Curieuse Island Giant Tortoises

Curieuse, a short boat ride from Praslin, is a protected island and the only place besides Praslin where the coco de mer grows wild. Around the ranger station at Baie Laraie, giant Aldabra tortoises wander freely, some of them many decades old, and are quite used to visitors.

A boardwalk leads through mangroves to Anse St José and the old Doctor’s House, a reminder of the island’s days as a leprosy colony. Day trips usually add snorkelling at the photogenic St Pierre islet and a Creole barbecue lunch on the beach.

Bring swimwear, reef shoes and plenty of sunscreen. Trips run most days from Praslin, and we time them around calm seas. The crossing from Praslin is short, and the tortoises are most active in the cooler morning hours.