Overview and origins
Good to know about Perseverance
Perseverance Island (Ile Perseverance) is a new, artificially reclaimed island in the Seychelles, 2 km from the capital, Victoria.
Between 2000 and 2002, the idea first came up of creating a new island right next to Mahé.
It was meant to be an island that would give many people the chance to own their own home, and to establish a community of young Seychellois.
Around 76,000 of the roughly 100,000 inhabitants live on Mahé. That is reason enough to think ahead and gain new land.
The earlier, small-scale landfills, which were meant to hold back any tsunami that might come, were used to create something much bigger.
The idea of Perseverance was born. It would still take more than a decade before it became reality. In 2013 the first works began, with further landfill around the island.
The district administration gives 1999 as the start of the land reclamation. According to it, the first houses with roads and utilities were allocated from February 2011. Details of the early years vary depending on the source.
Perseverance I and II
There are two parts, Perseverance I and II. Work on the second phase began at the end of 2014.
The project, which comprises a total of 352 hectares of land reclaimed from the sea in and around Victoria, is meant to provide suitable land to meet the country's development needs for the next 20 to 25 years.
The Ile Perseverance housing project is the largest social housing project of the Seychelles government and sits on a reclaimed island next to the main island of Mahé.
The original plan was for 2,000 housing units, around 850 of which were due to be finished by the end of 2020. The district administration now gives a plan for 2,608 units: two- and three-room homes as semi-detached houses, terraced houses and apartments.
For 2020, the expectation was around 10,000 residents, exclusively Seychellois and their families.
Current situation
Building continues. In October 2026 the government handed over 24 owner-occupied apartments in the Ocean Pearl Apartments development to families, and in November 2025 it handed over 32 apartments in the Coastal Breeze Residence. Both belong to the state programme for mid-price housing.
In October 2026 the next land reclamation programme (ECP4) also started, covering more than 570,000 m². In the launch speech, Ile Perseverance was cited as an example of earlier reclamation, and the neighbouring Île Aurore is to follow. Sand deliveries for the second phase of the programme are planned from January 2027.
Getting there and getting around
By bus
The state buses (SPTC) leave from Victoria Bus Terminal. According to a passenger overview, route 39 runs to Perseverance 1 (via the hospital) and to Perseverance 2. The current SPTC timetable applies from June 2026. The route is short, so you will only be on the bus for a few minutes.
| Detail | Details |
|---|---|
| Route | 39, Perseverance 1 and Perseverance 2 |
| Departure | Victoria Bus Terminal |
| Frequency | mostly every 25 to 30 minutes during the day |
| First bus | from about 5:10 am |
| Last bus from Victoria | until 7:00 pm (Mon to Sat), 6:30 pm (Sun) |
| Fare | flat fare of around 8 rupees, only with bus card (as of November 2026) |
By hire car or taxi
The island is joined to Mahé by a four-lane road and can be reached from Victoria in a few minutes. You can find a hire car under Car hire in the Seychelles. With a taxi, agree the fare before you set off. General advice on getting around is under Getting from A to B in the Seychelles.
On foot
At 1.4 km long and 1.0 km wide, the island is easy to explore on foot. There are hardly any changes in height.
What visitors can expect
Beaches and sights
Perseverance is a residential island, not a place for day trips. There are no designated sights and no swimming beaches. You will see residential districts with terraced houses and apartment blocks, roads and newly created land by the sea. If you are interested in how the Seychelles are responding to the shortage of space, it is worth a short detour.
You will find beaches on Mahé and under Dream beaches in the Seychelles. Other reclaimed islands are Eden Island and Eve Island. They have a quite different character, though: tourist-oriented and privately built.
Accommodation and food
Do not expect tourist accommodation on Perseverance. What is listed can be seen under Accommodation on Perseverance. For food, too, you will find restaurants on Perseverance. There is more choice in Victoria, see Hotel booking and Restaurant recommendations for the Seychelles.
Practical tips and excursion
Money, bigger shopping trips and doctors are all in Victoria, just 2 km away. You will find notes on these under Money and banks and Hospital, clinics and emergency numbers.
Allow one to two hours for a short detour, ideally combined with a day in Victoria. Staying overnight is not worthwhile. Remember that families live here: ask before photographing people, and read the Do’s and Don’ts.
If you are interested in the building work, you will find an overview of the Seychelles islands under Islands of the Seychelles. For investment, see Investing in the Seychelles.
