About the Port
Andoany, often called Hell-Ville, is the principal port town on Nosy Be, Madagascar's largest and most visited offshore island. Its streets reflect a layered colonial past, with faded façades, a lively central market, and shaded avenues that invite an easy stroll from the harbor. Beyond the town, the island opens into plantations scented with ylang-ylang and vanilla, along with volcanic crater lakes and stretches of white-sand coastline.
Nosy Be also serves as a springboard for excursions into Lokobe Reserve, home to lemurs and reptiles found only in Madagascar, and to smaller nearby islets prized for snorkeling over coral reefs. The pier sits within walking distance of Andoany's market and waterfront, making independent exploration straightforward for those who prefer to wander before venturing farther into the island's forested interior.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Andoany.
Explore Lokobe Reserve
Reach this rainforest reserve by traditional pirogue through mangrove channels, then walk with a local guide spotting black lemurs, chameleons, and boa constrictors found nowhere else. Half-day excursion best arranged in advance.
Snorkel Nosy Tanikely
A short boat ride from Andoany, this marine reserve islet offers clear water over coral gardens teeming with reef fish and resident sea turtles. Bring reef shoes and arrive early to beat crowds.
Tour an Ylang-Ylang Distillery
Venture into the island's interior to see the flowers behind Nosy Be's perfume trade, with small distilleries explaining the extraction process. Often paired with a vanilla plantation stop and crater lake viewpoint.
Cruise Lines That Call Here
Cruises That Visit Andoany
| Departs | Cruise Line | Ship | Itinerary | Nights | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 8, 2027 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Sky | 125 | $54,999 | |
| Jan 8, 2027 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Sky | 153 | $69,999 | |
| Dec 28, 2027 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Vesta | 142 | $61,495 | |
| Dec 28, 2027 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Vesta | 170 | $77,995 | |
| Jan 14, 2028 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Vesta | 125 | $56,495 | |
| Jan 14, 2028 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Vesta | 153 | $70,995 | |
| Nov 30, 2028 | Atlas Ocean Voyages | Atlas Adventurer | 128 | $74,207 | |
| Dec 21, 2028 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Vesta | 170 | $81,249 | |
| Dec 21, 2028 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Vesta | 142 | $64,749 | |
| Jan 7, 2029 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Vesta | 125 | $58,999 | |
| Jan 7, 2029 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Vesta | 153 | $75,499 | |
| Feb 10, 2029 | Atlas Ocean Voyages | Atlas Adventurer | 42 | $26,061 | |
| Apr 7, 2029 | Atlas Ocean Voyages | Atlas Adventurer | 45 | $24,494 |