Analanjirofo

A northeastern coastal region of Madagascar, whose biggest draws are the beaches of Sainte Marie Island and the whale-watching season.

Analanjirofo lies on Madagascar's eastern Indian Ocean coast. Its capital is Fenoarivo Atsinanana, and the name means "forest of cloves"; clove and other spice cultivation has a long history here. The region's best-known destination is Sainte Marie Island (Nosy Boraha), with palm-fringed beaches and historic sites such as the pirate cemetery. Humpback whales come to breed here from around July to September each year, making it a great place for whale watching. The climate is hot, humid and rainy. Sainte Marie has an airport with flights to Antananarivo, and can also be reached by boat from the mainland.

Destinations

• Île Sainte-Marie

Itineraries

• Eastern Rainforest, Canal & Île Sainte-Marie – Enter the east coast from Andasibe, cruise the Pangalanes Canal, and cross the sea to Île Sainte-Marie.