Name: Jardim dos Aloés Unique B&B - Casa de Charme
Address: Rua Presidente Kaunda, Bairro Museu, Nampula, 3105 Ilha de Moçambique, Mozambique, Mozambique Island, Mozambique Island, Mozambique Island, 3105, Mozambique
Rating: 10

Air conditioning

24-hour reception

Smoking areas

Smoke-free property

Express check-in/check-out

Garden

Terrace

Private check-in/check-out

Dryer

Outdoor furniture

No elevators

General

Bridal suite

Non-smoking rooms

Room service

Family room

Hairdryer

Shower/Bathtub

Shower

Wardrobe/Closet

Linens

Mosquito net

Toiletries

Rooms

Ironing

Laundry

Luggage storage

Wake-up service

Services and amenities

Restaurant

Bottled water (at extra charge)

Meals

Internet access

Internet

Car rental

Airport transportation

Transfer

Spanish

German

English

Italian

French

Portuguese

Languages Spoken

Library

Sun Deck

Recreation

Parking

Garage

Beach/pool towels

Pool and beach

Massage

Beauty and wellness

Family/Kid Friendly

Kids

Pets Not Allowed

Pets

Location

At the hotel

Room amenities

Jardim dos Aloés Unique B&B - Casa de Charme

Mozambique Island

child-bed

child-bed-fee

external-private-bathroom

private-bathroom

shared-bathroom

10-beds

11-beds

12-beds

13-beds

14-beds

15-beds

16-beds

17-beds

18-beds

19-beds

2-beds

20-beds

21-beds

22-beds

23-beds

24-beds

25-beds

26-beds

27-beds

28-beds

29-beds

3-beds

30-beds

31-beds

32-beds

33-beds

34-beds

35-beds

36-beds

37-beds

38-beds

39-beds

4-beds

40-beds

5-beds

6-beds

7-beds

8-beds

9-beds

king-bed

queen-bed

limited-time

lounge

treatment

no-window

bay-view

bosphorus-view

canal-view

city-view

courtyard-view

garden-view

golf-view

harbour-view

inland-view

lake-view

land-view

mountain-view

ocean-front

ocean-view

oceanside

panoramic-view

park-view

partial-ocean-view

partial-sea-view

partial-view

pool-view

river-view

sea-front

sea-view

street-view

sunrise-view

sunset-view

water-view

with-view

annex

basement

main-building

1-bedroom

2-bedrooms

3-bedrooms

4-bedrooms

5-bedrooms

6-bedrooms

not-guaranteed

wired-internet-access

smoking

sauna

duplex

safe

mini-bar

breakfast-for-1

breakfast-for-2

pets-allowed

wi-fi

kitchen

This is one of the loveliest place we stayed in during our holiday in Mozambique. The house is stunning, with a beautiful tree providing shade to the lovely courtyard and the various terraces. The view from the rooftop is amazing at both sunset and sunrise. The breakfast experience is otherworldly - straight back to a colonial-time lifestyle. We still dream of the smell of bread cooking in the over every morning, the aroma of coffee and citronelle tea and the amazing juices. The hosts, Bruno and Hortensia, were wonderful. They were very helpful with practical suggestions and bookings but they were also very nice to chat to over breakfast. We will be back, as soon as possible!

Absolutely amazing place to stay on Ilha

It's a long review of both Ilha & the hotel. Be forewarned:
--- 

In the end, it was Bruno the Italian who made the list come alive. 

Let me explain. 

Travelers are list-makers: packing lists, bucket lists, and subconscious lists of things they like about every place they visit. Sooner or later, they start hunting for this magical place that has it all but doesn’t exist anywhere; never did. 

No two lists are alike; after all, it’s an amalgam of deeply personal experiences infused with a touch of awe. Reality sadly intrudes. Even if ghosts of  these ultimate destinations exist, long queues of selfie-stick toting Instagrammers shatter the solitude needed to savor them. And eye-rolls from your jaded offsprings who have heard these stories way too many times, remind you that these figments of imagination will remain just that.

My Shangri-La (the actual Shangri-La turned out to be a manufactured Chinese town) was forged early by unbelievably charming colonial mining towns like Tiradentes & Ouro Preto in Brazil or Patzcuaro in Mexico in the 90s; Havana was a run-down city decades ago, oozing with music & adorned with tastefully restored hotels; arduous 48-hour boat journeys took me to remote Lamu & Zanzibar, whose mere names are evocative of long-ago and far-away. But the hunt for the “perfect” has always been disappointing.

Until now.

Ilha de Mozambique, on the East African coast, rolls off the tongue (try saying it!) to pass the exotic-sounding-name test easily; turquoise blue Indian Ocean, empty white beaches & gorgeous snorkelable reefs set a beautiful backdrop. The Portuguese colonizers were inhumanly cruel, but they knew how to build forts, towns & plazas. Many, but not all, of the ruins they left behind have been restored, some into charming hotels & restaurants all signed in Portuguese. I’ll shamelessly admit it - English would simply be too banal. 

Cobblestone streets exude charm & African women with their distinct head dresses provide non-stop photo ops. Add the remnants of Arabs who they displaced & Indians who they traded with, and you have a place that has churches, mosques & even a Hindu temple with its unique African mix. The food, the furniture & even the language is a collage of these forgotten lords of their times. 

You don’t have to go far on the well-organized rides on silent dhows (Arab sailboats) to see local fishermen on colorful dugout canoes & tiny sailboats still fishing the same way it was done 500 years ago. Incongruous though it looked, we were pleasantly surprised to see modernity intrude to improve the endurance of spear fishers, who have recently started using second-hand goggles & snorkels. After a day on the sea, having a sundowner at one of the sea-facing bars, wandering aimlessly through the unplanned maze, stopping at plazas to watch women sell peanuts as babies clutch their shawls, time actually slows down for nostalgia. The dim lamps weave a mysterious shroud that is indispensable to the magic needed. 

The town had just enough of a good run for the infrastructure to be built before COVID shut down travel. The revenge-travel boom after COVID has those who venture to Africa hitting the big-game highlights in Kenya, Tanzania & South Africa. Even those who visit Mozambique will have a hard & somewhat expensive time getting to Ilha. Hence you have it to yourself. For now.

But good places become great places only with a dash of serendipity. For us, Bruno, the owner of the hotel Jardim dos Aloes, was that cherry on top. The 82-year-old Italian has only three rooms in his house, but they’re masterpieces. Everything from cutlery to coffee is Italian. Super-helpful & friendly, he got us safely home from a chaotic Nampula airport, arranged for the sine-qua-non SIM cards, local trips and more. He is a business man but acts more like a host. He wants to know everything about you and ever curious to learn about the world that has bypassed Ilha. If prodded, shares colorful stories from his past.

It will help a lot if you’re a pet-lover. One of his friendly dogs cuddling with his cat on a cushion is an unscripted “Awwww” moment while the other kept me company during my rare early-morning yoga on his terrace.

So there it was, the perfect place that checked all my boxes, making it a destination that’s truly worth cherishing.

All for merely $100 a night…

Shop now, the sale ends soon - Ilha & Bruno will not be a secret for long!
---
 (Note: I'm not an employee or anyway related to the hotel/Ilha/Mozambique)

Amazing experience

Jardim Dos Aloés is a little gem in this treasure island. It is cosy and poetic, with a wonderful patio and terrace where to have breakfast. In the heart of the old town, everything is close, even the port where to get the show and explore the island. The breakfast is delicious and everyone is nice there. I definitely recommend this place for a perfect experience in Ilha de Mozambique.

Little gem in the heart of the old city

Paradise.....in a closed, beautifully tended  garden.
Fantastic home made breakfast by Bruno the owner.  
Beautiful comfortable rooms, very clean, friendly attentive staff.
In a wonderful position with view of the island from the terrace.
Generally a wonderful place.

Paradise

Spent 4 nights here, and loved the place! The hotel is built in a colonial building with the rooms opening to several verandas where we chilled in the shade of the huge tree growing in the middle of the courtyard. The breakfast was abundant and tasty and Bruno, the Manager, gave us a lot of informations both on the local amenities and on the history of Ilia de Mozambique. Totally recommended. 

Amazing!

Came back again, Jardin de Aloe gives the best experience in the island. Lovely place, cool, clean rooms. The best breakfast with freshly made harvest from their garden. The host is nice and joins guest for breakfast.  It is a memorable experience. Love it 

Aloes of the island 

We loved Bruno's place, a beautifully renovated colonial house. The decoration of the apartments is exquisite and everywhere is super clean.
Great view from the terrace where you can watch the sunset eating home made gelato.
The owner,Bruno is a living encyclopaedia who loves to share his knowledge. The staff are very efficient, friendly and always willing to help.
Now for the breakfast.......it's the best ever, with fresh local produce including eggs, fruit and vegetables, a variety of homemade marmalades and jams  that are great for the local and home made bread that is offered.

Best breakfast

I stayed for 4 nights in Jardim dos Aloés and couldn't believe that such a place existed. Having lovingly and loyally restored an old 'Ilha' house in line with the traditions of the island Bruno and his staff give the visitor the opportunity to experience island life to a 5* standard!
The rooms are simply beautiful and spacious-arranged around a central courtyard where communal breakfasts are taken. The breakfasts almost deserve a separate review in their own right with course after course of homemade delights appearing in front of you - homebaked breads, eggs, carmelised banana, homemade ricotta...and of course the homemade jams - wow! 
The house is situated right in the centre of 'Stone Town' with a roof-terrace giving panoramic views of the island - especially pretty at sunset. 
Bruno is an interesting and very knowledgeable host having spent so much time living in Africa in general and in Mozambique in particular. His staff are local, friendly and extremely professional with almost an old-world service style. 
I would recommend Jardim dos Aloés to anyone looking for a high quality and relaxing stay. Bravo Bruno!

What a gem!

Jam and staff fantastic. I'll return with my family.  Thank you Jardim dos aloes. Bruno and Judith were very friendly. I liked the breakfast, room, place and commodity. Jardin dos Aloes is a super place to rest and Ilha de Moçambique is mystic place

Fantastic

The Garden of aloes is a gorgeous place full of surprises and wonderful details that make you love this luxury guesthouse at first glance. 
Bruno and all the staff give you all the attention and care to make any moment at Jardim dos aloes unforgettable. 
Don’t miss the view of the Ilha from the roof terrace, even better if during a full moon night. 
To complete this amazing experience, have the incredible breakfast with Bruno’s local fruit and aloe jam, and try the homemade gelato in the shadow of the beautiful amexoeira.

Jardim dos Aloés Unique B&B - Casa de Charme

Main amenities of the hostel

Available rooms