Nosy Be

The "Perfume Island" off the northwest coast, with sandbars, snorkeling, a lemur island and seasonal whale sharks, Madagascar's top choice for a beach getaway.

Nosy Be (Malagasy for "Big Island") lies off Madagascar's northwest coast in the Diana Region. It covers about 320 sq km and is the country's most developed island resort destination. The island is covered with ylang-ylang, vanilla and sugarcane plantations, and the air carries a floral scent, earning it the nickname "Perfume Island." Main areas: Andoany (Hell-Ville), the main town in the southeast, has colonial buildings, a market and the port; Ambatoloaka–Madirokely in the southwest has the island's greatest concentration of hotels, dive centers and restaurants; Andilana Beach in the northwest is the prettiest; and Lokobe National Park at the southeastern tip protects primary rainforest. Island-hopping beyond Nosy Be is the highlight: see black lemurs on Nosy Komba, snorkel with turtles at Nosy Tanikely, walk the sandbar at Nosy Iranja, swim with turtles at Nosy Sakatia, and for a longer trip, dive in the Mitsio Islands. Seasons: April to December is the dry season with the best sea conditions; September to December is the season for swimming with whale sharks, and humpback whales may be seen from July to November; January to March is cyclone season, with heavy rain and the risk of storms. Getting there: Fascene Airport (NOS) has flights to and from Antananarivo as well as a few international routes; a ferry runs between Ankify on the mainland and Andoany on Nosy Be. On the island you can hire a car, take a tuk-tuk or rent a motorbike. We suggest staying 4–6 days.

Top sights

• Nosy Be – A resort island off Madagascar's northwest coast, with white-sand beaches, ylang-ylang plantations and island-hopping. Seasonally, you can…
• Nosy Iranja – Two small islands joined by a white sandbar about 1 km long, which you can walk out and back on at low tide. The water is clear
• Nosy Tanikely Marine Reserve – Nosy Be's best snorkeling spot, where turtles and schools of tropical fish are often seen over the coral reef. A lighthouse at the top of t…
• Nosy Komba – A volcanic island across from Nosy Be, where black lemurs in a village reserve leap onto visitors' shoulders. There is also a market sellin…
• Lokobe National Park – The last pristine rainforest on Nosy Be, where you can see black lemurs, Nosy Be sportive lemurs, panther chameleons, and leaf-tailed gecko…
• Mont Passot – The highest point on Nosy Be, offering views of several crater lakes and the islands along the west coast. It is the island's best sunset v…
• Andilana Beach – A long white-sand beach on the northwest tip of Nosy Be, with calm, clear water. It is considered the most beautiful beach on the island.
• Hell-Ville (Andoany) – The main town of Nosy Be, with streets and buildings from the French colonial era. Its harbour is the main departure point for the smaller…
• Hell-Ville Market – The largest market on Nosy Be, selling vanilla, pepper, ylang-ylang essential oil, tropical fruit, and seafood. A good place to buy spice g…
• Ambatoloaka – The fishing village bay on the southwest of the island, where hotels, dive centres, restaurants, and bars are concentrated. It is the top c…
• Nosy Sakatia – A quiet island off the west coast of Nosy Be, where green sea turtles often feed in seagrass beds. It is also a departure point for diving…
• Lemuria Land – A park combining an ylang-ylang distillery, a zoo and botanical garden, and a lemur park, which helps explain why the island is called the…
• Sacred Tree of Mahatsinjo – A giant fig tree more than a century old, whose aerial roots have spread into a forest. It is a sacred site for ceremonies of the Sakalava…
• Nosy Fanihy – A small island north of Nosy Be, home to large numbers of Madagascar flying foxes, with coral reefs good for snorkelling.
• Nosy Mitsio – A remote archipelago northeast of Nosy Be, with basalt columns, clear water, and some of the best dive sites. Good for a day or multi-day b…

Where to eat

• Le Papillon – A highly-rated Italian restaurant in downtown Hell-Ville, famous for its signature crab pasta and one of the most exten…
• Karibo – An Italian seafood restaurant in Ambatoloaka, known for its squid ink ravioli and local oysters, open for dinner only.
• Chez Papa Bebeto – A simple eatery on the main street of Ambatoloaka, highly rated for its affordable grilled seafood and octopus in cocon…

Itineraries

• Northern Diego to Nosy Be Crossing – Head south from Diego through Amber Mountain and two tsingy formations, then cross the sea from Ankify to finish in Nos…
• Nosy Be Island Hopping & Beach Holiday – Based in Ambatoloaka, head out to sea or explore the island daily to see lemurs, sea turtles, and white sandbars.