SEYCHELLES · TRAVEL GUIDE
Key Facts
- Ferries Cat Cocos ferries take 1 hour 15 minutes from Mahé to Praslin, and 15 minutes from Praslin to La Digue.
- Driving Cars drive on the left, an international driving permit is required, and driving is practical only on Mahé and Praslin.
- Cash ATMs dispense only Seychelles rupees, and cards are not widely accepted outside resorts, so carry some cash.
- Sea safety Do not swim, snorkel or fish alone, because most beaches have no regular lifeguard and rip currents vary.
- Advisory The US advisory is Level 1, with Level 2 for Praslin, La Digue and the outer islands because of limited medical care.
- Arrivals Seychelles counted 297,672 visitors by Sunday, 25 October 2026, which is 6.6% fewer than in the same period of 2025.
Getting around Seychelles takes some planning on ferries, roads and cash. Here is what a US visitor needs, as of Saturday, 31 October 2026.
- Cat Cocos: the ferry operator linking the three main islands.
- Rip current: a narrow, fast flow of water that pulls swimmers away from the beach.
- International driving permit: a document, issued in your home country, that translates your licence for foreign roads.
- Outer islands: the remote coral islands far from the main group, where emergency care may not exist.
- National Bureau of Statistics: the government agency that publishes weekly visitor counts.
A ferry from Mahé to Praslin takes 1 hour 15 minutes, and driving is practical only on Mahé and Praslin. The State Department also says ATMs pay out only Seychelles rupees.
Americans can plan a smooth island trip with some checks on boats, roads and cash. The Seychelles National Bureau of Statistics counted 297,672 visitors by Sunday, 25 October 2026.
This guide covers ferries, roads, money and safety. It rests on official pages read on Saturday, 31 October 2026.
Getting Between the Islands
Seychelles is an Indian Ocean island nation, and most visitors land on Mahé, the main island. The ferry operator Cat Cocos carries passengers between Mahé, Praslin and La Digue.
Its schedule page lists the crossing times. Mahé to Praslin takes 1 hour 15 minutes, and Praslin to La Digue takes 15 minutes.
Mahé to La Digue takes 1 hour 45 minutes via Praslin, or 1 hour 10 minutes on direct trips. Some trips stop at the Praslin jetty at Baie Sainte Anne.
The operator says schedules can change without notice. The timetable is published as an image, so check it again before you travel.
Trips to the outer islands are different. The State Department says they need prior approval from the Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority.
It also says to check that any boat carries life jackets and a ship-to-shore radio. Attacks have occurred in coastal waters around the outer islands.
Roads and Driving
The State Department says cars drive on the left and that you need an international driving permit. Driving is practical only on Mahé and Praslin.
It describes the roads as narrow and steep. It advises avoiding remote roads, particularly at night.
Theft from vehicles occurs in areas frequented by foreigners, including beaches and walking trails. Do not leave bags visible in a parked car.
Money and Cash
ATMs are available at the international airport and in major tourist areas. The State Department says they dispense only Seychelles rupees.
Tourists can sometimes pay in US dollars or other hard currency. Credit cards are not necessarily widely accepted outside resorts.
Petrol stations and smaller, more remote outlets usually accept only cash. Withdraw rupees at the airport and keep small notes for taxis and ferries.
Safety on the Beach and in Town
The State Department says muggings and petty crime, such as pickpocketing, are reportedly on the increase. Keep valuables out of sight and use cash machines in busy places.
It warns against fishing, swimming or snorkelling alone. Many beaches have strong, varying rip currents, and most have no regular lifeguard.
The advisory of Tuesday, 9 December 2025 rates Seychelles Level 1, Exercise Normal Precautions. It rates Praslin, La Digue and the outer islands Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, for health risks.
Those islands lack the medical infrastructure to treat common traumas or illnesses, so patients go to Mahé by boat or plane. The main hospital, with emergency services, is in Victoria.
The United States has no consular presence in Seychelles. In an emergency, contact the US Embassy in Port Louis, Mauritius, on +230 202 4400 and press 1.
Week 43 Arrivals
The National Bureau of Statistics counted 9,733 visitors in the week to Sunday, 25 October 2026. Its page, updated on Wednesday, 28 October, shows 297,672 visitors so far in 2026.
That compares with 318,724 in the same period of 2025, a fall of 6.6%. The bureau gives no reason on the page read.
Germany, France and the United Kingdom led that week with 1,469, 1,358 and 673 visitors. Italy, Austria and Switzerland followed with 421, 348 and 288.
Your Checklist Before You Go
- Ferry timetable checked on the operator’s schedule page the day before you travel.
- International driving permit, if you plan to drive on Mahé or Praslin.
- Seychelles rupees withdrawn at the airport, plus small notes for taxis and ferries.
- Travel insurance that covers medical evacuation, especially for Praslin, La Digue or the outer islands.
- A buddy for swimming and snorkelling, because lone swimming is not advised.
- Entry paperwork in order, as set out in the Rio Times levy and entry guide.
What It Means for You
Island hopping is easy by ferry, but plan around a timetable that can change. Drive only if you hold the permit and are ready for narrow, steep roads.
Carry cash, avoid swimming alone and buy evacuation insurance. For hotel levies and the travel authorisation, read the Seychelles tourism levy and entry guide.
What Is Not Known
Ferry fares and the timetable could not be read, because the schedule is an image. Whether ferries run in rough seas is also unconfirmed.
Nonstop flights from the United States to Seychelles could not be confirmed, so plan at least one connection. Current domestic flight times between Mahé and Praslin were not confirmed either.
The State Department country page carries no date, so its advice may be older than the December 2025 advisory. Taxi and bus fares were not checked.
The statistics bureau did not say why arrivals are down 6.6% on 2025. Whether the dip affects prices or flight capacity is unknown.
Related Coverage
Read the Rio Times Seychelles Explained pillar and the tourism levy guide for US visitors. The Seychelles news page lists every recent report.
See also the Seychelles cruise tourism strategy and the Mauritius geopolitics guide. The Africa section covers the wider region.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the ferry from Mahé to Praslin?
The operator lists 1 hour 15 minutes for Mahé to Praslin and 15 minutes from Praslin to La Digue. Timetables can change without notice.
Can Americans drive in Seychelles?
Yes, with an international driving permit, and cars drive on the left. The State Department says driving is practical only on Mahé and Praslin.
Can I use US dollars and credit cards in Seychelles?
ATMs dispense only Seychelles rupees, and some tourism providers accept US dollars. Cards are not widely accepted outside resorts, so carry cash.
Is Seychelles safe for American tourists?
The State Department rates Seychelles Level 1, with Level 2 for Praslin, La Digue and the outer islands. The concern there is limited medical care, so buy evacuation insurance.
Sources: US State Department, Seychelles travel advisory (9 December 2025); US State Department, Seychelles country information; Cat Cocos, ferry schedule page; Seychelles National Bureau of Statistics, visitor arrivals, week 43 of 2026 (all accessed 31 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief