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Voykit pocket guide · Madagascar
Toamasina
Spend 2 days in Toamasina to see the port, beach front and take a Canal des Pangalanes day trip; longer only for an overnight canal cruise.
Toamasina is Madagascar's main east‑coast port and the country's second‑largest city. The waterfront, city hall area and nearby Canal des Pangalanes can be explored in two days. Longer stays are only needed for extended canal trips or beach relaxation.
- Country
- Madagascar
- Best months
- Apr–Nov
- Avoid
- Jan–Mar (rainy season)
- Stay
- 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 25 000–40 000 Ar excl. bed · Mid 40 000–70 000 Ar excl. bed · High 70 000 Ar+ 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 |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | 1 000–2 000 Ar |
| Street food (koba, samosa) | 500–1 500 Ar |
| Taxi (city ride, 5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (city ride, 3.1 mi (5 km)) | 15 000–20 000 Ar |
| Bottle of water (1 L) | 500–800 Ar |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TMM · Toamasina Airport
- Domestic flights; check schedules.
Typical fares
- Airport → city centre taxi
- ≈15 000 Ar, 20 min (check)
- City taxi per km
- ≈3 000 Ar per km (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
Taxis are the main mode; negotiate price or use meter. City buses run limited routes. Walking is easy around the waterfront and city centre.
See and do
Known for
- Port of Toamasina
- Canal des Pangalanes
- Saint Joseph Cathedral
- Bord de la mer beach
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Canal des Pangalanes | Ask at Hotel Joffre or local agents; boat runs when demand exists. | Half‑day for day cruise; overnight trips available. |
| Foulpointe | Taxi or shared minibus about 45 km (28 mi) north, 1 h drive.Taxi or shared minibus about 28 mi (45 km) north, 1 h drive. | ≈1 h each way |
Sleep
- Hotel Plage
- 5‑min walk to beach; double room 40,000 Ar.
- Hotel Joffre
- Mid‑range; double 122,500 Ar, twin 137,500 Ar.
- JRJ Hotel
- Air‑con double 45,000–55,000 Ar; free Wi‑Fi.
- Hotel Mahatoky
- Double 20,000–25,000 Ar; nets in rooms.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Salamasah‑lah‑mah |
| How much? | Ohatrinona?oo‑hah‑tree‑no‑nah |
| Thank you | Misaotramee‑sah‑oo‑trah |
| Where is the beach? | Aiza ny tora-pasika?eye‑zah nee toe‑rah‑pah‑see‑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
- Medical response can be slow; keep emergency number 124 handy (check).
- ATMs may accept only Visa or Mastercard; bring cash.
- Nighttime beach areas can be poorly lit; stay in groups.
Toamasina is generally safe for day visitors; keep valuables secure and avoid isolated streets after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Toamasina yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Port of Toamasina
- Canal des Pangalanes
- Saint Joseph Cathedral
- Bord de la mer beach
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 – Toamasina coordinates: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12345
- Wikivoyage: Toamasina, revision 5230332 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5230332
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/toamasina). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.