This Tucked-Away Coastal Town in Mozambique Is One of Africa's Best-Kept Secrets

You’ve probably heard of the Bazaruto Archipelago. The chain of islands off the southeastern coast of Mozambique is widely regarded as one of Africa’s—if not the world’s—most beautiful coastal regions. It's one of many reasons the Southern African country made our best places to go list this year. On Bazaruto and Benguerra islands, ultra-luxe retreats have quietly welcomed in-the-know travelers in recent years, as Mozambique's tourism has steadily increased. But as justified as the “untouched paradise” label is on the archipelago, what many visitors overlook is the small coastal town on the mainland, which deserves all the same accolades, but without the luxury price tag. I’ll admit that when I first visited Mozambique, I had my sights firmly set on Benguerra Island. And as magical as it was, I’m so pleased I tagged on a few days to spend some time in Vilanculos. This underrated town is predominantly used as a jumping-off point for the archipelago—it's just a 10-minute helicopter transfer away, or 20-to-60 minutes by boat, depending on which island you’re going to. Suffice to say, it’s easy to overlook Vilanculos, and many tourists do. But here, on this smal