The new Baie Sainte Anne Jetty on Praslin isn’t just a dock — it’s the central nervous system of the island’s transport, and it’s about to get a major overhaul. The Seychelles Ports Authority has presented plans to the President for a complete redevelopment of this principal maritime access point, including redesigned road networks, expanded berthing facilities, and a proposed “Harbour House” building to create a modern service hub. For anyone island-hopping through the inner islands, this jetty is where your journey either flows smoothly or hits a bottleneck.
The redevelopment concept includes harbour infrastructure upgrades, redesigned traffic flow systems, and expanded docking facilities at one of Praslin’s principal maritime access points.
This guide covers what the Baie Sainte Anne Jetty redevelopment means for travellers, how to navigate the area during construction, and the best ways to use this hub to reach Vallée de Mai, Curieuse Island, and beyond. I’ll also point out where the crowds gather and when to avoid the worst of the ferry crush.
The jetty redevelopment is good news long-term, but right now it means disrupted traffic flow and temporary access changes. Plan extra time for ferry connections, especially during peak hours when the road network around the port gets congested. The south side of the bay stays quieter — worth knowing if you’re based on that end of Praslin.
Baie Sainte Anne: Praslin’s Maritime and Cultural Hub
Baie Sainte Anne sits on the east coast of Praslin, functioning as both the island’s main ferry terminal and its most lived-in village.
Unlike the resort-heavy west coast, this area has a working port rhythm — fishing boats, inter-island ferries, and local markets operating alongside each other. The jetty handles the bulk of passenger traffic between Praslin, La Digue, and Mahé, with catamarans running multiple times daily. Drive times from the jetty to Anse Volbert (Côte d’Or) run about 10 minutes by car, while Vallée de Mai is roughly 15 minutes inland.
Island hoppers
Budget travellers using local buses
Solo travellers on tight ferry schedules
The limitation is obvious: the jetty area wasn’t designed for the volume it now handles. During peak season (April–May and October–November), the road network around the port backs up, and the existing docking facilities struggle with simultaneous ferry arrivals. The planned redevelopment directly addresses this, but until construction finishes, patience is part of the experience.
Typical price range for island-hopping tours departing from Baie Sainte Anne, including boat transport and equipment.
What I’d do: arrive at the jetty 30 minutes before your ferry departure, not 15. The ticket queues move slowly during peak hours, and missing a connection on Praslin means waiting an hour or more for the next catamaran.
Key Experiences Around Baie Sainte Anne
Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve
Fifteen minutes inland from the jetty, this UNESCO-listed palm forest is the only place on earth where you’ll find the six endemic palm species of Seychelles growing wild, including the famous coco de mer. The well-marked trails take about an hour to walk, and guided tours point out endemic birds like the Seychelles bulbul and black parrot. Entry fees apply, and the forest gets humid by mid-morning — early starts are worth the effort.
The reserve is compact but dense. You won’t need a full day here, which makes it easy to combine with a morning ferry arrival. Just factor in the 15-minute drive from the jetty and the fact that the car park fills by 9 a.m. during peak months.
Curieuse Island Excursions
From Baie Sainte Anne, boats run daily to Curieuse Island, a protected marine area known for its giant tortoise population and red-earth landscape. Guided tours cover the island’s conservation history, and snorkelling stops at nearby sites like St. Pierre Island are usually included. The crossing takes about 20 minutes in calm conditions.
The tradeoff: Curieuse gets busy between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when multiple tour groups arrive. If you want quieter trails, look for afternoon departures that return later in the day — fewer boats run those slots.
For a quieter ferry experience, book the first morning departure from Praslin to La Digue (around 7 a.m.). The jetty is less crowded, and you’ll arrive on La Digue before the tour groups flood in around 10 a.m.
What I’d do: skip the midday ferry slot between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. if you can. That’s when the jetty is busiest with day-trippers returning from La Digue, and the queue for ticket validation can eat 20 minutes of your time.
Practical Planning for the Jetty and Beyond
Timing and transport choices make or break a day spent moving through Baie Sainte Anne.
| Ferry Route | Approx. Duration | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Praslin (Baie Ste Anne) → La Digue | 15–20 minutes | Multiple daily |
| Praslin (Baie Ste Anne) → Mahé (Victoria) | 45–60 minutes | 4–6 daily |
| Praslin (Baie Ste Anne) → Curieuse | 20 minutes | Tour operator schedules |
Getting There and Around
Local buses connect Baie Sainte Anne with other parts of Praslin, including Anse Volbert and Vallée de Mai, but they run on island time — roughly every 30–60 minutes depending on the route. Car rentals offer more flexibility, and several agencies operate near the jetty. The road network around the port is the main friction point: during the redevelopment, expect temporary lane closures and redirected traffic flow.
The road directly in front of the jetty entrance narrows to one lane during peak ferry arrivals (9–11 a.m. and 3–5 p.m.). Taxis and buses queue here, and pedestrian crossing points are poorly marked. Allow extra time if you’re walking from nearby accommodation.
Best Time to Visit
The best months for calm seas and clear skies are April, May, October, and November. These shoulder months offer the most reliable conditions for snorkelling trips and boat excursions, with less wind than the southeast trade season (June–September) and lower humidity than the northwest monsoon (December–March). Ferry cancellations are rare during these windows.
What I’d do: plan your Praslin visit for late April or early November. The weather is stable, the seas are calm enough for the Curieuse crossing, and the jetty crowds are thinner than in the peak European summer months.
On the Ground: What to Know Before You Go
Packing for the Jetty and Beyond
The sun hits hard on the open ferry decks, and the wind can pick up suddenly during the crossing. A reef-safe mineral sunscreen is essential — the marine protected areas around Curieuse and St. Pierre have strict regulations on chemical sunscreens. Water shoes help with the granite boulders at Anse La Blague, and insect repellent is useful for the Vallée de Mai trails, where mosquitoes are active after rain.
A quick heads up — some links here are affiliate links. If you buy through them, it costs you nothing extra but earns IslandHopperGuides a small commission. Honestly, that’s a big part of what funds the travel and research that goes into guides like this one. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases — and I really do appreciate the support.
For the ferry crossings, a dry bag keeps electronics and documents safe from spray, especially on the open-deck catamarans running to La Digue. The boats have covered seating, but the lower decks can get stuffy, and the upper decks leave you exposed to salt spray on choppier days.
Local Food and Etiquette
Eating near the jetty means choosing between the sit-down restaurants and the smaller takeaways. Pirogue Restaurant & Bar offers Creole dishes in the $20–$40 per person range, while Café des Arts runs $40–$70 for a three-course meal. For a quicker option, the small snack bars near the port sell grilled fish and rice for under $10 — cash only, and they close by 6 p.m.
Local etiquette is straightforward: greet shopkeepers and restaurant staff with “bonzour” (good morning) or “bonswar” (good evening) before ordering. Seychellois Creole is the first language, but English and French are widely understood around the jetty area.
- Book ferry tickets online the day before during peak months — the jetty ticket counter runs out of seats on popular departures.
- Carry small Seychellois rupee notes for snack bars and taxi fares; larger notes are hard to break near the port.
- The jetty redevelopment means temporary access changes — check the Seychelles Ports Authority website before travelling.
Baie Sainte Anne Visitor Questions
Is the Baie Sainte Anne Jetty safe for families with kids?
The jetty itself is well-maintained, but the pedestrian crossing area near the road entrance is poorly marked and gets congested during ferry arrivals. I keep the kids close here — the taxis and buses don’t always slow down. The ferry crew is helpful with boarding, and the crossings to La Digue are short enough that motion sickness isn’t usually an issue.
Can I walk from the jetty to nearby beaches?
Anse La Blague is about a 20-minute walk south along the coast road, but there’s no dedicated footpath for part of the route. Anse Volbert (Côte d’Or) is a 10-minute drive or a 40-minute walk — the road has narrow shoulders in places. A rental car or taxi is more practical, especially if you’re carrying beach gear.
What happens if my ferry is cancelled?
Ferry cancellations are rare during the shoulder months (April–May, October–November) but happen more often during the southeast trade wind season from June to September. If your crossing is cancelled, the ferry company typically rebooks you on the next available departure or offers a refund. The jetty has limited shelter, so having a backup plan — like a nearby café or a flexible accommodation booking — helps.
Are there luggage storage facilities at the jetty?
No official luggage storage exists at the Baie Sainte Anne Jetty. Some hotels near the port will hold bags for guests, but day-trippers arriving from Mahé or La Digue should travel light. The ferry companies allow luggage on board, but space is limited on busy crossings — a small backpack is easier to manage than a large suitcase.
Is the jetty area worth visiting beyond catching a ferry?
Honestly, not really. The jetty itself is a working port with limited appeal — the real value is as a launch point. The village of Baie Sainte Anne has a small market and a few restaurants, but the beaches and nature reserves are the main draw. I’d recommend spending your time on Praslin at Anse Volbert or Vallée de Mai rather than lingering around the port area.
One Last Thing
The Baie Sainte Anne Jetty redevelopment will eventually make Praslin’s main gateway smoother, but for now, the friction is part of the experience — a reminder that island logistics don’t always run on tourist schedules. What stays with me is how the working port rhythm coexists with the calm of the bay, fishing boats tied up next to catamarans, and how the whole place slows down after the last ferry departs. For more on travelling responsibly through the archipelago, sustainable travel practices in Seychelles offer a useful framework for minimising your footprint while island-hopping.
Sources and further reading
Seychelles President presented with future development vision for new Baie St Anne Jetty. Zawya, 2025.
Ultimate Travel Guide to Baie Sainte Anne. Savor Voyage, 2024.
Explore Places to Stay in Seychelles
Feel free to zoom in and out of the map to explore the area and find the best place to stay for your trip.