Cousin Curieuse and St Pierre & BBQ Lunch

Cousin, Curieuse, and St Pierre give you three very different island experiences in one day: rare birds on Cousin, giant Aldabra tortoises on Curieuse, and reef snorkeling at St Pierre. I like the strong mix of wildlife and water time, and I like that the group is limited to 10 people, which makes the guided walks easier to follow.

I also like the practical touches: BBQ lunch, water, soft drinks, local beer, and snorkeling equipment are included. The main concern is the boat ride. A small speedboat can be wet and rough in bad weather, and one family’s December trip became frightening when heavy rain and high waves delayed their landing at Cousin.

Key points at a glance

• Cousin Island’s bird sanctuary: A guided visit brings you close to protected birdlife, sea turtles, reefs, and island vegetation.
• Curieuse’s giant tortoises: Walk through mangroves to Anse Badamier and see Aldabra tortoises in their protected habitat.
• Three islands, three moods: The day moves from conservation and hiking to lunch, tortoises, and snorkeling.
• Small-group boat trip: A maximum of 10 participants keeps the outing more personal than a large excursion boat.
• Food and drinks included: BBQ lunch, water, soft drinks, local beer, and snorkeling gear are provided.
• Extra island fees: Cousin and Curieuse landing charges are not included, so bring a debit card and confirm the current amounts before departure.

Three islands, one packed day from Praslin

This is a full island day, not a short beach transfer. You leave Praslin around 9:15 a.m. from a pickup point near Baie Ste Anne, Grand Anse, or Anse Volbert, then spend the day on a speedboat before returning around 3:30 or 4 p.m.

I think the appeal is simple: you do not have to choose between birdlife, tortoises, a Creole lunch, and snorkeling. The pace is busy, but each stop has a clear purpose.

The boat is central to the experience. It gets you between the islands quickly, yet it also exposes you to sun, spray, wind, and open-water movement. In calm conditions, that makes the trip feel lively and efficient. In rough weather, it can be uncomfortable, especially for young children or anyone prone to seasickness.

The small group size helps. With no more than 10 participants, you should have a better chance of hearing the English or French guide during walks and getting help with practical matters. This is still an outdoor trip, though, not a polished resort excursion.

Cousin Island, where the birds are the main event

Cousin is the morning’s most conservation-focused stop. The island is known for bird protection, and your guided visit brings together birdlife, sea turtles, coral reefs, beaches, and thick island vegetation.

Expect a proper island walk rather than a quick photo stop. You may spend time hiking, watching wildlife, taking pictures, and learning how the island’s ecosystem works. The guide is important here because the value comes from identifying what you are seeing and explaining why Cousin matters.

The schedule allows roughly three hours on Cousin, from about 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. That gives the visit room to breathe, though the actual time on land can depend on sea conditions and the landing process.

Wear pale, breathable clothing and bring insect repellent. The advice about light colors is especially useful here, since mosquitoes can be a nuisance. Long, comfortable outdoor clothing may be more useful than beachwear for this part of the day.

Cousin is also where weather matters most. A December trip with strong rain and rough seas was unable to land, and the group reportedly waited offshore for 20 to 30 minutes while the guide tried to arrange a transfer to shore. The family eventually returned without seeing the island, and their young child became cold and upset.

That is not a reason to reject the trip, but it is a reason to check the forecast and ask about the operator’s weather policy before you go. A small boat offers little shelter from heavy rain. If the forecast looks poor, families with small children should think carefully about rescheduling if that option is available.

Curieuse Island, tortoises and a mangrove walk

Curieuse changes the tone of the day. After leaving Cousin around 12:30 p.m., you reach Curieuse at about 1 p.m. for lunch and an island visit lasting roughly an hour and 45 minutes.

The Creole BBQ is served on the island and is one of the practical strengths of this outing. You are not expected to find your own lunch between boat rides, and drinks are supplied. Water, soft drinks, and local beer are included, though you should still bring a refillable water bottle if you have one.

After eating, you take a guided walk of about 45 minutes through mangrove habitat toward Anse Badamier. The route adds variety to the day. You are not simply moving from beach to beach, but seeing how mangroves, coastal plants, and wildlife fit together.

Curieuse is especially known for its Aldabra giant tortoises. The guided visit lets you see these large animals in a protected setting and learn about the island’s conservation work. The giant crabs are also part of the island’s wildlife story, though the information provided does not promise a guaranteed sighting.

Bring shoes with a firm sole. Comfortable walking shoes or water shoes are better than flip-flops for the mangrove route, and swimwear alone is not suitable for every part of the island walk.

The Curieuse visit is shorter than the Cousin stop, so do not expect a long, unhurried hike across the island. Its strength is focus: lunch, mangroves, Anse Badamier, and tortoises in one compact visit.

St Pierre, the short snorkeling finale

From Curieuse, the boat heads to St Pierre for snorkeling, scheduled at roughly 2:45 p.m. The water time lasts about 35 minutes before the return to Praslin.

That is enough time for a refreshing swim and a look at coral reefs and marine life, but it is not a full snorkeling expedition. The short session works well after a warm walk and lunch. If snorkeling is your top priority, keep your expectations measured because the tour gives more time to land-based wildlife than to the sea.

Snorkeling equipment is included, along with goggles if you bring your own. I would still pack a waterproof bag for personal items and a waterproof camera if you want photographs. Biodegradable sunscreen is the sensible choice for a reef visit.

Water conditions can affect how enjoyable this stop feels. The boat ride and earlier walks may also leave you tired by this point, so save some energy for the swim. Your return to Côte d’Or, Praslin Beach, is expected between 3:30 and 4 p.m., with drop-off available in Baie Ste Anne, Grand Anse, or Anse Volbert.

What the $155 price really covers

The listed price is $155 per person. For a seven-hour trip with a speedboat, guide, BBQ lunch, drinks, snorkeling gear, and visits to three islands, that can be a fair package for someone who wants a full day without arranging several separate transfers.

The value is strongest if you plan to visit both Cousin and Curieuse anyway. The boat connections, island visits, lunch, and guide are bundled together, and the maximum group size of 10 is more appealing than a crowded boat.

The price is not the final cost, however. Landing fees for Cousin and Curieuse are extra. The supplied information gives conflicting figures for Cousin: one section lists €40, or about SCR 600, while another says €60 per person. Curieuse is listed at €20, or about SCR 300.

Because of that discrepancy, confirm the current Cousin charge before booking or departure. Bring a debit card for the fees, as specifically requested. This is an important budget detail, especially for families, since a child may be charged the full tour price according to the booking terms.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the option to reserve now and pay later reduce the risk of committing too early. Still, those booking terms do not solve the weather question, so ask how poor conditions are handled.

How to prepare for the boat and island walks

Pack for three settings: open water, hot shorelines, and a guided nature walk. A light, quick-dry outfit is the safest choice.

Bring:

• Sunscreen, preferably biodegradable
• A sun hat, sunglasses, and spare dry clothing
• Swimwear, towel, and water shoes
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Insect repellent, preferably biodegradable
• Waterproof bag for phones and valuables
• Camera or charged smartphone
• Credit or debit card for landing fees
• Binoculars if birdwatching interests you

Avoid jeans, high heels, boots, jewelry, oversized luggage, and large bags. The boat has limited room, and bulky belongings only make boarding and moving around harder.

A waterproof bag matters more than it might seem. Even in fair weather, a speedboat can throw spray. Keep your phone, passport, money, and camera protected rather than loose on a seat.

The supplied guidance lists many restrictions, including no glass objects, fireworks, explosives, bikes, scooters, skateboards, and non-folding mobility equipment. Pets are not allowed, except assistance dogs.

Who will enjoy this trip most

I would choose this outing if you want wildlife and variety more than a slow beach day. It suits active adults, couples, older children who handle boats well, and anyone with only a short stay on Praslin who wants to see several nearby islands.

Birdwatchers get the clearest reason to go, since Cousin is the day’s main conservation stop. People interested in tortoises will find Curieuse more memorable, while swimmers get a worthwhile but brief session at St Pierre.

This is not a good fit for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. It is also not recommended for people with visual or hearing impairments under the stated restrictions, or for those with insect allergies.

The activity is not suitable for babies under one, people over 80 or over 95 according to the listed limits, or anyone prone to seasickness. Those age limits are unusually specific, so check them carefully when booking.

Families should pay close attention to the forecast. A four-year-old may manage a calm day, but there is little protection from heavy rain on the boat, and the island landings may not go smoothly in rough seas.

The best parts, and the limits

The strongest feature is the range. In one day, you get a protected bird island, a mangrove walk, giant tortoises, a cooked lunch, and reef snorkeling. The guide adds real value on Cousin and Curieuse because wildlife is easier to appreciate when someone points out the species and explains the conservation work.

The highly praised parts of the experience are the friendly crew, clear organization, informative island walks, tasty lunch, tortoise visit, and snorkeling opportunities. Those are the elements I would use to justify the price.

The weak point is weather exposure. The speedboat is small, and a storm can change the day from exciting to miserable. Cousin’s landing procedure also depends on conditions and coordination with the island, so you should allow for the possibility that the first stop may be shortened or missed.

The schedule is full but logical. Cousin receives the longest visit because it needs a guided wildlife walk. Curieuse combines food and tortoises. St Pierre finishes with a quick swim before you head home.

Should you book Cousin, Curieuse and St Pierre?

Book it if you want a packed Praslin day built around nature, and if a boat ride does not worry you. The combination of Cousin’s birdlife and Curieuse’s giant tortoises is the real prize, while St Pierre adds a pleasant reef stop and the BBQ keeps the day simple.

I would be more cautious if you are traveling with a very young child, get seasick, have mobility limitations, or see a poor marine forecast. Confirm the Cousin landing fee, check the weather, pack light, and bring protection from rain as well as sun.

For the right conditions, this is a useful, well-filled introduction to several Seychelles islands. Just remember that wildlife trips follow the sea and the weather, not a timetable carved in stone.

FAQ

Where does the tour depart from?

Pickup is available from Baie Ste Anne, Grand Anse Praslin, and Anse Volbert Praslin.

How long does the activity last?

The tour lasts about seven hours. Departure is scheduled around 9:15 a.m., with return to Praslin around 3:30 or 4 p.m.

Which languages are available?

The live guide is available in English and French.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A BBQ lunch is included, along with water, soft drinks, and local beer.

Are snorkeling equipment and guide services included?

Yes. Snorkeling gear and a tour guide are included.

Are the Cousin and Curieuse landing fees included?

No. Both island landing fees are extra. The supplied information lists Curieuse at €20 and gives conflicting Cousin amounts of €40 and €60, so confirm the current Cousin fee before going.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The activity also offers reserve-now, pay-later booking.