We were looking for 2 weeks of bliss in the sunshine, and we found it on Chumbe Island! It really is the perfect place, and everyone leaves with happy memories, and wanting to go back: we certainly did.

The staff are all genuinely nice, well informed, and completely helpful and the place glows with the feeling that they're doing something really important in protecting the (amazing) reef and forest - which they are.

The low environmental impact lodges are wonderful (the compost toilets are great), the daily routine is relaxing but never boring, and the sea, sun, sand, reef and ambience are lovely.

Staying for 10 days we met people coming for the day, staying for one night, two, three or more, and everyone was having a wonderful time, and left feeling they'd been somewhere very special.

People who'd snorkelled all over the world were saying the reef was as good as or better than anything they'd ever seen, and that was our experience - you can swim off the beach at high tide to see beautiful coral, and the rangers organise 1, 2 or 3 snorkelling trips a day... the snorkelling is very easy because they drop you at the north end of the island, and a gentle current drifts you back to the lodge in about 60-90 minutes. There's always rangers to hand, and the boat waits at a discreet distance for safety, and to pick up anyone who wants to finish early.

The rangers really know their stuff, are helpful with beginners, and quick to point out turtles, rays, crocodile fish, lobsters and rare species. The forest is beautiful, and the views from the visitor centre, lodges, beach, and lighthouse stunning.

Food is simple, varied (vegetarians are well catered for) and tasted great, and better than the fare on the main island by far. Even after 10 days, there was still variety, and we looked forward to every meal.

The community education programme is huge, and means the fishing ban on the reef is 100% respected by the local fishermen (a massive achievement) - and it's great to know that the money you spend on a holiday is funding sustainable tourism, the development of the region, low environmental impact, and preserving an incredibly beautiful spot on the planet.

No windows, no doors, no locks, no mains power, no a/c (but there are fans by the bed, which work well) - it's just such a relaxing place.

All in all, we can't recommend Chumbe Island highly enough: if you love any/all of the following:
people;
beautiful places;
sun;
sea;
swimming;
snorkelling;
preserving the environment;

- you'll love chumbe too! - go for the day, go for a fortnight, it's a great place and any length of stay will be very memorable.

Tips for people going:
wear sandles/shorts for the boat trip over, you may have to wade if it's low tide ;-) (best to carry spare shorts in case you get them wet)
take (or borrow from chumbe) a wetsuit to protect you from the sun, and so you can stay in the water for the full 90 minutes without getting cool,
put suncream on the backs of your legs if you're snorkelling, they can burn if you're at all fair skinned
take a torch if you're staying overnight

If you can, Go! ;-)