Mangroves grow where few other trees can, rooted in the salt mud between land and sea, and the swamp at the head of Baie Laraie is among the best places in the Seychelles’ granitic islands to see them. A raised boardwalk carries the island trail through the forest, so you can look down into the tangle of stilt roots and breathing roots without getting your feet wet.
The walk is the heart of a day on Curieuse. It links the ranger station at Baie Laraie with Anse José on the far side of a low ridge, and on the way it crosses three very different worlds: the green, shaded mangrove, the dry hills of bare red earth that gave the island its old name of Île Rouge, and the coastal woodland where young coco de mer palms grow. At an easy pace, with stops, it takes most people somewhere between half an hour and an hour.
What to see and do: Mangrove Boardwalk & Trail to Anse José
Walk the boardwalk through the mangroves
Several species of mangrove grow here, each adapted to a slightly different depth of water and salt. Look for the arching stilt roots that prop the trees up in soft mud and the pencil-like breathing roots that poke up from it. At low tide the mud is alive with movement; at high tide water flows in among the trunks and small fish shelter between the roots. Stay on the boardwalk: the mud is deep and the roots are easily damaged.
Watch for crabs, mudskippers and herons
Crabs of many sizes scuttle away as you approach, some waving one oversized claw. Mudskippers — fish that spend much of their time out of the water — flip across the mud, and herons stand motionless in the channels waiting for them. Walk slowly and quietly and you will see far more.
Cross the red earth and look for coco de mer
Beyond the mangrove the path climbs gently across open hillside. The striking red soil is the island’s signature; much of the original forest here burned, most recently in a fire in 1967 that killed more than 150 coco de mer palms, and the vegetation is still recovering. Along the trail you will pass coco de mer palms, including young ones, with their enormous pleated fan leaves — Curieuse and Praslin are the only two islands where the species grows wild. Read more in our wildlife guide.
Enjoy the view from the saddle
Where the trail crosses the ridge you get views back over Baie Laraie and the channel to Praslin, and forward to the bay of Anse José. It is a good place to pause for water — there is little shade on the open sections.
Arrive at Anse José
The trail ends near the Doctor’s House and the beach of Anse José, where boat trips usually serve lunch and you can swim before the return trip.
How to get to Mangrove Boardwalk & Trail to Anse José
- The trail starts at the ranger station at Baie Laraie, where boats land. Guided boat trips from Praslin build the walk into the day and collect you at Anse José, so you do not have to walk back.
- If you come by taxi boat, arrange to be dropped at Baie Laraie and collected at Anse José (or the other way round) to avoid retracing your steps.
Insider tips
- Wear proper sandals or light trainers — parts of the path are rocky and uneven once you leave the boardwalk.
- Carry water and wear a hat. The red-earth section is exposed and can be very hot around midday.
- Insect repellent helps in the mangrove on still, humid days.
- The boardwalk is narrow in places; let others pass and do not lean on rails that look weathered.
- Low tide shows off the roots and the mudskippers best; at high tide the swamp looks lush and flooded. Both are worth seeing.
Best tours & tickets for Mangrove Boardwalk & Trail to Anse José
These top-rated experiences pair well with a visit to Mangrove Boardwalk & Trail to Anse José:
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 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 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
