Princess Bora Lodge & Spa

Location: This charming eco-lodge is located on Sainte-Marie Island, on the East of Madagascar, offering a luxury tropical experience and wild nature in a peaceful environment.

How to get here: You can take a short 50-min flight from Antananarivo or, alternatively, you can take a long 7-hour bus ride to Tamatave and then continue to Mahambo for another 3 hours, where you can take a ferry the next morning. The ferry takes around 3,5 hours.

Structure: The 20 spacious villas are surrounded by a green tropical garden and built from natural materials: cut stone, rosewood, traditional rooftop made with dried leaves. The design combines a perfect mix of luxury and simplicity. The villas offer impressive view on lagoon. A large stone bathtub stands out in the middle, completed with a double shower and separated toilets. A spa with magical intimate settings is present on-site. Try a revitalizing citrus bath in a traditional pirogue. Continue with a wild honey body scrub which softens the skin. Complete with a relaxing massage with ivahona oils. All the products are home made with local plants. The menu comes from the on-site organic vegetable garden, combined with the island’s producers’ offer, offering diversified dishes, mixing Malagasy and Creole influences. Fish is always the star, whether grilled, in tartar, Carpaccio or curry. You can also have grilled lobster, zebu steak, wood oven pizza. There is also a floating bar with amazing views at sunset. They have a great selection of locally produced rums, made from organic vegetable, vanilla, wild pepper or litchis.

There is a diving and oceanic research center with quality equipment and qualified PADI instructors. Discover the coral reefs of Sainte-Marie, shipwrecks, or try a night dive. You can also do all PADI certifications.

Why staying here: Princess Bora Lodge & Spa is one of the best hotels on Sainte Marie Island.