When planning a vacation to the east of Madagascar, you probably wonder what to do in Sainte Marie. Sainte Marie consists of two stunning paradise islands in the Indian Ocean. The large Ile Sainte Marie and its small companion Ile aux Nattes. Both are extraordinary, but different in so many ways.
If your wanderlust takes you to Sainte Marie (and I really hope it does – you will not regret it!), there are plenty of things to see and do. Less than two weeks is not enough to explore the islands, so chances are you have to choose. I know, choosing is horrible.
Hopefully, this list will help you decide how to spend your time, so you can make the most of it. Firstly, let me explain the islands.
What is Sainte Marie an Ile aux Nattes?
Ile Sainte Marie is 60 km long and around 5 km. wide. The main town Ambodifotatra is located in the southern part of the island. Here you find the market, plenty of bars and restaurants, and shops for purchasing your basics. The northern part consists primarily of an immense amount of raw nature, local villages, and a few hotels.
Ile aux Nattes is a tiny island just 200 m. south of Sainte Marie. Unlike its more developed big sister, Il aux Nattes does not have roads, street lights, and traffic. In fact, the only way to get around is by foot or boat. To get to Ile aux Nattes you go to the southern point of Ile Sainte Marie and hire a pirogue. Ile aux Nattes is the closest thing you can get to a Robinson Crusoe experience, and the island is uncanny in its unspoiled-ness.
Both islands are surrounded by a double reef barrier. That doesn’t only mean shallow, calm waters but also interesting marine life worth exploring. And to those of you who, like me, grew up with Jaws, I’m happy to tell you there are no sharks within the barrier! Swimming and paddling are very safe here – even for your kids.
The history of the island is equally as fascinating as the landscape. In the 17th century, the islands were a base for pirates plundering their way through the Indian Ocean.
How to spend your time on Ile Sainte Marie and Ile aux Nattes
Chill by the Beach
A 65 km island (including Ile aux Nattes) in the Indian Ocean is bound to have an astonishing coastline, and it sure does! Few places in the world offer beaches as irresistible as Sainte Marie. Turquoise water, wide sand beaches, and swaying palm trees are more the rule than the exception. Let go of your worries with cold coconut juice and a good book on the beach.
Sail In a Pirogue
The preferred way of transport on the water is pirogues. A Pirogue is a wooden canoe the locals use for everything from transportation to fishing. The water is shallow, so the fastest way to get ahead without a motor is by punting. On both Il Sainte Marie and Ile aux Nattes, but especially Ile aux Nattes, it’s possible to hire a pirogue and boatsman to take you for a trip. And if you’re up for trying yourself, you definitely should. It’s harder than it looks!
I’d recommend taking a trip around Ile aux Nattes. It takes about an hour and is absolutely beautiful. If you want to make a day trip out of it, you should stop by Maison Blanche for a glass of wine, and have lunch at Fananas.
Read more about Maison Blanche and Fafana here.
Swim in Piscine Naturel
On the northern point of Ile Sainte Marie, you find Piscines Naturelle. Piscines Naturelle are three natural saltwater swimming pools. The water is clearer than the sky, and the landscape is magnificent. For the less adventurous ones, you get there by car or boat. Are you comfortable on two wheels, the ride is quite fun by scooter or motorbike.
Note that Piscines Naturelle is a sacred area for the Malagasy, so there are several Fadys to respect. For example, it is not allowed to wear shoes, consume alcohol, or pee.
Take a Trip to the Mangrove Forest
On the west coast of Sainte Marie in a deep lagune, you can visit a large Mangrove Forest. The Mangroves are home to a unique ecosystem, and the forest is just beautiful. When visiting the Mangrove forest, you sail around in the canals between the Mangroves enjoying the unusual environment. Bring a guide if you want to learn about the peculiar animal life, or just a boatsman if you simply want to soak in the beauty.
From the Mangrove forest, it’s possible to tire up the boat and do a short walk to the western coast. The beaches there are isolated and unspoiled, and have a distinctive exclusive vibe. Bring a lunchbox and enjoy a meal in complete serenity.
Enjoy a Spa Day
After traveling on the mainland of Madagascar, you are likely to pine for a luxury experience when you get to paradise. Sainte Marie offers several spa experiences at different levels of comfort.
If looking for a nice massage or mani-pedi, most hotels can accommodate you. It’s also possible to find a masseuse on the beach, and while they might be just as good as your hotels, make sure to ask permission first. Many hotels do not allow unauthorized masseuses in the rooms.
Longing for the whole exclusive package and willing to pay for it? Treat yourself to a day at Princess Bora’s Jungle Spa. It’s the most exclusive spa on the island, and here you can choose from a variety of treatments, which are all centered around natural and aromatic products, that Princess Bora produces from local flora. You’ll be leaving there a new and improved person.
Sail to Il aux Sable
On the southwest coast of Sainte Marie, a phenomenon named Ile aux Sable (The Sand Island) occurs. There’s no easier way to explain it, than a white sand beach in the middle of the ocean. Ile aux Sable literally comes out of nowhere, and it’s a magnificent sight.
You get there by boat – either motor or pirogue. To make a day trip out of it, you should bring your snorkeling gear. There are several great snorkeling spots out there.
Snorkeling by the Reef
With a double reef barrier, you can only imagine the marine life you can explore throughout the coasts. No matter where on the islands you’re staying, it’s never far from the reef. That’s something to take advantage of. If you didn’t bring your snorkeling gear, you can lease it in most hotels or buy it in many shops in Ambodifotatra.
In many areas, for example, south of Ile aux Nattes, you don’t even have to reach the reef to see a diverse collection of living corals, octopuses, and fish.
To go snorkeling on spots far from your hotel, hire a boat or join a tour. You can ask your hotel or the local tourist office in Ambodifotatra to arrange either for you.
Learn to Dive
Perhaps you’re an experienced diver ready for a treasure hunt in the nearby pirate wrecks, or perhaps you want to learn how to dive. In either case, you are on an island surrounded by a double-barrier reef. Does it not sound like a perfect opportunity? It truly is!
On Sainte Marie, you find one active diving center, Bora Dive & Research. They arrange diving trips to numerous good sights, and they’re very professional. If you’re into diving, this is the place to go.
Have Fun in Ambodifotatra
Ambodifotatra is the main town in the area. It consists of a main street, a harbor, and numerous small streets crawling with shops, bars, and restaurants. On most days there’s a big market selling everything from food to clothes to electronic devices. You can easily spend a day exploring the town.
To get to town, go by tuk-tuk or boat. If staying at Ile aux Nattes, take a pirogue to the Southpoint and a tuk-tuk from there. The trip will take you in total about 45 minutes and is an experience in itself.
The main town is the only place where you can find a supermarket for your basic Western-World needs, and it is the home of 2 out of 3 ATMs on the island (the 3rd is by the airport). If you should be unlucky enough to need a hospital during your vacation, this is also the place to find it.
Explore the Islands’ Bars & Restaurants
If you’re a foodie, examining the cuisine of the island is probably a priority. The islands have numerous restaurants worth trying. In fact, there are so many, that you’d need weeks to eat your way through the area. The southern part of the island from the southern tip of Ile Sainte Marie to Ambodifotatra has the most, but some must-try places are located in the northern part and on Ile aux Nattes. If you’re not staying nearby, you should probably combine eating there with a day trip, since transport takes an effort.
Bars are plentiful as well and come in a big variety. I’m a fan of the local experience – drinking beers with locals is just much more fun than mixing with tourists. Plus, a beer in a local bar is about a tenth of the price of a fancy one. Don’t expect an umbrella cocktail – those you can only find at the touristy bars. One recommendation is the bar La Reunion in the southern area, but it is rather hard to find. Ask locals for directions and recommendations when going for that kind of experience.
Go Whale Watching
If you visit during June, July, or August, a must-experience is to go whale watching. Every year Humpback Whales swim from Antarctica to the waters around Madagascar to mate. During those months there are thousands of these majestic animals in the area, and seeing them jump and play in the water is just… well, there are no words to describe it.
A whale-watching trip is a rather costly affair. You pay between 50 and 80 € per person for a 3-hour trip. But it is something you’re not likely to ever forget. Numerous places offer whale-watching trips but look for one that’s a member of Cetamada. Cetamada is an organization working for preserving whales. When choosing a member, you can be sure that the captain is trained properly in sailing with respect to the whales.
Visit the Pirate Cemetery
Close the Ambodifotatra, you find the main attraction on the island, the Pirate Cemetery. I gotta be honest with you. Very few pirates are proven to be buried there. But in any case, the cemetery is the pride of the island. If you keep an open mind and look away from historical inaccuracies, it’s actually full of entertaining stories.
A tour can either be a visit to the cemetery, or a visit to the cemetery followed by a boat trip to Ile aux Forbans, a tiny island in the lagune by the town. Ile aux Forbans is the island where many legendary pirates, such as William Kidd, lived.
Walk Around Ile aux Nattes
I cannot express clearly enough how unique Ile aux Nattes is. To truly get the feel of it, you should walk around it. If you walk it during low tide, you can walk around it by the beach the entire way. Ile aux Nattes is just 2,5 km long and 1,5 km wide, so the hike can be done in just a few hours. On the way around you pass many good restaurants and beach bars, so there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy breaks in pure serenity.
You can easily add a few more sights to spice up the trip. Read my post 7 Places to Experience When Staying at Ile aux Nattes.
Getting to Ile aux Nattes from Ile Sainte Marie is easy. Take a tuk-tuk to the southern point and jump on a pirogue at the cross-over. It will take you less than 5 minutes to cross the water. From the shore, you can start walking.
Explore the Scenery on BMX, Bike, Motorbike, or Scooter
For those into speed and off-road driving, you have many kilometers of (almost) non-existing road as a playground from Ambodifotatra and to the northern point. BMX’es, bikes, scooters, and motorbikes can be rented in the city center, and quite affordably.
Along the road, you have numerous options to enjoy breaks at viewpoints, eat at restaurants and bars, and swim in natural springs and waterfalls. The adventures are lining up for those brave enough to grab them.
If you’re more comfortable bringing a guide, have your hotel or the local tourist office arrange that for you.
Visit the Local Villages
I know I write this a lot, but visiting the local villages is the best way to get an authentic Malagasy experience. At Sainte Marie, the environment could not be safer, so no need to be afraid of mingling with the locals. The people on the island are very open and accommodating, and you’re likely to be invited in to see their houses, cooking methods, and customs.
The Malagasy life is dramatically different from the lives of the Western world, but there’s much to learn from it. I strongly advise you to go with the flow, if a Malagasy opens up his or her home to you.
When in Rome, why stick with the Germans?
These were just some of the hundred possible activities to brighten your days in Sainte Marie. As you can see, it won’t be hard to pass your time. I hope you’ll appreciate the memories you bring home from there – I’m sure they won’t be forgotten.
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