From Praslin: Cousin, Curieuse & St Pierre Islands Day Tour

Cousin Island is the star of this three-island day trip. A warden leads you through mangroves, wetlands, and nesting grounds where Seychelles birds live, then you continue to Curieuse for giant tortoises and a beach BBQ before snorkeling at St Pierre. I like the mix of wildlife and water time, plus the small advertised group size of 10.

I also like that the tour includes hotel pickup, lunch, snorkeling gear, and life vests. Guides such as David have been praised for being friendly, relaxed, and multilingual. The catch is that the day can lose its shine through late departures, unclear instructions, extra entry fees, or rough weather, and some groups have been much larger than expected on Cousin.

Key points to know before booking

• Cousin’s guided nature walk covers mangroves, wetlands, endemic trees, and rare Seychelles birds.
• Curieuse offers close views of giant tortoises, with many roaming freely beyond the small coastal pond.
• St Pierre is the snorkeling stop, with equipment and life vests supplied.
• The two entry fees add to the advertised price: SCR 600 for Cousin per person, plus SCR 300 for Curieuse for anyone over 12.
• Boat transfers can be wet, so pack a waterproof bag and keep your belongings light.
• The tour suits active visitors, but it is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

What this Praslin island-hopping day is really like

This is an eight-hour outing from Praslin that combines three very different island experiences. Cousin is about conservation and birds, Curieuse is about tortoises and a beach meal, and St Pierre is a short marine stop where you can snorkel around a tiny granite island.

The advertised group size is limited to 10, which sounds ideal for a boat day. Keep one detail in mind: the Cousin nature walk is operated by the reserve, and the island portion can be joined by a much larger group. One booking reported a group of about 40, making it harder to hear the guide and easier for noise to disturb nesting birds.

The day begins with hotel pickup and a transfer to Baie Ste Anne jetty. You are asked to wait in your hotel lobby 10 minutes before the scheduled pickup, but the provider may change the pickup time by email. Build a little patience into your morning. Delays of 45 minutes were reported, both before departure and around the boat transfers.

The short crossing to Cousin Island

From Baie Ste Anne, the boat travels about 2 kilometers to Cousin. The cruiser stays offshore, and a Reserve boat takes you the final stretch to the island. This arrangement helps prevent pests from reaching a protected nature reserve, but it also means you will transfer between boats.

This is where a waterproof bag matters. The small boat transfer can involve spray or a wet landing, so keep phones, passports, cameras, and spare clothing sealed. You should wear your life jacket and remain seated until the craft reaches the beach, even if the water looks calm.

Do not bring luggage or large bags. A small daypack or compact waterproof pouch is more useful than a full beach bag. Bring swimwear, a towel, flip-flops, beachwear, cash, and a credit card, since the two island fees use different payment methods.

Cousin’s wetlands, forests, and rare birds

Cousin is the most educational part of the day. A reserve warden leads the island walk, taking you from the coast and its protective mangroves toward wetlands and the higher forest. The habitats change quickly, and the point is not simply to reach a beach or viewpoint. You are there to see how a small island supports a surprising number of species.

The wetlands attract dragonflies, moorhens, caecilans, and Seychelles terrapins. Higher up, a restored forest provides nesting areas for shearwaters and bridled terns. Endemic trees include mapou, Indian mulberry, and bwa sousouri.

Birdlife is the main reason to pay attention during this walk. Cousin is home to Seychelles magpie robins, sunbirds, fodies, blue pigeons, and Seychelles warblers. The reserve setting gives you a better chance to notice behavior and habitat than you would on a quick beach stop, but you need to stay quiet and follow the warden’s instructions.

That last point matters. Large groups, chatter, or getting too close to nesting birds can reduce the quality of the walk and disturb the animals. If Cousin is your main reason for booking, ask the operator in advance how the reserve visit will be organized on your date and how many people are expected in the island walking group.

The island walk is not a casual stroll for everyone. The tour is specifically listed as unsuitable for people with mobility impairments, and the route includes varied natural ground. Wear practical footwear rather than treating this as a flip-flop-only beach excursion.

Curieuse: giant tortoises and a simple beach lunch

After Cousin, the boat ride to Curieuse takes about 30 minutes. The pace changes here. Instead of a warden-led wildlife walk through several habitats, you get time around the coast and the island’s giant tortoises, followed by lunch on the beach.

A large tortoise population lives on Curieuse. Some are found near the natural pond on the coast, while others roam across the island. You may hear them before seeing them, since their calls can be surprisingly loud. The chance to walk among these huge animals is one of the day’s most memorable moments.

The tortoise experience is also less interpretive than some people expect. The Cousin guide may provide more information about the tortoises than the Curieuse stop itself. If you want detailed explanations of their habitat, food, and behavior, listen closely during the earlier walk and ask questions when you have the chance.

Lunch is a BBQ served on the beach, with water or a soft drink included. The meal is part of the price, but keep your expectations practical. The word BBQ may suggest a generous cookout, while the meal can be a more basic, portioned service. If you need a vegetarian meal, confirm the arrangement clearly before departure. A request for two vegetarian options was not handled as expected on one outing, with meat and fish removed rather than replaced by a proper alternative.

The timing also affects this stop. Lunch was scheduled for midday, but a late meal was reported on one trip. That can be hard on a family with a hungry child, especially after the Cousin walk. Carrying a small snack may be sensible if the operator allows it, though large bags are not permitted.

Curieuse also requires a separate entry fee. It is SCR 300 for anyone over 12, and payment is by credit or debit card only. That is different from Cousin, so do not assume cash will cover the whole day.

St Pierre snorkeling: a short final stop

The final activity is snorkeling off St Pierre, a tiny island near Praslin. This is not a long beach stay or a full reef expedition. It is a focused water stop where you can use the supplied mask and snorkel to look for marine life around the island.

Lightweight snorkeling vests are listed for people who are not confident swimmers. That detail makes the stop more accessible, but equipment availability may not always match the description. One booking reported receiving oversized life jackets instead of the promised lightweight snorkeling vests, which made swimming awkward.

The quality of the water stop also depends heavily on conditions. On one outing, stinging plankton prevented the planned St Pierre snorkeling, and the boat only passed near the island. Another trip substituted about 45 minutes of snorkeling in a different reserve area because of weather concerns.

The operator can cancel or change the route for weather conditions. That is reasonable for a small-boat excursion, but you should book this day for the overall combination rather than for St Pierre alone. If snorkeling is your top priority, a dedicated boat trip may give you more water time and a better chance of a suitable site.

Boat transfers, delays, and group size

The tour is sold as a small-group experience with a maximum of 10 participants. That is a useful size for the boat and for communication with the crew. However, the Cousin reserve walk follows its own organization, so the group you meet on the island may be much larger.

You may also share the boat with people booked on different outings. One report described eight people on the boat, including couples on separate tours. That is not necessarily a problem, but it can explain why the boat waits before leaving or why the day does not feel as tightly scheduled as the printed itinerary suggests.

The most useful practical advice is to keep your morning flexible. Delays of around 45 minutes have occurred, including a late vehicle pickup and a wait before the boat departed. Late lunch and delayed departures from Curieuse can shorten time at St Pierre.

Clear communication is important because Curieuse may require you to walk across the island to meet the boat. The captain may not always explain this clearly, so ask exactly where and when you should regroup before leaving the beach or tortoise area.

The guide quality can improve the day. David has been praised for being relaxed, attentive, and able to speak several languages. The listed tour language is English, but the actual guide on your date may differ, so do not book solely expecting a particular person.

What the $153 price really includes

The listed price is $153 per person. It covers hotel pickup and drop-off, boat transport as part of the outing, the BBQ lunch with water or a soft drink, snorkeling equipment, and life vests.

You must add the island entry fees:

• Cousin: SCR 600 per person, all ages, cash only
• Curieuse: SCR 300 per person over age 12, credit or debit card only

For an adult over 12, the extra fees total SCR 900. That makes the actual cost noticeably higher than the headline price, so budget for both fees before deciding that this is a bargain.

I think the price can make sense if you want three stops in one day and prefer having transport, lunch, and equipment arranged for you. Cousin’s reserve access is the main value. You are not simply paying for a boat ride and a beach lunch; you are paying for a protected nature visit that would be harder to organize independently.

The value is weaker if you mainly want a relaxed beach day or a long snorkeling session. The schedule has a lot of moving parts, and delays can cut into the final stop. You may also feel disappointed if the promised small-group atmosphere becomes a large Cousin walking group.

Who should book this tour?

I would recommend it to active visitors staying on Praslin who want a full day of variety. It suits people who care about endemic birds, giant tortoises, and a taste of snorkeling, and who are comfortable with boat transfers, wet landings, and changing plans.

Families can enjoy the tortoises, but the walking and meal timing deserve thought. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and a late lunch may be difficult for young children. Bring a snack if permitted and confirm any dietary needs before paying.

Bird lovers should give Cousin extra weight in the decision. The reserve walk is the most distinctive part of the day, but the experience depends on the warden, group size, and visitor behavior. Keep quiet, stay with the group, and do not approach nesting birds.

Confident snorkelers may find St Pierre too brief, especially if weather or plankton changes the plan. Beginners may appreciate the supplied equipment and flotation support, but confirm what type of vest is actually available.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance, and you can reserve without paying immediately. Those policies help if your Praslin plans are still shifting, but they do not remove the need to check the weather and read the pickup email carefully.

Should you book the Cousin, Curieuse, and St Pierre tour?

Book it if you want the widest range of Praslin island experiences in one day: a serious nature reserve, free-roaming giant tortoises, a beach meal, and a short snorkeling stop.

Skip it if you need precise timing, guaranteed snorkeling at St Pierre, a quiet small group on Cousin, or a substantial BBQ with carefully managed special diets. The best reason to choose this tour is Cousin, with Curieuse adding the tortoises and St Pierre rounding out the day. Treat the snorkeling as a welcome extra, not the central promise, and budget SCR 900 in extra entry fees for each adult over 12.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts about eight hours, including pickup, boat transfers, island visits, lunch, and snorkeling.

Where does the tour depart from?

You are picked up from your hotel and taken to Baie Ste Anne jetty on Praslin.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. You should wait in the lobby 10 minutes before your scheduled pickup.

What language is the tour offered in?

The listed tour language is English.

How many people are in the group?

The tour is advertised as a small group limited to 10 participants. The Cousin nature walk may involve a larger reserve group.

What is included in the price?

The price includes hotel transfers, a BBQ lunch with water or a soft drink, snorkeling equipment, and life vests.

How much are the Cousin and Curieuse entry fees?

Cousin costs SCR 600 per person for all ages, payable in cash only. Curieuse costs SCR 300 for anyone over 12, payable by credit or debit card only.

Can I snorkel if I am not confident in the water?

Lightweight snorkeling vests are intended to be available for less confident swimmers. Equipment can vary, so confirm the flotation option with the crew on the day.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a towel, flip-flops, beachwear, cash, a credit card, and a waterproof bag. Luggage and large bags are not allowed.

Can the itinerary change because of weather?

Yes. The tour is subject to weather conditions, and the snorkeling location or island schedule may change.