A Mozambique honeymoon can be epitomised in a single image: sunny skies, dazzlingly white beaches and an aquamarine ocean. While Mozambique's mainland features several vibrant beach destinations, for sheer romance you can’t do much better than one of the tropical islands found scattered off its coast – and happily, you have two archipelagos to choose from.

The five glittering islands of the Bazaruto Archipelago lie just off the southern coast of Mozambique and reflect the colourful, easy-going Portuguese influences of its heritage. Spend your days in a happy haze swimming in warm tranquil waters, strolling along deserted powder-soft beaches and dining on plates of just-caught seafood. Benguerra and Bazaruto, two of the larger islands, are both home to luxurious and secluded accommodation – the perfect romantic base to return to after a long day spent on the beach or in the ocean.

The Quirimbas Archipelago, located off the north coast of Mozambique, is an ideal choice for honeymooners seeking a remote, off-the-beaten-track island experience. Of the 27 coral islands that make up the Quirimbas, the majority are uninhabited; the accommodation on the rest comprise only a handful of luxurious lodges and romantic beach bungalows, interspersed with castaway beaches where you’ll easily find a stretch of sand all to yourselves. For the ultimate island fantasy, we’d recommend a stay on Medjumbe Private Island, a destination so small and intimate you can walk around the whole island without seeing a single other footprint.

The pristine coral reefs that fringe both archipelagoes are home to a diversity of incredible marine life, and what better way to spend a day on honeymoon than by exploring these teeming waters on a snorkelling or scuba diving trip? There is a wide range of activities across the islands to get your pulses racing: paddle away on a kayak for two, try your hand at deep-sea fishing or toast the sunset aboard a dhow sailboat cruise.