Information
City: Curieuse IslandCountry: Seychelles
Continent: Africa
Curieuse Island, Seychelles, Africa
Overview
Curieuse Island, just a short boat ride from Praslin, is a tiny gem where giant tortoises roam under rustling palms, offering visitors a genuine, unspoiled taste of nature.Curieuse Island, home to giant tortoises and dense green forests that smell faintly of salt, lies within the Curieuse Marine National Park and can be reached by boat from Praslin or La Digue.Here are the key highlights of Curieuse Island, from its rust-red granite boulders to the giant tortoises roaming under the palms.Curieuse Island’s sanctuary shelters hundreds of Aldabra Giant Tortoises, their dark, domed shells gleaming under the Seychelles sun.Giant tortoises wander the island at their own pace, and visitors can watch them up close or gently interact as they graze in the sun.The sanctuary works to protect these endangered creatures, serving as a thriving breeding site before releasing them back into the wild.For quiet escapes, head to Anse St. José, where white sand meets clear, shallow water perfect for snorkeling, or to Anse L’Islette for a shady picnic and a swim in calm seas.Boardwalks wind through mangrove swamps alive with bird calls and tangled roots, and the Curieuse Island Nature Trail offers a moderate hike past Coco de Mer palms, lush tropical forests, and other rare island plants.The trail winds up to sweeping lookouts where you can see the island framed by glittering blue water; from the top, you’ll spot Praslin, La Digue, and the tiny Coco Islands in the distance, and nearby stands the old Anse St. José Doctor’s House, once home to the physician who cared for the island’s leper colony.The house now serves as a museum, where visitors can step inside to uncover the island’s history and its place in Seychelles’ medical past.Once a leper colony, the island still holds crumbling stone walls from the days it quarantined those with the disease.Coconut palms sway over what used to be thriving plantations, their roots twisting through the sandy soil.Offshore, the protected waters of Curieuse Marine National Park brim with life-perfect for slipping on a mask and snorkeling among bright reef fish.Curieuse Island’s park teems with life-colorful coral gardens, graceful sea turtles gliding by, and schools of darting fish.Slip into the clear waters at Anse St. José, and you’ll find it’s a perfect window into this underwater world.Visit in April or May, or again in October or November, when warm weather and calm seas make boat rides smooth and outdoor adventures easy.From June to September, expect cooler, drier days but choppier waves.The only way to get here is by boat, setting off from either Praslin or La Digue.You can join daily tours that often include stops at nearby spots like Coco Island or the sandy shores of St. Pierre, or book a private boat transfer from either of those islands.Curieuse Island itself is a quiet, wild place-ideal for spotting giant tortoises and exploring under the warm island sun.You might spot a giant tortoise in the brush, glide over coral reefs in clear water, trek beneath the shade of palm and takamaka trees, or simply sink your toes into warm, white sand-on Curieuse Island, every moment draws you deeper into the quiet beauty of the Seychelles.
Landmarks in curieuse-island
