The Adventures Riake Resort & Villa

**** The beauty of living in the moment****

Discovery of Ampanihy Bay

Sheltered by a peninsula on the northeast coast, Ampanihy Bay is a secluded spot, accessible on foot and then by canoe from the Riake Resort & Villa. This day will make you discover one of the most intriguing landscapes of the island. On the rendezvous: mangroves and meetings with fishermen, but also deserted beach, white sand, coconut trees and turquoise water. You will leave from the Riake Resort & Villa by the interior of the lands then a pirogue will come to pick you up to cross the basin “between sea and river” to enter the mangrove under the mangroves. You will thus join this paradisiacal setting. You can take the dugout canoe and discover the surroundings of Sahasifotra on foot, take a path that will lead you to the typical village of Anafiafy through the expanses of clove trees, vanilla fields and rice fields, or return to the hotel and enjoy swimming in the waves of the Indian Ocean.

Don’t forget to bring: Camera, Swimming suits and towel, Coconut oil, Some sunscreen and hat, Good shoes and thongs

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Day at the Natural Swimming Pools

North of Santa Maria are the Natural Swimming Pools, near the village of Ambodirano, a unique and wild place. Sheltered by rocks, three pools of sea water have been formed and allow a swim in complete tranquillity. Be careful to respect the Fady (the forbidden/ taboo): it is not possible to walk on the rocks with shoes. After enjoying the beauty of this place, you can enjoy a lobster or grilled fish depending on the season. For, in addition to a splendid landscape, the Natural Swimming Pools are home to many lobsters. You will leave by 4X4 or ATV to the Riake Resort & Villa at the end of the afternoon. Les « petits plus » en Quad:

You’re doing a quad bike loop north of Sainte Marie. You will leave by the East, you will go through the forest, then by the beach, then by small paths to arrive at the Natural Swimming Pools. You will come back by the West by discovering the villages.
Swimming in the early afternoon in a creek in the west.
In addition to discovering the site of the Natural Swimming Pools, you will discover all the northern part of Sainte Marie.

Don’t forget to bring: Camera, Swimming suits and towel, Coconut oil, Some sunscreen and hat, A few Ariary for lunch and drinks

Crossing from East to West

Departing from the Riake Resort & Villa, this walk will allow you to reach the West Coast on foot. After passing through the village of Ambohidena, you will take small paths. In the secondary forest “Añalan-Janhan”, you will surely come across the black drongo (Dicrurus forficatus), “king of the birds”, recognizable by its puff and, for the most observant, its forked tail. Your guide will tell you the story of this legendary bird. In the heart of this mountainous forest, you will discover raffia, cassava fields, trees called “Grésillia” as well as large rice fields. A flora very different from the one of the surroundings of the Riake Resort & Villa. At the highest point of the walk you will enjoy a splendid panorama allowing you to contemplate both the Indian Ocean to the East and the canal of Sainte Marie to the West. The tip of Grande Terre will never have seemed so close. We’ll be back after lunch. You will be able to see with the guide the path to take for the return trip if you choose a different route that will allow you to make a loop.

Don’t forget to bring: Camera, Swimming suits and towel, Coconut oil, Some sunscreen and hat, A few Ariary for lunch and drinks, Sport shoes

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Day at the Island aux Nattes

From the Riake Resort & Villa, an early morning departure is planned in order to take full advantage of the discovery of Ile aux Nattes, a small island south of Sainte Marie. The Ile aux Nattes is worthy of a postcard setting: the beaches are paradisiacal, the turquoise water is 27°C and you will not come across any car. We suggest you to visit the Ile aux Nattes on foot and by pirogue to appreciate all its beauty. You will go to meet the inhabitants and will see (perhaps) lemurs in freedom. According to the season, you will be able to see magnificent orchids. In dugout canoe you will enjoy an hour of relaxation. Let yourself be guided. Rocked by the sound of the waves, enjoying the landscape… the dugout canoeist is at your service! In a turquoise lagoon with shimmering colours, enjoy a swim for a magical moment. PMT (Palmes Masque Tuba) will allow you to discover a sea bed rich in corals and multicoloured fish. For lunch, if you wish, we can recommend a nice and quality restaurant. After this day of idleness, swimming, canoeing and walking, you will leave in 4X4 at the end of the afternoon at the Riake Resort & Villa.

Don’t forget to bring: Camera, Swimming suits and towel, Coconut oil, Some sunscreen and hat, A few Ariary for lunch and drinks, Scuba-diving equipment (fins, masks, snorkels)

ATV in total liberty

Feel like quad biking on the beach? Do you want to go into town? Do you want to discover a part of the island in complete freedom? Our Quads are at your disposal. You can rent them by the hour, half-day or full day.

Don’t forget to bring: Camera, Swimming suits and towel, Coconut oil, Some sunscreen and hat, A few Ariary for lunch and drinks, Scuba-diving equipment (fins, masks, snorkels), Driver’s license if you’re going to the city and/or South, Casques

Picnic at the point

We offer an organized picnic at the tip, 4 kilometers from the Riake Resort & Villa. You will leave the Riake Resort & Villa on foot along the sea in the middle of the morning to arrive at the place where the coral reef protects a deserted beach and shelters fish of exceptional beauty. A guide will serve you after a swim and some souvenir photos if you decide to come with. Après le repas, certains profiteront d’une sieste sous les palmiers, d’autres d’une petite balade. Le retour est prévu au Riake Resort & Villa en milieu d’après-midi.

Don’t forget to bring: Camera, Swimming suits and towel, Coconut oil, Some sunscreen and hat, Scuba-diving equipment (fins, masks, snorkels)

Nature discovery in the Village of Ambohidena

Departing from the Riake Resort & Villa, this walk will allow you to discover and familiarize yourself with the richness and diversity of the fauna and flora of Sainte Marie Island. Your guide will explain to you the usefulness of many plants and flowers. As soon as you leave on a sandy road, you will find a cassava field, sweet potatoes, pineapple plants, etc. Crossing the village of Ambohidena, you will meet the women weaving the penjy to make mats and bags. After a photo break at the “Vanilla Bungalow”, you will continue your discovery by admiring papaya trees, mango trees, coffee trees, sugar cane and even wild orchids! Depending on the weather, your guide will set the departure time so that you will be protected by the trees of the forest during hot weather. In the heart of the Ambohidena forest, you will appreciate the immensity of eucalyptus, smooth quinine trees, etc. From there, you will return to the Riake Resort & Villa along the ocean.

Don’t forget to bring: Camera, Coconut oil, Some sunscreen and hat

Whale Safari

At the Riake Resort & Villa, from July, you can see the whales from your terrace. For a closer look, a half-day whale safari is offered. On board a medium sized boat, you will observe these marine mammals while respecting their tranquility. Our partners respect the code of conduct for their observation. « Whale Safari South With Island aux Nattes” It will be a combination of the excursion to Île aux Nattes with the whale safari. You will leave in 4X4 or Quad, starting from the Riake to go south. You will observe humpback whales and then you will take the road to Ile aux Nattes. At the end of the day, you will return by the same means of transport… This day will be done in the opposite direction if the tides require it.

Don’t forget to bring: Camera, Swimming suits and towel, Coconut oil, Some sunscreen and hat, K-Way + Change of clothes, Ariary or Euro for the cost of the whale watch, Ariary for food and drinks.

Scuba Diving

True coral gardens colonized by numerous fish, turtles, rays and moray eels, the seabed of Sainte Marie is the image of its coasts: wild, little frequented and very authentic. The Riake Resort & Villa has partnered with a serious and certified Bora diving center to offer you diving in complete serenity. From the coral gardens to the visit of a wreck, beginners or experienced divers, you will enjoy the beauty of the seabed.

Don’t forget to bring: Camera, Swimming suits and towel, Coconut oil, Some sunscreen and hat, Diving Card, Ariary or Euro for the cost of the diving, Ariary for food and drinks.

Traditional Malagasy Fishing

We also invite you to try your hand at traditional pirogue fishing where you will be accompanied by a local fisherman. Spend a day at Lake Ampanihy. We offer you an experience with traditional Malagasy fishing tools. On the program, angling for specific fishes of the bay (daisies, captains etc.) and shrimp catching with the basket according to the season. The fisherman will decide the time of your departure according to the tides. You will leave from the Riake Resort & Villa and you will take paths inside the villages to reach your pirogue. You will go along the mangrove forest to reach the mouth of Ampanihy, a place favoured by fishermen from the surrounding villages. At noon, a traditional picnic will be served on Ampanihy beach. You can also enjoy a short nap or a swim in a turquoise lagoon. You will then return to the dugout canoe to continue your fishing trip at the mouth of the river and return to the Riake Resort & Villa in the late afternoon.

Don’t forget to bring: Camera, Swimming suits and towel, Coconut oil, Some sunscreen and hat, Good shoes and thongs

Contact us – Request direct Availability

During a Riake Resort stay, every moment must be extraordinary. That’s why a practical Whatsapp service has been set up to enable you to make any special requests or reservations in advance. This way, when you arrive, everything is ready as you requested!