The name Nosy Be means "Big Island," though it is often referred to as the Island of Perfume.
Relatively quiet and tranquil (and 390 mi/630 km north of Antananarivo), Nosy Be is Madagascar's only true resort area, with attractive fine-sand beaches and good places for diving and snorkeling. Mount Passot (1,050 ft/329 m) provides a nice backdrop to the scene, and the drive to its pinnacle offers grand views across a series of crater lakes. The island is an excellent place to spend a week doing nothing except relaxing, meeting people and watching sunsets. Three major festivals are held in April, May and September, respectively—Nosy Be Jazz Festival (NBJF), the Libertalia Music Festival and Donia Festival.
Other islands in the archipelago include Nosy Komba (with a small reserve dedicated to the confiding black lemur), Nosy Tanikely (good diving), Nosy Iranja (seabirds and seclusion) and Nosy Mitsio (also good for diving). Starting in October, there are many opportunities to spot the famous whale shark.
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