The sensation of being on holiday eternally, the feeling of being on La Digue Island of the Seychelles! The atmosphere is relaxed. Locals moving on their bike while humming! The life on the island seems to have stopped some fifty years ago. La Digue is a small island. Only 5 km long and 3 km wide.
It may seems bizarre but you will find no real roads on La Digue! So no need to rent a car. On the west of the island are found the only three villages of the island: La Passe, La Réunion and L’Union. The small villages are clustered and form a group of houses.
The island of La Digue is the most photographed of the islands of the Seychelles with its magnificent granite rocks bathing in turquoise water and its beautiful white sandy beaches! Moreover, La Digue is the most chosen honeymoon destination. Every year, a large number of couples coming from outside the Seychelles celebrate their weddings on this picturesque island. The island has only one luxury hotel, the rest of the accommodation being mostly guesthouses, villas or apartments for rent (self-catering). The island has no airport or aerodrome, but a heliport connects by Mahé Island found about 45 km away.
The island of La Digue rises to 333 m above sea level. Here, the population is mainly black and many men wear dreadlocks similar to those of “Bob Marley”! With its beaches, La Digue is certainly the most beautiful island of the Seychelles.
La Digue Beaches
The different beaches are accessible by bike or by foot. Neither will you find crowded beaches, nor beaches with sunbeds or umbrellas that often spoil the landscape! Everything is almost wild and just perfect! Some beaches are protected by a coral reef, making swimming very enjoyable, while other beaches are beset by high waves and strong currents, it is then necessary to be very careful when swimming (when allowed). In general, a panel indicates danger.
Anse source d’Argent
To get to Anse Source D’argent the best way is to take a sandy trail which will quickly take you to the famous beach. You will fall in love with this sublime Anse, the Island’s most beautiful site and certainly the Seychelles! It is here that almost all the clichés representing the Seychelles are made. Anse Source d’Argent is characterized by large granite rocks eroded by waves. The site is protected by a coral reef and thus offers a calm sea for bathers. Depending on the tide, swimming is more or less easy. At low tide, the depth is very low and the bottom covered with algae.
Anse Coco
Petite Anse and Anse Coco are separated by a small peninsula called Pointe Turcy. A twenty minutes walk is necessary to reach Anse Coco from Petite Anse. Again, a beautiful deserted beach without building uplifting the landscape! There is very little shade and the sea is also dangerous. Be cautious if you want to swim.
La Digue Fauna and Flora
Apart from the beaches, the island is covered with thick jungle with some walkable paths allowing you to discover the beauty of the unique flora of the Seychelles. The island of La Digue is the refuge of the “Black Widow” which are magnificent black birds endemic to the Seychelles. During the day you cannot miss the flight of the big Roussette bats.
La Digue: How to get there?
The Seychelles consist of One hundred and fifteen islands spread over a total area of One thousand two hundred square kilometers. The island of La Digue is only two hundred kilometers from the main island of Mahé and its international airport. To reach the island of La Digue, there are only two main options.
By boat
The island of La Digue is generally reached by boat from the islands of Mahé (45 km) or Praslin (7 km). You only have to report to the port to have a precise schedules of the departures. The journey from La Digue Island to the main island Mahé is about one hour and ten minutes (70 minutes) provided that the boat does not stop in Praslin.
The travel will cost you about Sixty Euros (60 Euros) for a one way ticket. The voyage between Praslin and La Digue is about fifteen minutes (15 minutes) and costs about 15 Euros for a one way ticket. The sea is very often rough outside the lagoons. Do not be surprised if ever you have some seasickness. Take some precautions before the departure (anti-seasickness pills).
Helicopter
The second way to get to La Digue is somehow less conventional but more fun. The flight from Praslin to La Digue takes about ten minutes. There are definitely many advantages in taking the helicopter to go to La Digue. Maybe you have never taken it before and you want to try this lifetime awesome experience. Nevertheless, you will admire the turquoise lagoons of the Seychelles and take some amazing photos of the picturesque islands.
Even though being expensive, it is definitely worth the try.
La Digue: La Veuve Noir Reserve
It is in La Digue that you will the last Flycatchers of the paradise island of Seychelles (or Black Widow), a bird that found uniquely in “La Veuve Noir” Reserve created exclusively to this bird. In 2012, it is estimated that about three hundred of these birds could be found on the island of La Digue. The reserve is located near the village of La Réunion. Admission is free but donations are most welcomed! An information center provides explanations on the functioning of the reserve and the life of the birds. Trails through the reserve is easy and fun.
La Digue: The small neighboring islands
From La Digue, it is very easy to reach the small islands and islets scattered around. These islets include Félicité, Cocos, Grande Soeur, Petite Sœur and Marianne. To visit these islands, it is necessary to organize a tour, either by negotiating a private boat or by joining a group. It costs about fifty Euros per half day or a hundred Euros per day. The price will depend mostly on the islands visited and type of meals included. The islands are mainly visited for snorkelling or diving. Best place to try your diving equipment!