Portuguese Island

Portuguese Island (Ilha dos Portugueses) sits in Maputo Bay off the coast of Mozambique. It's a small, uninhabited sand island used as a beach excursion stop by cruise ships. There are no permanent structures beyond temporary shade setups that the ship arranges. The island has white sand, warm Indian Ocean water, and not much else, which is the point. Snorkelling off the island's edges shows tropical fish and healthy coral in shallow water. The ship typically sets up a barbecue on the beach with grilled seafood and drinks. There are no shops, no roads, and no residents. It's a genuine castaway-style beach day. Bring sunscreen since there's limited natural shade. The water is warm year-round. No currency is needed since the ship handles everything. The island is a stop purely for the beach experience.