The region of Antalaha is famous for its vanilla production. Antalaha and Maroantsetra and the towns in between them become quite hectic during the vanilla collecting and selling period. Processing the vanilla orchid requires knowledge inherited from generations of experience. Processing vanilla involves several stages, each of which is important to the quality of the final product. From growing the plants to gathering the pods into bunches after the pollination work, vanilla is labor-intensive crop.

From September on, the scent of spices wafts over the villages that dot the northeastern countryside. People carefully select vanilla pods, while cloves dry on mats in the sun.

A visit to the spice plantations is always interesting, but to make the most of the experience be sure to bring a guide. Although vanilla orchids and pineapple plants dominate the fields, you can also see clove, coffee, lychee, mango and other fruit trees.