"A more local, relaxed island off the eastern coast known as Nosy Boraha that offers a laid-back, Caribbean-like atmosphere, delicious seafood, little coves and a pirate history (Captain Kidd sank nearby and there’s a pirate graveyard). Home to over 26,000 people and spanning about 220 square kilometers, it’s less flashy than Nosy Be but has a beautiful, pristine white-sand beach in the south near the airport that few people visit, and it’s one of the best spots for humpback whale watching between July and September; when coming here, fly rather than taking the slow boat, which I found often wastes an entire day." - Matthew Kepnes