Curieuse Island Seychelles
20
Cruises availables
At departure or passage at this port
Emerald Waterways (20 Cruises)
Emerald Kaia
20 Cruises
Frequently Asked Questions
At Baie Laraie, next to the national park rangers' station. Ships anchor offshore and passengers transfer by Zodiac; there is no pier for large vessels.
Its free-roaming giant tortoises: about 300 Aldabra tortoises live on the island, descended from animals brought here in the 1980s for a breeding and conservation programme. You meet them on the trails, with no fence in between.
About 40 minutes of easy walking. A boardwalk trail links Baie Laraie to Anse St José through mangroves, sculpted granite boulders and red-earth hills.
Yes. Along with Praslin, Curieuse is the only place on earth where the coco de mer grows naturally. Park rangers point out male and female palms and explain why every nut is numbered and protected.
The resident doctor's house from the 1870s, a restored Creole villa at Anse St José, now an interpretation centre. Ruins of the patients' dwellings are still visible in the undergrowth: the island served as a leper colony for over a century.
Yes. The trail is flat and boardwalked, and meeting giant tortoises up close is unforgettable. Bring water and a hat, as shade is patchy in places.
Yes, the surrounding waters form a marine national park and excursions usually include a swim. Landings are wet, though, so bring sandals you can walk into the sea with.
Yes, a national park entrance fee applies, normally included in the excursion. Check with your travel advisor or the ship's shore excursion desk before going ashore.
April to May and October to November, between the two monsoon regimes: calmer seas, moderate wind, steady heat. The Seychelles work year-round, but these shoulder months give the best landing conditions.
The Seychellois rupee; cards work in hotels and larger businesses, less so at small stalls. Seychellois Creole, French and English are all spoken, and park rangers work in all three.
