Mauritius Catamaran Cruise to Ile Aux Cerfs with BBQ Lunch

The best part of this outing is the variety packed into one day: a river waterfall, a catamaran sail, a swim stop, a generous halal BBQ lunch with drinks, and several hours on Ile aux Cerfs. You get a broad taste of Mauritius’s east coast without arranging separate boats, meals, and island transport.

I especially like the Grand River South East Waterfall stop and the easygoing onboard atmosphere, with beer, wine, juice, soft drinks, water, and local rum included. The main caution is space and timing. The boat can feel crowded, and the total transport between sights takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, leaving some visitors wishing for more swimming time.

Key points to know before booking

• Waterfall first: Sail from Trou d’Eau Douce to Grand River South East, also called Cascade Diamamouve, for photos and river scenery.
• Lunch is included onboard: Expect a three-course BBQ meal with halal food and a selection of local and nonalcoholic drinks.
• Ile aux Cerfs gets the longest stop: You have about three hours for beach time, swimming, the craft market, or optional watersports.
• Snorkeling depends on conditions: The stop is planned, but rough weather can cancel it.
• Pickup needs checking: Hotel transport is available if selected, but confirm the exact fee before paying.
• The group may reach 35 people: This is a shared cruise, not a private sailing experience.

A full day on Mauritius’s east coast

This is a classic east-coast day out, built around scenery, swimming, and lunch rather than detailed guiding or cultural interpretation. You begin at Green Island Beach Restaurant on B59 Coastal Road in Trou d’Eau Douce, with departure set for 9:30 am.

From there, the day follows a sensible route. You head upriver to the waterfall, move out toward the sea for swimming and snorkeling, eat lunch on the boat, and finish at Ile aux Cerfs before sailing back to shore with Mauritian Sega music.

At $59 per person, the package offers good value if you plan to use most of the inclusions. A separate boat trip, island transfer, BBQ meal, drinks, and waterfall visit would likely cost more and require extra planning. The value drops if bad weather cancels snorkeling or if you spend much of the day waiting for transfers.

You should also understand the style of the outing. This is a social catamaran cruise with a maximum group size of 35. It is not a quiet private charter, a small marine biology trip, or a guided history tour. You come for the water, food, music, and scenery.

Starting at Trou d’Eau Douce

Trou d’Eau Douce is the launch point for many east-coast boat trips, and the setting gives you an early taste of the day: water, small boats, and the broad route toward the river and offshore islands.

If you arrange your own way there, the meeting point is Green Island Beach Restaurant. If you choose hotel pickup, read the transport details closely and ask about the total charge before confirming. One practical complaint about this type of arrangement was a late pickup, while another passenger felt the pickup fee was higher than expected compared with a local taxi.

That does not mean every pickup will be late or overpriced. It does mean you should not treat hotel transport as an invisible free extra. Confirm your pickup time, pickup location, and price. If you are staying near Trou d’Eau Douce, compare the cost of reaching the meeting point yourself.

A driver named Avish received specific praise for being helpful, but drivers and crew can vary by departure. Bring your booking confirmation on your phone, since the tour uses a mobile ticket.

Grand River South East Waterfall and Cascade Diamamouve

The first major stop is Grand River South East Waterfall, known locally as Cascade Diamamouve. The boat travels upriver, where the scenery changes from open lagoon to riverbanks lined with trees.

You stop for photographs and sightseeing rather than a long hike. The riverbanks are also a place where you might spot monkeys moving through the trees. Keep your camera ready, but do not count on a guaranteed wildlife show. The animals are part of the setting, not a scheduled performance.

This stop lasts about an hour and admission is included. It is a good early stop because you can enjoy the river before the day becomes focused on beaches and swimming. The waterfall itself is a visual attraction, but the short boat ride through the river is just as important. It gives the morning a little more character than a simple straight run to Ile aux Cerfs.

Do not expect a detailed nature lecture unless your crew provides one on the day. The available information emphasizes sightseeing and photos, not a formal interpretive talk. If you want to know the waterfall’s background or the local ecology, ask the crew directly.

Snorkeling and the onboard BBQ

After the river visit, the catamaran heads to a clear-water area for a snorkeling and swimming break. This is one of the day’s most appealing moments because you can cool off, look for marine life, and enjoy the boat from the water instead of only from the deck.

The important qualification is weather. Snorkeling has been canceled on days with poor conditions, and that is a sensible safety decision. The cruise requires good weather overall, and the operator may alter or cancel parts of the schedule if conditions are unsuitable.

If snorkeling matters most to you, keep your expectations flexible. You are booking a sightseeing cruise with a planned swim stop, not a specialist snorkeling trip with a guaranteed reef session. Bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, and any personal snorkeling equipment you prefer. The supplied details do not confirm whether equipment is provided, so ask before departure if that matters to you.

Lunch is served on board after the swimming stop. The package includes a three-course BBQ meal and a selection of drinks: soft drinks, juice, water, beer, wine, and local rum. The food is halal, which is an important practical advantage for many visitors.

The meal is one of the stronger parts of the value. You do not need to find a restaurant on Ile aux Cerfs, and you can eat while remaining part of the sailing experience. Several passengers specifically enjoyed the amount of food and refreshments, while others praised the friendly crew and relaxed atmosphere.

Service may require a little initiative. One account described having to ask for beer even though drinks were included. I would not treat that as a standard problem, but it is sensible to confirm what is being served and ask the crew if you want a particular drink.

The boat itself matters here. A crowded catamaran can make lunch less comfortable, especially if you want room to move between the seating area and the rail. The published maximum is 35 people, so this is best for you if you enjoy a shared, sociable outing. If you want silence, personal space, or a private table, choose a smaller charter instead.

Three hours at Ile aux Cerfs

Ile aux Cerfs is the main event, and the schedule gives you about three hours there. The island is known for white sand, palm trees, and clear turquoise lagoon water. It is the sort of place where the best plan may be no plan at all: swim, sit in the shade, take photographs, and let the day slow down.

The lagoon is the main attraction. You can swim in the clear water and enjoy the contrast with the river scenery from the morning. If you have children, the open beach time can be easier than a tightly guided sightseeing stop, though you will still need to supervise them around the water.

There is also an Arts and Crafts market where you can look for Mauritius souvenirs. This gives the stop a little more purpose than beach time alone, but keep your expectations practical. The market is an optional shopping stop, not a major cultural visit.

Optional watersports are available at extra cost. Double parasailing is listed at about Rs 2,500, or approximately Rs 1,000 per person in the supplied pricing information. Underseawalk costs about Rs 2,000. Tube riding is also mentioned, though no price is provided.

Because the optional charges may change, carry enough local currency or confirm current prices before committing. These activities can add fun, but they change the budget quickly. At $59, the base cruise is one thing. Add parasailing, an undersea walk, pickup, and other extras, and the final cost can be notably higher.

The chief drawback at Ile aux Cerfs is time pressure. Three hours sounds generous, but it includes getting oriented, walking from the landing area, swimming, shopping, and possibly arranging an optional activity. Some people would prefer more time in the water and less time moving between stops.

Sailing back with Mauritian Sega music

The return trip takes you back to Trou d’Eau Douce, with local Mauritian Sega music providing the finish. Sega is a traditional Mauritian music and dance style, and hearing it on the way home gives the cruise a local touch without turning the day into a formal cultural program.

This final stretch is also where the social side of the trip becomes most noticeable. The crew’s hospitality has been one of the most consistently praised parts of the experience. Friendly staff, drinks, food, and music help make the cruise feel like a group celebration.

Still, the atmosphere depends on the crew and the mix of people onboard. One day may feel lively and well managed, while another may feel hectic. A shared catamaran is part sightseeing trip and part social outing. You should be comfortable with that.

The entire experience lasts about six to seven hours. The actual time on the water is broken up by loading, transfers, the waterfall stop, swimming, lunch, and island time. If you want a fast, nonstop sail, this may feel slow. If you like a full day with several different stops, the pace makes sense.

Food, drinks, and what to bring

The included food is a real part of the package, not an afterthought. You receive a BBQ lunch with three courses, and the food is halal. Drinks include both alcoholic and nonalcoholic options.

Pack lightly, but bring the things that make a beach day easier:

• Swimsuit and towel
• Sunscreen and a hat
• A waterproof phone pouch
• Dry clothes for the return trip
• Cash for optional watersports and souvenirs
• Your mobile booking confirmation

The tour information does not state that snorkeling equipment is supplied. Ask the operator before departure if you need fins, a mask, or other gear. You should also ask about current pickup charges, the boat allocation, and the exact meeting instructions.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would recommend this outing to you if you want one organized day that covers several of Mauritius’s east-coast highlights. Families, couples, and groups of friends can all find something useful here: swimming, beach time, a meal, music, and optional activities.

It is especially suitable if you value convenience over privacy. For $59, the included lunch and drinks make the day easy to budget. You do not need to arrange a separate restaurant, island boat, or waterfall visit.

You may want another option if you dislike group tours, have limited mobility around boats, or want long, uninterrupted snorkeling time. Most people can participate, but the day includes boarding boats and moving between water-based stops. The provided information does not describe specific accessibility arrangements, so ask the operator about your needs before booking.

The cruise also suits families with older children. A 12-year-old enjoyed the food, drinks, island, and general outing, but younger children still need close supervision near the water and while boarding.

Practical value and possible weak spots

The package is strongest when the weather is good and the crew keeps the day moving. You receive a full-day catamaran cruise, waterfall visit, swim and snorkeling stop, BBQ lunch, drinks, Ile aux Cerfs access, and return sailing with music.

The weak spots are mostly operational. Pickup can run late, transport arrangements can be unclear, and the boat may feel crowded. Some people have also found the start hectic, especially when moving from shore to the catamaran or between boats near the river.

The total of 1 hour and 30 minutes in transport between attractions is worth remembering. That time is part of the day, not extra time added to the beach stop. If you have your heart set on hours of snorkeling, the schedule may disappoint.

Weather is another key factor. If poor weather cancels the experience, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund. If the tour runs but snorkeling is canceled because of conditions, you should not assume every activity will be replaced with extra island time.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the 9:30 am start. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund, so check the forecast and your schedule early.

Should you book the Ile aux Cerfs catamaran cruise?

Book it if you want a reasonably priced, all-in-one day with a waterfall, swimming, food, drinks, music, and beach time. The strongest reasons are the generous onboard refreshments, the halal BBQ, and the chance to see both Grand River South East and Ile aux Cerfs without arranging separate transport.

Before paying, confirm hotel pickup costs and ask how many people will be on your boat. Go in expecting a shared catamaran, not a private sailing trip. If you can accept some crowding and a weather-dependent swim stop, this is a good way to cover the east coast in one day.

If your priority is quiet sailing, serious snorkeling, or maximum time on the beach, spend more on a smaller or more focused boat trip. For everyone else, this cruise offers a practical mix of Mauritius scenery, sea time, food, and local atmosphere at a fair base price.

FAQ

Where does the cruise start?

The meeting point is Green Island Beach Restaurant, B59 Coastal Road, La Pelouse, Trou d’Eau Douce, Mauritius. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

What time does the cruise begin?

The scheduled start time is 9:30 am.

How long does the experience last?

The cruise lasts approximately six to seven hours.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included only if you select that option. Confirm the exact pickup charge before booking.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The cruise includes a three-course BBQ lunch served onboard. The food is halal.

What drinks are included?

Included drinks are soft drinks, juice, water, beer, wine, and local rum.

Is snorkeling guaranteed?

No. Snorkeling and swimming are planned stops, but snorkeling may be canceled because of poor weather or sea conditions.

How much do the optional watersports cost?

Double parasailing is listed at about Rs 2,500, with an approximate per-person price of Rs 1,000 in the supplied information. Underseawalk costs about Rs 2,000. Tube riding is also available, but no price is provided.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather cancels the experience, you can receive a full refund or choose another date.