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Arriving in Maroantsetra is a delight as the airport is tiny and zebu cattle graze the grass on the side of the runway.

People in brightly colored hats and holding umbrellas to shade themselves from the sun walk at a very leisurely pace and you feel very welcome.

Rainforests and beaches of Maroantsetra

It's a place where nothing much happens fast and is ideal for a relaxed stay. A short drive from the airport the town is nestled at the far end of the Bay of Antongil and is Madagascar at its most authentic. The surrounding area has rainforests and beaches and this town provides a starting point from which to explore Masoala National Park and Nosy Mangabe.

In town there is often the smell of vanilla and cloves — and looking around you see tables of drying vanilla beans on colorful blankets. The beans are derived from an orchid plant brought here from Mexico and vanilla is a major export product for the eastern coast of Madagascar.