Island Adventure Cousin, Curieuse & St Pierre with BBQ Bliss

Wild islands, one full day. This Praslin boat trip packs three very different Seychelles experiences into about seven and a half hours: protected wildlife on Cousin, giant tortoises and lunch on Curieuse, then reef snorkeling at St Pierre. I especially like the chance to see rare Seychelles birds with island guides, and the generous Creole BBQ, which includes grilled food, salads, fruit, drinks, and one beer per adult. The main caution is price: the $165 tour fee does not include another €65 in island entry charges.

You should also prepare for a long, active day. The tour combines boat travel, uneven paths, a forest walk, beach time, and swimming. Sea conditions can change the snorkeling stop, and delays getting visitors ashore at Cousin may reduce time on Curieuse or St Pierre.

Key points to know before you book

• Cousin is the wildlife highlight: Expect a guided walk among Seychelles warblers, tropicbirds, nesting seabirds, giant millipedes, geckos, and Aldabra tortoises.
• Curieuse brings the classic Seychelles scenes: You can walk near free-roaming giant tortoises, visit Doctor’s House, and follow a mangrove boardwalk.
• The BBQ is a proper meal: Grilled fish, chicken, sausages, Creole rice, lentils, salads, chutneys, fruit, soft drinks, water, and one beer are included.
• St Pierre is the swimming stop: Snorkeling gear is supplied, and the crew can assist beginners in the clear water around the islet.
• Budget €65 extra for entry fees: Cousin costs €45 per person and Curieuse costs €20, paid locally and not included in the advertised price.
• Allow for rough-sea changes: From June through September, the southeast monsoon can bring choppy water, with snorkeling sometimes moved to Anse Petite Cours.

Why this three-island day works

The appeal here is variety. Cousin is about birds and conservation. Curieuse is about tortoises, mangroves, and a relaxed beach meal. St Pierre finishes the day with warm water and reef fish.

That variety makes this a strong choice if you have limited time on Praslin and want more than a simple beach outing. You are not spending the whole day on one boat or one beach. Instead, each stop has a clear purpose.

The schedule is tight, though. Pickup begins between 8:15 and 9:00 in the stated plan, with the boat leaving Côte d’Or Beach around 9:10. Hotel pickup may happen 15 to 30 minutes before the excursion, so you should wait at reception or the hotel’s designated pickup area.

The advertised duration is 450 minutes. In practice, the day runs from the morning pickup until about 4:00 in the afternoon, with hotel drop-off afterward. Bring enough energy for a full outing, not a gentle half-day cruise.

Cousin Island: three hours among rare Seychelles wildlife

Cousin is the most distinctive stop. It is a protected nature reserve, and the visit centers on a guided walk through the forest rather than a quick photo stop.

The reserve is known for Seychelles warblers, tropicbirds, nesting seabirds, and other endemic wildlife. You might also see giant millipedes, geckos, and Aldabra giant tortoises. This is the part of the day where a guide adds real value, since the small details can be easy to miss without someone pointing them out.

The walk lasts about three hours, including the safety briefing, guided nature visit, and time connected with landing arrangements. Expect uneven ground and outdoor conditions. Comfortable walking shoes are a better choice than ordinary flip-flops.

Cousin’s conservation work is another reason to take this stop seriously. The visit is not simply a wildlife encounter staged for a camera. You get an explanation of how the reserve protects native birds and manages its fragile habitat. Guides such as Benjamin have been praised for explaining the island’s plants and wildlife clearly, while the reserve’s own volunteers help identify birds and describe conservation efforts.

There is one practical issue: landing can take time. Boats may need to wait for space or for groups ahead to come ashore. That has caused some outings to lose time later in the day. I would treat the published schedule as a plan, not a guarantee, especially during busy periods.

The Cousin entry fee is €45 per person, payable on site. That is a significant addition to an already expensive excursion, so include it in your real budget from the start.

Curieuse: tortoises, mangroves, and Doctor’s House

Curieuse gives you a different kind of island experience. After Cousin, you move from bird habitat to broad open spaces, mangroves, and the famous Aldabra giant tortoises.

The tortoises roam freely, and walking near them is a memorable part of the visit. You can see these large, slow-moving animals at close range, but sensible wildlife manners matter. Use only the guidance provided by the local team, avoid crowding the animals, and keep sunscreen and insect spray away from their bodies. One piece of useful feedback raised concern about people touching tortoises soon after applying insect repellent, so I would favor watching over handling.

Curieuse also includes a visit to Doctor’s House Museum. The small historic building adds context to the island and gives the walk more meaning than a simple tortoise photo session.

A guided mangrove boardwalk walk is scheduled for 30 to 45 minutes. The route lets you see a wetter side of the island and learn about its plants. Depending on the day’s timing, landing delays, and local arrangements, you may need to choose between spending more time at the tortoise area and completing the full boardwalk route. Ask your guide early how much time is available.

The Curieuse entry fee is €20 per person. Together with Cousin’s charge, the additional cost is €65 per person before any currency conversion or local payment differences. The conservation fees support protected islands, but the price still affects the tour’s value.

The beach BBQ: a welcome pause at Curieuse

Lunch is one of the strongest parts of the day. The meal is served on the beach and includes grilled fish, chicken, and sausages, along with Creole rice, lentils, salads, chutneys, and fresh fruit.

Drinks include water and soft drinks, plus one beer for each adult. Additional alcoholic drinks are not included. If you have dietary restrictions, tell the operator at least 24 hours ahead. The supplied information does not promise every special diet can be handled, but advance notice gives the kitchen a chance to prepare.

I like the way the lunch fits the setting. You get a real meal after the morning walk, not just a packaged snack, and the beach break gives you time to cool down. Some visitors also swim around the lunch area, but the main planned snorkeling session comes later at St Pierre.

The food has earned especially warm praise, with descriptions of it as plentiful, fresh, and better than expected. That matters on a day with several hours outside. You should still keep a water bottle close, even though drinks are supplied.

St Pierre: the final hour in the water

St Pierre Islet is the last major stop, scheduled for roughly one hour. The focus is snorkeling and swimming in clear water around coral gardens.

You receive snorkeling equipment, and assistance is available if you are new to snorkeling. The site is intended for beginners as well as stronger swimmers, though you should still be comfortable entering the sea from the boat and following crew instructions.

The water can be full of tropical fish and reef life. It is a short session, so use your time well: secure your mask before entering, listen to the safety briefing, and ask for help with the equipment before the boat reaches the snorkeling area.

This stop can be affected by the sea. From June through September, southeast monsoon winds may make the crossing or the St Pierre water uncomfortable. If conditions are rough, the crew may use Anse Petite Cours instead, a calmer protected bay suitable for snorkeling.

That change is not necessarily a poor substitute. Safety and water visibility matter more than sticking rigidly to one named islet. Still, if St Pierre is your main reason for booking, understand that the exact snorkeling location is weather dependent.

Some trip accounts describe the snorkeling session as excellent, while another account reported a much shorter swim and a different location than expected. Fish feeding with bread was also raised as a concern. You can help protect the reef by never feeding fish yourself and by keeping your hands off coral and marine life.

Boat travel and the day’s weak point

The boat is the link between all three islands, but it may also be the least comfortable part of the outing. The crossing takes you into open water, and the ride can become bumpy in wind or swell.

One detailed account described a small boat and long waits at Cousin. That does not mean every departure will be the same, but it is a fair warning to ask about the vessel and current sea conditions before setting out. If you are prone to motion sickness, take the precautions you normally use and sit where the crew recommends.

The plan calls for a return cruise from St Pierre around 3:45, followed by drop-off around 4:00. Actual timing can shift. One account described returning to Côte d’Or rather than directly to the expected jetty, while other outings were described as well organized from pickup through drop-off.

The included hotel transfer is useful because Praslin accommodation is spread across the island. Pickup points include hotels and villas in areas such as Côte d’Or, Anse Lazio, Anse Kerlan, Grand Anse, and around the airport and ferry terminal. The transfer is conducted by taxi or van, and the driver named in the schedule is Bruno. Be ready early, since pickup windows are not always exact.

What the $165 price really buys

At $165 per person, this is not a budget boat ride. Once you add the two entry fees, the advertised cost becomes $165 plus €65 per person, before optional spending. That is the figure I would use when comparing it with other Praslin excursions.

The package does include a lot: hotel pickup and drop-off, the boat, captain and crew, island guides, Cousin and Curieuse walks, snorkeling equipment, a full BBQ lunch, water, soft drinks, and one beer.

The value depends on what you want from the day. If you want wildlife, tortoises, a meal, and snorkeling without arranging separate boats, the bundle is convenient. If you mainly want to snorkel, a shorter and cheaper marine trip may make more sense.

The entry fees are understandable for protected islands, but they should be made prominent in your budget. The advertised rating of 4.4 from 51 ratings suggests a generally positive experience, with the happiest reports praising the guides, food, wildlife, and relaxed pace. The lower scores focus on the small boat, waits, shortened stops, and the gap between the planned schedule and the day actually delivered.

That split tells you exactly what to watch: the natural attractions are excellent, but operations and sea conditions can decide how much of the advertised program you receive.

Who should book this Praslin excursion

I would recommend this to active adults, couples, families with older children, and anyone who wants a full day of nature rather than a resort-only holiday.

It suits you if you can walk on uneven paths, board a boat, handle sun and sea air, and swim or snorkel. English and French are available, and the guides provide explanations during the island walks.

It is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with limited mobility because of boat boarding and rough ground. The supplied restrictions also list pregnancy, back problems, respiratory issues, recent surgery, serious medical conditions, low fitness, and ages over 80 or over 95 as reasons not to join. Children under three are not recommended because of the long day and boat travel.

Pack reef-safe or biodegradable sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, swimwear, a towel, a change of clothes, sturdy shoes, sandals or waterproof shoes, insect repellent, a camera, cash, and a credit card. Large bags and luggage are not allowed, so keep your kit compact.

My verdict: a rewarding day with important caveats

I would book this tour if Cousin’s birds and conservation work are high on your list, and if you like the idea of combining wildlife, tortoises, lunch, and snorkeling in one day.

I would not book it blindly at $165. Add the €65 entry fees, ask about the boat and current sea conditions, and confirm what happens if the itinerary runs late. If you can accept some schedule flexibility, the day can be excellent. The strongest elements are clear: Cousin’s wildlife walk, the Curieuse BBQ, and friendly guides such as Benjamin, Bruno, Matia, Lenny, and the boat crew named Denis.

Choose it for variety and access to protected islands, not for a perfectly controlled timetable. That is the honest tradeoff.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The stated duration is 450 minutes, or seven and a half hours. The planned day begins with hotel pickup in the morning and returns to Praslin at about 4:00 PM.

What islands does the tour visit?

The tour visits Cousin Island, Curieuse Island, and St Pierre Islet. St Pierre is the planned snorkeling stop.

Are the island entry fees included?

No. Cousin Island costs €45 per person and Curieuse Island costs €20 per person. Both fees are paid on site.

What food and drinks are included?

The beach BBQ includes grilled fish, chicken, sausages, Creole rice, lentils, salads, chutneys, and fresh fruit. Water, soft drinks, and one beer per adult are included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear is provided, and assistance is available for beginners.

Can the snorkeling location change?

Yes. From June through September, rougher southeast monsoon conditions may lead the crew to use Anse Petite Cours instead of St Pierre.

Is hotel pickup included on Praslin?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for locations on Praslin Island. Pickup may take place 15 to 30 minutes before the excursion, so wait at your hotel reception or waiting area.