
La Digue © Tobias Alt
With perfect sandy beaches, tangled jungles and swaying palm
trees, La Digue Island is the epitome of a tropical island getaway.
A few minutes east of Praslin by boat, La Digue is the fourth
largest of the Seychelles' inhabited islands with a population of
about 2,000 people and an area of roughly four square miles (10 sq
km).
Though it is a popular Seychelles holiday destination, La Digue
Island has managed to avoid the enthusiastic tourist development
that threatens some areas of Praslin and Mahé. La Passe is
the only real settlement on the island, with a small casino and a
quaint jetty where both rickety fishing boats and sleek yachts are
moored.
Life on La Digue clings to Creole traditions more than other
islands, and tourists can buy fresh fish direct from quayside
fisherman, play dominoes late into the night at local bars, or
accompany residents to Mass wearing their Sunday best. The laidback
feel of the island is personified by the main mode of
transportation, the slow-moving ox cart.
Urban life is only a small part of a holiday on La Digue Island;
40 percent of the island is devoted to nature reserves, enjoying
the protection of National Park status. Most of the island's
population lives on the low eastern plateau, with the rest given
over to local flora and fauna like the Seychelles Paradise
Flycatcher and the Aldabra Giant Tortoise.
As far as beaches on La Digue Island go, Anse Source d'Argent is
by far the most popular. Voted among the top beaches in the world
numerous times, Anse Source d'Argent is still only one of many
beautiful beaches on La Digue.
Outdoor activities abound on La Digue, and visitors can enjoy
climbing Eagle's Nest Mountain, taking bicycle tours of the jungle,
or horseback riding on the L'Union Estate.