Ifaty Beach Club

Ifaty Beach Club sits on a sandy beach in Ifaty, twenty-seven kilometres north of Tulear on Madagascar's southwest coast. The bungalows are built from natural materials and arranged informally among the trees, each one facing the water. There is no formal row or grid — the layout follows the beach and the shade rather than a plan drawn at a desk.

The restaurant focuses on seafood, which makes sense here: the beach in front of the property is a working shore, and you can watch local fishermen from the beach bar while the kitchen prepares what the day's catch allows. The bar serves cocktails and other drinks at the water's edge.

A swimming pool and a fitness centre are on site, and the property has Wi-Fi. Books and board games are available for quieter hours.

The water activities available here are the main reason most guests come: snorkelling, scuba diving, water skiing, fishing, and whale watching are all on offer from the beach. The coral reef system off this stretch of coast is the draw for divers and snorkellers. Tulear itself is the nearest city and functions as the practical base for reaching Ifaty, whether by road transfer or local transport north along the coast.