Your stay — Coco Lodge
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Mahajanga.
The Property — Coco Lodge
Coco Lodge is a no-nonsense three-star in the middle of Mahajanga, with a sandy courtyard and a small pool that offer genuine respite from the heat. The lobby is open-air, tiled and fan-cooled, smelling faintly of frangipani and sea salt. It suits independent travellers or couples who want a clean, central base without pretence — think practical rather than charming, but solid value for the price.
Chronicles of Mahajanga
Mahajanga grew as a trading port under the Sakalava kingdom in the 18th century, later becoming a French colonial outpost exporting coffee, vanilla and sisal. Its wide boulevards and low-rise colonial buildings along the corniche still echo that era. Cyclone-prone and fiercely hot, the city rebuilt several times, losing some 19th-century arcades but keeping a gritty, maritime feel. Today it’s the gateway to the Ankarafantsika national park and the Betsiboka estuary, with a laid-back, multi-ethnic vibe mixing Malagasy, Comorian, Indian and Chinese influences.
Best Time to Visit
Full Mahajanga guide →Best months
June to August — clear skies, low humidity and temperatures around 25-28°C, with very few tourists outside the French school holiday.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are the busiest weeks, driven by French families escaping European winter; hotel prices rise 20-30%, and plane seats from Antananarivo sell out early.
Budget shoulder season
May and September offer nearly identical weather, fewer flights and discounts of 15-25% on accommodation; the city is quiet and pleasant.
Weather & packing
Mahajanga is hot and dry in June but can get an odd tropical downpour; pack light cottons, a wide-brimmed hat and a windproof umbrella just in case.
Live City Briefing — Mahajanga
- The RN4 highway from Antananarivo to Mahajanga is being resurfaced in sections; expect delays of 1-2 hours near Ankazobe in June 2026.
- New direct flights from Antananarivo to Mahajanga added by Tsaradia for the July schedule, cutting transfer time to under an hour.
- A central market renovation on Rue de l’Indépendance finished in early 2026, with improved walkways and a covered fish section.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Coco Lodge, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a ground-floor room if stairs are a concern. For quiet, ask for a room facing the courtyard or back of the building, away from Rue d'Antsakalazana.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the first floor if you struggle with stairs; no lift. Also avoid rooms fronting Rue d'Antsakalazana due to street noise from motorbikes and traffic.
Best views
No standout views; likely a street view of Rue d'Antsakalazana or a basic courtyard. A back-facing room may offer a quieter outlook over local housing.
Quietest floors
Ground floor (if facing away from the street) is quietest. First floor may be acceptable if away from stairs and street.
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise from Rue d'Antsakalazana: motorcycles, tuk-tuks, and pedestrians. Also possible noise from the parking area (6 cars) and main entrance.
Insider tips
1. Arrive early to secure one of the 6 free parking spots; otherwise, pay AR 2,000/night at Place du 26 Juin, 500m away. 2. If you need decent Wi-Fi for streaming, buy the premium tier at AR 10,000/day — the free basic Wi-Fi is fine for messaging only.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Coco Lodge
Free basic Wi-Fi suitable for messaging and web browsing. A premium tier (AR 10,000/day) offers ~15 Mbps for video streaming. Login required daily.
No lift. Two-storey building with stairs only. Ground-floor rooms available on request.
No digital newsstand or physical papers. The lobby lounge has a few travel magazines.
Standard check-in 14:00, check-out 11:00. Bag drop from 08:00 free. Late check-out until 14:00 costs AR 20,000; after 14:00 charges full extra night.
Free luggage storage in a locked room during your stay or after check-out.
No step-free entry (three stairs at main entrance). No adapted bathrooms. Ground-floor rooms help but wheelchair access is not possible.
Free on-site parking for 6 cars (first-come, first-served). Nearest public parking is at Place du 26 Juin, 500m away, AR 2,000/night. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: AR 5,000 per person per night, collected at check-in
Deposit & card hold: 50% of total stay due at booking (refundable up to 7 days prior). Incidentals hold of AR 50,000 on a credit card or cash on arrival.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Mosquée Nouroul Islaam (477 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Cathédrale du Cœur-Immaculé de Marie (513 m · ~6 min walk)
- Mosque: Mosquée Bohra (543 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: FJKM Androva Vaovao (616 m · ~8 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Mahabibo City — 1.7 km · ~21 min walk
Banja Toalaza — 873 m · ~11 min walk
Espace FILAO — 824 m · ~10 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 558 m · ~7 min walk
Pharmacie Harinosy — 101 m · ~1 min walk
Epi-Snack Bégonia — 347 m · ~4 min walk
Primus_ligne_6_Port — 669 m · ~8 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Malagasy Ariary, MGA
Best to exchange in town at banks or forex bureaux; avoid the airport and tourist-oriented bureaux for poor rates.
Cards accepted in larger hotels and some supermarkets; most smaller shops, market stalls and taxis are cash-only.
Restaurants: 5-10% if service not included. Taxis: round up to nearest 1000 ariary. Hotel staff: small tip (2000-5000 ariary) for service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Instant coffee from a street stall or small hot drink kiosk, around 500-1000 ariary.
Plate of rice with vegetables and a bit of meat or fish at a small local 'hotely', about 3000-5000 ariary.
Main course at a simple local restaurant, like zebu steak or grilled fish with rice, roughly 6000-10,000 ariary.
Market areas (e.g. near the port or central market) where you can buy sambos or grilled corn on the cob for 500-2000 ariary.
Local markets and small shops are everywhere; larger supermarkets like Shoprite or Leader Price are present in town.
Central market (Marché) for cheap second-hand or informal clothing; also a few basic shops along the main boulevard.
Minibus (taxi-brousse) around town: 500-1000 ariary per ride. From the airport, a shared taxi-brousse to town costs roughly 4000 ariary per person.
Eat at local hotelys rather than tourist restaurants; buy bottled water and snacks at market stalls, not hotels; use taxi-brousse instead of private taxis for short trips.
Emergency Contacts
MahajangaDial 17 for police, 124 for ambulance, 118 for fire. In Mahajanga, the main hospital is CHU Mahajanga (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire), but response times can be slow. For serious emergencies, consider contacting your embassy first.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Mahajanga, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Coco Lodge
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 558 m · ~7 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie Harinosy — 101 m · ~1 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
City centre (any point near Coco Lodge) → Any local destination (e.g., Marché de Mahajanga, Corniche)
💡 Agree the fare before hopping on—typical for a 1–2 km ride is 2,000 MGA. Wear a hat and sunscreen, these open carts have no roof.
Amborovy Airport (MJN) → Coco Lodge, Mahajanga
💡 Pre-book via Coco Lodge for about 25,000 MGA fixed; otherwise negotiate firmly with drivers outside the terminal. The drive is paved, but potholes near town are common after rain.
Coco Lodge → Amborovy Airport (MJN)
💡 This is the safest option if you have large luggage or a late flight—drivers are reliable and speak basic French or English. Tip 5,000 MGA if luggage is heavy.
Mahajanga bus station (Gare Routière) → Central Mahajanga (near Coco Lodge)
💡 Pay exact change to avoid being overcharged. Buses run stop-to-stop along the main road; tell the driver to let you off at the Coco Lodge junction near Avenue de l'Indépendance.
About Mahajanga
Wikipedia ↗
Mahajangā ([maːˈdzaŋɡə̥]; French: Majunga) is a city and an administrative district on the northwest coast of Madagascar. The city of Mahajanga (Mahajanga I) is the capital of the Boeny Region. The district (identical to the city) had a population of 258,068 in 2020.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Coco Lodge?
Request a ground-floor room if stairs are a concern. For quiet, ask for a room facing the courtyard or back of the building, away from Rue d'Antsakalazana.
Which rooms should I avoid at Coco Lodge?
Avoid rooms on the first floor if you struggle with stairs; no lift. Also avoid rooms fronting Rue d'Antsakalazana due to street noise from motorbikes and traffic.
Is Coco Lodge noisy?
Street noise from Rue d'Antsakalazana: motorcycles, tuk-tuks, and pedestrians. Also possible noise from the parking area (6 cars) and main entrance.
Which rooms have the best views at Coco Lodge?
No standout views; likely a street view of Rue d'Antsakalazana or a basic courtyard. A back-facing room may offer a quieter outlook over local housing.
What are insider tips for staying at Coco Lodge?
1. Arrive early to secure one of the 6 free parking spots; otherwise, pay AR 2,000/night at Place du 26 Juin, 500m away. 2. If you need decent Wi-Fi for streaming, buy the premium tier at AR 10,000/day — the free basic Wi-Fi is fine for messaging only.
What time is check-in at Coco Lodge?
Check-in at Coco Lodge is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Coco Lodge have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi suitable for messaging and web browsing. A premium tier (AR 10,000/day) offers ~15 Mbps for video streaming. Login required daily.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Coco Lodge?
AR 5,000 per person per night, collected at check-in
Where can I eat cheaply near Coco Lodge?
Plate of rice with vegetables and a bit of meat or fish at a small local 'hotely', about 3000-5000 ariary.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Coco Lodge?
Minibus (taxi-brousse) around town: 500-1000 ariary per ride. From the airport, a shared taxi-brousse to town costs roughly 4000 ariary per person.
When is the best time to visit Mahajanga?
June to August — clear skies, low humidity and temperatures around 25-28°C, with very few tourists outside the French school holiday.
Top Attractions in Mahajanga
💡 Go early (7-9am) for the best selection of fresh seafood and to dodge crowds. Keep your bag zipped; pickpockets work the busy aisles.
💡 Go at sunrise to see fisher boats launch and avoid the midday heat. Vendors sell grilled zebu skewers for a few ariary.
💡 Mass is at 9am on Sundays and is a beautiful local experience. Otherwise, ask the caretaker to unlock the side door—he lives in the house next door.
💡 Wear sturdy shoes to climb the uneven steps. Best late afternoon for golden light and a cooling breeze. No shade.
💡 Entry costs about 5000 ariary (roughly £1). Feed the ring-tailed lemurs at the 10am keeper talk — bring small change for the entrance fee.