Goa Island
Ilha de Goa
An uninhabited island about 5 km east of Mozambique Island, with a 19th-century lighthouse and coral reefs. Reach it by local sailing boat (dhow) for snorkeling.
Goa Island, also known as São Jorge Island, is a coral island in the open sea east of Mozambique Island. It is almost uninhabited and has only one lighthouse, completed in 1876, which once guided ships entering the port of Mozambique. The trip from Mozambique Island takes about an hour on a local single-masted dhow, and sailing over the green shallows is an experience in itself. On the island you can stroll along the white sand beach, look out from near the lighthouse, and snorkel over the surrounding reefs to see tropical fish. A visit usually takes half a day to a full day. It can be arranged through your guesthouse or a boatman at the jetty, but agree on the price in advance and confirm that there are life jackets on board. The island has no facilities, so bring your own drinking water, food and sun protection, and do not head out to sea when winds and waves are strong.
Opening hours
Daytime (depending on weather and tides)
Nearby sights
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Baluarte
- Fortress of São Sebastião
- Church of Misericórdia & Museum of Sacred Art
- Palace of São Paulo
- Stone Town
- Main Mosque of Ilha de Moçambique
- Church of Santo António
- Makuti Town