'''Tulear, also known as Toliara or Toliary, is a port town with a seaport on the south west southwest coast of Madagascar with over 100approximately 60,000 inhabitants from of mixed tribal origins, such as [[Vezo]], [[Masikoro]], [[Mahafaly]], [[Antandroy]] and [[Karana]].'''
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Tulear's colonial style buildings, grand lanes and innumerable multi-coloured [[rickshaw]]s (pousse pousse) make a lasting impression on its visitors. Here locals prefer rickshaw transport over motor cars. The result is an unusually unpolluted city for its size and population, which makes Tulear a the town well worth visiting and exploring for at least a couple of days.
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Tulear centre
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While Tulear itself is missing a perfect swimming beach, [[Playa de la Batterie]] is located can be reached by an approximately 4-kilometre rickshaw ride north of the town, plus a walk centre. Thereafter continue by foot across some salt-production fields in the direction of the light tower. Large to find some large and beautiful sand dunes. Other out-of-town attractions suitable for day-excursions include the botanical park of [http://www.antsokayarboretum.org Antsokay Arboretum] (l'Arboretum d'Antsokay) as well as the viewpoint from the table mountain 12km south east of Tulear. Also well-worth a visit is [[Reniala Nature Reserve]], a 45 hectare nature reserve 27km north of Tulear. Many beautiful scenerybeaches can be found either further north of Tulear, at [[Ifaty]], [[Madiorano]], [[Salary]] and [[Andavadoaka]], or south of Tulear at [[St. Augustin Bay]], [[Sarodrano]], [[Beheloka]], [[Itampolo]] and [[Anakao]]. Tulear usually serves as a gateway to these destinations.
Other out-of-town attractions suitable for day-excursions include Tulear is the botanical park of [http://www.antsokayarboretum.org l'Arboretum d'Antsokay] final city along RN7 (or Antsokay ArboretumNational Road 7) and the viewpoint from the table mountain 12km south east of Tulear. Also well-worth visiting , which is the a tarred road in very good condition starting in [[Reniala Nature ReserveAntananarivo]] - a 45 hectare nature reserve 27km north of Tulear. Many beautiful beaches can be found either further north Drivers choosing this route will see many of TulearMadagascar's attractions along the way, at such as [[IfatyFianarantsoa]], [[Madiorano]], [[SalaryIsalo|Isalo National Park]] and the sapphire mining town of [[AndavadoakaIlakaka]], or to the south, at [[St. Augustin Bay]], A local airport connects Tulear with [[SarodranoAntananarivo]], [[BehelokaMorondava]], and [[ItampoloFort Dauphin]] and with daily scheduled [[AnakaoAir Madagascar]]. For tourists, Tulear is usually a gateway to one of these destinationsflights.
Tulear is the final city along RN7 (National Road 7), which is a tarred road in very good condition starting in [[Antananarivo]]. Drivers choosing this route will many of Madagascar's attractions, such as [[Fianarantsoa]], [[Isalo|Isalo National Park]] and the sapphire boomtown [[Ilakaka]].== Accommodation ==
A local airport connects '''Serena Hotel''' (8 rooms)<br>Boulevard Philibert Tsiranana<br>Tel: +261 (0)20 9441173 or +261 (0)32 0560039 (mobile)<br>Email: [mailto:serenatulear@gmail.com serenatulear@gmail.com]<br>Website [http://www.serenatulear.com www.serenatulear.com] '''Hôtel Le Palétuvier'''<br>Boulevard Lyautey<br>Tel: +261 (0)20 9444039 / +261 (0)32 0254283 (mobile)<br>Email: [mailto:hotelpaletuviertul@yahoo.fr hotelpaletuviertul@yahoo.fr]<br>Website: [http://www.madadecouverte.com/le-paletuvier www.madadecouverte.com/le-paletuvier] '''[[Al Shame]]'''<br>Boulevard Lyautey<br>Tel: +261 (0)20 9444728 or +261 (0)32 0526724<br> '''[[Central Hotel]]'''<br>Bazary be (centre of town)<br>Tel: +261 (0)20 9442884 or +261 (0)32 0255325 (mobile) or +261 (0)34 0141080 (mobile)<br> '''Zomatel'''<br>27 rooms including 2 suites, each with a private terrace.<br>Tsianaloka, 601-Tulear with <br>Tel: +261 20 94 441 55<br>Email: [mailto:tulear@zomatel.com tulear@zomatel.com]<br>Website: [http://www.zomatel-madagascar.com www.zomatel-madagascar.com] '''[[AntananarivoEden Hotel|Eden Palm Hotel]]''' == Restaurants == '''Le Sisal'''<br>Sans Fils (two blocks northeast of taxi-brousse station).<br>High quality Malagasy menu at low prices (4,000 - 7, 000 Ariary p/meal). '''[[MorondavaLe Jardin]] '''<br>A popular Italian-run restaurant in an outdoor but shaded terrace including a small bar, ice cream and pastry stall.<br>Tel: +261 (0)32 40 604 82 '''[[Fort DauphinLa Terasse]] with daily scheduled '''<br>Long-time resident, Jeff owns this French restaurant and pizza parlor. Specials include the pizza, the fresh, home-made juice, and the salades (of which there is a huge selection). The rest of the menu tends to be stale and tasteless. This restaurant has free wifi, but charges 1,000 Ar an hour to plug into the electricity. == Additional information == * [[Tulear photos]]* [[Air MadagascarCoton de Tulear]] flights.
