Major city · Madagascar
Toliara
Give Toliara 2 nights as the end of the RN7: one afternoon for the Arboretum d'Antsokay, one full day for Anakao or Ifaty. Skip Batterie Beach.
Toliara (also spelled Tulear) is the southern terminus of the RN7, a hot, low-key coastal city of about 170,000 people where the spiny forest meets the Mozambique Channel. Most travellers arrive by road from Isalo or by a short flight from Antananarivo, then use it as a base for the reef islands of Anakao and Ifaty. The city itself is a half-day of sights; the coast is the reason to stay.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- MGA
- Best months
- Apr–Nov (dry season)
- avoid Dec–Mar (cyclone season, hot and humid)
- Airport
- TLE
- Nights
- 2
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.
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 Toliara117 ▾
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 Toliara, 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
- SafetyToliara is a working city, not a resort: watch your bag in the market and at night, and treat Batterie Beach as off-limits.
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.
- AirportTLE Toliara Airport (Madagascar Airlines from Antananarivo (daily), Morondava (about weekly) and Taolagnaro (about twice weekly); flights fill up…
- Getting aroundPousse-pousse (cycle rickshaw) is the cheapest way to move around town and fine for short hops with bags; agree the price first.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Sit-down mealRestaurant main course11,000–20,000 Ar
- BeerBeer at a brochette-alley bar5,000–10,000 Ar
- Museum or sight ticketArboretum d'Antsokay entry15,000 Ar (check)
- Budget bedBasic guesthouse room, a night, per roomMGA 25,000
- Mid-range bedBasic guesthouse room, a night, per roomMGA 40,000
- High-end bedBasic guesthouse room, a night, per roomMGA 60,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget MGA 60,000 · Mid MGA 130,000 · High MGA 280,000
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
- TLE Toliara Airport (Madagascar Airlines from Antananarivo (daily), Morondava (about weekly) and Taolagnaro (about twice weekly); flights fill up, book early. About 7 km (4.3 mi) from the centre.)TLE Toliara Airport (Madagascar Airlines from Antananarivo (daily), Morondava (about weekly) and Taolagnaro (about twice weekly); flights fill up, book early. About 4.3 mi (7 km) from the centre.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Feb
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Mar
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Apr
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
May
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Jun
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Jul
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Aug
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Sep
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Oct
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Nov
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Dec
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Best: Apr–Nov. Avoid: Dec–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Jan (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jul (15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C) low), wettest Jan (9 rain days), driest Aug (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Toliara: 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
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
9 rd
Feb
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
8 rd
Mar
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
6 rd
Apr
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
3 rd
May
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
2 rd
Jun
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
2 rd
Jul
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
2 rd
Aug
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
1 rd
Sep
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
1 rd
Oct
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
2 rd
Nov
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
3 rd
Dec
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
7 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
Pousse-pousse (cycle rickshaw) is the cheapest way to move around town and fine for short hops with bags; agree the price first. Taxis and hotel transfers cover the airport and the RN7 lodges. For Ifaty, Anakao or the Arboretum, arrange a car with a driver — car hire in Madagascar almost always comes with one, roughly 130,000 Ar a day plus fuel (check).
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Arboretum d'Antsokay
goDoor to door: About 30 min each way
Car or taxi 12 km (7.5 mi) east on the RN7Car or taxi 7.5 mi (12 km) east on the RN7
07:30–17:30, 15,000 Ar including an optional guide (check); the best introduction to the spiny forest, with chameleons and birds.7:30 AM–5:30 PM, 15,000 Ar including an optional guide (check); the best introduction to the spiny forest, with chameleons and birds.
Anakao
overnightDoor to door: About 1–1.5 h
Boat from Toliara, morning departures
Vezo fishing village with reef and a small island reserve; stay a night rather than rush back.
Ifaty and Mangily
goDoor to door: About 1–1.5 h
Car on a rough road north
Diving, beaches and spiny forest; a good place to sleep instead of town.
La Table
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Car 3 km (1.9 mi) past the Arboretum, then a 15-min climbCar 1.9 mi (3 km) past the Arboretum, then a 15-min climb
Small table mountain with a viewpoint; go early, the climb is exposed.
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.
Centre / Bazary Be
Walkable to the market, banks and restaurants; quiet at night, cheapest rooms.
Boulevard Lyautey seafront
Sea-facing hotels with pools; the main coastal road for dinner.
RN7 east (Arboretum area)
Garden lodges 12–14 km (7.5–8.7 mi) out; quiet and green but you need a car or pousse-pousse.Garden lodges 7.5–8.7 mi (12–14 km) out; quiet and green but you need a car or pousse-pousse.
Ifaty / Mangily
Beach base 25–30 km (16–19 mi) north on a rough road; stay here instead of town if you want the sea.Beach base 16–19 mi (25–30 km) north on a rough road; stay here instead of town if you want the sea.
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
- 60,000–110,000 Ar excl. bed
- Mid
- 110,000–250,000 Ar excl. bed
- High
- 250,000 Ar+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range hotel double1 × 2 nights × MGA 120,000 | MGA 240,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × MGA 130,000 | MGA 520,000 |
| Arboretum d'Antsokay entry2 × MGA 15,000 · check | MGA 30,000 |
| Boat to Anakao, one way2 × MGA 60,000 · check | MGA 120,000 |
| Car with driver, one day plus fuel1 × MGA 130,000 · check; fuel extra | MGA 130,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | MGA 104,000 |
| Trip total≈ MGA 286,000 per person per day, bed included | MGA 1,144,000 |
2026 estimate in ariary; flights and RN7 car hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Pousse-pousse short ride in townAgree before you get in. | 2,000–5,000 Ar |
| Beer at a brochette-alley bar | 5,000–10,000 Ar |
| Grilled skewers or chicken with taro | 8,000–15,000 Ar |
| Restaurant main course | 11,000–20,000 Ar |
| Arboretum d'Antsokay entry | 15,000 Ar (check) |
| Taxi airport to centre | 30,000–50,000 Ar (check) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Batterie Beach, just north of town, has seen violent crime including fatalities; Canada advises against all travel there and New Zealand advises increased caution. Do not go.
- Do not buy shells or coral at the craft market: many are protected species and customs in your home country can fine or prosecute you.
- Handicrafts here are trucked in from Ambositra and Fianarantsoa and cost more than up-country; buy on the RN7 or in Tana instead.
- ATMs: BNI and BFV take Visa and MasterCard, BOA only Visa. Carry cash — card acceptance outside hotels is limited.
- Roads north to Ifaty are rough and slow; do not plan a tight connection after a beach day.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 117
- Fire
- 118
- Medical
- 124
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
ToliaraToliara
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Ho any amin'ity adiresy ity azafadyTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police117
- Fire118
- Medical124
Embassy
No embassies in Toliara; most are in Antananarivo. Consular help for the south is handled from the capital — check your embassy's hours before you travel.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Toliara Airport → centre, taxi: 30,000–50,000 Ar, about 15 min (check)
- Pousse-pousse in town: 2,000–5,000 Ar
- Boat Toliara → Anakao: about 60,000 Ar, 1–1.5 h (check)
Say or show
- Manao ahoana — Hello (ma-NAO a-HO-na)
- Misaotra — Thank you (mee-SAO-tra)
- Ohatrinona? — How much is it? (o-ha-TREE-no-na)
- Lafo loatra — Too expensive (LA-foo LOO-a-tra)
- Aiza ny trano fidiovana? — Where is the toilet? (a-EE-za nee TRA-no fee-dee-o-VA-na)
- Tsy mila aho, misaotra — I don't want it, thank you (tsee MEE-la a-hoo, mee-SAO-tra)
Prices are 2026 estimates in ariary. Carry cash: ATMs in town are limited and cards are accepted mainly at hotels.
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 Toliara. 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 season, hot and humid) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
- officialMadagascar National Tourism Board
- officialMadagascar Airlines
- officialArboretum d'Antsokay
- secondaryWikivoyage: Toliara, revision 5238717 (CC BY-SA 4.0)