Written by the FFU Editorial Team · AI-assisted research, human-verified. Verified August 2026.
Direct answer: The route that works: two nights in Maputo, fly to Vilanculos for three or four nights of Bazaruto time, then Tofo for whale sharks or humpbacks — 10–12 days, with two weeks adding Ilha de Moçambique or Gorongosa. This post breaks it down day by day, with the 2026 eVisa process and real costs at three budgets.
Mozambique rewards planning more than most Indian Ocean destinations, mostly because the country is enormous and the road network doesn’t make quick work of it. The good news is that a small number of hubs — Maputo, Vilanculos, Tofo — cover the highlights most first-timers actually want, and domestic flights make the distances manageable. Here’s the route that consistently works, and what it takes to book it.
The route map and logic
The core logic is: land in the capital, fly north to the archipelago, then finish on the dive coast — or reverse it. Maputo gives you two days of city and food culture without needing a car. Vilanculos is the jump-off for the Bazaruto Archipelago’s dugongs, calm water and island lodges. Tofo adds the marine megafauna — whale sharks and, in season, humpback whales. Ten to twelve days covers all three comfortably; two weeks lets you add either Ilha de Moçambique’s UNESCO Stone Town or a Gorongosa safari extension in the country’s interior.
Before you go: the eVisa, step by step
Mozambique overhauled its entry system in early 2026. The official eVisa/eTA portal at evisa.gov.mz launched in February 2026 and is now the standard route in for most nationalities — do not assume visa-on-arrival still works the way older blog posts describe. For nationalities that require a full eVisa, the standard processing fee runs around US$48, with standard processing typically completed within about 5 business days, though it’s worth applying at least two to three weeks ahead of travel in case of delays. Nationalities on the visa-exempt list instead pay a smaller Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) administration fee, in the region of 650 MZN (roughly US$10), rather than a full visa. Apply only through the official evisa.gov.mz portal — a number of third-party sites charge a significant markup for the same service.
Days 1–2: Maputo
Land at Maputo International Airport and spend your first two days on jacaranda-lined avenues, the capital’s café and live-music scene, and some of the country’s best restaurant food before heading to the coast. Two nights is enough for most travelers — our Maputo city guide covers neighborhoods, sights and onward-travel logistics in more depth if you want a longer city stay. Use this stop to arrange a local SIM or eSIM, since connectivity thins out fast once you reach the islands and reserves later in the trip.
Days 3–6: Vilanculos and Bazaruto
Fly LAM from Maputo to Vilanculos — around 1 hour 15 minutes in the air — and spend three to four nights based in town or on one of the Bazaruto island lodges. Days here run around dhow or speedboat trips out to the archipelago’s six islands, snorkeling over dugong seagrass beds, and simply enjoying calm, shielded water that’s a genuine change of pace from open-ocean Tofo.
Days 7–10: Tofo and Barra
From Vilanculos, most travelers route back through Maputo to fly onward to Inhambane (Tofo’s gateway airport, about a 40-minute drive from the beach itself), since there’s no direct scheduled link between the two coastal towns. Give Tofo three to four days for ocean-safari dive trips chasing whale sharks and, June through November, migrating humpback whales. Our Mozambique guide’s whale-season section has the month-by-month detail if you’re timing this leg around wildlife.
The two-week upgrades: Ilha de Moçambique or Gorongosa
With an extra three to five days, two additions stand out. Ilha de Moçambique, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed coral island that was the capital of Portuguese East Africa until 1898, adds a walkable historic core of Swahili-Arab, Indian and Portuguese architecture — but it sits well north, requiring its own flight routing via Nampula. Gorongosa National Park, in the country’s interior, is the wildlife alternative: entry runs around US$20 for international adults (US$10 for children aged 10–17, free under 10), no self-drive is permitted — all safaris go out with a licensed guide from Chitengo Camp or Montebelo Gorongosa Lodge — and the park closes annually from December 1 through April 15 due to flooding, so this addition only works in the May–November window. Mozambique also borders South Africa closely enough to combine with a Kruger safari; see our South Africa guide for the Kruger connection if you’re building a longer regional trip.
What it costs at three budgets
Domestic flights are the biggest variable cost on this route: LAM’s Maputo–Vilanculos fare has run roughly US$190–340 one-way depending on date, and Maputo–Inhambane has run from around US$190 one-way — budget US$400–700 round-trip across both legs, and book early given limited weekly frequencies.
- Budget (US$40–80/day): Backpacker lodges in Tofo and Maputo, chapa transport where practical, market and street-food meals, snorkeling over guided dive trips.
- Mid-range (US$120–250/day): Boutique guesthouses in Vilanculos or on Ilha de Moçambique, restaurant dinners, a guided whale-shark or manta dive trip, the domestic flights above to skip long road transfers.
- Luxury (US$400+/day): Private-island lodges on Bazaruto, a Gorongosa fly-in safari package, chartered dhow and light-aircraft transfers between regions.
Our Mozambique guide’s Budget Breakdown has the full country-wide cost tiers this itinerary is built against.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the eVisa if I’m only transiting through Maputo?
Requirements depend on nationality and whether you leave the airport’s international transit area; most travelers who exit immigration, even briefly, need either a full eVisa or the lighter ETA. Check your specific nationality’s category on evisa.gov.mz before assuming a transit exemption applies.
Is 10 days really enough, or should I plan for two weeks?
Ten to twelve days comfortably covers Maputo, Vilanculos/Bazaruto and Tofo without feeling rushed. Two weeks is worth it only if you want to add Ilha de Moçambique or a Gorongosa safari extension — both require their own flight legs and are better treated as genuine additions than squeezed into a shorter trip.
Should I fly or drive between Maputo and Vilanculos?
Fly. The distance and road conditions make a Maputo–Vilanculos drive a long, multi-day undertaking that eats into beach time for little benefit; LAM’s roughly 75-minute flight is the standard choice for this leg on almost every itinerary.
What’s the best month to combine Gorongosa with the coast?
Aim for May through November: Gorongosa is closed December 1 through April 15 for the wet season, and that window also overlaps with the driest, most comfortable months on the coast and peak humpback whale season at Tofo, making it the single best stretch to build a combined itinerary around.
How much should I budget for domestic flights alone?
Plan on roughly US$400–700 for the Maputo–Vilanculos and Maputo–Inhambane legs combined, more if you add Ilha de Moçambique’s Nampula routing or a Gorongosa charter. Book as early as possible — weekly frequencies on these routes are limited and fares climb fast closer to departure.
Sources
- Mozambique eVisa/eTA – official portal, checked August 2026
- Facts From Upstairs – Mozambique Travel Guide (Planning Your First Trip, Budget Breakdown)
- LAM Mozambique Airlines fares, Maputo–Vilanculos, checked August 2026
- XE – USD/MZN exchange rate, checked August 2026