Sister, Coco, and Felicite Island: Seychelles Catamaran Tour

The best Seychelles days happen offshore. This 6 to 8 hour catamaran trip links Sister Island, Coco National Park, and Félicité Island with clear water, granite rock, snorkeling, swimming, and a BBQ lunch served at sea. I especially like the generous time for snorkeling and the spacious Oplezir catamaran, which gives you room to sit inside or outside. The main drawback is that the exact beach and snorkeling schedule can vary, and one four-star assessment wished for more time ashore.

I also like that the $166 price includes several costs that can add up quickly, including island landing fees, snorkeling equipment, lunch, water, ferry tickets, and return transfers for people starting on Praslin. Guide Jacqueline has earned praise for her friendly care, and the English and French crew help make the day feel easy even if you are traveling alone. Bring a towel, though. It is not listed in the standard packing advice, but you will want one.

Key points before you book

• A full day on the water: Plan on 6 to 8 hours, with time split between cruising, beaches, swimming, snorkeling, and lunch.
• Sister Island feels like the scenic centerpiece: The privately owned island combines granite rock, forest, clear lagoons, and a quiet beach.
• Coco and Félicité offer different settings: Coco is small and postcard-like, while Félicité is larger and covered with thick plant growth.
• The catamaran has useful comfort: The Oplezir has indoor and outdoor seating, plenty of space, and showers.
• The price covers more than the boat ride: Lunch, water, gear, landing fees, and return ferry tickets are included.
• This is an active sea day: It is not suitable for children under two, pregnant women, or people with mobility impairments.

Why this island-hopping day works

The Seychelles are best understood from the water. Granite islands rise from the sea in rounded boulders and steep green slopes, while shallow lagoons show off fish, coral, and other marine life below the surface. This tour gives you several ways to enjoy that setting without asking you to organize separate boat trips, park fees, food, and equipment.

I like the balance of movement and downtime. You will cruise between islands, swim in refreshing water, walk on a beach, and sit down to eat without having to keep checking the clock or arranging another transfer. The boat is large enough to offer a choice of open-air seating or shelter inside, which matters when the sun is strong or the sea gets choppy.

The group size is not specified, so you should not assume a small private charter. The catamaran is described as large, but one departure was comfortably uncrowded. That makes the experience depend partly on the day you choose and how full the boat is.

Setting out from La Digue or Praslin

People staying on La Digue meet the catamaran directly at the La Digue jetty. You need to arrange your own land transfer to the jetty, so leave enough time if your accommodation is away from the harbor. For those starting on Praslin, return transfers are included, which makes the package easier to manage.

Return ferry tickets are included as well. If you are connecting from Mahé, allow for a ferry ride of about an hour and bring something to occupy you during the crossing. The ferry portion can make the day feel longer, but it also turns the outing into a broader Seychelles experience rather than a simple short boat trip.

Exact starting times depend on availability. Since the total outing can last anywhere from six to eight hours, check the schedule before booking and avoid placing an important evening flight or dinner reservation too close to the expected finish.

Sister Island: granite, forest, and clear water

The first major stop is privately owned Sister Island. Its appeal is not based on shops or buildings. You come for the natural setting: rounded granite formations, tropical forest, clean beaches, and a lagoon with clear visibility.

This is where the tour feels most like a classic Seychelles postcard, but the setting is more than a photo stop. The clear water can give you a chance to spot sea turtles and other marine creatures, and the beaches offer a welcome change after time on the catamaran. You may walk along the sand, swim, or simply take in the island from shore.

The island’s private status is worth noting. It is not presented as a free-roaming public island visit, so your time and access are organized around the tour. That structure helps keep the visit simple, but it also means you should follow the crew’s instructions about where you may go and how long you have.

Several details make Sister Island a strong part of the route. The granite gives the coast shape and character, the forest provides shade and texture, and the lagoon is suited to looking beneath the surface. If your priority is seeing a quiet beach and an attractive island setting, this stop may be the high point of the day.

A BBQ lunch served on the catamaran

The BBQ lunch is included, and that is a real advantage on a full-day boat trip. You do not need to carry a packed meal or give up beach time to find food on an island. The meal has been described as tasty and varied, with dessert included on at least some departures.

Food quality can make or break a long excursion. Here, the meal is part of the experience rather than an afterthought. You can eat aboard the catamaran, enjoy the sea around you, and then return to swimming or sightseeing without another transfer.

Water is included. A rum cocktail has also been served on some departures, though you should not treat that as the main reason to book or assume every extra drink is included. Extra services can be purchased onsite, so bring cash or a credit card if you want to buy something beyond the stated package.

The boat’s showers are another useful touch. After saltwater snorkeling or swimming, having a way to rinse off makes the second half of the day more comfortable. Pack a towel anyway, since one person specifically found it missing from the suggested packing list.

Coco National Park and two very different islands

The snorkeling portion takes place at either Coco or Félicité, or possibly both, depending on the day’s conditions and operating plan. That flexibility helps the crew choose a suitable location, but it also means the exact sequence is not fixed.

Coco Island is small and easy to picture: granite boulders, palm trees, and a sandy beach. It has the compact tropical-island look that many people hope to see in the Seychelles. The surrounding water is the main attraction, with marine life and underwater scenery suited to snorkeling.

Coco is also part of the Coco National Park area, and the park landing fee is included. That saves you from handling another payment and makes the protected setting part of the package.

Félicité feels different. It is larger and covered with dense vegetation, giving you a stronger sense of a wild island rather than a tiny beach outcrop. Its surrounding water also supports snorkeling, with fish and other sea life in the shallows.

Do not expect both islands to offer the same experience. Coco is more about small scale, exposed granite, palms, and a classic beach view. Félicité gives you a larger natural setting and thicker plant cover. If the itinerary includes only one of them, you will still see a beautiful part of the island group, but you may not get the full contrast.

The snorkeling has been one of the most praised parts of the trip. Some departures have included excellent reef locations, a turtle sighting, and enough time to swim without feeling rushed. Still, sea conditions affect visibility and marine life, so no operator can promise a particular animal or perfect underwater conditions.

Snorkeling, swimming, and comfort on the Oplezir

You receive snorkeling equipment, though bringing your own gear is sensible if you have a mask that fits you well. The crew can help make the activity feel safe, and one solo participant felt comfortable joining alone. That is useful if you are worried about booking an open-water excursion without a companion.

The swimming stops also help break up the snorkeling. You are not expected to spend the entire day in the water. Beach time, onboard meals, and cruising give you room to recover between active portions.

The Oplezir catamaran is described as luxurious, spacious, and large, with seating indoors and outdoors. That variety matters. You can move into shade, sit in the open air, or find a more comfortable position while the boat travels between stops.

Showers are available, which is a practical bonus. Comfortable clothing, swimwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, and insect repellent all make sense. Comfortable shoes are useful for moving around the boat and visiting the islands, though your footwear should be suitable for getting wet.

Take a camera if you want photographs of the granite formations and island beaches. Protect it carefully around salt water. A waterproof phone case or dry bag is not listed as an inclusion, so you would need to bring your own if you want extra protection.

How much value do you get for $166?

At $166 per person, this is not a cheap boat outing. The price makes more sense when you count what is bundled into it: transport from Praslin, ferry tickets, landing fees for Sister Island and Coco National Park, lunch, water, snorkeling equipment, and the catamaran itself.

Booking those pieces separately could be difficult and may cost more once you add food and park access. The convenience also has value. You make one reservation, arrive at the meeting point, and let the crew handle the day’s route.

The value is strongest for people who want a full island day with several activities. If you only want a short swim or a private beach visit, the cost may feel high. If you want to combine snorkeling, several islands, a BBQ, ferry travel, and organized transfers, the package is easier to justify.

The included food and water are especially helpful because remote island stops are not presented as places where you can count on buying lunch. You are paying for access, transport, and structure, not just a seat on a boat.

Who should book this excursion?

I would recommend this tour to confident swimmers, snorkeling fans, photographers, couples, solo adults, and anyone staying on Praslin or La Digue who wants a complete sea day. It also suits people who prefer having a guide and crew rather than arranging boat hire and island access independently.

Solo participants should find the organized format reassuring. English and French are spoken, and the crew has been praised for being friendly and helpful. Jacqueline is one guide specifically noted for making the experience feel well managed.

This is less suitable if you dislike boats, need a guaranteed long beach stay, or want a quiet private charter. The catamaran can be spacious, but it is still a shared excursion. Also, one four-star assessment wished for more beach time, so do not book this expecting hours on shore.

Children under two are not allowed. Pregnant women and people with mobility impairments should choose another activity. The route includes boarding, swimming, snorkeling, and movement between boat and shore, so those restrictions are important rather than minor fine print.

Practical tips for a smoother day

Bring the items that make a wet day easier:

• Towel
• Swimwear and a change of comfortable clothes
• Sunscreen and sunglasses
• Comfortable shoes
• Camera or waterproof phone protection
• Insect repellent
• Cash and a credit card
• Your own snorkeling gear if you prefer a familiar fit

Use reef-safe sunscreen if available, and apply it before boarding. The reflection from the sea can catch you off guard even when the breeze feels cool.

Make sure the name on your booking matches your passport exactly. That requirement matters because ferry and tour arrangements depend on correct passenger details.

If you start from La Digue, arrange your transport to the jetty in advance. If you are connecting through Mahé, prepare for the ferry ride and carry something to read or listen to. The tour can be a long day, but the right preparation keeps it enjoyable instead of tiring.

The activity allows cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now while paying later. Those terms are useful if your island schedule is still changing, though you should still check the current departure time and availability before making other plans.

Should you book the Sister, Coco, and Félicité tour?

Book it if you want the Seychelles in one well-organized package: granite islands, clear water, snorkeling, swimming, a beach visit, and lunch aboard a roomy catamaran. The strongest reasons are the excellent snorkeling locations, the chance to see turtles, the helpful crew, and the fact that major extra costs are already covered.

Think twice if your main goal is extended beach time or a private, small-group outing. The route is shared, the exact island schedule can change, and six to eight hours on the water is a serious commitment.

For most active visitors staying on Praslin or La Digue, I consider the $166 price fair. Bring a towel, protect yourself from the sun, and leave room in your schedule for a full day. If those conditions suit you, this is one of the more efficient ways to see the islands offshore.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran depart from?

The catamaran picks up La Digue participants directly at the La Digue jetty. Participants starting from Praslin receive return transfers.

How long does the tour last?

The outing lasts approximately 6 to 8 hours. Starting times depend on availability.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A BBQ lunch served onboard the catamaran is included, along with water.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, although you may bring your own gear if you prefer.

Are ferry tickets included?

Yes. Return ferry tickets are included in the package.

Which languages are spoken?

The live guide service is available in English and French.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.