Ile Aux Cerfs Catamaran Trip w/ Lunch, Drinks & Transfer

The best part of this Mauritius day trip is the mix of river, reef, and beach in one outing. You start with Grand River South East waterfall, stop for swimming and snorkeling in the lagoon, then settle in at Ile aux Cerfs, where white sand and clear water do most of the entertaining.

I like the simple all-in-one setup: hotel pickup, lunch, drinks, life jackets, and the return ride are included. I also like the crew’s social approach, with local music, jokes, and explanations in English and French. The main drawback is the long day and the lack of control over the exact boat. One recent booking used a speedboat rather than a catamaran, and rough weather can lead to cancellation or rescheduling.

Key points to know

• Grand River South East comes first, with a short speedboat ride upstream to the waterfall.
• The main sailing day runs from about 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., plus hotel transfers on either side.
• Lunch is a substantial BBQ, with fish, chicken, hotdogs, salads, and saffron rice.
• Drinks are unlimited, including water, juice, soft drinks, beer, wine, and local rum.
• Ile aux Cerfs is scenic but busy with activities, including optional parasailing, tube riding, and an undersea walk.
• Bring water shoes, since coral and sea urchins can be underfoot near the island.

A full east-coast day from hotel pickup to Trou d’Eau Douce

This is not a quick boat ride. You should set aside roughly eight hours for the main experience, with pickup and drop-off added according to your accommodation. The boat leaves Trou d’Eau Douce at about 9:00 a.m. and returns around 4:00 p.m.

Pickup is offered from several northern areas, including Grand Baie, Pereybere, Cap Malheureux, Mon Choisy, Trou-aux-Biches, Pointe aux Piments, Balaclava, Pointe aux Biches, and Triolet. The exact pickup time depends on where you are staying.

The transport is in an air-conditioned vehicle, and the driver takes you to the departure point and helps you find the correct boat. That small bit of help matters at a busy marina, especially when several boats are leaving for similar trips.

The day is best for you if you want a complete outing without arranging separate transport, food, and activities. It is less suited to you if you prefer a quiet, private cruise or a tightly controlled schedule.

Setting out from Trou d’Eau Douce

Trou d’Eau Douce is the launch point on Mauritius’ east coast. Once aboard, the crew sets the tone with local Mauritian music, jokes, and practical explanations. The tour is offered in English, French, German, and Italian, although the exact language mix on your boat may vary.

A light breakfast and snacks are included. This is useful because the early pickup and transfer can make a full breakfast awkward. You also have bottled water and other drinks available through the day.

The catamaran is described as large and comfortable, but you should keep one detail in mind: the boat type may not always be identical. One booking used a speedboat instead of a catamaran, while the usual plan is a catamaran cruise. If the sailing feel matters to you, confirm the arrangement before booking.

The crew serves unlimited water, juice, soft drinks, beer, wine, and local rum. That makes the $115 price easier to justify, particularly if you plan to stay aboard for most of the day. Still, unlimited alcohol is not the reason to book this trip. The real value is having transport, lunch, drinks, and several east-coast stops bundled together.

Grand River South East waterfall by speedboat

The first major stop is Grand River South East waterfall. You do not simply view it from the sea. The group transfers to a speedboat and travels roughly 500 meters upstream to reach the falls.

The riverbanks bring a change of scenery from the open lagoon. Keep an eye on the large trees, where you might see monkeys moving through the branches. Fruit bats may also be perched high above the river. These sightings are not guaranteed, but the ride gives you a chance to look for them.

The waterfall itself is attractive rather than huge. It is best treated as a short scenic stop and a change of pace, not as the sole reason for booking the day. The speedboat ride adds energy and helps you reach a part of the river that the catamaran cannot access.

After the waterfall visit, you return to the main boat. The stop can feel a little organized and group-based, but it gives you something more than a straight trip to the beach.

Snorkeling in the lagoon

The catamaran then moves into clear lagoon water for a swimming and snorkeling break. This is where you can see coral and tropical fish without paying extra for a separate reef trip.

You receive a life jacket, and you should bring your own towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and camera. The water conditions affect how much you see, so do not expect the same visibility every day. The snorkeling stop is a pleasant chance to cool off, not a specialist marine excursion with a long reef session.

If you are not comfortable in open water, you can remain on the boat or swim close to the group. The inclusion of life jackets makes the stop more approachable for mixed-age groups and less confident swimmers.

A waterproof phone case would be sensible, although it is not listed among the required items. Since the supplied information only confirms a camera, towel, and sunscreen, you should bring any extra protective gear you normally use around water.

A BBQ lunch with plenty of choice

Lunch is one of the stronger practical features of this trip. The crew prepares a BBQ with fresh fish, chicken, grilled hotdogs, salads, and saffron rice. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian options are available, and the food is halal.

The meal may be served on the beach or aboard the catamaran, depending on the day’s arrangements. That flexibility is helpful, since weather, anchoring, and the flow of the group can affect where lunch works best.

The food is not a fine-dining experience, but it is more useful than a small snack when you are outside for a full day. You get a proper meal, a range of proteins, a starch, and salads rather than having to buy lunch at Ile aux Cerfs.

Local rum, beer, wine, juices, soft drinks, and water continue to be available. If you choose to drink alcohol, pace yourself in the sun and on the water. The boat provides a relaxed setting, but heat and motion can catch up with you quickly.

Ile aux Cerfs and its postcard beaches

Ile aux Cerfs is the headline stop. As the catamaran approaches, you see palm trees, pale sand, and clear turquoise water. The island offers the classic Mauritius beach scene, with enough room for swimming, strolling, and sitting in the sun.

You get time to choose your own pace here. You can walk along the beach, swim, or simply find a spot to relax. After the waterfall and snorkeling, the slower rhythm is welcome.

The island is not presented as an untouched wilderness. It has facilities and optional activities, which makes it comfortable but can also make it feel more developed than a remote beach. That is a fair trade if you want easy access to food, water sports, and a well-known scenic stop.

Bring water shoes. Coral and sea urchins can be underfoot near the beach, and bare feet are not always a good idea in shallow water. This is one of the most useful tips for the entire day.

Optional water sports and extra costs

Parasailing, tube riding, and an undersea walk are available at Ile aux Cerfs, but they are not included in the $115 price. The tour includes the cruise, snorkeling opportunity, food, drinks, life jackets, and island visit. Water sports are additional.

That separation is useful because you can decide on the spot. If you are happy with swimming and beach time, you do not have to pay for more. If you want a stronger burst of activity, you have options beyond the boat and the beach.

You should budget separately for these activities, since the advertised price does not cover them. The supplied details do not give prices, booking rules, or operating times for each water sport, so ask locally before committing.

The return sail to Trou d’Eau Douce

After the island visit, you return to Trou d’Eau Douce by boat. The ride back is a chance to sit with a drink, listen to the music, and watch the east coast pass by from the water.

The scheduled return is around 4:00 p.m. Your driver then takes you back to your hotel or Airbnb. Pickup and drop-off are included for the listed service areas, but the full day can become longer once road transfers are counted.

This final transfer is one reason I would avoid booking an important dinner, flight, or evening event too soon afterward. Weather, marina timing, and road traffic can all affect the return.

Is $115 good value?

At $115 per person, this is a fair price for a full-day package, especially if you value convenience. You are paying for hotel or Airbnb pickup, air-conditioned transport, the boat trip, a waterfall stop, snorkeling time, lunch, unlimited drinks, life jackets, and return transport.

The value is strongest for couples, families, and small groups who would otherwise need to arrange a driver, boat, meals, and drinks separately. It is also useful if you are staying in the northern pickup zone and want a straightforward way to reach the east coast.

The value is weaker if you do not drink, dislike group outings, or mainly want several quiet hours on a beach. In that case, much of the package may not matter to you. The advertised experience also has a 3.7 rating from nine ratings, so I would keep expectations sensible rather than assuming every departure runs perfectly.

Weather is another value issue. A cancellation in bad conditions can disrupt your plans, and one reported booking involved two cancellations and a delayed refund concern. The stated policy allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, but you should keep written confirmation of any provider-led cancellation and refund arrangement.

Who should book this Ile aux Cerfs day trip?

I would recommend it to you if you want to see several popular east-coast sights in one day and prefer having the main details handled for you. The combination of a river stop, snorkeling, BBQ, drinks, and island time gives the day a good range.

It suits people who enjoy a friendly boat atmosphere with music and conversation. It also works well for mixed groups, since one person can snorkel, another can relax, and others can pay extra for water sports.

I would think twice if you want a private cruise, a guaranteed catamaran, or a quiet, uncrowded beach. You should also be comfortable with a long day, possible schedule changes, and walking on uneven coral near the water.

What to pack for the boat and beach

Bring the basics that make a wet day easier:

• Sunglasses and sunscreen
• A towel
• A camera
• Water shoes
• Swimwear and a dry change of clothes
• Any waterproof phone protection you normally use

The tour provides bottled water and life jackets. Food and drinks are included, so you do not need to pack a picnic. Water shoes are the one item I would add to the official packing advice, since coral and sea urchins may be close to shore.

Final call: book it for variety, not solitude

Book this trip if you want a convenient, good-value introduction to Mauritius’ east coast. The strongest parts are the helpful transfer service, the waterfall visit, the included BBQ, the broad drink selection, and the chance to combine snorkeling with Ile aux Cerfs in one day.

Skip it if your ideal outing is private, silent, and carefully timed. Also confirm the planned boat before paying if the catamaran itself is important to you. For most people, the best reason to choose this tour is simple: it gives you a full day of water, food, scenery, and beach time without forcing you to arrange every piece yourself.

FAQ

How long does the Ile aux Cerfs catamaran trip last?

The main experience runs for about eight hours. The catamaran departs Trou d’Eau Douce at approximately 9:00 a.m. and is expected back around 4:00 p.m., with hotel transfers added before and after.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included from listed locations such as Grand Baie, Pereybere, Cap Malheureux, Mon Choisy, Trou-aux-Biches, Pointe aux Piments, Balaclava, Pointe aux Biches, and Triolet.

Where does the boat leave from?

The catamaran departs from Trou d’Eau Douce on the east coast of Mauritius.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes BBQ fish, BBQ chicken, grilled hotdogs, salads, and saffron rice. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices are available, and the food is halal.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Unlimited drinks include bottled water, juice, soft drinks, beer, wine, and local rum.

Is snorkeling included?

A snorkeling and swimming stop is included. Life jackets are also provided.

Are water sports included?

No. Parasailing, tube riding, and the undersea walk at Ile aux Cerfs are optional activities and cost extra.

What languages are available?

The activity is offered in English, French, German, and Italian. Crew explanations may vary by departure.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The activity also offers a reserve-now-and-pay-later option.