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Voykit pocket guide · Madagascar
Foulpointe
Mahavelona
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.
- Country
- Madagascar
- Local name
- Mahavelona
- Best months
- Apr–Nov (dry season)
- Avoid
- Dec–Mar (cyclone risk, heavy rain)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MGA
- Money
- Currency is the Malagasy ariary (MGA). Cash is the norm outside larger hotels; ATMs exist in towns but not in national parks or on long road stretches.
- Daily spend
- Budget MGA 60,000–100,000 excl. bed · Mid MGA 100,000–200,000 excl. bed · High MGA 200,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telma, Orange and Airtel (Yas) sell SIMs at Ivato and in towns with passport registration; data bundles are cheap.
- Emergency
- Police 117 · Fire 118 · Medical 124
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 220 V · 50 Hz · European two-pin plugs; power cuts (délestage) are common in Tana — bring a power bank.
- Tipping
- Park guide: 10–20% of the guide fee, or €5–10 a walk.; Driver for a week-plus: €5–10 a day at the end.; Restaurant: Round up or 5–10%.; Porters: 2,000–5,000 ariary a bag.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles or use a filter.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels; long-drop or squat toilets at many park gates and roadside stops. Carry paper.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Lobster dish at Le Gentil Pêcheur | 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–Foulpointe | MGA 15,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TMM · Toamasina Airport
- About 1.5 h by road; check flight schedules
Typical fares
- 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)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get 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.
See and do
Known for
- Protected reef beach
- Lobster at Le Gentil Pêcheur
- 18th-century slave trade history
- Gateway to Île Sainte-Marie
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Île Sainte-Marie | Taxi-brousse or private car to Soanierana Ivongo (about 30 min), then ferry (check schedules) | About 1.5–2 h |
| Toamasina | Taxi-brousse or private car, about 1.5 h | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- 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.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Salamasah-lah-mah |
| Thank you | Misaotramee-sah-oo-trah |
| How much? | Ohatrinona?oo-hah-tree-noo-nah |
| Good | Tsaratsah-rah |
| Where is the beach? | Aiza ny morontsiraka?eye-zah nee moor-oon-see-rah-kah |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake with a smile; 'salama' first; avoid: Rushing straight to business
- Fady: Ask your guide what is taboo in each place; avoid: Pointing at tombs with a finger — use a bent finger
- Villages: Greet the chief or elder with your guide; avoid: Walking into tombs and sacred groves
- Gifts: Support schools through registered projects; avoid: Handing sweets or pens to children
- Bargaining: Smile and settle fairly; avoid: Hard haggling over tiny sums
Scams and watch-outs
- 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.
Foulpointe is generally safe for tourists. The main risks are the sea (strong currents, cyclone season) and petty theft; keep valuables in your bungalow safe. Medical facilities are basic; serious cases go to Toamasina.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Foulpointe yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Protected reef beach
- Lobster at Le Gentil Pêcheur
- 18th-century slave trade history
- Gateway to Île Sainte-Marie
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Foulpointe, revision 4334687 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4334687
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/foulpointe). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.