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Where to stay in Nosy Be
Nosy Be is Madagascar's best-known beach island, off the north-west coast, with warm, calm sea, ylang-ylang plantations and smaller islands nearby. Hotels are spread around the coast, so the choice is between the lively west-coast beaches near Ambatoloaka and quieter coves elsewhere.
Ambatoloaka
Ambatoloaka is the island's main resort village, with a beach, guesthouses, restaurants, bars and dive and boat operators. It is lively and convenient for excursions, but more crowded than other parts of the island.
Andilana and the north-west beaches
Andilana, in the north-west, has one of the best beaches on the island, with soft sand and calm water for swimming, and several resorts. It is quieter than Ambatoloaka and good for sunsets.
Hell-Ville (Andoany)
Hell-Ville is the island's main town and port, with a market, colonial buildings and boats to the mainland and nearby islands. It has simple hotels and is practical, but it has no beach.
One thing to think about
Roads on Nosy Be are slow and taxis can be expensive, so choose your beach carefully. Check whether your hotel's beach is good for swimming at all tides.
Once you have a bed
The things that sell out first in Nosy Be are the small-group tours and the skip-the-line tickets.
Common questions
What can I do around Nosy Be?
Take boat trips to Nosy Komba to see lemurs, to Nosy Tanikely marine reserve for snorkelling with turtles, and to the sandbars of Nosy Iranja. Between about September and December whale sharks are often seen, and humpback whales pass from about July to October.
When is the best time to visit Nosy Be?
The dry season, from about April to November, has sunny weather and calmer seas. The wet season from December to March is hotter and brings heavy rains and the risk of cyclones. Some lodges close for part of the wet season.
How do I get to Nosy Be?
Fascene airport on Nosy Be has flights from Antananarivo and some international connections. From the mainland, boats cross from Ankify. Transfers between the airport and the main beaches take around 20 to 40 minutes.
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