Catamaran trip to Ile Aux Cerfs With Two Way Transportation

The main appeal here is simple: you get a full day on the water without arranging a taxi, boat, meals, or drinks separately. I like the hotel-to-harbor transport and the catamaran lunch with drinks included, especially if you want an easy day away from your resort. The waterfall stop adds a useful change of pace before or after the island.

The main thing to consider is consistency. Most of the available feedback praises the crew, food, music, and transport, but one serious complaint describes a crowded boat, a missing breakfast, poor meal organization, and an unpleasant dispute with the organizer. The listed capacity is up to 40 people, so this is not a private or intimate sailing trip.

Key points to know before booking

• Île aux Cerfs by catamaran: Spend the main part of the day sailing and visiting one of Mauritius’s best-known island outings.
• Hotel pickup across Mauritius: A chauffeur collects you from your hotel reception in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• Food and drinks included: Breakfast, barbecue lunch, soft drinks, and alcoholic drinks are part of the package.
• Waterfall stop included: You receive a complimentary visit to a waterfall as part of the day.
• Swimming time: Bring swimwear because swimming is included, but swimwear itself is not provided.
• Group size matters: The catamaran has a maximum capacity of 40 passengers, so expect a shared boat rather than a quiet private cruise.

A full day built around Île aux Cerfs

This excursion is designed for travelers who want Mauritius in one tidy package: transport, boat trip, island time, food, drinks, swimming, and a waterfall visit. You do not need to piece together a hotel taxi, harbor transfer, catamaran ticket, and lunch on your own.

The advertised duration is eight hours. That sounds generous, but remember that your day includes transport to and from the harbor. One recent booking from Grand Baie involved about one and a half hours each way by taxi, so pickup location can make a real difference to the time you spend at sea and on the island.

That is the tradeoff. You gain convenience, but a distant hotel means an early start and a long ride home. I would check your pickup time and location carefully before booking, especially if you are staying in the north or far from the departure harbor.

From your hotel reception to the harbor

Pickup is included from any hotel in Mauritius, with the chauffeur collecting you at reception in an air-conditioned vehicle. This is one of the strongest practical features of the excursion. You do not have to find the harbor, negotiate a taxi, or worry about being late for the boat.

The transport reviews are mostly positive. One passenger praised a punctual and friendly driver, while another described the trip as well organized and professional. That said, one separate complaint raised a serious road-safety concern about fast driving and phone use behind the wheel. I cannot treat that as a normal feature of the tour, but it is worth knowing that transport quality may vary by assigned driver.

If the driver’s manner makes you uncomfortable, speak up early and clearly. Keep your hotel reception and operator contact details handy so you are not left trying to solve a problem on the roadside.

The trip is offered with English and French support. No individual guide names are provided, so you should not book this expecting a named naturalist or a specialist historian. The experience is mainly about the boat, the water, the island, and the included food.

Boarding a shared catamaran

At the harbor, you board the catamaran for the main part of the outing. The listed maximum capacity is 40 passengers. That makes this a social group cruise, not a secluded sailing experience for a handful of people.

Several parts of the day benefit from that shared setting. Music, food, and drinks can create a cheerful party atmosphere, and the strongest feedback praises the crew’s friendliness and the good mood aboard. French and German-speaking passengers both described an enjoyable day with plentiful drinks and attentive catamaran staff.

But group size also affects comfort. A 40-person boat can feel busy around the serving area, especially when everyone is eating at once. One complaint described a boat with around 30 passengers and difficulty managing plates, cutlery, and glasses. That account conflicts with the more positive experiences, but it highlights a real point: your enjoyment may depend on the crowd and how the crew organizes lunch that day.

A separate complaint referred to an expectation of only six people. The published information for this experience says up to 40 passengers, so you should use the official capacity as your guide and not assume a small-group cruise.

Breakfast, barbecue lunch, and drinks

Food is built into the price. The package includes breakfast, a barbecue lunch, soft drinks, and alcoholic drinks. The barbecue is described as unlimited and includes fish, chicken, sausages, and salads.

I like this arrangement for a long day on the water. You can focus on the outing instead of carrying food or searching for a restaurant on Île aux Cerfs. The included drinks also make the $116 price easier to assess, since a boat trip, hotel transport, lunch, and beverages purchased separately could quickly add up.

The food reports are mixed. Several passengers praised the meal, with one calling the food excellent and another saying the culinary side of the day was well handled. One serious complaint said breakfast was not provided and that lunch was limited and awkwardly served. Since breakfast is specifically included in the package, confirm the day’s meal arrangements before departure if it matters to you.

The word unlimited is worth treating with care. It refers to the advertised barbecue and drinks, but the practical experience depends on supply, timing, and serving arrangements. I would eat breakfast before pickup anyway, particularly if you have a long transfer or tend to get seasick.

Alcoholic drinks are included, which may be a plus if you want a festive day. It can also change the tone of the boat. One complaint described loud, intoxicated passengers and said the crew did not step in. Most of the available feedback describes a pleasant atmosphere, but if you prefer a quiet cruise, this package may not be your best match.

The waterfall stop adds variety

The excursion includes a complimentary visit to a waterfall. The supplied details do not identify the waterfall by name, explain how long you stop, or describe the exact transport used for that part of the day, so I would not book this as a dedicated waterfall tour.

Still, the stop matters. A full day centered on one island and a catamaran can become repetitive if you want more than sun and sea. The waterfall provides a different setting and gives you another photo opportunity before the day ends.

Because timing is not specified, do not assume you will have a long walk or a private visit. Think of it as an included extra, not the central event. The main purpose of the excursion remains the catamaran trip to Île aux Cerfs.

What your time on Île aux Cerfs is like

Île aux Cerfs is the main destination and the reason most people book this day. You receive time for swimming and island recreation, with the boat trip framing the visit.

The exact length of your stay on the island is not provided. One passenger specifically wished for more time there, which is useful advice if you want a slow beach day. Since the excursion also includes transport, breakfast, lunch, drinks, sailing, and a waterfall stop, your island time will not equal the entire eight-hour duration.

Bring swimwear, sunscreen, and a towel if your hotel provides one. Swimwear is not included, and shopping expenses on the island are extra. The package does not cover personal purchases or unspecified extras, so carry whatever spending money you need without assuming every activity or purchase is part of the deal.

The listed inclusion is swimming, not a named water sport. One complaint described waiting for paid parasailing that was not part of the planned outing. That is a useful warning: do not let an optional paid activity take over your day unless you specifically want it and understand the extra cost and timing.

How the $116 price works out

At $116 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach Île aux Cerfs. But price comparisons should include the air-conditioned hotel pickup and return, catamaran tickets, breakfast, barbecue lunch, drinks, waterfall visit, and swimming.

I see the best value here for a first-time visitor who wants a managed day with little planning. The price bundles the expensive and inconvenient pieces. You can eat on the boat, enjoy drinks without stopping to pay each time, and avoid arranging separate harbor transport.

The value is weaker if you are already staying near the harbor, dislike group activities, or want to spend most of the day quietly on the island. In that case, you may prefer a simpler boat transfer or a smaller private charter, if available, even though those options are not part of this package.

The rating is 3.7 out of 5 from 16 reviews, which matches the mixed picture. Many experiences are very positive, especially around the catamaran crew, food, drinks, music, and punctual transport. The low rating comes from a serious complaint involving several parts of the day, not from a small disagreement about the view.

The crew and the mood onboard

The strongest praise goes to the catamaran staff. French passengers described the crew as friendly, welcoming, and attentive. Another account praised the good mood, music, plentiful drinks, and pleasant service.

That tells you what this trip does best. It is not just a transfer to Île aux Cerfs. The boat itself is part of the entertainment, and the crew appears to put energy into creating a sociable atmosphere.

You should also understand the limits. There is no promise of a quiet sailing experience, and no named guide is provided. The mood may be relaxed and cheerful, or it may become noisy if some passengers drink heavily. If you want a calm boat with personal space, ask about group size and atmosphere before paying.

Who will enjoy this excursion most

I would recommend this trip to you if you want convenience and a full program. It suits couples, families, and groups of friends who like a shared boat, included food, music, swimming, and a little island time without much planning.

It also works well if you are staying far from the harbor. The transfer may be long, but arranging it yourself would add work and uncertainty. The air-conditioned vehicle is especially useful in Mauritius’s heat.

You may want to skip it if your priority is solitude, a small boat, or a long uninterrupted stay on Île aux Cerfs. The capacity can reach 40 passengers, and the island portion is only one part of a wider eight-hour schedule.

I would also think twice if you are particularly sensitive to alcohol-fueled party settings. Most feedback describes a good atmosphere, but the possibility of noisy passengers is real on a boat where alcoholic drinks are included.

Practical details that matter

Book with the cancellation terms in mind: you can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps payment flexible. Starting times depend on availability, so check the date before confirming.

Pickup is from your hotel reception, not from an unspecified street corner. Be ready there at the confirmed time. Since hotel locations can mean lengthy road transfers, carry water, any personal medication, and something small to eat in case breakfast service is delayed.

English and French are the supported languages. The catamaran has a maximum capacity of 40 passengers. Tickets are included, and the activity offers skip-the-ticket-line access, so you should not need to arrange a separate boat ticket.

Pack swimwear because it is excluded from the package. Shopping and other extras on Île aux Cerfs are also excluded. Alcoholic drinks are included, but that does not mean optional activities such as parasailing are covered.

Should you book the Île aux Cerfs catamaran trip?

Book it if you want an all-in-one Mauritius day with hotel transport, catamaran travel, meals, drinks, swimming, and a waterfall stop. The friendly crew and well-organized transport have produced many enjoyable outings, and the bundled price can be fair for a visitor who values ease.

Before booking, accept that this is a shared boat with up to 40 passengers. Confirm breakfast, pickup time, and the expected group size, and do not assume you will spend most of the day on the island. If those limits suit you, this is a practical way to see Île aux Cerfs without doing the planning yourself.

FAQ

How long does the catamaran trip last?

The full activity lasts eight hours, including transportation, the catamaran outing, island time, and the waterfall visit.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included from any hotel in Mauritius. The chauffeur collects you from the reception.

What languages are available?

The activity is offered in English and French.

Is food included?

Yes. Breakfast and lunch are included, with lunch provided as a barbecue featuring fish, chicken, sausages, and salads.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are included in the package.

Is the barbecue unlimited?

The activity information describes the barbecue as unlimited.

Is swimming part of the activity?

Yes. Swimming is included, but swimwear is not provided.

Is a waterfall visit included?

Yes. The package includes a complimentary visit to a waterfall.

How many people can be on the catamaran?

The catamaran has a maximum capacity of 40 passengers.

What is not included?

Swimwear, shopping expenses on Île aux Cerfs, and other extras are not included.