Major city · Mozambique
Caia
Skip Caia as a destination: it's a highway crossing over the Zambezi, useful for a cash stop or a night if you're driving the EN1 between Beira and Tete.
Caia is a small town on the EN1 highway, best known for the modern road bridge that crosses the Zambezi River. Most travellers pass through in under an hour. It has basic accommodation, a fuel station with an ATM, and a few roadside stalls. Unless you need a break on a long drive or are heading to Marromeu or Mutarara, there is no reason to stop.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- MZN
- Best months
- May–Oct (dry, cooler)
- avoid Dec–Mar (wet, hot, roads may be poor)
- Airports
- Beira (BEW) · Tete (TET)
- Nights
- 0–1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 7Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive befor…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- Southern Africa ↗A rental car may leave its home country only with the rental company's cross-border letter, the registration papers and paid road taxes at each post; driving into Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique or Angola without them ends at the border.
- Southern Africa ↗Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive before sunset: livestock, wildlife, pedestrians and unlit trucks make night driving the main cause of serious visitor accidents.
- Mozambique ↗Many Western passports are visa-exempt for 30 days but still need an approved travel authorisation from the official evisa.gov.mz portal before departure; it cannot be bought on arrival.
- Mozambique ↗Carry your passport or a certified copy at all times; police document checks are common.
- Mozambique ↗Governments advise against travel to parts of Cabo Delgado province in the north; check your own government's advice for the exact areas.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Caia119 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Caia, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Mozambican metical (MZN, MT).Mozambique-wide
- SIM or eSIMVodacom, Movitel and Tmcel are the networks; Vodacom has the widest coverage along the southern coast.Mozambique-wide
- Tap waterNot safe from the tap; lodges provide filtered water.Mozambique-wide
- TippingRestaurant: About 10% if no service charge.Mozambique-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F/M. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Mozambique-wide
- SafetyCaia is generally safe for a short stop.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFlush toilets in hotels and restaurants; basic outside towns.Mozambique-wide
- Emergency numbers119 police · 117 ambulance · 198 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysOffices close at weekends and on public holidays; the long Christmas season slows paperwork.Mozambique-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckBEW Beira International Airport (Nearest airport with scheduled flights; onward by road on the EN1 — check current schedules and road conditions).
- Getting aroundOn foot or by bicycle taxi (about 10 MT per ride).
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Bicycle taxi rideMT 10
- Budget bedHotel So-Artes (private, hot water, TV), a night, per roomMZN 1,200
- Mid-range bedPensão Maia (fan, shared bathroom), a night, per roomMZN 800
- High-end bedPensão Maia (fan, shared bathroom), a night, per roomMZN 800
A day, not counting the bed: Budget MZN 800 · Mid MZN 1,500 · High MZN 2,500
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- BEW Beira International Airport (Nearest airport with scheduled flights; onward by road on the EN1 — check current schedules and road conditions) · TET Tete Airport (Alternative for the Tete side of the Zambezi; road link to Caia via the EN1 — check)
Map of Caia
Where it is, and the guides within about 120 km.
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Feb
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Mar
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Apr
not flagged
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
May
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Jun
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Jul
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Aug
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Sep
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Oct
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Nov
not flagged
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Dec
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Best: May–Oct. Avoid: Dec–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Nov (34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)), coolest Jun (16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C) low), wettest Jan (11 rain days), driest Aug (2). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Caia: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
11 rd
Feb
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
10 rd
Mar
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
10 rd
Apr
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
6 rd
May
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
4 rd
Jun
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
3 rd
Jul
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
3 rd
Aug
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
2 rd
Sep
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
2 rd
Oct
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
4 rd
Nov
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
6 rd
Dec
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
10 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
On foot or by bicycle taxi (about 10 MT per ride). The town is small.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Marromeu
cautionDoor to door: About 2 h each way
2-hour drive on a dirt road downstream
No reliable ATM in Marromeu; bring cash from Caia.
Mutarara (Vila de Sena)
cautionDoor to door: About 2 h each way
2-hour drive upstream on dirt road
Home to the Dona Ana Bridge.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Near the highway (south of the bridge)
Pensão Maia and Hotel So-Artes are both close to the EN1; bicycle taxis available.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- MT 800–1,200 excl. bed
- Mid
- MT 1,200–1,800 excl. bed
Trip budget
| Pensão Maia (fan, shared bathroom)1 × 1 night × MZN 800 | MZN 800 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × MZN 800 | MZN 800 |
| Bicycle taxi (one ride)1 × MZN 10 | MZN 10 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | MZN 161 |
| Trip total≈ MZN 1,771 per person per day, bed included | MZN 1,771 |
2026 estimate in meticais; flights excluded.
Prices of common things
| Pensão Maia room (fan, shared bath) | MT 800 |
| Hotel So-Artes room (private, hot water, TV) | MT 1,200–1,800 |
| Bicycle taxi ride | MT 10 |
| Meal at Portuguese-owned restaurant | MT 200–400 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The only reliable ATM is at the Standard Bank in the petrol station on the highway; get cash here before heading to Marromeu, Chemba or Sena.
- Flies can be a nuisance at outdoor restaurants.
- The bridge bypasses the old town centre; most services are on the highway corridor.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 119
- Ambulance
- 117
- Fire
- 198
Pocket card
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CaiaCaia
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Para este endereço, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police119
- Ambulance117
- Fire198
Embassy
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bicycle taxi (anywhere in town): MT 10
- Pensão Maia room: MT 800
- Hotel So-Artes room: MT 1,200–1,800
Say or show
- Olá — Hello (oh-LAH)
- Obrigado — Thank you (oh-bree-GAH-doo)
- Quanto custa? — How much? (KWAN-too KOOS-tah)
- Onde está o multibanco? — Where is the ATM? (OHN-deh esh-TAH oo mool-tee-BAHN-koo)
- Bicicleta táxi — Bicycle taxi (bee-see-KLEH-tah TAH-shee)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Caia. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Oct (dry, cooler) · avoid Dec–Mar (wet, hot, roads may be poor) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 2 bands
- 2 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Caia
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