Here Are The Most Breathtaking Beaches In Madagascar

As expected, Madagascar has some of Africa’s most secluded and stunning beaches. Madagascar’s coastline, including many islands, exceeds 5,000km/3,100mi. Resorts with busy beaches are rare. Madagascar’s beaches are usually deserted, protected by coral reefs from the open ocean, and at the end of lengthy, desolate roads or paths. We like these beaches.

1. Anakao

Anakao Beach in Madagascar’s extreme southwest appears to go on forever. There’s enough infrastructure here to make things convenient and pleasant, but it never gets in the way or detracts from the view. From July to September, there are a few low-key resorts, a few beach shacks serving food, a dive-and-snorkel operation, and a man with a boat who will take you out to observe humpback whales.

2. Anjajavy Peninsula

The Anjajavy Peninsula is western Madagascar’s most exclusive idyll, accessible only by private plane or boat. Choose one beach here is impossible. The peninsula has beaches for everyone, from isolated coves accessible only by boat to palm-lined stretches of sand. The constants are deep-blue water, deep-green forest, and fine sand with very few footprints.

3. Salary

Spend a few days at Salary to experience southwestern Madagascar’s deserted coastline. The lone resort provides stunning ocean and coast views from a headland. Madagascar’s biggest-sky destination. Boat rides, snorkeling, and diving are all available. The sand between your toes and the ocean breeze in your hair during long beach walks may be your most lasting memory.

4. Île aux Nattes (Nosy Nato)

This small island off Madagascar’s east coast features some of the most gorgeous beaches in the country, if not the Indian Ocean. The ocean – turquoise, azure, translucent – laps gently along peaceful coasts where palm trees lean out over the sand, just as they’re meant to in tourist brochures. Forest paths are quiet and peaceful. The sun sets over a limitless horizon. Bliss!

5. Nosy Mangabe

Nosy Mangabe, surrounded by mountains and trees in Masoala National Park, is more than simply a gorgeous face. Antongil Bay beaches offer the usual beautiful sands, captivating waves, and amazing trees (canarium towering from massive buttresses). There’s a shipwreck, and torrents (sound of waterfalls) sometimes drown out jungle birds. Find lemurs and aye-ayes in the forest.

6. Andilana

Nosy Be may be the slightly overwhelmed poster child for crowded Madagascan beach towns, but there’s a reason for that: the beaches here are spectacular. If we had to pick one, it would be Andilana on Nosy Be’s northwestern tip. Its allure is unmistakable. People flock here to enjoy the powder-white beaches, sparkling waters, and breathtaking sunsets.

7. Itampolo

Itampolo, located near the southern extremity of southwestern Madagascar’s Great Reef shoreline, can feel like a desert island at the furthest edges of the known world, or like something out of a Robinson Crusoe story. The paved road ends around here, and the coast and ocean both stretch out into eternity from here.

8. Nosy Mitsio

The island archipelago of Nosy Mitsio, located off the northwest tip of Madagascar, is shielded from the hordes of neighbouring Nosy Be by open stretches of water and a lack of tourist development. It’s an excellent diving and snorkeling location, and the little beaches here have a sense of remoteness that is uncommon in Madagascar’s north.

9. Faux Cap

Faux Cap, Madagascar’s southernmost point, feels like the end of the world. If you stand on the sand and look south, you can see Antarctica and hear only wind and waves. Sir David Attenborough famously sought this area for the extinct elephant bird, whose eggshells still crunch under your toes.

10. Nosy Iranja

The two islands of Nosy Iranja, off Madagascar’s northern coast, have a magical quality to them. At low tide, a sandbar connects Nosy Iranja to the mainland, and you can walk out to the islands. It’s both surreal  and exhilarating, like walking on water.

11. Nosy Be

Last but in no way the least, we have, Nosy Be. One of the most famous of the Malagasy Islands and certainly the most beautiful too. The island is about 900 km from Antananarivo (about 18 hours).

Also known as the perfume island, Nosy be is popular with celebrities who come for a short break. In addition, you would be entitled to the boat of Bill Gates moored not far from the port with a little luck.

The island is a mix of colors and sensations: the blue of the sea, the green of the lush vegetation, the soft sand under the feet, the taste of shrimps with coconut milk, the tropical fruits, and the song melodious lemurs. We do not have the words to explain it but if paradise existed in Madagascar, it would undoubtedly be on this small piece of land!