Mauritius · DOLPHIN WATCHING

Dolphin Watching in Mauritius: The 15 Best Trips

42 tours  ·  from $47 a head

The resident spinner pod rests off Tamarin and Black River through the morning, which is why every one of these leaves before seven. The 15 below are compared on departure time, how close the boat is allowed to get and whether swimming with them is part of it.

Île aux Bénitiers: Snorkeling w/Dolphins Boat Tour & Lunch - The speedboat ride from the west coast
Cruises & Boat Tours, Dolphin Watching, Ile aux Benitiers & Crystal Rock, Lunch Experiences, Snorkeling, Tour Reviews, Tours

Île aux Bénitiers: Snorkeling w/Dolphins Boat Tour & Lunch

1.Snorkeling w/Dolphins Boat Tour & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,635 reviews · 7 hours · from $115Our pick

Start with hotel pickup and a speedboat ride from the west coast to see wild dolphins in Mauritius’s southwest lagoon. You’ll snorkel near Crystal Rock with Le Morne behind you, eat a three-course BBQ lunch on Île aux Bénitiers, and relax on the beach. Guides such as Yan, Alex, Lulu, Kevin, and Kavi are known for friendly service and careful dolphin handling.

“Every aspect from pick up to drop off and the activities in between was scheduled beautifully. Great guides, boat, dolphins. turtles and fishes. Awesome relaxed BBQ on the beach and thwy always kept us informed of the schedule. superb. 10/10!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Black River: Dolphin Swim and Whale Watching by Speedboat - The speedboat ride along the Black River coast
Dolphin Watching, Speedboat Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours in Black River, Whale Watching

Black River: Dolphin Swim and Whale Watching by Speedboat

2.Dolphin Swim and Whale Watching by Speedboat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 595 reviews · 5 hours · from $129

Set out from Grande Riviere Noire for five hours on a speedboat carrying up to 14 passengers and two skippers. You may swim with spinner and bottlenose dolphins, watch sperm whales year-round and humpbacks from June to October, then snorkel over a coral reef. Guides such as Globis, Conrad, Alan, Ronaldo, and Fabio have been praised for careful animal handling.

“We saw everyhing we could, several sper whales and a lot of dephins! The boat crew was very kind and helpful.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Tamarin: Dolphin Snorkel, CrystalRock, ile o Benitiers Lunch - Tamarin Public Beach and the speedboat start
Dolphin Watching, Ile aux Benitiers & Crystal Rock, Lunch Experiences, Snorkeling, Tour Reviews, Tours in Tamarin

Tamarin: Dolphin Snorkel, CrystalRock, ile o Benitiers Lunch

3.Dolphin Snorkel, CrystalRock, ile o Benitiers Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 511 reviews · from $77

Meet your licensed crew at Tamarin Public Beach for a speedboat trip to dolphin waters, Crystal Rock, and Ile aux Benitiers. You can snorkel with dolphins when conditions allow, then eat a local BBQ on the beach. Crews have included Gregory, Peanut, Atish, Jonathan, and Jordan. Hotel transfers cost extra.

“Gregory & Peanut were absolutely amazing crew on the boat. They made sure we saw everything that was promised in the description and even more! Absolutely recommended.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Lydia Boat Mauritius :Private boat tour:Whales&Dolphins encounter - Snorkeling at the aquarium and Crystal Rock
Cruises & Boat Tours, Dolphin Watching, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours, Whale Watching

Lydia Boat Mauritius :Private boat tour:Whales&Dolphins encounter

4.Lydia Boat Mauritius :Private boat tour:Whales&Dolphins encounter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 409 reviews · from $225Top rated

Start early from Le Morne with Lydia Boat’s private speedboat. Your crew, which may include Miguel, Navy, Owen, or Rino, searches for wild dolphins and whales, then guides you to snorkeling spots near Crystal Rock. Expect about 7.5 hours on the water, seafood, drinks, and a barbecue currently served on the boat because Île aux Bénitiers is closed.

“Didn’t see dolphins unfortunately but the trip was fabulous day out . Tries sea urchin and oyster did a bit of snorkelling and the barbecue was fist class All in all well worth the money I would definitely do it again”

Check availability →Read our full review

Whale Dream ltd - Whales watching and swim with dolphins - Dolphin watching and swimming near the bay
Dolphin Watching, Tour Reviews, Whale Watching

Whale Dream ltd – Whales watching and swim with dolphins

5.Whale Dream ltd – Whales watching and swim with dolphins

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 308 reviews

Leave Rivière Noire at 6am with Whale Dream’s skippers, such as Ludovic, Tom, Dominic, Gigi, or Clémence, to find sperm whales and dolphins off Mauritius. A hydrophone helps locate whales, while dolphin swimming and lagoon snorkeling may follow. The private boat costs $741.51 for up to four people and returns around 10am.

“Had the most amazing once in a lifetime experience with Whale Dream. We were lucky to spot an entire family of whales. The best part was that the crew was very respectful of the whales and kept a distance from them. While there are other Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

Black River: Swim with Dolphin Speed Boat Tour with lunch - A fast ride toward the dolphin grounds
Cruises & Boat Tours, Dolphin Watching, Lunch Experiences, Speedboat Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Flic en Flac

Black River: Swim with Dolphin Speed Boat Tour with lunch

6.Swim with Dolphin Speed Boat Tour with lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 279 reviews · 6h 30m · from $74

Join a small group of up to 15 from Flic en Flac for a speedboat trip to watch and possibly swim with wild dolphins, snorkel near Crystal Rock, and enjoy a three-course BBQ with drinks on Île aux Bénitiers. Guides speak English and French, with dolphin welfare taking priority over close contact.

“the entire activity, with the comfort of the speed boat, the enthusiasm of the staff, the punctuality and the delicious food, it was a great day. we got to see numerous dolphins in their natural habitat.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Tamarin: Guided Kayak Tour with Dolphins - Launching from Tamarin Beach
Canoes & Kayaks, Dolphin Watching, Guided, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Tamarin

Tamarin: Guided Kayak Tour with Dolphins

7.Guided Kayak Tour with Dolphins

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 190 reviews · 2h 30m · from $64

Start early from Tamarin Beach and paddle with an English or French-speaking guide into the bay, where bottlenose and spinner dolphins may appear. Guides such as Théo, Yan, Mathieu, and Gilles have been praised for calm, friendly guidance. If dolphins stay away, you continue along the Tamarin River.

“It was a wonderful kayak tour early in the morning. We were able to watch dolphins for about an hour until they retreated to the open sea. Observing them from the kayak was very respectful. Afterwards we went a bit further along the Black River. Many thanks to our nice guide Yan.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Dolphins Encounter and Whale Watching - Snorkeling on the reef after the dolphin encounter
Dolphin Watching, Tour Reviews, Whale Watching

Dolphins Encounter and Whale Watching

8.Dolphins Encounter and Whale Watching

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 153 reviews · from $116

Meet at 6:45 a.m. in Black River for a five-hour speedboat trip with a skipper and crew of one. Watch wild dolphins, swim with them two at a time when conditions allow, snorkel a coral reef, and listen for whales through a hydrophone. Dolswim keeps groups to eight and includes drinks, water, equipment, and live commentary.

“Great time see whales and dolphin in Indian way say paisa usul. Means what you paid really get back more than thst”

Check availability →Read our full review

Dolphin Encounters, Ile aux Benitier & Crystal rock: Full-Day (Lunch & Transfer) - Crystal Rock and the Le Morne view
Dolphin Watching, Full-Day, Ile aux Benitiers & Crystal Rock, Lunch Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours in Trou d'Eau Douce

Dolphin Encounters, Ile aux Benitier & Crystal rock: Full-Day (Lunch & Transfer)

9.Dolphin Encounters, Ile aux Benitier & Crystal rock: Full-Day (Lunch & Transfer)

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 148 reviews · from $111

Join Freshverde Holidays for a 7 to 8-hour west-coast boat trip from Trou d’Eau Douce, with hotel pickup, dolphin watching, Crystal Rock snorkeling, and a three-course barbecue on Ile aux Benitiers. Guides and skippers such as Avish, Oliver, and Brian have earned praise for friendly, professional service. Dolphin encounters can be crowded, so expectations matter.

“We loved swimming with the dolphins and the BBQ lunch afterwards. There were only 2 things that stopped us giving this experience 5 stars and that was that it was about an hour and a half too long and the water was a bit murky...which, of course, is not anything the tour operator could do about!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Mauritius: Snorkel and Swim with Dolphins on Speedboat Tour - The speedboat ride is part of the attraction
Dolphin Watching, Snorkeling, Speedboat Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Tamarin

Mauritius: Snorkel and Swim with Dolphins on Speedboat Tour

10.Snorkel and Swim with Dolphins on Speedboat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 147 reviews · from $49

Meet your captain and guide at Tamarin Beach for a briefing before a speedboat ride into open water. Watch dolphins, enter the sea to swim near them, and use the supplied mask, snorkel, and life vest. The trip lasts about two hours, includes drinks, and may involve several jumps back into the water as the dolphins move.

“The fruit juices mentioned in the service were the only thing missing. But great activity! We were really impressed. An unforgettable moment”

Check availability →Read our full review

Speedboat to Ile aux Benitier: Dolphin Encounter & Lunch - Two and a half hours with dolphins in Tamarin Bay
Dolphin Watching, Ile aux Benitiers & Crystal Rock, Lunch Experiences, Speedboat Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours in Flic en Flac

Speedboat to Ile aux Benitier: Dolphin Encounter & Lunch

11.Speedboat to Ile aux Benitier: Dolphin Encounter & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 144 reviews · 6 hours · from $70

Spend six hours on Mauritius’s west coast with a speedboat ride from Flic en Flac, an open-ocean dolphin encounter, snorkeling, Crystal Rock, and lunch on Ile aux Benitiers. A skipper explains dolphin habits and safety before the outing. Pickup is optional, and group sizes may reach about 18 people.

“Très satisfaite de cette activité, j’avais pris le transport avec, il est arrivé à l’heure. Nous avons attendu 10 minutes que tous les monde arrivent. Dans le speedboat, Nous étions une petite +/-18 de personnes enfants inclus. c’était pas surchargé mais il n’en fallait pas plus. Direction les dauphins. On se retrouve en effet autour d’un amas de bateau, mais notre guide a préféré laisser la full passer plutôt que d’étouffer les dauphins. Nous avons eu la chance de pouvoir nager avec. Puis direction le lagon avec de sublimes poissons. L’eau n’était pas très clair car il avait plus la veille mais très satisfaisant quand même, on a nager avec…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Mauritius: Ocean Swim with Dolphins - The speedboat ride to Black River
Dolphin Watching, Tour Reviews

Mauritius: Ocean Swim with Dolphins

12.Ocean Swim with Dolphins

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 125 reviews · 6 hours · from $93

Start with a light breakfast, then ride a speedboat from Martello Tower Museum toward Black River to watch dolphins and enter the water at designated stops. Snorkel at the Aquarium, pause at Crystal Rock, and spend about 2.5 hours on Île aux Bénitiers with a BBQ, drinks, swimming, and beach time. English and French guides lead the trip.

“What an amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience! The day started off with a tasty light breakfast (fresh bread, tea, coffee & juice) before setting off on a speedboat ride to see a pod of playful spinner dolphins. We were able to jump in and swim with the dolphins at 3 different spots, with snorkel gear provided. We then stopped off at a snorkelling spot for 15 mins, where we could swim along the coral reef and see all kinds of colourful tropical fish. We had a quick spin around the tiny island Crystal Rock on the way to Île aux Benitiers, where we spent a good 2-3 hours exploring the wonderful market…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Mauritius Le Morne: Eco-Friendly Dolphin Watching Tour - A short briefing before the dolphin search
Dolphin Watching, Le Morne Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Mauritius Le Morne: Eco-Friendly Dolphin Watching Tour

13.Eco-Friendly Dolphin Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 123 reviews · 2 hours

Meet your captain near Emba Filao restaurant for a two-hour private boat trip from Le Morne. Learn about dolphins, watch them in the open sea, snorkel in the lagoon, and perhaps spot turtles or whales. Ben and his skippers are praised for careful boat handling and personal service. Early departures help you avoid heavier boat traffic.

“Amazing experience! Ben & Stefano were fantastic guides. The trip was one of the highlights of our stay. It is definitely worth going early in the morning and on a small, private, more ecological tour like this. It was calm, peaceful and the perfect length. We swam with dolphins, snorkelled and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. A perfect trip. Thank you Ben and Stefano!”

Check availability →Read our full review

La Preneuse: Dolphin Watching and Snorkeling Speedboat Tour - The 20-minute run into open water
Dolphin Watching, Snorkeling, Speedboat Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Black River

La Preneuse: Dolphin Watching and Snorkeling Speedboat Tour

14.Dolphin Watching and Snorkeling Speedboat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 92 reviews · 2 hours · from $58

Set out from La Preneuse Public Beach with a French- or English-speaking skipper for a two-hour speedboat trip. You may see dolphins from the boat, then swim near them if conditions allow, before snorkeling in a lagoon with reef fish and possible octopus sightings. Guides including Feliciano, Andy, and Miguel have helped make the outing safe, personal, and memorable.

“The crew was really nice and we saw lots of dolohins and some whales.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2-Hours Dolphin Excursion in Mauritius - A 7:00 am start at La Balise Marina
Dolphin Watching, Tour Reviews, Tours

2-Hours Dolphin Excursion in Mauritius

15.2-Hours Dolphin Excursion in Mauritius

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 76 reviews · from $63

Meet JPH Charters at 7:00 am in Black River for a two-hour speedboat trip to Tamarin Bay or nearby waters. You will use provided snorkeling gear and receive help in the water from a professional guide. Groups are limited to eight people, and you can reschedule at no cost if no dolphins appear.

“Really amazing experience! The staff running it were lovely and we got so close to the dolphins! Lovely vibes on the boat too and all round great morning :)”

Check availability →Read our full review

New in Dolphin Watching

★ 5.0Whale and Dolphin Watching Private Boat Tour from Mauritius14 reviews
★ 3.9Swim with Dolphins Full-Day with Lunch/DrinksFrom $9614 reviews
★ 4.5Private Swim with Dolphins14 reviews
★ 4.3Wild Dolphin Encounter & Snorkeling Adventure – Mauritius.From $6520 reviews
★ 3.5Exclusive Dolphins Encounter20 reviews
★ 4.5Exciting Dolphin encounters in the Maurtius’s lagoonFrom $5822 reviews
★ 4.0Full-Day Dolphin Watching Cruise in MauritiusFrom $13221 reviews
★ 3.7Full Day Dolphins Watching Ile aux Benitiers & Crystal RockFrom $15922 reviews
★ 4.5Dolphins & whale watchingFrom $12917 reviews
★ 4.2Dolphins & Whales, Private Tour Snorkeling21 reviews
★ 4.5Catamaran Cruise to île aux Cerfs w Dolphins watch & LunchFrom $8217 reviews
★ 4.5Snorkel with Dolphins, Lunch on Benitiers island, SpeedboatFrom $6423 reviews
★ 4.5Dolphins watch half-dayFrom $8426 reviews
★ 3.8Île aux Bénitiers Snorkeling with Dolphins + Seafood LunchFrom $8028 reviews
★ 4.3Swim wz dolphins, Crystal Rock, Lunch Benitiers islandFrom $7241 reviews

Keep browsing

Whale Watching10Snorkeling26Blue Bay Marine Park6Ile aux Benitiers & Crystal Rock14Ile aux Cerfs Trips44
Scroll to Top

Explore Mauritius

Pick a coast, a summit or a market hall.

On the water

Catamaran DaysSpeedboat TripsIle aux CerfsSnorkellingIsland Hopping

Wildlife

Dolphin MorningsWhale WatchingBlue BayNature ReservesDiving

Inland

Coloured EarthsWaterfallsHikesLe MorneQuad Bikes

The table

Street FoodFood ToursTea & RumCity ToursMarket Shopping