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Voykit pocket guide · Madagascar
Hell-Ville
Spend a half‑day in Hell‑Ville to see the market and beach, add a night if you want cheap lodging and easy ferry access.
Hell‑Ville, the main town on Nosy Be, offers a compact market, nearby beaches and budget accommodation. One day covers the sights; stay longer for beach relaxation or as a ferry hub.
- Country
- Madagascar
- Best months
- Apr–Nov (dry season)
- Avoid
- Jan–Mar (rainy)
- Stay
- 1 night
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 25,000–35,000 excl. bed · Mid MGA 35,000–50,000 excl. bed · High MGA 50,000+ 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 |
|---|---|
| Taxi from airport to town | 15,000 Ar |
| Speedboat to Ankify | 20,000 Ar |
| Collective taxi (market‑to‑Ambatiloaka) | 2,000 Ar |
| Meal at local café | 5,000–10,000 Ar |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- NOS · Fascene Airport
- 12 km (7.5 mi) NE of town, taxi ~15,000 Ar7.5 mi (12 km) NE of town, taxi ~15,000 Ar
Typical fares
- Fascene Airport → Hell‑Ville (taxi)
- ≈15,000 Ar, 12 km (7.5 mi) (check)≈15,000 Ar, 7.5 mi (12 km) (check)
- Speedboat Hell‑Ville → Ankify
- ≈20,000 Ar, 40 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
Collective taxis run 06:00‑20:00 from the market to Ambatiloaka (15 min, 2,000 Ar) and Djamandjary (25 min, 3,000 Ar). Speedboats to Ankify (40 min, 20,000 Ar).Collective taxis run 6:00 AM‑8:00 PM from the market to Ambatiloaka (15 min, 2,000 Ar) and Djamandjary (25 min, 3,000 Ar). Speedboats to Ankify (40 min, 20,000 Ar).
See and do
Known for
- Hell‑Ville market
- Nearby beaches
- Budget hostels
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ankify port | Speedboat from Hell‑Ville harbour, 40 min | ≈45 min |
Sleep
- Hotel Bellevue
- Single/double rooms from 60,000 Ar, near market
- Tamana Backpackers Hostel
- Dorms from 39,000 Ar, double rooms 99,000 Ar, sea view
- Klban Hotel Nosy Be
- Double rooms from 65,000 Ar, pool, adjacent to supermarket
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Manao ahoanamah-nah‑oo ah‑hoo‑ah‑nah |
| How much? | Ohatrinona?oo‑hah‑tree‑no‑na |
| Where is the market? | Aiza ny tsena?eye‑zah nee tseh‑nah |
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
- Taxi fares from the airport are around 15,000 Ar; confirm price before boarding.
- No foreign‑exchange desk at the airport – change money beforehand.
- Collective taxis may be crowded; keep belongings secure.
Generally safe for tourists; petty theft can occur in crowded markets – keep bags close and avoid walking alone after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Hell-Ville yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Hell‑Ville market
- Nearby beaches
- Budget hostels
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Hell-Ville: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Hell-Ville, revision 5242246 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5242246
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/hell-ville). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.