Ile Saint Marie to Maroansetra

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skovso
skovso

Hello people,

Sorry for possibly posting a subject that has been touched upon before.

I am in need of up-to-date information about the boat crossing from Ile Saint Marie to Maroantsetra. Has anyone used this service lately? Melissa Express or Cap Saint Marie? Have heard appaling reviews of the latter. We're gonna be travelling in late Sep and will need the boat service between Sep 25 and 29. I've heard that the Melissa boat ONLY leaves twice a week (Tues and Sat) - can anyone confirm/de-confirm (weather permitting etc)? How long does the route take? Hear there's a mandatory stopover in SI, unfortunately.

Any help is much appreciated. It seems quite a challenge to do this route, especially if you're on a bit of a tight schedule.

Ps. I checked all possible flight options as well, to no avail...

Thanks,

Sara

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mikhail_goldovski
mikhail_goldovski
In response to #0

Hi, what I heard from Melissa in Sonierana Ivongo in April - the boats depart from there, coming from St Marie you have no choice but overnight there. Mananara was twice weekly, Maroantsetra once (if I haven't mixed them up). Confirm with Melissa - 0331873269 - phone of the St Marie agent. There are also small wooden cargo boats from Tamatave via St Marie, possible to catch in the harbour of St Marie, Ile Madame, near museum, but they don't look at all reliable.

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mikhail_goldovski
mikhail_goldovski
In response to #1

Tue and Sat sound familiar. And all weather permitting. In mid-April there was a cyclone, and no boats crossed between S.Ivongo and St Marie for 8 or 9 days (but boats on the shorter route to a peninsula 20-30 km away from SI travelled), departures to Mananara and Maroantsetra were cancelled as well.

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skovso
skovso

Thanks a lo, Mikhail. I actually contacted Melissa via email and was pleasantly surprised how fast they would get back to my questions. To anyone interested:

  • Yes, boats to Marao leave SI on Tues and Sat morning (weather etc permitting)
  • The trip takes 8 hours (SI-Marao)
  • Yes, you have to stay over in SI (boat from ISM the day before Marao departure). No same day option.

Here's the email: melissaexpress1@gmail.com

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