A day on Curieuse follows a well-worn and very good pattern. The boats are small and local, the crews know the island, and in a few hours you see tortoises, mangroves, coco de mer, a historic house and a reef. The differences between trips lie in the length of the day, the lunch, the number of snorkel stops and how many other islands are included.
A typical full day
- Morning pickup from your hotel on Praslin or a meeting point on the beach at Côte d’Or.
- Snorkelling at St Pierre, the granite islet in the bay — gear is provided.
- Landing at Baie Laraie on Curieuse, where the ranger station is and the giant tortoises roam. Time to meet them and see the nursery.
- The walk across the island on the mangrove boardwalk and the trail over the red hills, past coco de mer palms, to Anse José (roughly 30–60 minutes).
- Lunch at Anse José: a Creole barbecue on the beach, then time to swim and see the Doctor’s House museum.
- Return to Praslin in the mid to late afternoon, sometimes with a second snorkel stop.
The order varies from operator to operator — some snorkel first, others last — and so does the timing, depending on the tide and the wind.
Which kind of trip?
| Trip type | Length | Includes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full day with BBQ | 6–7 hours | St Pierre, tortoises, mangrove walk, beach barbecue, swimming | Most visitors; the complete experience |
| Full day, no lunch | About 7 hours | As above, but bring your own food | Budget travellers |
| Half day | About 4 hours | Tortoises, mangroves, snorkelling | Families, short stays, hot days |
| Cousin + Curieuse + St Pierre | 7–8 hours | Bird reserve visit, tortoises, snorkelling, lunch | Nature lovers — only on Cousin’s open days |
| Catamaran day | About 8 hours | Several islands under sail, lunch | Visitors based on Mahé or La Digue |
| Private charter | Half or full day | Your own boat and schedule | Families and groups; most expensive |
Full-day boat trip from €79 Praslin: Curieuse & St. Pierre Full-Day Boat Trip with Lunch
The most-reviewed Curieuse trip on GetYourGuide, with close to 1,900 reviews. The classic day: snorkel off the granite islet of St Pierre, land at the ranger station to meet the tortoises, walk through the mangroves to a quiet beach, then eat a barbecue lunch and swim before the boat takes you back to Praslin.
- Giant tortoises and the mangrove walk on Curieuse
- Snorkelling at St Pierre, gear included
- Barbecue lunch on the beach
Full-day guided boat trip from €82 Curieuse Guided Tour, St Pierre, BBQ & 2 Snorkel Stops
A full-day guided cruise from Praslin to Curieuse with two separate snorkelling stops rather than one, a guided walk among the tortoises and a barbecue lunch with local drinks. Rated 4.9 from more than 1,100 reviews.
- Two snorkelling stops
- Guided visit on Curieuse with the giant tortoises
- BBQ lunch with local beer and rum
Full-day boat trip from €75 Praslin: Curieuse & St Pierre Island Day Trip with Barbecue
Another well-established full-day outing with nearly 900 reviews: tortoises and the nature trail on Curieuse, a Creole barbecue and time on the beach, and a snorkel in the clear water around St Pierre on the way back.
- Meet the giant tortoises
- Nature trails and a swim on Curieuse
- Creole barbecue, then snorkelling at St Pierre
Full-day boat trip from €77 Curieuse and St. Pierre Islands Day Trip with BBQ Lunch
A slightly shorter full day, around six hours, covering the same essentials — the reefs of St Pierre, Curieuse’s tortoises and mangroves, and a Creole barbecue on the sand. Rated 4.7 from over 500 reviews.
- Snorkel over the reefs around St Pierre
- Tortoises and mangroves on Curieuse
- Creole BBQ on the beach
Boat trip without lunch from €50 Praslin: Curieuse & St-Pierre Boat Adventure with Snorkeling
The budget way to do the full day. The boat, the tortoises, the mangroves and the snorkelling are all included, but the barbecue is not, which brings the price down to among the lowest for a Curieuse trip. Bring a picnic and plenty of water.
- Tortoises, mangroves and beaches on Curieuse
- Snorkelling at St Pierre
- Lower price — lunch not included
Half-day boat trip from €48 Curieuse and St Pierre Snorkeling Half-Day Trip No BBQ Lunch
Four hours instead of seven: the mangroves, the tortoises’ habitat and a snorkel at St Pierre, without the long beach lunch. A good choice with young children, in hot weather, or if you want the afternoon for Anse Lazio or the Vallée de Mai.
- Mangrove swamp and giant tortoises
- Snorkelling at St Pierre
- Back in time for lunch or an afternoon on the beach
Three-island day trip from €140 Island Adventure Cousin, Curieuse & St Pierre with BBQ Bliss
Three islands in one day: the seabirds and endemic land birds of Cousin, a protected reserve, then Curieuse for the tortoises and lunch, and a snorkel at St Pierre. Cousin is normally open to visitors only on certain days and at certain times, so the departure days of this trip are limited — check the listing.
- Cousin Island bird reserve
- Curieuse’s giant tortoises
- Snorkelling at St Pierre and a beach BBQ
Half-day small-boat trip from €85 Half day Curieuse Island Snorkeling & Giant Tortoise
A newer half-day trip from Praslin to Curieuse: the tortoises, the mangrove trail and a snorkel. It has very few reviews yet, so treat it as an alternative when the established half-day trip is full.
- Aldabra giant tortoises
- Mangrove trail
- Snorkelling in clear water
What is included — and what is not
- Usually included: the boat, a skipper/guide, snorkel masks and fins, and on full days a barbecue lunch with water or soft drinks. Pickup on Praslin is common.
- Check: the national park entrance fee (most include it, some do not), pickup from your area, life jackets for children, and whether drinks with lunch are included.
- Not included: tips, towels, sun protection and, on no-lunch trips, food.
Going independently
You can visit Curieuse without a tour by taxi boat from Côte d’Or: boatmen on the beach will drop you at Baie Laraie and pick you up later, usually at Anse José. You pay the park fee yourself at the ranger station. It gives you more time and freedom, but agree everything — price, times, pickup point and what happens if the weather changes — before you leave, and bring food and plenty of water. For most visitors, a scheduled trip with lunch costs about the same and is simpler.
How to choose a good operator
- Look at the number of reviews as well as the rating; recent comments about crew, boat and lunch tell you most.
- Check the group size and the type of boat.
- Prefer operators who brief you on the park rules and reef etiquette.
- Make sure there is free cancellation in case of bad weather.
What to bring
Swimwear, towel, reef-safe sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, water, sandals or light shoes for the trail, insect repellent, a dry bag, and some cash. See the full list in our travel guide.
Ready to book? See our ranked list of the best trips or the full tours page.
