Hotel La Petite Traversee
La Petite Traversee means "the little crossing", which refers to the narrow channel between Ile St Marie and Ile aux Nattes, which is the island that hosts this family-friendly hotel. The hotel is conveniently located near to the best swimming and snorkelling beaches on the island.
Hotel La Petite Traversee Highlights
La Petite Traversee means "the little crossing", which refers to the narrow channel between Ile St Marie and Ile aux Nattes, which is the island that hosts this family-friendly hotel. The hotel is conveniently located near to the best swimming and snorkelling beaches on the island and is within easy access to local restaurants. Ile aux Nattes has been described as the most beautiful island on Earth. There are no cars on the island; the beaches are long, white, unspoilt and lined with palm trees, making it a true visual paradise.
The accommodation at Hotel la Petite is low key with bungalows that are built in the traditional Malagasy style using wood and palm leaves. The units are positioned in a lush, secluded garden a few meters from the sea and boast private verandas that offer some quiet relaxation. The bungalows have ensuite bathrooms with hot water, which is a luxury on this small island. There is no electricity on the island, so the hotel employs a diesel generator to run for a few hours a day. The restaurant is where the crown gathers to enjoy by the chef, Olivier's, home cooked meals. After dinner, guests can a board game, listen to music or linger at the restaurant or bar to socialise. The fire pit on the beach is the perfect place for star gazing after dark. The bar has been converted from an old fishing dhow and boasts the addition of a pizza oven that produces famous pizza on the island.
- Hotel located on the Ile aux Nattes, a small island off Isle Sainte Marie.
- Equipment for snorkeling provided by the hotel for guests who want to explore the lagoon and coral reefs.
- Spot the Humpback whales that come to breed in the area from July to September.
- Fantastic pizzas and cocktails served at the Lucky Dube bar.
Hotel La Petite Traversee Activities
Ile aux Nattes (pronounced "eal oh nut"), also known as Nosy Nato, is a small and beautiful tropical island just off the southern tip of Ile Sainte Marie. The only way to reach the island is by lakana (traditional wooden canoes) from Sainte Marie and a number of lakanas are always on standby on the beach. A boat trip only takes a few minutes and during low tide, a reasonably good swimmer can swim across the narrow channel (about 300m) separating the two islands. The island has a fascinating biodiversity, which includes trees such as breadfruit, the hard-wooded Nanto (for which the island is named), rare orchids and spices such as vanilla, cinnamon, clove and lemon. A small community of ruffed lemurs (Sifaka) traverse the island keeping guests entertained.
