Curieuse Island

Curieuse Island is a small granitic island off the eastern coast of Praslin in the Seychelles, protected as part of the Curieuse Marine National Park and noted for its wildlife and coastal habitats. The island is best known for its population of Aldabra giant tortoises and its mangrove ecosystems.

Visitors travel by boat from Praslin to walk short trails, see free-roaming tortoises, visit beaches and inspect mangrove forests and coral-fringed shores. The island offers close encounters with tortoises and opportunities for marine snorkelling in adjacent reef areas.

Curieuse has a recorded human history that includes colonial-era settlement and a 19th-century leper colony; remains from that period are among the island’s interpretive points. Conservation and visitor management are focused on protecting the island’s habitats while allowing regulated public access.

Located immediately north of Praslin island, Curieuse is reached by a short boat ride from Praslin’s western beaches and lies within the inner islands’ marine park system.

• Historic ruins: Formerly home to a 19th-century leper colony; ruins from the historic settlement are preserved and visible along some shore paths.

What to See #

• Tortoise enclosure and free-roaming population: A small, protected island designated as a common nesting and grazing area for giant tortoises that were introduced from Aldabra; tortoises are a major visitor attraction.
• Mangrove and marine habitats: A coastal mangrove and shallow reef zone forming part of the adjacent marine park, with marked walking routes and guided visits to beaches and shore habitats.