Open-Air Market & Sacred Tree

Discover some of the exotic crops and trees that grow in Nosy Be’s fertile soil by visiting an open-air market, walking through a plantation’s fields, and relaxing under the Sacred Tree.

After departing from the pier, you will begin a leisurely drive across Hell-Ville, a city named for Admiral de Hell, a 19th-century French governor of nearby Reunion Island. Also known as Andoany, Hell-Ville is the capital of Nosy Be and among Madagascar’s more developed areas.

While stopping at one of the city’s open-air markets, you will experience an authentic slice of daily life. Expect the market to be wonderfully bustling and filled with locals shopping for spices, tamarind, mangos and other fresh produce. You may also detect the heady scent of the ylang-ylang tree wafting through the air.

If not, you will definitely pick up the fragrance at a nearby plantation that grows ylang-ylang for perfume, essential oils and as a remedy for hypertension. Coffee and peppers are some of the other crops that flourish here.

Still, the Sacred Tree is Nosy Be’s most iconic vegetation, and you will soon have the opportunity to sit in its shade and hear why the Malagasy people revere this giant ficus tree. Planted more than 200 years, the Sacred Tree covers an area of more than 5,000 square feet. You’re free to wander through the tree’s maze of aerial roots or just sit back and enjoy a folkloric performance by a live band while sipping a complimentary beverage. Afterwards, you will return to the pier, making a short stop to purchase some souvenirs along the way.