Quick Facts: Curieuse Island | Republic of Seychelles | No dedicated cruise terminal — tender/boat transfer from Praslin or direct expedition landing | Tender/zodiac landing | ~2 km north of Praslin Island | UTC+4
Curieuse Island is one of the most rewarding wild-island stops in the entire Indian Ocean — a protected nature reserve where giant Aldabra tortoises roam freely on red-soil beaches framed by rare coco de mer palms. Most cruisers visit as part of a full or half-day excursion from Praslin, so your single most critical planning move is booking your boat transfer and park entry in advance, because access to the island is strictly regulated by the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF). Don’t leave this to the morning of — spaces are genuinely limited and the island closes if weather turns.
—
Port & Terminal Information
Curieuse Island has no conventional cruise ship terminal. The island sits inside the Curieuse Marine National Park and is accessed exclusively by small boat — either a traditional pirogue, a chartered day-boat, or a zodiac from an expedition-style cruise vessel anchoring offshore in Anse José or the channel between Curieuse and Praslin.
- Arriving from a mainstream cruise ship: Your ship will most likely be docked or anchored at Praslin Island — either at the Baie Sainte Anne Jetty (the main ferry and boat departure point on the east coast of Praslin) or at Grand Anse Praslin. From either jetty, Curieuse is a short 10–20 minute boat ride.
- Expedition cruise vessels (e.g. Ponant, Silversea Expedition, Hurtigruten) frequently anchor directly off Curieuse and tender passengers ashore by zodiac to the sandy landing beach at Anse José on the island’s south coast.
- Landing point: The main visitor landing is the beach at Anse José, where you’ll find a ranger station, the restored Doctor’s House (a historic leper colony building), and the tortoise enclosure. There is a secondary landing at Laraie Bay on the north coast.
- Terminal facilities: There are essentially none in the conventional sense. The ranger station has basic toilet facilities. There is no ATM, no luggage storage, no Wi-Fi, and no tourist information desk on the island itself. Bring everything you need from your ship.
- Park entry fee: SCR 2,000 per adult (approximately USD 150) — this is a conservation fee collected at the ranger station or pre-arranged through a licensed tour operator. Children under 12 are typically included in family tour pricing.
- Check the [Google Maps location for Curieuse Island and its access points](https://www.google.com/maps/search/Curieuse+Island+Seychelles+cruise+terminal) before you sail.
—
Getting to the Island
Because Curieuse is an uninhabited protected island, your “getting here” options are narrower than a typical port — but they’re well-established and straightforward once you know the system.
- On Foot — You cannot walk to Curieuse. The island sits across a shallow but uncrossable channel from Praslin. The closest you can get on foot is the Baie Sainte Anne jetty on Praslin, roughly 1 km from the Baie Sainte Anne village centre.
- Organised Day Tour (most common option) — The vast majority of cruisers reach Curieuse as part of a combined half-day or full-day island-hopping excursion that departs from Praslin. These tours handle your boat, park entry fees, snorkelling gear, and often a Creole BBQ lunch. A [half-day Curieuse and St Pierre Island tour starts from USD 68.63 on Viator](https://www.viator.com/search/Curieuse+Island+Seychelles) 🎟 Book: Half Day Curieuse and St Pierre Island and is genuinely the easiest option for cruisers with a defined time window. If you prefer a private experience, a [full-day private Curieuse, St Pierre, and Anse Lafarine trip with Creole BBQ runs from USD 92.29](https://www.viator.com/search/Curieuse+Island+Seychelles) 🎟 Book: Curieuse,St Pierre &AnseLafarine fullday trip CreoleBBQ and is outstanding value for groups of 4+.
- Private Boat Charter — Local boat operators at the Baie Sainte Anne jetty and Grand Anse jetty on Praslin offer private transfers and full-day charters. Prices are negotiable but expect SCR 3,000–6,000 (USD 220–440) for a private pirogue for a half-day, excluding park fees. Always confirm the operator holds a National Parks permit before you pay.
- Taxi to Jetty — If your ship docks or tenders to Praslin’s main jetty, taxis wait at both Baie Sainte Anne and Grand Anse. The fare from Grand Anse Praslin to Baie Sainte Anne jetty is approximately SCR 300–400 (USD 22–30). Always agree the price before you get in — meters are rare in Praslin.
- Ship Shore Excursion — Worth it here. Curieuse is one of those rare cases where booking through your cruise line is genuinely competitive with independent options, simply because your ship’s excursion desk pre-clears the park entry, guarantees a tender back time that aligns with all-aboard, and handles the insurance. If your ship is an expedition vessel, the zodiac landing is almost certainly included as part of your voyage program. For mainstream ships, browse [GetYourGuide’s Curieuse Island options](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=Curieuse+Island+Seychelles¤cy=USD&partner_id=MHU0UHU) alongside your ship’s offerings before deciding.
- Rental Car/Scooter — Not applicable for reaching Curieuse itself, but a scooter or rental car on Praslin (from SCR 700/day, roughly USD 50) is useful if you’re self-arranging your jetty transfer and want to explore Praslin before or after.
—
Top Things to Do on Curieuse Island
Curieuse packs a startling amount of biodiversity and history into a 2.86 km² footprint — here is what’s genuinely worth your time, from the iconic to the overlooked.
Must-See
1. Walk Among the Giant Aldabra Tortoises (included in park entry) — This is the headline act, and it earns every word of its reputation. Curieuse is home to over 300 free-roaming Aldabra giant tortoises — some over 100 years old and weighing 250 kg — and unlike the farmed or fenced experiences on Mahé, here they genuinely wander the beaches, trails, and mangrove edges at will. You can walk right up to them, crouch beside them, and photograph them in completely natural settings. The concentration of tortoises near the Doctor’s House area is highest in the morning, when rangers feed them. Allow 30–45 minutes just for this.
2. The Doctor’s House & Leper Colony Heritage Trail (included in park entry) — The whitewashed colonial building on the beach at Anse José is one of the most evocative historical sites in the entire Seychelles archipelago. Built in 1872 as the residence of the medical officer overseeing Curieuse’s leper colony (which operated until 1931), it has been beautifully restored by the SIF and now serves as a small interpretive centre with fascinating panels on the island’s history. The trail between the Doctor’s House and the ranger station takes about 20 minutes and passes the old settlement ruins. Don’t skip this — it gives the island extraordinary depth beyond the wildlife. Book a [guided island tour on GetYourGuide](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=Curieuse+Island+Seychelles¤cy=USD&partner_id=MHU0UHU) that includes a knowledgeable naturalist guide to get the most from this heritage trail. Allow 45–60 minutes.
3. Snorkelling the Curieuse Marine National Park (gear usually included in tour) — The waters encircling Curieuse are protected inside the national park boundary and support some of the healthiest coral gardens in Praslin’s vicinity. The shallow reef just off Anse José has excellent visibility (15–25 m on a calm day), resident hawksbill turtles, and colourful reef fish. The real star for snorkellers, though, is the passage between Curieuse and St Pierre Islet — a granite pinnacle about 2 km south that erupts from the sea like a scene from a nature documentary. Most combined tours include a stop at St Pierre. [Half-day tours from USD 68.63 on Viator](https://www.viator.com/search/Curieuse+Island+Seychelles) include gear and the St Pierre snorkel stop. Allow 1–1.5 hours in the water.
Beaches & Nature
4. Anse José Beach (free with park entry) — The landing beach at the island’s south coast is long, powder-white, and backed by the red laterite soil that makes Curieuse so visually distinctive. With no permanent residents and strict visitor controls, the sand is impeccably clean. The combination of white sand, crimson soil cliffs, turquoise water, and coco de mer fronds is genuinely unlike anywhere else in the Seychelles. Arrive before 10:00 for the softest light and fewest visitors. Allow 30–45 minutes to walk its length.
5. Laraie Bay & the Mangrove Boardwalk (included in park entry) — The north coast of Curieuse feels entirely different to the southern landing beach — wilder, more secluded, and accessed via a 2 km trail across the island or a short boat ride around the headland. Laraie Bay has a mangrove forest with a raised wooden boardwalk that weaves through the roots, with excellent birdwatching for Seychelles blue pigeons, fairy terns, and the endangered Seychelles warbler. This is the side of Curieuse that day-trippers on rushed half-day tours often miss. Allow 45 minutes including the boardwalk.
6. Coco de Mer Grove Trail (included in park entry) — Curieuse is one of only 2 islands in the world where the legendary coco de mer palm (Lodoicea maldivica) grows wild — the other being nearby Praslin. The largest seed in the plant kingdom (up to 25 kg) grows here in natural groves along the interior trail. The trail between Anse José and Laraie Bay passes through these groves and is manageable for reasonably fit walkers — red laterite soil underfoot, decent shade, and clear signage. Wear proper shoes, not flip-flops. Allow 45–60 minutes to cross the island on this trail.
7. St Pierre Islet Snorkel Stop (included in most tours) — Technically a separate island, but virtually every Curieuse tour includes a 45-minute snorkel stop here, and it would be a crime to skip it. St Pierre is a single weathered granite rock jutting from the ocean, ringed by coral gardens teeming with fish. The underwater topography is dramatic — boulders stacked like ancient architecture, with rays, turtles, and the occasional nurse shark resting at depth. This is consistently rated one of the top 5 snorkel spots in all of Seychelles. Allow 45–60 minutes.
Day Trips
8. Anse Lazio, Praslin (free) — If you have a full day based on Praslin and your Curieuse tour ends by early afternoon, a taxi to Anse Lazio on Praslin’s north coast (SCR 400, roughly USD 30) delivers arguably the most beautiful beach in the Indian Ocean. Powder coral sand, no development, a single simple beach restaurant (Bonbon Plume) — it’s 30 minutes from Baie Sainte Anne. Allow 2 hours minimum.
9. Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, Praslin (SCR 1,320 / USD 95 per adult) — A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the other wild coco de mer forest, a 30-minute taxi ride from the Baie Sainte Anne jetty. Walking the shaded forest trails in near-silence — listening for the call of the black parrot (endemic to Praslin) among palms that look Jurassic — is genuinely one of the great nature experiences in the Indian Ocean region. Open daily 08:00–17:30. Allow 2 hours. Browse a [combined Praslin and islands tour on Viator](https://www.viator.com/search/Curieuse+Island+Seychelles) 🎟 Book: Seychelles Island Tour (PRIVATE 4 hours or 8 Hours) if you want it all tied together.
10. Anse Lafarine / North Praslin Exploration (free) — The small community of Anse Lafarine on Praslin’s north coast is the closest point to Curieuse and feels genuinely local — fishing pirogues, a small market, the smell of grilled fish in the afternoon. Several full-day Curieuse tours include a stop here for lunch. If you’re exploring independently, it’s a 20-minute taxi ride from Grand Anse Praslin.
Family Picks
11. Creole BBQ Lunch at the Doctor’s House (included in full-day tours) — Several operators set up a traditional Creole BBQ lunch on the beach at Anse José as part of full-day excursions — grilled red snapper, octopus salad, breadfruit chips, fresh coconut. This is an absolute highlight for families and one of the best meals you’ll eat in the Seychelles without sitting in a restaurant. The combination of the beach setting, free-roaming tortoises, and genuinely excellent food makes it a special memory. The [full-day Curieuse, St Pierre & Anse Lafarine trip with Creole BBQ from USD 92.29](https://www.viator.com/search/Curieuse+Island+Seychelles) includes this. 🎟 Book: Curieuse,St Pierre &AnseLafarine fullday trip CreoleBBQ
12. Tortoise Feeding at the Ranger Station (included in park entry) — Rangers feed the tortoises each morning, and younger children absolutely lose their minds over this. The tortoises show remarkable personality — lumbering over with what can only be described as focused enthusiasm. Rangers are excellent at involving children, explaining conservation work, and answering questions. This is genuinely the best close-encounter wildlife moment for families in the entire western Indian Ocean. Allow 20–30 minutes.
Off the Beaten Track
13. Sunrise Landing — for Expedition Ship Passengers Only — If you’re on an expedition vessel and your ship anchors off Curieuse overnight, asking your expedition team about a pre-breakfast zodiac landing (before the day-trip boats arrive) is absolutely worth it. The island in golden early light, with no other visitors, just you and 300 tortoises — this is a rare travel experience. Speak to your expedition leader the evening before.
14. Birdwatching on the Interior Trail (included in park entry) — Curieuse is underrated as a birding destination. The fairy tern nests on granite boulders in the open — white birds hovering in pairs just above your head. The Seychelles sunbird flits through the coco de mer fronds. White-tailed tropicbirds wheel overhead. If you carry binoculars, the trail between Anse José and Laraie Bay in the early morning before the tours arrive is quietly extraordinary. Allow 1 hour if you’re serious about it.
—
What to Eat & Drink
Seychellois Creole cuisine is among the most distinctive in the Indian Ocean — built on grilled reef fish, slow-braised octopus (in coconut and tamarind), breadfruit, cassava, and the fierce chilli paste called rougaille, all with a beautiful layering of African, French, Indian, and Chinese culinary influence. On Curieuse itself, food is only available as part of organised tours, so plan accordingly — but the standard of cooking at a beach BBQ here is surprisingly high.
- Creole BBQ Lunch on Curieuse Beach — Grilled red snapper, octopus, breadfruit chips, rice and lentils. On the beach at Anse José; included in full-day tours. Approximate standalone value: USD 25–35 per person.
- Bonbon Plume Beach Restaurant, Anse Lazio, Praslin — Casual, excellent, right on the sand. Grilled fish of the day with Creole sauce and plantain. Anse Lazio north coast; SCR 450–650 (USD 32–47) for a main course.
- Le Repaire, Grand Anse Praslin — Reliable Creole and international menu, cold Seybrew beer, good
🎟️ Things to Book in Advance
These highly-rated experiences fill up fast — book before you arrive to avoid missing out.
This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
📍 Getting to Curieuse Island Seychelles
Use the interactive map below to explore the port area and plan your route from the terminal.
Leave a Reply