The Bazaruto Archipelago is a group of six islands in Mozambique, near the mainland city of Vilankulo. The archipelago comprises of the islands of Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magaruque, Banque, Santa Carolina (also known as Paradise Island) and Shell. The group belongs to Vilankulo District of Inhambane Province. The islands were formed from sand deposited by the Save River, which has since shifted its course. Santa Carolina is a true rock island with deep channels and is just 3 km by 0.5 km in size. It has three beautiful beaches with coral reefs close to the shore. The island, also known as Paradise Island for obvious reasons is regarded as the ‘gem’ of the islands forming the Bazaruto Archipelago which is a proclaimed marine national park that boasts sensational beaches and magnificent scenery.
