Curieuse: Coco de Mer, Mangroves and Tortoises

Curieuse combines distinctive plant life with tortoises, nature trails and historic sites. When deciding on your trip, you can consider these highlights separately and weigh what you would like to shape your stay. If you are looking for hotels on Curieuse, these themes can help you first assess whether the destination is right for you.

Curieuse was designated a national park under the Nature Reserves and Conservancy Act of 2022. The designation was officially announced in January 2025.

Nature: Coco de Mer and mangroves

The Coco de Mer palm grows naturally only on Curieuse and Praslin. On Curieuse, this distinctive occurrence meets the mangrove swamp on the edge of Baie Laraie. Six of the seven mangrove species known in the Seychelles live there. The Coco de Mer palm and the diversity of the mangrove swamp therefore offer different perspectives on Curieuse’s natural environment.

Tortoises and marine life

Curieuse has a tortoise breeding station. Tortoises are raised there until they are five years old and then released into the wild. Hundreds of giant tortoises, introduced between 1978 and 1982, also live on the island. Every year, sea turtles return to Curieuse’s beaches to nest and lay eggs. This wildlife includes both the breeding and release programme and the introduced giant tortoises, as well as the annual return of sea turtles.

The controlled Nesting Sea Turtle Trail is offered seasonally from October to early March. If you would like to include this trail in your travel plans, check the operating arrangements in advance. Dives at Coral Gardens and Pointe Rouge off Curieuse offer encounters with various marine species and complement the island’s nature attractions with its underwater world.

Nature trails and historic sites

Nature trails include the route from Baie Laraie to Anse Jose and the Anse Badamier Trail. The route from Baie Laraie to Anse Jose names both places as endpoints; the Anse Badamier Trail adds another nature trail to the selection.

The ruins of the former leprosarium stand on the shore of Anse Jose on Curieuse. The Doctor’s House in Anse Jose was built in 1873 by Dr William MacGregor. While the ruins remain as remnants of the former leprosarium, the Doctor’s House is a building identified by its construction date and builder. According to the park, it is currently closed for renovations. If you would like to visit, check access with the relevant authority in advance.

The themes mentioned offer different starting points when choosing your destination: the Coco de Mer palm’s distinctive natural distribution, the mangroves at Baie Laraie, tortoises and marine species, and historic traces at Anse Jose. The seasonal period of the Nesting Sea Turtle Trail and the reported closure of the Doctor’s House are practical conditions you can take into account before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Anse La Blague, Baie Ste Anne, Au Cap.

For the main travel overview: Baie Sainte Anne.