Car rental on Praslin from $61/day

Praslin is the second-largest island of the Seychelles, north-east of Mahé, and there are two ways to get there:

• By fast ferry from the Inter-Island Quay in Victoria to Baie Ste Anne jetty on Praslin's east coast: about an hour, and check the operator’s current sea and weather advice before travel.
• By plane from the domestic terminal next to Seychelles International Airport to Praslin's airstrip on the west side of the island: about 15–20 minutes.

Fast passenger ferries are designed for travellers without cars, and inter-island use depends on written supplier permission. Return the Mahé car before you cross, either at the airport before a Praslin flight or in Victoria before the ferry, and rent again on Praslin. La Digue is about 15 minutes on by ferry from Baie Ste Anne. We list no rental cars there; plan to visit on foot or by bicycle.

Check whether your chosen supplier can hand the Praslin car over at the jetty, airstrip or guesthouse, and whether delivery costs extra.

• Baie Ste Anne jetty, if you come by ferry;
• the airstrip, if you fly in from Mahé;
• your guesthouse or hotel, around Côte d'Or, Grand Anse, Anse Kerlan or elsewhere on the island.

Give your ferry or flight time when you book, and confirm the meeting and return points with the supplier. Whether delivery to a particular place costs extra is shown in the offer conditions. The Praslin fleet is run mostly by local companies; we compare their offers side by side on price, deposit and conditions.

Match the delivery point to the way you arrive. Baie Ste Anne jetty and the airstrip at Grand Anse are on different sides of Praslin; the supplier needs to know which one you are using. If your plans change from ferry to flight, update the meeting arrangement rather than just the arrival time. For guesthouse delivery, send the property name and map pin. Confirm the place, hour and any fee before relying on a car being there.

At the hand-over, check the car with the representative and record the fuel level and existing marks. Keep a contact number and agree the final collection point. A stay near Côte d'Or followed by a departure from the airstrip needs a different return plan from leaving by ferry at Baie Ste Anne. Do not assume that delivery to your guesthouse also includes collection at either departure point on the same terms.

What it means for you:

• Book early for the peak weeks: with this few cars, the cheapest ones go first.
• Read the cancellation terms: free cancellation is offered on only about 16% of cars here.
• Rent only for the days you need: choose the rental dates around visits to Vallée de Mai and the beaches. Leave time at each stop instead of treating a short rental as a promise to see the whole island.
• Deposits are rarely an issue: 100% of the offers need none.

Praslin is compact, but its winding roads make driving times vary. The main stops:

• Vallée de Mai: the UNESCO-listed palm forest, home of the coco de mer, on the cross-island road between Grand Anse and Baie Ste Anne. It has its own car park; check current visitor information and leave time to walk in the forest.
• Anse Lazio: the famous beach at the north-west tip, reached past Anse Boudin. Parking can be limited in busy periods, so allow time to find a space.
• Côte d'Or (Anse Volbert): the main beach strip on the north-east coast, with restaurants and shops.
• Grand Anse: the west coast near the airstrip, with guesthouses and sunsets.
• Anse Georgette: one of the island's most beautiful beaches, reached through a resort; check the current access rules before you go.

Leave plenty of time for stops on the loop. A short drive to the visitor centre is not the same as a visit to Vallée de Mai: once the car is parked, you explore on foot. Choose your beach stop around how much of the day you want in the forest, and check the route back to your guesthouse before setting off.

Without a car, you can use the public buses on the main routes (slow, and infrequent in the evening), taxis (fine for a single trip, expensive for daily use), or a bicycle for a short local trip if hire is available. If you stay at a resort with its own beach and plan few excursions, you may not need a car at all. If you want to see both coasts, Vallée de Mai and Anse Lazio on your own schedule, a car for part of the stay is the easy way.

Choose the car for your luggage as well as your island outings. A compact may suit a couple travelling between their guesthouse and the beaches; a family needs to check seats and boot space together. Compare the selected model rather than assuming every crossover has the same capacity. The forest road and bends are reasons to choose a vehicle you feel comfortable handling, not proof that you need four-wheel drive. Check the offer's road restrictions before considering any unpaved access.