunch usually served by the sparkling pool area to enjoy the sun-drenched days. Beach dinners with your feet in the sand and the weekly beach BBQ are a highlight for most guests. There is Wi-Fi internet access, a trading store for clothing and souvenirs, and a PADI 5 Star dive centre with top of the range Scubapro equipment.

Azura Marlin Beach Facilities

All public areas are open to the beach and sea with amazing vistas across calm blue waters to the Indian Ocean beyond. Furnished with cool contemporary cottons and the textures of Africa, they offer a modern reflection of a Portuguese heritage. Wander in and out as you please. Find a quiet corner to read a book, or a place to share the stories of your day with others. Sip the cocktail of the day on the beach with your feet in the sand or relax at the pool area which lies at the heart of the hotel, or on one of the luxurious private day beds.

Honeymoons & Romantic Breaks

Azura Marlin Beach is an incredibly romantic setting for a special break away or the most important holiday of your life. The villas are spacious and private, the ocean is warm and welcoming, and the beach goes on for miles in both directions to wander hand in hand. From cocktails poolside to dinner on the beach with your feet in the sand, it’s the perfect place to relax. Azura’s staff are creative souls and will love to arrange a host of surprises for you. Our beach dinners on the sandspit are always a highlight, but for a special occasion your butler-host can even set up a private dinner on the beach in front of your villa, surrounded by candles arranged in the sand.

Azura African Massage Pavilion

Relax, lie back and enjoy Azura’s signature massage treatments at Marlin Beach Massage Pavilion or enjoy the full-service Spa over at Azura Benguerra. All treatments are based on local ingredients and traditions, taking their inspiration from the very heart of Africa.

Family Holidays at Azura

Azura Marlin Beach is a wonderful place for a family holiday, with Villa Vista being the ideal choice. Children and teens will be spoilt for choice when it comes to spending time here. Whilst there isn’t the traditional kids and activity clubs you find in larger hotels; there are a host of activities on offer for children and families to participate in. The Beach Villas all have a sofa bed for one additional child, and the Beach Villa Grandes have space for 2.

Island Hopping by Speedboat

Welcome aboard Azura’s signature activity – a short hop to Bazaruto Island to hike up Bazaruto Dune for unsurpassed 360 degree panoramic views of the Archipelago. From here head to Two Mile Reef where there are hundreds of species of tropical fish, coral, rays, invertebrates, as well as the possibility of seeing various species of turtle, or humpback whales during their annual migration. Sightings of dolphin are common and if you are lucky, the highly endangered gentle giants, the dugong, may make an appearance too. After snorkelling, arrive at North Point for a tantalising picnic, and swim in the cool clear waters.

Paradise Island by Speedboat

Depart Azura by speedboat for the 1 hour trip to Paradise Island in the far north of the Bazaruto Archipelago. Look out for dolphins and dugongs on the way. This island is home to a ruined hotel from the days of Portuguese rule, and was named Paradise Island for its beautiful white beaches and fantastic snorkelling. The ruins of the old hotel and church are fascinating. Then settle down on deserted white beaches for a picnic lunch. Relax for a few hours here, the snorkelling is amazing, and very different to the reefs closer to Azura.

Deep Sea Fishing

The Bazaruto Archipelago has some of the best big game, reef and bill fishing in the Indian Ocean. Species include: Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna/Bonito, King/Queen Mackerel, Prodigal Son, Wahoo, Dorado, and Barracuda. Giant Trevally (GT’s) often top the scales above 25kg. Azura caters for beginner and experienced fishermen/woman alike, and operates a strict tag and release policy on protected species. You can choose to go trolling, popping or jigging with one of Azura’s guides, or with an independent guide who offers fly fishing, jigging and popping. Fishing is extremely popular and should be booked well in advance.

Scuba Diving

Marine life and corals in the Bazaruto Archipelago are often cited as the best off the East Coast of Africa. There are seasonal visits from whale sharks, manta rays and humpback whales and their calves, and regularly sightings of loggerhead, green and hawksbill turtles, reef sharks, stingrays, devil rays and moray eels as well as a variety of reef fish such as grouper, bat fish, surgeons, puffers, moorish idols, parrot fish, clown fish, trigger fish and chocolate dip fish. Hard and soft corals are in abundance, with Christmas tree anemones and nudibranchs for those who like to spot the smaller stuff!

PADI 5 Star Dive Centre

Azura has a PADI 5 Star Dive Centre with top of the range Scubapro equipment. The training pool is perfect for refreshing your diving skills or even trying out snorkelling before you head off to the reefs. The Bazaruto Archipelago offers a range of depths and reef topography to suit beginner and experienced divers alike. For training a full range of courses are offered with a PADI Instructor. It is recommended that you complete the theory portion of your course at home, before your holiday. That way, you’re ready to start diving as soon as you arrive and will get to spend more time exploring the waters around the island. Azura is also a DAN (Diver’s Alert Network) Business Member which entitles all divers doing entry level courses to basic dive insurance coverage.

Every Day is Different Dining

At Azura, dining is all part of the experience, from breakfast at the Portuguese restaurant to lunch by the pool and dinner on a candle lit beach beneath a blanket of stars. Numerous experiences on the island and beyond including spectacular picnics on deserted sandbars. For a more special occasion splurge on a private candle-lit beach dinner with a loved one.

Other Experiences

Experience a sunset dhow cruise, or have one of the experienced guides lead you on a dune climb. Island hop and visit Pansy Island for lunch, or be dropped on the sandpit at Benguerra North point with a picnic lunch. Alternatively take to the water for a guided snorkeling safari, or go out whale watching in season. All activities are subject to weather and tidal conditions as well as boat, Land Rover and guide availability.

Children & Teens

Children and teens at Azura will be spoilt for choice when it comes to spending time here. A host of activities are offered for kiddies to participate in, supervised by Azura’s guides, hosts and activity coordinators. Children can enjoy seeing interesting marine life above and below the water, search for pansy shells on an island that appears at low tide, experience cultural encounters, climb dunes, look for crocodiles (from a safe distance), taste the island’s fruits and learn a new skill or two.

Azura Marlin Beach is located on Benguerra Island within the Bazaruto Marine National Park. Benguerra Island lies 14km north east of Vilanculos, the nearest town and site of the international airport.

Co-ordinates: 21o51’12.83”S 35o26’ 18.79”E

Getting There

There are daily flights on Airlink and LAM from Johannesburg International airport (OR Tambo) to the newly modernised Vilanculos International Airport (VNX). The direct flying time from Johannesburg is approximately 1½ hours. These flights are designed to connect well with the major international flights to and from Europe. There are also regular flights from Maputo (MPM) on LAM and Mozambique Ethiopian Airlines.

Excellent Safari & Beach Combination

Azura Marlin Beach can be easily combined with a Kruger or Sabi Sands Safari since Airlink flies from Nelspruit (KMIA) airport to Vilanculos 5 times a week with a flight time of under an hour and for a seamless bush and beach combination. You will be able to enjoy a game drive in the morning and sip your cocktail on Marlin Beach in the afternoon.

Visas Information

Visas are available on arrival (currently US$50 but note this is subject to frequent change). US Dollars, South African Rands and Mozambican Meticals are accepted in Mozambique. Please have cash for your visa available on arrival.

Transferring to Benguerra Island

There is a state-of-the-art helicopter operated by Archipelago Charters for the transfers from Vilanculos to Benguerra Island. The flying time is approximately 5 minutes. Here at Mozambique Islands, we will book this at the same time as your accommodation.

Azura Marlin Beach on Benguerra Island is blessed with hot and sunny weather year-round. Temperatures are generally in the upper 20′s to low 30′s Celsius, and rarely fall below 20 degrees. The water temperature is gloriously warm, and ranges from 24-30 degrees plus. Benguerra Island tends to receive on average a quarter of the rainfall that the mainland does, and there can be several months of the year when there is no rain at all. This makes the landscape very arid, and challenges the indigenous gardens and water supply, but usually makes guests very happy!