Toamasina (Tamatave) Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Land

Train

There was no regular train service to or from Toamasina at time of research. Plans are afoot to reinstate passenger services eventually, so inquire at the Toamasina or Antananarivo stations for an update.

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Boat

Boat travel is generally slow and uncomfortable, but is often the only option when roads on the northeast coast are impassable. Bear in mind, however, that weather conditions can make sea voyages dangerous, particularly around the cyclone season (December to March); always check forecasts and ask local advice before travelling. Standards vary widely; cabins are sometimes available, but on most boats you can expect to be bedding down on deck, and you will need to bring your own food and water.

Cargo boats leave from Toamasina for Île Sainte Marie, Mananara, Antalaha, Antsiranana and Taolagnaro, although you generally have to wait to find one that accepts passengers. Fares and schedules vary wildly, so you’ll need to ask around regularly in the port area, and be prepared to wait at least several days. Mira SA (53 349 28; sa.mira@wanadoo.mg; 79 Blvd Joffre) is one company with an office in town, and has roughly monthly boats heading north and south; a ticket to Iharana or Manakara will cost you Ar60, 000, while Nosy Be and Toliara come in at Ar100, 000.

The luxury cruise liner MS Mauritius Trochetia leaves Toamasina for Réunion and Mauritius approximately every two weeks. One-way fares to Réunion are €210/177 for a 1st-/2nd-class cabin (based on two people sharing), and €247/227 to Mauritius. More expensive deluxe cabins are also available. For tickets, go to Tropical Service (53 336 79; 23 Blvd Joffre), near the Hotel Joffre.

If you’re heading to Île Sainte Marie, the boat company Cap Sainte Marie (53 351 48; cap-sainte-marie@wanadoo.mg; Rue Maitre Nativel; 6-7am & 10am-5pm Mon-Sat, to noon Sun) has an office in Toamasina and runs daily bus transfers to meet their shuttle at Soanierana-Ivongo (€60 return). Sharing the same office, La Compagnie du Canal (032 02 183 87; compagnieducanal@wanadoo.mg) has daily services to Manambato (€50) via Ankanin’ny Nofy (€35), on the Canal des Pangalanes.

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Air

Air Madagascar (53 323 56; Araben’ny Fahaleovantena) flies at least once daily between Toamasina and Antananarivo (Ar203, 000), sometimes via Île Sainte Marie (Ar163, 000). Other services connect Toamasina with Sambava (Ar203, 000, weekly), Maroantsetra (Ar163, 000, three weekly) and Antalaha (Ar203, 000, twice weekly). Be warned that during the vanilla season (June to October), the planes that fly up and down the northeast coast can be full.

Air Madagascar and Air Austral (53 312 43; 1 Rue Lattre de Tassigny) each have two weekly flights to St-Denis on Réunion (from Ar974, 700).

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