One of the last unspoilt islands in the world, Sainte Marie Island is considered as one of the most beautiful sites in the Indian Ocean for the beauty of its landscape and the richness of its lagoon. Its history and its pirates’ legends will take you back to the past. Come and discover this magical place.
Around 1506, Portuguese navigators discovered the island on Assomption day, as they almost wrecked their ship on the island. As it was customary, they gave the island the name of the day’s Saint: Santa Maria.
From 1684 to 1724, it was one of the birth places of X in the Indian Ocean, soon becoming a strategic place for pirates such as David Williams, Thomas Tew, Thomas White, La Buse, Plentain and many others.
At the time of “Compagnie des Indes” in the 18th century, Sainte-Marie became a major trading place in the Indian Ocean. Long after being a pirates’ X, the island became an open air jail for 50 years during the 20th century.
Surrounded by superb beaches and in luxurious tropical vegetation, Nosy Boraha, the “women island”, is a magical place for quality tourism.
People are mainly of catholic faith and earn their living from tourism, traditional fishing and growing rice, manioc, sweet potatoes, vanilla, cloves and coffee. Agriculture is primarily subsistance farming and any surplus is then sold at local markets. Whilst the local population is quite poor, living conditions are not terrible and there are some NGOs which can also be found on the island who bring some help to the poorest.
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A genuine exotic paradise, Sainte Marie Island is still preserved from mass tourism, with its deserted beaches and small fishing villages. There are very few cars on the island due to the lack of proper roads. Sainte-Marie is 60 km long and 5 km wide and can be visited on foot, by mountain bike or by motor bike
There are many sites and places of interest to visit on the island : l'Ile aux Nattes, the pirates’ cimetery, Ampanihy Forect, l'Ile aux Forbans, the annual migration of humpback whales, village fetes, the discovery of its history …
Divers will also be thrilled by the exceptional beauty of the lagoon.
The migration of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) is an event not to be missed.
From July to the end of September, Sainte-Marie becomes a meeting point for humpback whales which have come here to reproduce and also to give birth to their calves in these warm waters, after a very long journey taking several months. These giant cetaceans become the main attraction of the island. You can see them jumping in the ocean from the beaches and villages; it is a truly beautiful and moving moment.
The track “piste de la Madrague” which starts at the airport towards the East and goes through Ambodifaraha, then the capital city, will take you to the Eastern Great Lagoon, on the wild coast of the island.
Nested within tropical woodlands, you will then discover Boraha Village, starting point for boat trips to “Ilôts aux Sables” (small sandy inlets) and Ampanihy Bay.
This spot is ideal as the light wind brings a cool breeze and keeps the mosquito’s at bay! |
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