AsDunas Lodge

NOT canceling our trip was the best decision. Despite unrest in Maputo, we were 100% safe flying into Vilanculas. Treated like royalty from the get go, we had the most idyllic 5 days in paradise. Amazing food and tasting menus worthy of a Michelin star, gorgeous beach villas with plunge pools, amazing cocktails and free daily massages! We'd landed in heaven! As for our Christmas day treats, amazing entertainment and dancing, bubbly and delicious food! And thanks for making my 50th memorable - we absolutely fell in love with Moz thanks to you, with your warmest and friendliest staff, Orquido, Filipe, Buono, Maria, Marta, Chelsie, Reaz and everyone else! Thanks for your goodbye chorus - sad to leave and we'd love to come back! And huge thanks to Haylee at Barefoot Breaks for making it all possible- a pleasure to deal with!

This place is even better than all the rave reviews it has received. Let’s start with the food. I have had the good fortune to eat at excellent restaurants in many parts of the world and I cannot recall ever having such consistently creative, fresh, attractive and delicious meals as I did during our 5 day stay here. A 5 course tasting menu each night plus an amuse-bouche and not a single miss. The local chef, Jaime, draws on Italian owner Fabio’s experience to craft absolutely spectacular meals. Next the staff. To a person, they are all so friendly and helpful. I wish I could remember the names of everyone who made our stay so good, but I want to give a special word of thanks to the three people we interacted with the most — Boaventura (ever gracious, always smiling and outgoing), Filipe (who wanted to assist you in whatever way you needed it, whether it was getting up a steep sand dune at dusk, or getting you your favorite beverage) and Chelsie, the gregarious co-manager with a dry sense of humor, a quick wit and the answer to any question you might have. In addition were Celso, João, Unidécio, Jaime, the massage therapists and the housekeepers. We even had the good fortune to spend some time and have a great conversation with owner, Fabio (although his wife, Elena, was out of town.) The grounds and rooms. Most of the rooms are glamping tents with a private deck and plunge pool. A couple have solid walls. We stayed in one of the tented units and could not have been happier. We stayed comfortable in both cool and warm weather, loved the privacy afforded each room as they are spread out down sand trails among dense brush, and found our room to be very well appointed with outlets, a loaner outlet adapter, great shower and bathroom space and a very comfortable bed. From our room, we could lie in bed, look out over our pool and see the Indian Ocean with its dramatic change in appearance from low tide to high tide. Wow! The beach. The resort is set above the beach so one has to walk down a number of steps to get to it. Once there, the resort has dedicated chaises with canopies over them for its guests. The beach is a beautiful sand beach that slopes very gradually, meaning that while high tide is fairly close to shore, low tide provides lots of opportunities to walk far away from shore and explore what is ocean bottom during the high tide. Massages. You can get one daily and they are included. My wife was a huge fan of this perk. Excursions. We didn’t take any but we spoke with several other guests who did and who loved their snorkeling experiences on neighboring islands as well as their trip into town. Sunset. A walk up a somewhat steep dune to a great sunset-viewing spot is offered each evening. The staff will bring up your favorite beverage and a chair for you to sit in. I did it twice during our stay and loved it. Overall. We loved it; can you tell? Can’t wait to go back. Any caveats or drawbacks? The only one I can think of is