More than 300 Aldabra giant tortoises now roam freely across Curieuse Island, a 3 km² marine national park 2 km off the northeast coast of Praslin. The largest land tortoise species on Earth, Aldabrachelys gigantea, can exceed 300 kg and live beyond a century — and on Curieuse you can walk among them with no barrier in sight.
Between 1978 and 1982, Seychelles authorities translocated Aldabra giant tortoises to Curieuse, establishing a free-roaming population that now numbers well over 300 individuals across the island’s 3 km².
This isn’t a zoo or a fenced reserve. Curieuse is a protected marine national park where the tortoises move semi-freely across beaches, trails, and coastal vegetation — and where a single morning can take you from close-range tortoise encounters to a mangrove boardwalk, a colonial-era museum, and world-class snorkeling at neighbouring St. Pierre Islet. If you’re based on Praslin, this is the most accessible and spectacular half-day trip in the inner Seychelles.
A half-day on Curieuse — tortoises, mangrove trail, Doctor’s House — paired with late-morning snorkeling at St. Pierre is the richest single excursion you can do from Praslin. The catch is timing: arrive before the first day-trip boats to see the tortoises most active on the beach, and you’ll have the place nearly to yourself for the first hour.
Families with kids
Wildlife photographers
Half-day explorers
Here’s what a well-paced visit looks like, stop by stop.
| Stop | Activity | Time Needed | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baie Laraie | Tortoise viewing, beach | 45–60 min | Hundreds of giant tortoises on the beach at dawn |
| Mangrove Boardwalk | 1.5 km nature walk | 30–40 min | Eight mangrove species, land crabs, birdlife |
| Doctor’s House Museum | History & ecology exhibits | 20–30 min | 1873 colonial building, leper colony history |
| St. Pierre Islet | Snorkeling | 1–1.5 hours | Coral garden with rays, turtles, tropical fish |
Note: The park is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (some sources list 8 a.m. start — confirm with your tour operator). The entire loop on foot takes about 3–3.5 hours, leaving the afternoon for St. Pierre or a beach stop.
Baie Laraie: Where the Tortoises Own the Beach
The main arrival beach on Curieuse’s north side is Baie Laraie — a curve of pink granite sand and clear water where you’ll spot tortoises the moment you step off the boat. They move slowly along the shoreline and through the coastal vegetation, unbothered by visitors, often approaching out of curiosity rather than fear. Morning before the first day trips from Praslin is when they’re most active on the beach.
More than 300 Aldabra giant tortoises descend from the 1978–1982 reintroduction programme. At the Tortoise Nursery on the island, young tortoises are raised in a protected environment until around five years old, then released into the wild. The oldest resident tortoise on Curieuse is estimated at over 127 years old.
The park recommends keeping a respectful distance: no sudden movements, no feeding, and absolutely no riding the tortoises — a rule worth reinforcing with children before you arrive. Touching is tolerated but best kept gentle and brief. Rangers monitor animal health and behaviour to ensure tourism doesn’t negatively impact the tortoises.
Baie Laraie — the main tortoise beach — dries extensively at low tide, so if you’re arriving by yacht or small boat, check the tide before planning your landing. The dinghy dock remains usable, but the exposed sandflat changes the walk to the nursery.
Mangrove Boardwalk: A Raised Path Through the Swamp
From Baie Laraie, a 1.5 km wooden boardwalk crosses one of the most intact mangrove ecosystems in the inner Seychelles. The trail connects to Anse Saint-José on the south side of the island, passing through a swamp that contains six of the seven mangrove species known to Seychelles — some sources record eight species. The boardwalk sits on pilings, so it’s usable even in rainy season when the mud below is flooded at high tide.
Keep an eye out for Wright’s geckos, massive land crabs moving through the root formations, and the Seychelles vasa parrot — a black parrot endemic to Curieuse and Praslin. The red laterite soil that gives the island its original name, Île Rouge, borders much of the trail. This walk takes about 30–40 minutes at a relaxed pace and requires no special footwear beyond comfortable closed-toe shoes.
The boardwalk makes the mangrove trail accessible year-round, even during the wetter months of November to March when afternoon showers are common. It’s one of the best places in the Seychelles to understand the ecological role of mangroves as nurseries for juvenile fish and natural coastal protection.
Doctor’s House and the Leper Colony That Saved the Island
At Anse Saint-José, the Doctor’s House stands as the island’s most intact colonial building. Built in 1873 by Dr. William MacGregor, it served as the residence for the leper colony’s doctor and now functions as a biodiversity museum and visitor centre. Exhibits trace the island’s history, present the local ecosystem, and explain the tortoise reintroduction programme. Plan for 20–30 minutes inside.
Curieuse operated as a leper colony from around 1829 to 1965 — nearly a century of forced isolation that, unintentionally, preserved the island’s flora and fauna while neighbouring islands were exploited for coconut timber and marine resources. When the colony closed, Curieuse was one of the least degraded islands in the inner Seychelles, making it viable for the giant tortoise reintroduction programme. Ruins of the original dwellings and stone walls remain visible behind the beach at Anse Saint-José and along nearby trails.
The island’s name comes from the schooner La Curieuse, commanded by French explorer Marion du Fresne in 1768. Before that it was called Île Rouge for its red laterite soil.
St. Pierre Islet: The Classic Snorkeling Coda
A five-minute boat ride from Curieuse, St. Pierre Islet is a tiny granite outcrop with wind-swept palms and turquoise water — no beach, just a coral garden reachable within 200 metres of swimming. Depth stays under 10 metres across almost the entire site, making it accessible to non-divers and children. The water holds multicoloured tropical fish, rays, and sea turtles, with visibility typically excellent outside the heavy southeast monsoon swell.
The combination of a Curieuse morning (tortoises and mangrove trail, roughly 3–3.5 hours) with late-morning snorkeling at St. Pierre (1–1.5 hours) is the classic half-day excursion from Praslin. Many boat tours include a Creole BBQ lunch on the beach at Baie Laraie — grilled fish, chicken, saffron rice, and salads, prepared by park rangers — which adds about an hour and turns the whole trip into a relaxed four-to-five-hour outing.
St. Pierre is highly exposed to wind and swell. During the southeast monsoon (June–August) the site can be choppy, and currents between the islet and Praslin can strengthen with the tide. If you’re visiting with children or weak swimmers, check conditions with your skipper before committing to a long session. The site is day-use only — all boats must return to Praslin or the Curieuse channel before dusk.
Getting to Curieuse: Boat Logistics and Entry Fees
The standard approach is a 15–20 minute boat ride from Praslin’s northeast coast — typically from Anse Volbert (Côte d’Or) or Anse Lazio. Most visitors book an organised tour that includes transport, guide, and often a BBQ lunch and snorkeling stop at St. Pierre. Public ferry services don’t run to Curieuse; private charters are possible but most opt for the tour packages that bundle everything together.
The official entry fee set by the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority is 300 Seychelles rupees (SCR) for non-residents aged 12 and over (roughly £18–20 or €22 as of early 2026). Children under 12 are usually free. This fee is often included in the price of an organised excursion — confirm when you book. The park is open daily, generally 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (some operators and the SPGA website list 8 a.m. start; check current hours before you go).
A few rules worth knowing: drone flying is prohibited without a special permit to protect rare bird species. Free anchoring is not allowed in most park areas — use the provided mooring buoys. The park ticket is also valid for St. Pierre Islet on the same day, so keep your receipt.
Book your Curieuse tour in advance during peak season (June–August and December–January). Operators like Ziblo Boat Charter and Geoli Charters Seychelles run daily trips from Praslin, and platforms such as catamaran cruises on Viator allow you to compare departure times and inclusions — morning departures consistently beat the crowds.
Best Time to Visit
The transition seasons — March to May and September to November — offer the calmest seas, maximum underwater visibility, and moderate winds, making them ideal for combining Curieuse with St. Pierre snorkeling. The dry season (June to August) is still pleasant because Curieuse sits sheltered north of Praslin, but the trade wind can roughen the St. Pierre channel. During the wetter months (November to March), morning visits are preferable since showers most often arrive in the afternoon. The mangrove boardwalk remains usable all year thanks to its raised wooden structure.
What to Bring
Comfortable closed-toe shoes for the boardwalk and uneven terrain. Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses — shade is limited on the beach and at St. Pierre. Swimwear and a towel for snorkeling. Extra water, even if your tour includes drinks. Cash for the ranger BBQ (500–700 SCR per person, additional to the entry fee) or any boutique purchases at the Coco Curieuse shop at Baie Laraie, which sells carved Coco de Mer nuts.
Before You Go — Curieuse Island
Can I visit Curieuse without a tour?
Technically yes, but in practice nearly everyone arrives through an organised boat tour from Praslin. There’s no public ferry, and private charters cost more than a standard tour package. The entry fee (300 SCR) is usually built into the tour price anyway.
How long should I plan for the island itself?
Three to three and a half hours covers the tortoise beach, mangrove boardwalk, and Doctor’s House museum. Add an hour for the ranger BBQ lunch and another hour to ninety minutes for St. Pierre snorkeling, and you’ve got a full half-day — the classic combination from Praslin.
Are the tortoises safe to approach with young children?
The tortoises are accustomed to humans and move slowly, but they are wild animals weighing up to 300 kg. Keep children at a respectful distance, supervise closely, and enforce the no-riding rule. The nursery enclosure is a safer spot for younger kids to observe baby tortoises up close.
Is the park open year-round?
Yes, Curieuse Marine National Park is open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., all year. No period is technically closed, but comfort varies — transition seasons (March–May, September–November) offer the best conditions for the combined Curieuse–St. Pierre itinerary.
Can I snorkel at Curieuse itself, or only at St. Pierre?
You can snorkel off Baie Laraie and Anse Saint-José — both are within the marine national park and have clear water and granite formations. That said, St. Pierre Islet, five minutes away by boat, is the standout snorkeling site in the area, with shallower water and denser marine life. Most tours include both.
One Island, One Morning, a Century of Tortoises
Curieuse Island packs an unusual amount of substance into a small area — a conservation success story that put more than 300 giant tortoises back into a landscape preserved by decades of accidental isolation. The combination of free-roaming tortoises, intact mangrove forest, colonial history, and a world-class snorkeling site five minutes away makes this half-day trip from Praslin hard to beat. For a deeper look at the inner islands, our guide to choosing between Mahé and Praslin can help you decide where to base yourself for the rest of your Seychelles trip.
References
Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority. “Curieuse.” SPGA, 2025. ↗
Sailoe. “Curieuse Island Seychelles — Tortoises.” Sailoe, 2025. ↗
My Skipper Guide. “Curieuse — The Red Island of Giant Tortoises.” My Skipper Guide, 2026. ↗
Airial Travel. “Curieuse Island Tortoise Reserve.” Airial Travel, 2025. ↗
If you’re planning a longer stay in the Seychelles, you might also enjoy our guide to La Digue’s untouched shores for a quieter island pace, or kayaking and paddleboarding spots around the islands for a different perspective on the marine park.
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