Major city · Madagascar
FoulpointeMahavelona
One night is enough for the beach and a quiet break between Toamasina and Île Sainte-Marie; two nights if you want to relax.
Foulpointe (Mahavelona) is a quiet seaside village on Madagascar's east coast, about 1.5 h north of Toamasina. Its protected reef beach and relaxed pace make it a good stop for a night or two, especially if you are travelling between Toamasina and Île Sainte-Marie. The village itself is a single street lined with straw huts; the draw is the beach and the seafood.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- MGA
- Best months
- Apr–Nov (dry season)
- avoid Dec–Mar (cyclone risk, heavy rain)
- Airport
- TMM
- Nights
- 1–2
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 8Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- African islands ↗Sleep on the island you fly home from the night before your long-haul departure; inter-island flights and ferries in this region are cancelled or rescheduled often enough to break a same-day connection.
- African islands ↗In the Indian Ocean islands book flexible rates for December to March: a cyclone warning can shut airports, ferries and roads for two or three days.
- Madagascar ↗Check visa and e-visa rules for your passport on Madagascar's official e-visa portal before booking.
- Madagascar ↗Book a travel-clinic visit several weeks ahead; ask about malaria prevention and whether a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for your route.
- Madagascar ↗Hire a car with a driver for road trips; self-drive is rarely practical and driving after dark is unsafe.
- Madagascar ↗Do not buy or export wildlife, tortoise shell, precious stones without a certificate, or protected plants; enforcement at the airport is strict.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Foulpointe117 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Foulpointe, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Malagasy ariary (MGA).Madagascar-wide
- SIM or eSIMTelma, Orange and Airtel (Yas) sell SIMs at Ivato and in towns with passport registration; data bundles are cheap.Madagascar-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Madagascar-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Round up or 5–10%.Madagascar-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/E. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Madagascar-wide
- SafetyFoulpointe is generally safe for tourists.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels; long-drop or squat toilets at many park gates and roadside stops.Madagascar-wide
- Emergency numbers117 police · 118 fire · 124 Medical (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysShops shut Sunday afternoons in towns; national parks open daily; banks close at weekends.Madagascar-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckTMM Toamasina Airport (About 1.5 h by road; check flight schedules).
- Getting aroundThe village is walkable.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi-brousse Toamasina–FoulpointecheckMGA 15,000
- Budget bedBasic bungalow (double), a night, per roomMGA 40,000
- Mid-range bedBasic bungalow (double), a night, per roomMGA 70,000
- High-end bedBasic bungalow (double), a night, per roomMGA 120,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget MGA 60,000 · Mid MGA 130,000 · High MGA 250,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- TMM Toamasina Airport (About 1.5 h by road; check flight schedules)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Feb
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Mar
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Apr
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
May
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Jun
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Jul
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Aug
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Sep
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Oct
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Nov
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Dec
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Best: Apr–Nov. Avoid: Dec–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Jan (30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)), coolest Jul (17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C) low), wettest Jan (18 rain days), driest Sep (9). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Foulpointe: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
18 rd
Feb
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
16 rd
Mar
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
18 rd
Apr
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
14 rd
May
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
11 rd
Jun
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
10 rd
Jul
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
11 rd
Aug
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
10 rd
Sep
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
9 rd
Oct
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
10 rd
Nov
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
11 rd
Dec
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
16 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The village is walkable. For the beach, walk straight from the main street. To get to Soanierana Ivongo for the ferry to Île Sainte-Marie, take a taxi-brousse or hire a private car.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Île Sainte-Marie
goDoor to door: About 1.5–2 h
Taxi-brousse or private car to Soanierana Ivongo (about 30 min), then ferry (check schedules)
Ferries may not run daily; check in advance.
Toamasina
goDoor to door: About 1.5 h
Taxi-brousse or private car, about 1.5 h
Toamasina has ATMs, markets and the port.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Beachfront bungalows
Most accommodation lines the beach; range from simple bungalows with comfort to more luxurious options.
Village centre
A few guesthouses on the main street, closer to the bus stop.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- MGA 60,000–100,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- MGA 100,000–200,000 excl. bed
- High
- MGA 200,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range bungalow (double)1 × 1 night × MGA 150,000 | MGA 150,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × MGA 130,000 | MGA 260,000 |
| Taxi-brousse Toamasina–Foulpointe, one way2 × MGA 15,000 · check | MGA 30,000 |
| Private car Toamasina–Foulpointe, one way1 × MGA 80,000 · check | MGA 80,000 |
| Ferry Soanierana Ivongo–Île Sainte-Marie, one way2 × MGA 30,000 · check | MGA 60,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | MGA 58,000 |
| Trip total≈ MGA 319,000 per person per day, bed included | MGA 638,000 |
2026 estimate in ariary; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Lobster dish at Le Gentil Pêcheurcheck | MGA 30,000–50,000 |
| Simple meal (rice, fish, vegetables) | MGA 8,000–15,000 |
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | MGA 2,000–3,000 |
| Taxi-brousse Toamasina–Foulpointecheck | MGA 15,000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Cyclone season runs December to March; avoid travel then.
- The beach has a strong current in places; ask locals before swimming far.
- ATMs are not available in Foulpointe; bring cash (ariary) from Toamasina or Antananarivo.
- The ferry to Île Sainte-Marie from Soanierana Ivongo may not run in bad weather.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 117
- Fire
- 118
- Medical
- 124
Pocket card
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FoulpointeMahavelona
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Amin'ity adiresy ity, azafadyTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police117
- Fire118
- Medical124
Embassy
The US embassy is in Antananarivo; most other countries also have embassies there. Check /madagascar/visa-requirements.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Taxi-brousse Toamasina → Foulpointe: about MGA 15,000, about 1.5 h (check)
- Private car Toamasina → Foulpointe: about MGA 80,000, about 1.5 h (check)
- Ferry Soanierana Ivongo → Île Sainte-Marie: about MGA 30,000, about 30 min (check)
Say or show
- Salama — Hello (sah-lah-mah)
- Misaotra — Thank you (mee-sah-oo-trah)
- Ohatrinona? — How much? (oo-hah-tree-noo-nah)
- Tsara — Good (tsah-rah)
- Aiza ny morontsiraka? — Where is the beach? (eye-zah nee moor-oon-see-rah-kah)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Foulpointe. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Nov (dry season) · avoid Dec–Mar (cyclone risk, heavy rain) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 2 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Place pages for beach bungalows with verified prices and contact.
- Eat pages for Le Gentil Pêcheur and other seafood spots.
- Ferry schedule page for Soanierana Ivongo–Île Sainte-Marie.
Sources
Ask about Foulpointe
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