AZURA Retreat on Quilálea Island
AZURA Quilalea
Hotel
The AZURA Retreat on Quilálea Island is a dream come true: A private, almost uninhabited island paradise framed by the glittering blue Indian Ocean ... and you right in the middle of all this splendour!
Quilálea Island is situated in the southern part of the striking Quirimbas Archipelago. Approximately 35 hectares large, the island is one of the archipelago’s largest islands – and a stunningly beautiful one at that: bright-white sand beaches and pristine nature are Quilálea’s hallmarks. read more »
The AZURA Retreat is the second resort by Christopher and Stella Bettany in the Indian Ocean. The secret to success is simple: South African chic and pristine island flair coupled with exclusivity and refined luxuries.
The Quilálea Island Resort features only nine luxurious villas. Quilálea Island is the perfect retreat, a hideaway constructed with the intent to turn the back on the hustle and bustle of modern civilisation.
The AZURA Retreat’s graceful design draws inspiration from the Creole style. The construction was erected by local craftsman using precious teak and mahogany timbers.
Escape from the midday heat in the villas. Natural stone walls, high thatched roofs and ceiling ventilators in the Colonial style provide a pleasantly cool ambience.
The AZURA’s villas all feature a private terrace on the beach. The bathrooms are a marvel decked out with intriguing mosaic tiling. The king-sized beds promise sweet dreams to come and the panorama windows look out over the Indian Ocean and allow the fresh ocean breeze to blow through your villa.
Set off to explore the island on your own or make good use of the AZURE Retreat’s highly diverse activity programme. The lush flora and fauna make every stroll an experience!
Sustainability and nature conservation play an important role. Some of the measures taken to minimize the resort’s impact on the environment are solar and wind energy as well as the collection of rain water. Moreover, the villas are equipped with a system that allows you meter and control your energy consumption.
Living
Lodged at the AZURA Retreat on Quilálea Island, you enjoy a choice of three different villa categories, all of which feature an open architecture facing the ocean. At night, settle down to listen to the
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murmur of sea, tasting the ocean’s salt floating in on the warm breeze.
The size of the units range between 42 and 57 square metres and the standard facilities include air-conditioning, mini bar, tea and coffee corner as well as a private butler service.
The four Sunrise Villas are characterised by their natural materials: Wood, cotton, wicker and pebble stones are the corner points of the interior design. The villas blend perfectly with their natural surroundings creating a link between manmade structure and Mother Nature’s beauty.
The picture-postcard-perfect beach and the ocean are only a few steps away! Or just kick back and relax on your private veranda, basking in the strong tropical sun.
The four Sunset Villas are the perfect place to replenish you energies and regain your balance! The terrace commands a breathtaking view of the azure Ocean.
The private beach pavilion is just the place to let your thoughts fly free and to while away an hour or two in sweet idleness. And whenever the temperatures get to high, just cool off with the open-air shower. The furniture and decorations also reflect the African culture.
Finally, the Villa Quilálea is the AZURE Retreat’s finest: The highly acclaimed villa is located on a cliff boasting a magnificent view. A small flight of stairs leads down to the beach and the ocean.
The Villa Quilálea’s highlight, most certainly, is the large, private Infinity Pool, complete with a view. And when day turns to night, settle down on the veranda with a refreshing drink at hand, savouring the nature spectacle at sunset. Later, just slip beneath the crisp sheets of the king-sized bed and dream of yet another day on Quilálea at the AZURA Retreat!
Activities
The AZURA Resort on Quilálea Island offers you a host of activities; first and foremost, as you might have guessed, there are the water sports. Discover the fascinating underwater wonderland with a mask
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and snorkel or on a fully-fledged dive.
Those with an interest in deep-sea fishing will appreciate the invaluable experience of the AZURA Resort’s fishing guides. And on a different day, take a kayak out onto the water to circle the island or to explore the Sencar Island mangrove forests.
Certainly a unique and highly recommendable experience is a sailing excursion on one of the typical Indian Ocean dhow boats. Sail into the setting sun and unplug from the stress and worries of everyday life!
Incidentally, sustainability and ecological practices are of paramount importance to the AZURA Retreat. It is a conscious decision that no motorised water sports are promoted. The fish and coral reefs come first!
Back on land, there is also plenty to do: Visit Turtle Beach for an eye-to-eye encounter with these gentle marine reptiles. Moreover, more than sixty bird species inhabit the island and the massive baobabs, the local monkey-bread trees, are quite a sight to behold.
Those in search of sweet relaxation will learn to love the hotel’s superb spa. Close your eyes, allow caring hands to pamper you and listen to the murmur of the surf. Each and every one of the sophisticated treatments starts with a fragrant footbath.
Only natural, typically African ingredients are used for the beauty and health care products applied. Among others, these include shea butter, apricot stones and chamomile.
The restaurant is located at the island’s northern end at only two minutes walking distance from the villas. Only fresh ingredients enter into the gourmet cuisine’s exotic culinary programme, including plenty of fish and seafood. Mozambique spices are combined with influences that can be traced back to Portugal and Goa.
The fine treats are not necessarily served at the restaurant: Breakfast may just as well be dished up where the last curling water from the waves almost kisses your feet. And a barbecue lunch at the heart of island is just as feasible as a candlelight beach dinner. Of course, you may also request to have the delicacies served in the privacy of your villa.
The AZURA Retreat on Quilálea has everything in place for a most memorable holiday in Mozambique. Everything and more! Welcome to the Quilálea Island wonderland!
