Madagascar's busiest port carries the sweet scent of vanilla and cloves in the air. Toamasina is your gateway to lemur encounters, canal boat rides through lush waterways, and a city where French colonial boulevards meet the colour and chaos of Africa.
Ships dock at the commercial Port de Toamasina — a working industrial port where passengers cannot walk to the gate unescorted.
💡 Pro move: Exchange currency at a bank or ATM in town (Visa works at most ATMs). US dollars and euros are sometimes accepted by vendors but at poor rates. Credit cards rarely work outside upscale hotels.
Toamasina is a docked port — all cruise ships berth at the commercial Mole B facility, roughly one mile from the city centre.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Most cruise lines | Mole B / Passenger Berth, Port de Toamasina📍 | Docked |
| Expedition ships | Mole B or anchorage — confirm with line📍 | Docked |
From free-roaming lemur encounters to tranquil canal boat rides, Toamasina punches well above its size for Indian Ocean shore days.
The standout excursion from Toamasina. This conservation park 12 km north of the city is home to 12+ lemur species — some free-roaming, some in spacious enclosures — plus tomato frogs, chameleons, and giant tortoises. Guided tours available in English, French, German, and Italian.
Find Ivoloina lemur tours →Glide along Madagascar's great network of man-made and natural canals running parallel to the east coast. Motorised boats and traditional pirogues pass lush riverine forest, fishing villages, and vanilla plantations. Peaceful and utterly different from the city outside.
Find Pangalanes Canal tours →Toamasina exports vanilla, cloves, cinnamon, and wild pepper to the world — and Bazary Be is where you smell it all at once. Stalls overflow with spice bundles, raffia bags, wood carvings, and exotic fruit. Bargaining is expected.
Find city market tours →Walk Avenue de l'Indépendance — a grand palm-lined boulevard of French colonial buildings — to the Cathédrale Saint-Joseph on Boulevard Ratsimilaho with its panoramic bay views facing the Indian Ocean. A self-guided stroll works perfectly.
Find city walking tours →Madagascar's closest safe swimming beach sits 60 km north in a shallow coral-reef lagoon. The road is rough and the drive takes 1.5–2 hours each way — only feasible with a long port call. Best booked as a cruise excursion to guarantee return timing.
Find Foulpointe beach tours →The city centre is compact and walkable once you're through the port gate — the main boulevard and waterfront promenade make a rewarding loop.
From the port gate, head to the main boulevard lined with giant palms and colonial architecture. Walk to the Cathedral, then south along Boulevard Ratsimilaho's waterfront promenade overlooking the Indian Ocean. Return via the city market streets.
Near the port entrance, the Place Bienvenue hosts massive ancient banyan trees with dramatic aerial roots. A short, photogenic stop before joining the city shuttle.
📍 Open in MapsClimate normals for Toamasina, Atsinanana, Madagascar (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 88°F / 31°C | 74°F / 23°C | 4 | 5:19 AM | 6:24 PM |
| Feb | 88°F / 31°C | 74°F / 23°C | 4 | 5:36 AM | 6:16 PM |
| Mar | 88°F / 31°C | 74°F / 23°C | 5 | 5:45 AM | 5:56 PM |
| Apr | 86°F / 30°C | 72°F / 22°C | 4 | 5:52 AM | 5:32 PM |
| May | 83°F / 28°C | 69°F / 21°C | 3 | 6:01 AM | 5:16 PM |
| Jun | 80°F / 27°C | 66°F / 19°C | 3 | 6:11 AM | 5:14 PM |
| Jul | 78°F / 26°C | 64°F / 18°C | 3 | 6:14 AM | 5:22 PM |
| Aug | 79°F / 26°C | 64°F / 18°C | 2 | 6:02 AM | 5:31 PM |
| Sep | 81°F / 27°C | 65°F / 18°C | 1 | 5:38 AM | 5:37 PM |
| Oct | 83°F / 28°C | 68°F / 20°C | 1 | 5:13 AM | 5:43 PM |
| Nov | 85°F / 29°C | 70°F / 21°C | 2 | 4:58 AM | 5:55 PM |
| Dec | 88°F / 31°C | 73°F / 23°C | 2 | 5:01 AM | 6:13 PM |
Source: Meteostat (10-yr monthly averages)
Upcoming cruises that call at Toamasina, Atsinanana, Madagascar. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.