Diego Suarez to Cap Diego by bike
There are many things to discover in the area surrounding Diego Suarez. For enthusiastic mountain bikers, a trip to Cap Diego is just the right thing. The small, sometimes good and sometimes bad road leads along the Diego Suarez Bay (Antsiranana Bay).
The Diego Suarez to Cap Diego bike ride takes about 5 hours, allowing for many stops to enjoy the magnificent views onto the bay and hinterland. The road offers all kinds of condition: small gravel, large gravel, dirt road, old asphalt road or a simple trail. At some sections the road is impassable and it is better to push the bike. Depending on the season, the weather can be very hot and windy.
For this bike tour it is essential to have a good mountain bike. Diego Raid in the centre of Diego Suarez rents out bicycles on a daily basis.
Route description
The bike excursion starts in Diego Suarez. After leaving the town towards the south, one turns right in the direction of Anamakia. On the way to this small village, one passes the large Plaine d'Anamakia, a wide open space which is used as grazing land for hundreds of zebus. At the western end of Anamakia is a bar, where just across the square women sell delicious mangoes when the season is right (usually October through January).
A short bike ride from Anamakia are the large salt marshes of the Salines d'Antsahampano. After passing the fields one comes to a crossing with a police checkpoint. Going straight leads to Nosy Hara National Park via Ampasindava (16km), going right to Cap Diego (21km). From now on the condition of the road changes every couple of kilometres. After passing some houses on the left, one should turn right. About 11km later, a sign points towards Cap Diego and the French Military Cemetery (Cimetière Militaire Français, 10km).
After passing the military airfield Andrakaka, the road is in good condition again. The remaining bike ride to Cap Diego is very quick and easy. At Cap Diego one can follow the road and pass through the military grounds. Against a fee, it is possible to visit the ruins of the former military station and some caves. For those not interested in history and old buildings should just turn right before the tollbar. A trail leads through some houses to the small harbour, from where scheduled boats leave straight to Diego Suarez (2,000 Ariary per person in 2017).
Detailed route with GPS data
Antsiranana - Diego Suarez
Google: 12°17'15.4"S 49°17'29.5"E
Garmin: -12.287617, 49.291534
Plaine d'Anamakia
Google: 12°19'29.5"S 49°15'25.3"E
Garmin: -12.324852, 49.25703
Anamakia
Google: 12°19'34.3"S 49°14'47.2"E
Garmin: -12.326198, 49.246456
Salines d'Antsahampano
Google: 12°19'43.8"S 49°12'48.3"E
Garmin: -12.328835, 49.213407
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crossing with police checkpoint
turn right
21km to Cap Diego
16km to Nosy Hara National Park via Ampasindava
Google: 12°19'29.5"S 49°11'20.3"E
Garmin: -12.324849, 49.188979
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Google: 12°18'43.5"S 49°11'17.5"E
Garmin: -12.312076, 49.188192
Google: 12°17'58.4"S 49°11'09.8"E
Garmin: -12.299552, 49.186046
Google: 12°17'58.4"S 49°11'09.8"E
Garmin: -12.299552, 49.186046
crossing with some houses
Google: 12°17'25.9"S 49°10'51.2"E and 12°17'26.0"S 49°10'51.2"E
Garmin: -12.290536, 49.180897 and -12.290541, 49.180890
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Google: 12°16'59.8"S 49°10'55.6"E
Garmin: -12.283275, 49.182120
Google: 12°16'10.2"S 49°11'24.3"E
Garmin: -12.269507, 49.190078
Google: 12°16'07.4"S 49°11'24.8"E
Garmin: -12.268729, 49.190218
Google: 12°15'58.3"S 49°11'45.1"E
Garmin: -12.266181, 49.195869
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Google: 12°15'44.0"S 49°11'36.4"E
Garmin: -12.262233, 49.193432
Google: 12°15'30.8"S 49°11'52.1"E
Garmin: -12.258555, 49.197791
Google: 12°14'59.2"S 49°12'05.4"E
Garmin: -12.249763, 49.201505
Google: 12°14'51.1"S 49°12'07.4"E
Garmin: -12.247537, 49.202063
Google: 12°14'43.7"S 49°12'09.7"E
Garmin: -12.245475, 49.202699
crossing
turn right direction Cap Diego and French Military Cemetery (Cimetière Militaire Français) - 10km
Google: 12°14'41.6"S 49°12'09.0"E
Garmin: -12.244884, 49.202488
Google: 12°14'44.0"S 49°12'16.5"E
Garmin: -12.245565, 49.204569
Google: 12°14'49.1"S 49°12'34.7"E
Garmin: -12.246976, 49.209639
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Google: 12°14'55.5"S 49°12'59.3"E
Garmin: -12.248743, 49.216482
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Google: 12°14'46.5"S 49°13'24.9"E
Garmin: -12.246247, 49.223587
Google: 12°15'01.5"S 49°13'36.4"E
Garmin: -12.250409, 49.226782
Google: 12°15'11.0"S 49°13'44.2"E
Garmin: -12.253066, 49.228956
Google: 12°15'14.6"S 49°13'49.2"E
Garmin: -12.254055, 49.230331
Google: 12°15'01.0"S 49°14'30.0"E
Garmin: -12.250269, 49.241679
Military airfield Andrakaka
Google: 12°14'57.9"S 49°14'42.2"E
Garmin: -12.249429, 49.245055
Google: 12°14'51.1"S 49°15'18.3"E
Garmin: -12.247519, 49.255075
Google: 12°14'52.2"S 49°15'33.4"E
Garmin: -12.247840, 49.259268
Google: 12°14'54.5"S 49°16'17.1"E
Garmin: -12.248460, 49.271411
Cap Diego
Google: 12°15'21.9"S 49°16'49.2"E
Garmin: -12.256091, 49.280334
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Back to Diego Suarez by boat
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To indulge in a bit of luxury after a long and likely hot bike ride, why not chill down by the pool at the newly built Hotel de la Poste Ocean after checking into one of their rooms facing the ocean with its magnificent view over the bay?
