Explore: Inner Islands Ports
General Info
The Inner Islands consist of 41 islands forming a cluster around the principal islands of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, some with peaks rising nearly 1,000m high. There are also 2 low-lying coral islands, Denis Island and Bird Island.
La Digue, 20 miles east of Mahe, is the island where time stands still and boasts Earth’s most photographed beach, Anse Source d’Argent. La Digue has touches of tourism and is a great place to stopover for a few days and explore by foot or bicycle. Its beaches have incredible granite boulders clustered at the water’s edge and there is lots to see and do here.
Two days on La Digue – by SY Starry Horizons (June 2019)
Position:
04° 20.82’S, 55° 49.51’E (La Passe, La Digue)
Clearance
The following islands are managed by the Island Development Company (IDC): Alphonse Island, Bijoutier, Coëtivy, Desroches, Farquhar, Poivre Atoll, Platte, Providence Atoll, Remire, Silhouette, and St. François. Contact IDC for permission to land. There are landing fees.
Docking
Mooring buoys are provided in several locations (i,e, around north-west Mahé, north-east of Praslin and a few of its surrounding islands).
Access to Marine Parks is controlled by various conservation organizations. A fee is charged for landing or overnight mooring. The anchoring zone is marked and the marine park officials will come to the yacht to collect the required fees.
These areas are Aride, Cousin, Curieuse Marine National Park, ïle Cocos Marine National Park, Ste. Anne Marine National Park and St. Pierre (for overnight mooring fees see Fees.)
Curieuse anchorage in Laraie Bay is unprotected and only really suitable as a daytime anchorage. This is, of course, the best place to meet the giant tortoises of Seychelles, just a short hike from the anchorage.
St. Pierre has an anchorage on the SW side of the island, in shallow water with sand. It offers some of the best snorkeling in Seychelles.
Some islands are private and permission must be obtained before landing there. These islands are Anonyme, Bird, Chauvre Souris, Cousine, D’Arros, and St.Joseph Atoll, Denis, Félicité, Frégate, Grande Soeur, Petite Soeur, Moyenne, North, Round Island off Mahé and Round Island off Praslin
Chauvre Souris offers a protected overnight anchorage off the NW shore. There is room for several boats here.
Some facilities (water, fuel, and overnight mooring) are available at the jetties at Baie Ste. Anne and La Passe. Make contact, preferably 24hr in advance, on VHF channel 16.
At La Digue it is possible to anchor on the western side of the island, just north of the harbor entrance. Alternatively, dock inside the harbor where there is med-mooring on the eastern side of the harbor.
Water at La Digue costs 150 rupees. Moor med style in the small harbor and a hose is obtainable from the Harbour Master and this can be used to fill up water tanks, doing laundry and/or washing off the boat. This is a one-time use fee and has to be paid on a per-use basis.
Praslin boasts a wide array of hotels, shops, and restaurants.
Anse Lazio on Praslin is a beautiful wide and sandy bay (although the water tends not to be particularly clear), with nothing more ashore than some great hiking trails and an “honesty bar”. The large granite boulders on the water’s edge are quite a sight. Anchoring here is in sand with good holding and its a good base from which to explore Praslin. The bay does suffer from swell however and landing the dinghy on the beach can be a challenge.
Côte d’Or Bay on the north side of Praslin offers good protection from the SE swell, although this is in the marine park area.
La Digue also has several restaurants and shops for provisioning.
Last updated: August 2015
Related Businesses
Pier Master – Baie Ste Anne Jetty
Address: Baie Ste Anne, Praslin, Inner Islands, The Inner Islands, Seychelles,
Pier Master – La Passe Jetty
Address: La Passe, La Digue, Inner Islands, The Inner Islands, Seychelles,
