Casa Babi

Vilanculos is an affordable mainland alternative to staying on one of the islands in the Bazaruto Archipelago, without compromising on scenery and activity options. Indeed, visitors can make day trips to the islands and enjoy the same castaway experience with half the price tag. However, if you stay somewhere like Casa Babi, you may never want to leave the gorgeous beaches of the mainland. This cute little boutique guesthouse sits prettily right on the shore, with all of the bedrooms overlooking the exotic Indian Ocean and the beautiful islands of the Bazaruto Archipelago. .

There's a really friendly B&B atmosphere here, and being just a step away from the beach gives Casa Babi the laid back seaside vibe that many of us look for in a holiday. There's an idyllic swimming pool for hot afternoons, and an in-house dive and kite surfing school, so you don't need to travel far for your fun. Some of the best reefs in the world are found here, so snorkellers will be in seventh heaven. If you prefer being above water there are stand up paddle boards to try out, canoes to paddle, dhow journeys to take, and even whale watching between June and October. For land lubbers there is horse riding, tours of Vilanculos and quad biking, or for something a little more sedate but much more tasty, head to the market with Zita the chef to choose ingredients before learning how to cook dinner, Mozambican style. And yes, you get to eat the results so pay attention! Finally, to relax after your perfect day of adventures, a massage on your own private veranda is just the ticket.

Foodies will enjoy the creative fresh offerings from the kitchen, with dishes inspired by Italian, French, Thai and of course Mozambican cuisine. Seafood is a highlight, with everything from clam risotto and stuffed calamari to prawn salad and fillets of line caught fish. There's a real eco-friendly theme here that ranges from the organic food produced and the fresh water well, to using natural cleaning products and as little plastic as possible. Which is our kind of thing too.

Casa Babi feels like a home from home, and owners Sabrina and Denis make their guests feel like part of the family. It's the sort of place where you'll want to linger a little longer, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that!