To go to Sainte Marie
Sainte Marie's airport (SMS) is directly served by airlines from Tananarive (TNR) and Tamatave's (TMM) airports in Madagascar and with Saint Denis in La Réunion island (RUN). 
To go to Sainte Marie
Sainte Marie's airport (SMS) is directly served by airlines from Tananarive (TNR) and Tamatave's (TMM) airports in Madagascar and with Saint Denis in La Réunion island (RUN).
Generally speaking, planes seats for Sainte Marie are rather rare. We advise you to reserve your tickets with Air Madagascar several months in advance and before all other bookings. If you have difficulties to find seats for Sainte Marie from Tananarive or Tamatave, don't hesitate to contact HSM group. Supplementary planes are regularly chartered to make it always possible to have places.
Shipping lines link the port of Sainte Marie with Soanierana Ivongo and Tamatave on the big land. The crossing is longer and more turbulent than by air and all shipping lines are not safe. Those that we recommend are the best.
Follows these links to check the rates and timetables of airlines and shipping lines for Sainte Marie or to reserve places.
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Entry and stay visa
To stay in Madagascar, foreign tourists only have to bring a currently valid passport. This validity must not be lower than 6 months from the date of the passenger's return.
Entry and stay visa
To stay in Madagascar, foreign tourists only have to bring a currently valid passport. This validity must not be lower than 6 months from the date of the passenger's return. The tourism visa (For the stays of less than 3 months) will be delivered on the passport in return for the payment of a fee (about 30 euros), by the authorities of the Madagascar international airport or, beforehand, by the abroad Malagasy diplomatic and consular representations.
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Seasons of Sainte Marie
Sainte Marie is a tropical island where the seasons cycle is different than the big earth's. Some important events like the humpback whales groupings or vanilla blooming correspond to much particular moments of the year.
Seasons of Sainte Marie
Sainte Marie is a tropical island where the seasons cycle is different than the big earth's. Some important events like the humpback whales groupings or vanilla blooming correspond to much particular moments of the year.
| January |
Holidays of the year
|
Mangoes
|
Hot season
|
Possibility of strong winds |
| February |
"Fruits à pain" |
| March |
Season of traditional fights |
Nocturnal rains |
| April |
Variable time |
| May |
Lobster fishing |
| June |
Traditional holidays of Tsaboraha |
Quite rainy southern winter |
| July |
Humpback whales |
| August |
| September |
Eulophiella Flowering |
Picking of the Clove |
Good weather during the dry season |
| October |
Microcebus Lemurs |
| November |
Mangoes and litchis |
Vanilla flowering |
| December |
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Take into your suitcase
Put in your suitcase: A sweat-shirt, a light jacket and a raincoat for some freshness of the high lands, some rain, the thermal shock during the return and the sea excursions,...
Take into your suitcase
Put in your suitcase: A sweat-shirt, a light jacket and a raincoat for some freshness of the high lands, some rain, the thermal shock during the return and the sea excursions, a pair of walking shoes for the hikes, an anti-mosquito product (citronella or other) as well as a pair of flip-flops, a pair of bath shoes, a swimsuit, a bath-towel and a solar protection with high protection factor for the beach. The landscapes are so beautiful that you have to bring one camera and/or a video camera.
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Vaccines and pharmacy
No vaccine is required to enter to Madagascar except the one against the yellow fever if you had stayed in a country where this illness is still rife. We recommend the classic vaccines for travelling in tropical countries.
Vaccines and pharmacy
No vaccine is required to enter to Madagascar except the one against the yellow fever if you had stayed in a country where this illness is still rife. We recommend the classic vaccines for travelling in tropical countries. The hotels of the HSM group actively fight against the mosquitoes (mosquito net in all rooms and periodic ecological treatment of the hotels' surroundings) and observe strict rules of hygiene. However, take the care to inform your doctor who will prescribe you certainly some medicines of basis as anti-diarrhoeic (Imodium type), anti-mosquito nets (Insect-Ecran, 5/5, Autan...) and anti-malarial treatment (Nivaquine, Paludrine...) necessary to all travels in tropical country.
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Malagasy Customs
The entry of foreign currency is not limited. But you have to declare the amounts of more than 7 500 Euros at your arrival. The jewels of the non residents must be declared for temporary admission and must be brought back upon their return.
Malagasy Customs
The entry of foreign currency is not limited. But you have to declare the amounts of more than 7 500 Euros at your arrival. The jewels of the non residents must be declared for temporary admission and must be brought back upon their return. Some authentic objects being part of the national heritage are forbidden to export. Some animals, plants, valuable objects, artistic objects are subordinated to an authorisation of export delivered at the time of the purchase. The protected species not descended from breeding, or those threatened by extinction, are forbidden to export as well as the artistic objects or things made with them. For example, it concerns all species of lemurs, sea turtles, radiate or with spur turtles, Antongil red frog, orchids, some shellfishes, etc.
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Indicative prices
Even if because of her insularity, Sainte Marie's prices are a bit higher than anywhere in Madagascar, the cost of life there is generally considered very low for the westerner visitor.
Indicative prices
Even if because of her insularity, Sainte Marie's prices are a bit higher than anywhere in Madagascar, the cost of life there is generally considered very low for the westerner visitor. Here is a small indicative table of prices to enlight you :
Grocers prices on 01/01/08 : 1 Euro = 13 000 fmg = 2 600 Ariary
|
|
|
Ariary |
|
|
| Bottle of mineral water at the grocer's (1,5 l) |
3 000 |
| Bus place between the south airport and the harbor (15 Km) |
1 000 |
| Taxi between the south airport and the harbor of Ambodifotatra (15 Km) |
20 000 |
| Local call from a public phonebox (1mn) |
2 000 |
| International call from a public phonebox (1mn) |
7 500 |
| Fluor toothpaste Signal |
3 500 |
| A pack of paper handkerchief (10) |
3 000 |
| Alcaline cigarette battery (the battery) |
4 000 |
| A 36-exposure Kodak film |
8 000 |
| Printed Quality T shirt |
25 000 |
| Printed Cotton Pareo |
3 000 |
| A pair of simple tongs |
5 000 |
| Average tip for a suitcase porter |
1 000 |
| Bananas, mangoes, papayas or litchis (1 kg) |
600 |
| Fresh beer at a grocer's (65 cl) |
5 000 |
| Coca Cola at a grocer's (1 l) |
4 000 |
| A can of concentrated milk Nestlé (250 gr) |
1 600 |
| A can of sardines in oil |
1 200 |
| A blister of Paracétamol (10) |
200 |
| Unleaded gas (1 l) |
2 400 |
| Gasoil (1 litre) |
2 200 |
| Light cigarettes (20) |
6 000 |
| Entrance fees for saturday night dancing |
2 000 |
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Currency and credit cards
The Ariary (AMD or Ar) has replaced the Malagasy Franc (FMG or Fmg) since August 1st, 2003 ( 1 Ar =5 Fmg ). Once arrived in Madagascar, it's better to know the differents kinds of bill in use because the old ones are in FMG.
Currency and credit cards
The Ariary (AMD or Ar) has replaced the Malagasy Franc (FMG or Fmg) since August 1st, 2003 ( 1 Ar =5 Fmg ). Once arrived in Madagascar, it's better to know the differents kinds of bill in use because the old ones are in FMG. Confirm before paying if the price is in Ariary or in FMG because people are still used to talk in Malagasy Francs. Prefer euros or dollars to any other currencies, and VISA Blue Card if you use international credit cards.
You can check the current exchange rates at www.bni.mg/bourse.php
Here are the coordinates and caracteristics of Sainte Marie's banks :
BFV-SG Sainte-Marie - Ambodifotatra
(Tél. : +261 20 57 403 28 ou +261 20 57 400 34)
Accepts VISA cards and Traveller's check in Euro and in Dollars. The bank exchanges transactions with Euro, Dollar, Swiss franc and Pound sterling.
Opening hours : from monday to friday from 7h30 to 11h30 and from 14h00 to 16h00, closing days on saturday and sunday.
A cash dispenser is awaited for january 2006.
BOA Sainte Marie - Ambodifotatra
(Tél. + 261 20 57 403 88 ou + 261 20 57 403 89).
Accepts MASTERCARD and Traveller's check AMERICAN EXPRESS, and VISA from january 2006). The bank exchanges transactions with Euro, Dollar, Pound sterling, canadian Dollar and Yen.
Opening hours : from monday to friday from 8h00 to 11h45 and from 14h30 to 16h45, closing days on saturday and sunday.
WESTERN UNION Sainte Marie - Ambodifotatra
(Tél. : + 261 20 57 400 38)
Opening hours : from monday to friday from 7h00 to 11h30 and from 14h30 to 17h00, saturday from 09h00 to 11h00, closing day on sunday.
Only international transfers are received.
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Time difference
Madagascar's time zone is GMT+3. When it's summer in France, time in Madagascar is one hour past the actual time in France (it is 11h00 in France when it is 12h00 in Madagascar). The time difference becomes two hours during (France) winter (10h00 in France when 12h00 in Madagascar).
Post office and Internet
The Malagasy stamps are often beautiful and varied. The beauty and the authenticity of the landscapes assures magnificent post cards. Situated in the heights of the city of Ambodifotatra, Saint Marie's post office is rather reliable. Your letter can reach France within fifteen days. Saint Marie has also started to have internet. You will find one or two cyberspaces in town.
Electricity
Electric tension in Madagascar is 220 volts. Plugs are same as in France and are found in all the Soanambo and the Masoandro's rooms and in the standard bungalows of the Napoléon. Generators have been set to prevent blackouts inconveniences, the electricity is guaranteed 24/7 at the Soanambo hotel and the Masoandro Lodge. The Ile Aux Nattes has no electricity and the Napoléon hotel is permanently supplied by a generating set.
Telephone
The dialling code for Madagascar is 261, to be added by the 9 numbers of your correspondent. Sainte Marie's telephone numbers begin with + 261 20 57.... You can call abroad from the hotels of HSM group or from cardphones. A cardphone is found at the Soanambo hotel's entrance. Magnectic cards are on sale in town. Cell phones cover a large part of the south of the island (Beaches and pontoons of the Soanambo and the Napoléon).
