Overview
Take a trip to Maputo on your Mozambique Vacation
Located on the west side of Maputo Bay is Maputo, a port city on the Indian Ocean. It is the capital and largest city in the country and is considered by many to be one of Africa’s most attractive capitals to be seen on a Mozambique vacation.
The existing town dates to around 1850, however, Portuguese traders and explorers established forts as early as the 16th century. These explorers were originally attracted by rumours of the discovery of pearls in the waters near Maputo. The city was initially called Lourenço Marques and beginning in the 20th century, under Portuguese rule, it developed into a well-equipped and successful seaport. The area became an important artistic centre attracting famous architects like Gustav Eiffel who designed and built in the city. In February 1976, months after Mozambique achieved independence, the city was renamed Maputo.
Today Maputo has been nicknamed the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean” and the “City of Acacias” referring to the many acacia trees found throughout the region. The economy is still very much built around the harbour. Both rural and urban ways of life exist in Maputo, this is evident in the varying architectural styles found ranging from old colonial palaces to high-rise structures. Maputo benefits from hosting many different cultures and offers a lively, yet laid-back atmosphere on a Mozambique vacation.
At a Glance
Languages
PortugueseCurrency
Mozambican Metical (MZN)What do the experts say?
The country has more than 2500km of coastline. This makes it a paradise for ocean lovers and curious travelers eager to explore an untouched marine world.
If you are after a lesser known spot, visit Ponta do Ouro. It is a small coastal town in southern Mozambique which is famous for pristine beaches, incredible snorkeling and a relaxed, authentic vibe!
Most Popular Time to Travel
Know when to go.
Place
Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
MaputoMostly Sunny
32°C / 90°F
4mm / 0.2"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.Popularity rating
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ExcellentBased on 5,219 ReviewsThe booking processs was really easy. Katie was very communicative and was very responsive. Every change we asked for, she quickly replied. The room arrangements had a small hiccupp but Katie fixed it within minutes! All the excursions were a blast and well planned.
The trip was a bucket list trip and was everything we hoped for. Alison MAllan Birkett at Goway has been an absolute godsend! Over the past year, he has helped me plan numerous vacations—especially honeymoons—and has been an incredible partner every step of the way.
He is always quick to respond, patient with my clients' frequent changes, and goes above and beyond to help whenever an issue comes up. His knowledge, professionalism, and dedication make my job as a travel advisor so much easier.
I truly appreciate everything Allan does and highly recommend him to anyone looking for exceptional service. Thank you, Allan, for always being thereBrooke EcholsOur 2-week trip to Normandy, Switzerland and Italy after we disembarked from the Queen Mary 2 in Southampton in mid-May was superb. Michael Keon did an amazing job of putting together highlights for us to see and visit with the short time we had. All the train reservations, private and small group tours and transportations were very well coordinated, on time, and usually exceeded our expectations. Drivers were courteous and knowledgeable. Mike did a wonderful job getting everything coordinated, in spite of our almost “last minute” booking. I booked a month-long trip through GOWAY back in 1989 for Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, and they were superb then. So I tried them again, and found the entire organization to be even better. Mike was quick to respond to any questions that came up regarding booksings and times, regardless of the 6-hour time difference. Just superb! Although we had a nasty experience in Milan, GOWAY was very responsive and saw to our requests and our needs. Again, Michael Keon is the person who coordinated our travel. I will ask for Mike when I travel again with GOWAY. I recommend GOWAY highly. PJ WheelerA BIG THANK YOU to Goway Travel, Brooke Theron and all of the partners onsite. Our trip to Africa was incredible, memories that will last forever.
Everything planned and more went perfectly. The guides, the excursions, the accommodations, everything, was just spectacular. Fortunately, everything ran on time, no delays, no problems.
Thank you again!!
Linda IriasI have been blessed to have an amazing rep, Farooq Qaisar!
He has helped me find the best spots for my clients to experience and when I am looking for something and just can't figure it out, he is able to put together something better than I was thinking. He my go-to and I am thankful for all his help over the years!SherriGoway helped plan our two week trip to Peru and they (Virginia in particular) did a great job. The on-site logistics with Condor Travel went very smoothly, and the trip exceeded our expectations overall. They proactively suggested changes to our initial itinerary which were welcomed. I would recommend them and would work with them again in the future.Kate O'NeillWe entrusted Goway with every detail of our trip from start to finish and they came through for us superbly! Every single detail was smooth sailing. It was a joy to plan our travels with Goway!! We had an amazing trip of a lifetime!
E&DI recently went on an African Safari with my brother-in-law and sister and another couple who I knew. The entire experience was absolutely unbelievable. The complete details were flawlessly coordinated from the transfers to the breathtaking lodges. Our guides Peter showed us Kenya and Maulid Tanzania were very knowledgeable and very sharp eyes for finding the animals.
We were able to see the animals up close, learn a lot about the people, birds , vegetation etc.
We had several sundowners in the bush really added to a magical experience with beautiful sunsets.
I would highly recommend Goway to all my friends, they will not be disappointed.
Thank you to Bijal for the excellent African Safari that you put together for us. You were wonderful.Nancy HayWe enjoyed our trip very much. I was very pleased by the hotel, tours, and itinerary selections that Alice Teramoto made for us. It was all well organized and easy to follow.
Thank you very much for helping us have a great experience in Peru.INEverything was planned perfectly. The excursions were so small and personal. Ask for Mark! I have already planned another trip back to the Oregon wine country with Mark. Claire
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