Praia do Moçambique

Praia do Moçambique's pristine charms have much to do with the littoral strip of ecological reserve that protects it from development. It's also famous for its surf.

Just north of the attractive town of Barra da Lagoa is the 14km stretch of Praia do Moçambique (Mozambique Beach). Actually two beaches (it blends blends seamlessly into Praia Barra da Lagoa) this undeveloped swatch of beach faces the Atlantic Ocean, and is a favourite haunt of Catarina's surfistas (surfers). When the wind is a light westerly or north-easterly, there's usually a good easterly or south-easterly swell; waves break in both directions and can be quite strong.

The beach is buffered from the road and protected from development by a strip of nature reserve that runs its entire length. While Praia do Joaquina (named for an early inhabitant who drowned in the surf) is just as beautiful and more famous for its surf, Moçambique's lack of development endears it to nature-lovers.