If you open a map of the Indian Ocean, you may need to zoom in or take a closer look to spot Seychelles. Praslin, in particular, is relatively small in size. It sits just above the equator, with Madagascar to the south and Africa to the west, although it's about 1,600 kilometers away from the African continent. The Seychelles archipelago consists of several islands, including Mahe, with its capital Victoria and international airport, as well as Silhouette (near Mahe), La Digue, little Cousin (near Praslin), and numerous coral islets scattered throughout.
The population of Praslin is relatively small, with approximately 6,500 residents. The history of Seychelles is quite remarkable. In 1502, Admiral Vasco da Gama, passing nearby, named these islands the "Admiral's Islands." Portuguese cartographers mapped an island called Ilha Ganaa, known today as Mahe. However, Arab navigators had visited these islands much earlier, with their graves dating back to the 9th or 10th century found on Silhouette Island. For centuries, the primary visitors to these islands were pirates.
The first European landing on the Seychelles islands occurred in 1609 when Captain A. Sharpey explored the archipelago. The first settlements on Praslin and Mahe were established in 1756 by the French. The name "Seychelles" originated at that time, in honor of the Minister of Finance, Moreau de Séchelle. The islands' favorable oceanic climate made them ideal for plantations of valuable crops like vanilla, cloves, and cinnamon, which were highly sought after in Europe.
Subsequently, the islands became a British colony for several centuries. It wasn't until 1976 that Britain granted the Seychelles independence, after which the tourism industry has flourished.
The languages spoken in Seychelles include English, French, and Seychellois. The native Seychellois language, known as Seselwa, is a dialect of the Mauritian-Seychellois version of Mascarene Creole. The official currency used in Seychelles is the Seychellois rupee, denoted as SCR. As of today, one USD is approximately equivalent to 13 SCR, and one EUR to about 14 SCR.
You can make payments using both EUR and USD, with EUR being widely accepted and considered a more stable currency. You can check the official exchange rate on one of the local websites. Most prices on the island are quoted in EUR, although for some souvenirs, it may be more convenient to use the local currency. Therefore, it's advisable to have a mix of currencies in your wallet, with approximately 50% in EUR, 25% in USD, and 25% in SCR.
