Constance Tsarabanjina

The thatched main area opens to a deck and the beach. This is where meals are served, from the buffet breakfast and lunch to a three-course dinner and afternoon tea. The wine and beverage list is extensive, the fish is superb (the spiny crayfish is a must). The staff here are very friendly, and seem to anticipate your needs without being invasive. That's a great skill in an industry where waiters often seem to hover.

The 25 Beach Villas – divided between two beaches, North and South – appear simple from the outside, with their shaggy thatched roofs, simple wooden construction and stone base. Once inside though, all is cool sophistication. Every villa has a large netted bed and a quirky bathroom with all the luxuries. All face the sea, with verandas furnished with cushioned seating and a palm-slung hammock from which to take in the view, a palm-fringed composition of every shade of blue.

Board a pirogue for a complimentary 30 to 60-minute trip to fish or visit a nearby island and its rare Madagascar fish eagles. Take part in a baby turtle release and watch as the little creatures scurry to the sea. Sunbathe, laze in your hammock, take a long stroll, or snorkel the shallows with a marine biologist. If you're an underwater enthusiast, you could even get married on the ocean floor.