Île Sainte Marie

Ile Ste Marie, or Nosy Boraha, is a narrow tropical island off the east coast of Madagascar. Its miles of sandy beaches are shaded by coconut palms, its bays and coves are protected by coral reefs, the hills are green, the hotels are small and generally unobtrusive and it has a romantic pirate history.

In addition, it offers the finest whale-watching in Madagascar (July – September); diving, fishing and surfing; a lovely, off-shore islet, Ile aux Nattes, and the uninhabited Ilots aux Sables; myriad orchid species, including the magnificent Queen of Madagascar (Eulophiella roempleriana); and forests concealing waterfalls and inhabited by a variety of birds, lemurs and chameleons.

Ifaty

Situated on the sourth-western coast 22 km north of Tulear, Ifaty is a small fishing village belonging to Vezo tribe, where in the last years some resorts with boungalows have been built. It is a perfect place to rest two or three days after the tours towards the central highlands.

You can find an excellent ratio between value and quality at Bamboo Club (french ownership): it consists of a dozen of cute bungalows, a typical restaurant and a diving center. You can reserve from the Pharmacie du Mozambico at Tulear. All the resorts have scuba diving equipment and propose divings. If you prefer snorkeling, you can rent mask and flippers and reach the reef with the fishermen pirogues.

Anakao

Anakao village is set 40 km south of Tulear, 2 hours by motor boat; there are beautiful beaches with high white sand dunes. Since the pist is very bumpy, the best way to reach the village is going there by sea. Off the coast is Nosy Ve island, you can ask the local Vezo fishermen to take you there by wooden pirogues. The coral reef in this area is particularly ineresting for divers. To overnight in the area, we suggest you Safari Vezo, Le Prince Anakao, Chez Monica.