When you visit Praslin, the second-largest island in the Seychelles, you get the distinct feeling that Aphrodite, Venus or the Marquis de Sade had a hand in its creation. Subtle and not-so-subtle reminders of love, sex and idyllic bliss can be seen at every turn.
Most famously is the blatantly phallic Coco de Mer palm tree, whose nuts are suggestively similar to… well, you get the point. So amazing is this unique tree that UNESCO has protected the Vallee de Mai, a postcard-perfect valley filled with the memorably comic Coco de Mer as well as rare birds such as black parrots. Equally alluring are Praslin’s stunning beaches, incredibly clear waters and colorful healthy coral reefs. Romance may be endemic, but the sheer beauty of this island is what really takes your breath away.