city in Atsinanana Region, Madagascar
Mahavelona (commonly called Foulpointe) is a town is in Toamasina Province. It is a quiet and peaceful village in the northeast of Madagascar, in the region of Atsinanana. This former 18th-century French counter is today a beautiful seaside resort.
Foulpointe is named Mahavelona by the Malagasy.
The name Foulpointe appeared with the arrival of an English boat called Full on the pointed part of Mahavelona. This ship was carrying gift items (music boxes, porcelain, and clothes).
Foulpointe was the center of the slave trade in the southwest Indian Ocean to replace the Antongil bay between the middle of 18th century and the end of it, when Toamasina took over in Madagascar.
Mahavelona is nowadays a popular tourist destination in Madagascar. The beauty of its beach, protected by a coral reef, makes it an excellent seaside destination.
You can also have a walk in the tiny village, which is nothing else than a street lined with charming straw huts. This is an ideal stop before visiting the island of Sainte-Marie.
Local restaurateurs offer organic and fresh products available locally and promote the calm of the destination, compared to the more popular seaside resorts in northern Madagascar (Nosy Be, Mahajunga, Antisiranan).
Do not miss «le gentil pêcheur», a small restaurant where you can eat several delicious lobster dishes.
There is a significant offer of accommodation with many bungalows of different standings ranging from the most luxurious to the simplest (with comfort) at affordable prices. The inhabitants have reconverted a lot in the tourism sector. As a result, the reception by the population is excellent (like almost everywhere in Madagascar).
There is a bus from Foulpointe to Soanierana Ivongo, where you can take a ferry to Sainte-Marie.