Travel Guide Mahavelona – Foulpointe

Foulpointe, 59 km north of Toamasina, was the favorite seaside resort of the region's colonists. Today, it's still a popular resort, with city-dwellers from Toamasina and Tana spending their weekends here. The small village with its wooden houses and ravenala leaf-covered roofs is surrounded by villas and tourist facilities. On the beach, you can expect a wide range of services: massages, braiding and seafood. Facing a beautiful sandy beach undulating with dunes, the coral reef acts as a barrier against sharks and guarantees the clarity of the seabed. Behind, the forest is sumptuous, with ravenalas, orchids and lemurs. In addition to the pleasures of the ocean, Mahavelona, "where life awakens anew", also offers the chance to visit historical relics, such as the ruins of the fort built by the Merina governor for the armies of Radama I.But be careful when swimming! Only swim in the lagoon, and don't be tempted by the unprotected offshore beaches. Here, as all along the east coast, swimming "off the beaten track" is extremely dangerous. Villagers, fishermen and hoteliers know the safe spots and those where sharks abound.On Sundays and public holidays, when the weather is fine, the Malagasy picnic on the beach in a cheerful hustle and bustle. Buried in the forest, the old cemetery is home to the graves of pirates, sailors and slave traders.