Curieuse and St. Pierre Islands Day Trip with BBQ Lunch

Turtles, reefs, and barbecue make a fine island day. This Curieuse and St. Pierre boat trip packs a lot into six to seven hours, with a speedboat ride from Praslin, a guided nature walk, giant Aldabra tortoises, beach time, lunch, and two possible snorkeling stops. I especially like the mix of wildlife and water time, plus the friendly crew members and guides such as Reynold and Mario.

The Creole BBQ is another strong point, with grilled fish, chicken, sausage, prawns, lentils, salads, fruit, soft drinks, water, and Seybrew beer. The main caution is the pace: Curieuse involves rocky walking, and the sea around St. Pierre can be rough from May through October. Snorkeling may then move to the calmer Anse Petit Cours area.

What makes this Praslin boat trip worth your day

• Walk among Aldabra tortoises on Curieuse, where the animals live in a protected natural setting.
• Cross Curieuse by trail and boardwalk, passing mangroves on the way to Anse José Beach.
• Eat a generous Creole beach barbecue, with meat, fish, prawns, lentils, salads, fruit, and drinks.
• Snorkel at two locations, usually including the waters near St. Pierre Island.
• Ride by speedboat, giving you broad sea views and more time at the islands.
• Get a multilingual guide, with tours offered in English and French.

Starting from Praslin at 8:45 or 9:15

Pickup is available from selected areas of Praslin, including Baie-Ste-Anne, Amitie, St. Joseph, Grand-Anse, and Anse Volbert. You may be collected from your accommodation in those areas, or meet the boat near Berjaya Praslin Resort or Kannus supermarket in Baie-Ste-Anne.

The usual schedule begins with hotel pickup around 8:45 a.m. and departure at about 9:15 a.m. Confirm the exact pickup time before the morning of the trip. One past booking ran into trouble because the pickup time was not clearly confirmed, so this is a small detail worth settling early.

You board a speedboat rather than a slow sightseeing vessel. That matters in the Seychelles, where the best stops are spread across separate islands. The ride can be lively, especially when the water is not calm, but it gives you a quick, open-air start to the day.

The crew provides a safety briefing before departure. Bring only what you need in a small bag. You will carry your belongings along a trail, and a compact boat has little room for oversized luggage.

Curieuse begins with tortoises and island history

The boat reaches Baie Laraie on Curieuse, a short distance from Praslin. Curieuse is known for its giant Aldabra tortoises, and the sanctuary visit is the emotional center of the outing.

You can see the tortoises at close range and learn about their care, habits, and place in the island ecosystem. Several guides, including Reynold, have been praised for taking time to introduce the animals and explain what you are seeing. This is more useful than simply stopping for a quick photograph, especially if you have never encountered Aldabra tortoises before.

The animals are impressive in a very unhurried way. They are not performing for a crowd, and the visit works best when you slow down and watch them. Allow roughly 45 minutes for this part, depending on the group and the guide.

Curieuse also has an important past connected with conservation and the island’s former leper colony. The guided walk gives you a chance to hear about the island’s natural setting and history rather than treating it as just another beach stop.

The mangrove walk is the most distinctive stop

After the tortoise area, the group follows a nature trail toward Anse José Beach. Parts of the route pass through mangrove forest on raised boardwalks, one of the most unusual features of the trip.

The mangroves are valuable because they serve as a meeting place between land and sea. Their tangled roots help shelter young marine life and shape the shallow coastal habitat. A guide can point out how this environment differs from the open beach and reef areas you visit later.

The walk is not a strenuous mountain hike, but it is not a stroll in flip-flops either. Rocky steps and uneven sections make comfortable walking shoes a much better choice. One route crosses about two kilometres in total, with some uphill and downhill walking. You should be able to manage that distance and uneven ground without mobility assistance.

Allow time for photographs. Curieuse offers plenty of them, from the tortoises and boardwalk to coastal views and the route toward Anse José. The trade-off is that this part can feel long if your priority is snorkeling. Some people would happily spend more time in the water and less time on the trail.

A beach barbecue with proper Creole flavor

Lunch is served around noon, usually at or near the beach. The menu is broader than the phrase barbecue might suggest. Expect a mix of grilled chicken, fish, sausage, and prawns kebab, along with lentils, garlic bread, salads, tropical fruit, and other local Creole touches.

The food is repeatedly described as plentiful, and that is useful after a morning walk in the sun. Freshly prepared fish has been a particular highlight, while vegetarian options are available. If you do not eat meat or fish, mention your needs when booking or before the meal so the crew can plan appropriately.

Drinks include bottled water, soft drinks, and local Seybrew beer. You receive a 750-millilitre bottle of water for the trail, but I would still bring extra water if you tend to drink heavily in hot weather. The included drinks add real value to the $85 price, especially because buying food and beer separately on a small island would not be simple.

There is also a practical timing point. Lunch arrives after the morning walk, and you may feel hungry by then. One person advised bringing a small snack for the wait until noon. Keep it modest and well packed, since the boat and trail are not places for a large picnic bag.

Anse José offers a pause before the next boat ride

After eating, you have leisure time at Anse José Beach. This is your chance to swim, take photographs, or simply sit on the sand before returning to the boat.

The beach stop helps break up the walking and organized sightseeing. You are not rushed from one attraction to the next, although some people have felt that the Curieuse beach period was longer than necessary. If you prefer active water time, use this pause for a swim or a short shoreline snorkel.

One useful tip comes from a past outing: there can be a good snorkeling area roughly 60 metres from shore near the lunch beach. This is not presented as one of the official two snorkeling stops, so conditions and access may vary, but you can ask the crew about it when you arrive.

St. Pierre brings the best water time

Around 2 p.m., the boat heads toward St. Pierre Island, a small granite islet surrounded by clear water. The ride itself is part of the pleasure, with views back toward Praslin and Curieuse and the chance to see the islet from the water.

The normal plan is to snorkel around St. Pierre at about 2:30 p.m. The marine area can offer coral, tropical fish, sea turtles, and other sea life. A crew member may accompany the group in the water, which is helpful if you want someone to guide you toward fish and reef areas rather than simply swim around alone.

The snorkeling has earned some of the strongest praise attached to this outing. People have reported seeing sea turtles, large schools of colorful fish, and, on one especially lucky day, a whale shark near St. Pierre. That sighting is not something you should expect, but it shows how much the day can depend on natural conditions.

Do not assume the snorkeling will always happen exactly at St. Pierre. From May through October, the southeast monsoon can make the sea rough. If that happens, the crew may move the stop to Anse Petit Cours, where the water is calmer. This is a sensible safety choice, though the replacement site may not have the same setting or reef conditions.

Bring your own mask and snorkel if you have them. Equipment is provided, but one person found the shared mouthpiece less appealing. A personal set is more comfortable and avoids a minor hygiene concern. You also need swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun hat.

What the $85 price really covers

At $85 per person, the trip is good value if you want several Praslin highlights in one outing. You are paying for boat transport, selected hotel pickup and drop-off, a guide, a Curieuse nature visit, a substantial lunch, drinks, and two snorkeling opportunities.

The price becomes more attractive when you add the included beer, soft drinks, and water. You also avoid arranging separate transport to Curieuse, hiring a boat for St. Pierre, and finding lunch in a remote beach setting.

There is one compulsory extra: the Curieuse landing fee. It is listed as 20 euros per person, or about 300 Seychelles rupees, and payment is by card only. Bring a payment card, not just cash, and treat this fee as part of the real cost when comparing tours.

The outing may take closer to seven hours in practice, even though it is sold as a six-hour activity. That is not necessarily a problem, but it matters if you have an afternoon reservation or a flight connection. The advertised return is around 3:30 p.m.

The crew can make a good day better

The people running the trip receive unusually strong praise. Reynold is often singled out for being punctual, friendly, careful, and willing to answer questions. He has also contacted people before pickup to settle arrangements, which is reassuring when your hotel is outside the main port area.

Mario has also received warm praise for his guidance and good nature. Other guides and crew members have been described as attentive, helpful, and safety minded. One of the best features is the willingness to adjust when conditions change, particularly when rough water makes the planned snorkeling area unsuitable.

That said, guiding can vary from one departure to another. One account described the guide as less engaged and felt that too much time went into the beach and tortoise areas. I would not book this solely for a guaranteed private guiding style. The strongest reason to go is the overall combination of islands, food, wildlife, and water.

Group size can also vary. Some outings have been small, with only a handful of people, while the schedule allows for groups around 10 to 12. A small group makes the boat ride and snorkeling feel more personal, but you should not assume you will have the vessel to yourself.

Who should choose this island day?

I would recommend this trip if you want a broad taste of the Seychelles without organizing several separate excursions. It suits couples, families with older children who can handle a rocky trail, and anyone who wants wildlife, swimming, a boat ride, and lunch in one package.

It is especially good for first-time visitors to Praslin. Curieuse gives you tortoises and mangroves, while St. Pierre gives you a proper reef stop. The two islands feel different, so the day has more variety than a simple beach cruise.

You should think twice if you use a wheelchair, have significant mobility problems, or dislike uneven paths. The Curieuse trail includes rocky sections, steps, and a walk across the island. This is not a suitable choice for a completely passive sightseeing day.

You should also be realistic about the sea. A speedboat can be bumpy, and the snorkeling location can change with the monsoon. If seeing St. Pierre specifically is your main goal, the weather-related alternative is an important consideration.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and reserve-now, pay-later booking make planning easier. Still, check the pickup area, landing fee, and exact meeting time before you commit.

What to pack for Curieuse and St. Pierre

Keep your packing list short and useful:

• Comfortable shoes with grip for the Curieuse trail
• Swimwear and a towel
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat
• A personal snorkel and mask if you prefer not to use shared equipment
• A card for the Curieuse landing fee
• A small snack for the morning
• A compact waterproof bag for valuables

An umbrella may help during the rainy season, but avoid carrying a large daypack. You will walk with it, take it onto the speedboat, and keep it near you during beach time.

Should you book this Curieuse and St. Pierre trip?

Book it if you want a well-filled island day with tortoises, mangroves, Creole food, and snorkeling rather than a single beach visit. The food, crew care, hotel transport, and mix of activities give the $85 fare solid value, even after adding the landing fee.

Skip it if you want long, uninterrupted snorkeling sessions, a fully private boat, or an easy walk with no uneven ground. For most active visitors staying on Praslin, though, this is a sensible way to see two nearby islands in one outing. Check the weather, carry a card for the landing fee, wear real shoes, and confirm pickup the day before.

FAQ

How much does the Curieuse and St. Pierre trip cost?

The listed price is $85 per person. A Curieuse landing fee of 20 euros per person, or the stated equivalent of 300 Seychelles rupees, is paid separately by card.

How long does the trip last?

The activity is listed as six hours, with the usual schedule running from roughly 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Some departures may take close to seven hours.

Where can pickup take place on Praslin?

Pickup is available in selected areas including Baie-Ste-Anne, Amitie, St. Joseph, Grand-Anse, and Anse Volbert. Meeting points include Berjaya Praslin Resort and Kannus supermarket in Baie-Ste-Anne.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The beach lunch is a Creole barbecue with grilled chicken, fish, sausage, prawns kebab, lentils, garlic bread, salads, and tropical fruit. Vegetarian options are available.

Are drinks included?

Yes. The trip includes water, soft drinks, and local Seybrew beer.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Snorkeling is included at two spots, and equipment is available. You may bring your own mask and snorkel if you prefer.

Can snorkeling move away from St. Pierre Island?

Yes. From May through October, rough southeast monsoon conditions may cause the crew to change the snorkeling location to the calmer bay at Anse Petit Cours.

Is the trip suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The trip is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments because the Curieuse route includes walking on rocky and uneven ground.