The Coco de Mer Quest: Chasing Nature’s Curviest Secret

Seychelles is home to a botanical oddball: the coco de mer, a coconut so big and so cheekily shaped that 19th-century explorers assumed it grew underwater.

This legendary “love nut” holds the title of world’s largest (and heaviest) seed, often weighing 15-30 kg, and its suggestive form has inspired myths and smirks alike.

To find one in the wild, you’ll need to island-hop the coco de mer grows naturally on only two of Seychelles’ 115 islands (Praslin and Curieuse) and nowhere else on Earth. In other words, get ready for a tropical treasure hunt like no other.

Feeling adventurous (or just nuts)? Here’s your step-by-step insider guide to chasing down the coco de mer in 2025. From primordial forests to beachside bars, we’ve rounded up the best places and experiences to encounter Seychelles’ strangest seed in all its glory. Pack your curiosity (and maybe a sense of humor), and let’s track down this naughty natural icon no pirate map required.

1. Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, Praslin Island

Deep in Praslin’s lush interior lies Vallée de Mai a prehistoric palm jungle so enchanting that General Charles Gordon famously declared it the real “Garden of Eden”sif.sc.

Wander under towering palms where sunlight barely peeks through giant fronds, and you’ll spot coco de mer clusters overhead in their last stronghold on Earth. The forest feels like a set from Jurassic Park, complete with endemic black parrots swooping by and dappled emerald light. It’s humid, mystic, and a little bit sensual much like the curvy coco de mer itself.

This hilarious snap by @divergenttravelers perfectly captures the playful spirit of Vallée de Mai where travelers can’t resist striking cheeky poses with Seychelles’ most infamous nut. Their post sums it up best: this UNESCO forest isn’t just ancient, it’s alive with stories, rare palms, and plenty of giggles courtesy of the legendary Coco de Mer.

Don’t rush through this UNESCO World Heritage Site  take the 2km circular trail at a leisurely pace (guide optional, but worth it for the insider tales).

Entry costs SCR 450 (about $35) for non-residents, which helps fund conservation of this ancient valley. Bring water, sturdy shoes, and bug spray; the trek is gentle but steamy under the giant leaves.

Local tip:

Go early morning for fewer crowds and louder bird calls. Listen for the whistle of the rare Seychelles black parrot, and keep your eyes peeled for a fallen coco de mer nut along the path the ultimate jungle souvenir (but nope, you can’t take that home!).

2. Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve, Praslin Island

Meet Vallée de Mai’s shy little brother. Fond Ferdinand is a less-trafficked reserve on Praslin that boasts hundreds of coco de mer palms without the tour buses and fanfare. The vibe here? Think serene rainforest expedition  just you, a friendly guide, and palms stretching to the sky.

You’ll hike through six different viewpoints (yes, there’s a summit with panoramic island views that will drop your jaw) while learning quirky facts like how coco de mer trees can take decades to reach “adulthood” and date nights. Fewer people means a better chance of spotting seedlings and maybe a snoozing skink or two in the leaf litter.

This lush shot by @isabel_travelguide beautifully captures the calm, green heart of Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve  Praslin’s quieter, wilder sibling to Vallée de Mai. Her post nails it: this tropical sanctuary is best explored with a local guide, winding past towering palms and Coco de Mer giants toward one of Seychelles’ most breathtaking viewpoints.

Fond Ferdinand is a bargain at SCR 300 (~$23) entry, and that price includes a guided tour (scheduled times in the morning and early afternoon) a major perk over its pricier cousin. The guides are passionate locals who will gladly show you male vs. female coco de mer flowers up close and let you sniff the oddly sweet aroma of a male pollen stalk.

The hike up is moderately challenging (bring water and a hat, you’ll sweat), but you’ll be rewarded with views of Praslin, Curieuse, and La Digue floating in the blue. Insider tip: the 11am tour tends to be quiet; you might even get a private walk-and-talk. In a nutshell, Fond Ferdinand offers more coco de mer for your buck and a killer panorama as a bonus.

3. Curieuse Island Explorer

If Praslin is coco de mer’s capital, Curieuse Island is its wild playground. This formerly leper-colony-turned-national-park is one of only two places where coco de mer grows naturally, and the palms here are literally plentiful in their natural habitat.

Hop on a 20-minute boat ride from Praslin and land on Curieuse’s red-earth shores, where giant Aldabra tortoises greet you like chilled-out bouncers (pro tip: a bunch usually lounge near the ranger station, always ready for their leafy snacks and a selfie). A guided trail cuts across the island’s interior you’ll wind through mangroves and rocky outcrops to find coco de mer trees thriving in the wild, their massive nuts peeping from the canopy.

Exploring Curieuse feels like being let in on a secret. There’s a small SCR 300 (≈$23) parks entry fee (paid on landing, card only no cash in this castaway paradise) and then the island is yours. Most visitors book a half-day excursion that includes a Creole BBQ on the beach grilled fish and tropical fruit under palm trees, yes please.

Pack reef-friendly sunscreen and snorkel gear; post-hike, you can cool off in the turquoise shallows of Anse Laraie or snorkel around St. Pierre islet en route back. A local skipper might even toss in an extra stop to spot baby sharks or rays.

Insider tip: 

wear decent sneakers or hiking sandals for the trail flip-flops won’t cut it on the rocky sections. Curieuse is raw and rustic (no shops, just nature), so you’ll leave with full hearts, sandy shoes, and bragging rights that you walked among wild coco de mer on a deserted island.

4. Seychelles National Botanical Garden, Mahé Island

Short on time or not island-hopping?

You can still meet the coco de mer without leaving Mahé. . Right near the entrance stands a towering male coco de mer palm, catkin proudly on display like a natural welcome banner (no, it won’t wander off at night despite legends of these trees “making passionate love on stormy nights” and sneaking around in the dark).

Stroll further in and you’ll find the Garden’s famous female coco de mer tree, planted in 1956 by Prince Philip, which routinely bears the hefty fruits overhead. It’s a safe, accessible way to admire both sexes of this notorious palm side by side without trekking through a jungle or getting your shoes muddy.

The Botanical Garden is a ten-minute walk from downtown Victoria, making it a perfect quick stop between souvenir shopping and lunch.

Entry is SCR 250 (about $18) for visitors, and in return you get a peaceful oasis filled with towering palms, spice trees, and a pen of giant tortoises you can feed (lettuce leaves for sale your chance to play tortoise whisperer). The coco de mer section is the star: ask a groundskeeper to point out any young sprouts or fallen nuts on display.

Local tip:

Visit in the morning when it’s cooler and the resident fruit bats are still roosting quietly overhead. And if you catch a whiff of basmati rice aroma, it’s not your imagination that’s the scent of the male coco de mer’s pollen stalk! This garden may not be wild wilderness, but it offers a charming, low-key encounter with Seychelles’ superstar seed (and zero chance of getting lost in a forest).

5. Coco de Mer Souvenir Hunt at Anse Lazio (Praslin)

After trekking through palm forests, reward yourself on one of the world’s most gorgeous beaches – with an icy cocktail in one hand and a coco de mer in the other. Anse Lazio is a postcard-perfect crescent of powdery sand on Praslin, and it hides an unlikely gem for coco de mer hunters.

This snap from @seychelles_parks_and_gardens shows the charming Grand Coco Souvenir Shop on Praslin the official spot to snag a legal, certified Coco de Mer. Their team helps visitors choose from sustainably sourced nuts and locally made keepsakes, turning conservation into the classiest kind of retail therapy.

Tucked at the fringe of the beach is Bonbon Plume, a laid-back restaurant/bar with a little beachfront boutique. Here, right by the rum punches and fresh grilled fish, you’ll find authentic coco de mer nuts for sale complete with the requisite permits.

Yes, you can literally pick out your very own double coconut while still in your flip-flops. It’s an open-air, toes-in-sand shopping experience that feels utterly Seychelles. Browse the selection (each nut is uniquely shaped, a natural work of art), and chat up the staff they often have stories about how the nuts were sourced from local sustainable programs.

Be ready to shell out for this ultimate souvenir. Prices hover around SCR 5,000 (roughly $350) per nut depending on size and symmetry a hefty sum, but can you really put a price on owning the world’s largest seed?

Each coco de mer comes with an official government-issued permit and holographic seal to certify it for export (don’t even think about buying one without paperwork no license, no departure).

In fact, if someone offers a sketchy deal on a nut without the stamp, walk away; illegal coco de mer trade is a big no-no and can land you in serious trouble.

Fortunately, at Bonbon Plume everything is above board. Once you’ve snagged your prize, celebrate with a Creole seafood platter or a mangocolada under the takamaka trees you’ve earned it.

Pro tip:

Ship it or carry it? 

Coco de mer nuts are heavy and bulky, so check airline guidelines; most folks hand-carry them as “baby onboard” (you’ll see more than one traveler cradling a coco de mer through the airport). Even if you don’t buy, watching other people fawn over their newly adopted giant nut is prime entertainment. It’s the perfect finale to your coco de mer quest sipping Seybrew beer on a dream beach, trophy nut in tow, and one hell of a story to tell back home.

The Final Nut

Chasing the coco de mer across Seychelles is part nature pilgrimage, part tongue-in-cheek adventure and 100% worth the effort. Whether you’ve hiked deep into ancient palm forests or simply copped a feel of the famed nut at a beach bar, you’ve connected with a unique piece of Seychellois heritage.

A few parting tips from the locals: don’t drop the nut on your foot (seriously, it’s like a bowling ball), always flash that permit at customs with a proud grin, and remember that sometimes the journey is the reward. Even if you return home without a coco de mer in your suitcase, you’ll have experienced the magic of these islands through one of its most bizarre and wonderful treasures.

And if you did score the big nut?

Display it proudly after all, not everyone has a conversation piece that’s centuries-old, scandalously shaped, and legally certified by an island nation. Happy hunting, and welcome to the exclusive club of coco de mer aficionados.