Mauritius : Ile Aux Cerfs 3 islands Speed Boat Trip with BBQ

The best thing about this outing is the variety packed into one fast-moving day. You race from Trou d’Eau Douce to three island stops, pause to snorkel in the Eau Bleue natural aquarium, then eat lunch on the sand at Île aux Cerfs. It gives you a broad taste of the east coast without arranging several separate trips.

I like the small maximum group of 15 and the mix of water, history, scenery, and food. I also like that lunch, soft drinks, and alcoholic drinks are included, which makes the $88.81 price easier to judge. The main drawback is that the boat is not necessarily private. One booking for four people turned out to be a shared speedboat with about 12 passengers.

Key points to know

• Three very different island stops: Spend time at Île aux Cerfs, see Ile aux Fouquets Lighthouse, and stop at Ile aux Aigrettes beach.
• Eau Bleue snorkeling: A 40-minute stop lets you swim in a natural aquarium known for clear water and tropical fish.
• Beach BBQ included: Lunch and drinks are served during your time on Île aux Cerfs.
• Long boat time: About three hours of the seven-hour day is spent traveling by speedboat.
• Early start: Meet at Trou d’Eau Douce at 7:30 am, with no hotel transfer included in the base price.
• Weather matters: Poor conditions can lead to a different date or a full refund.

A fast day across Mauritius’s eastern islands

This is a full-day coastal outing built around movement. You are not staying in one resort area all day. Instead, you travel by speedboat between small islands, beaches, a lighthouse, a waterfall, and a snorkeling site.

The schedule begins at 7:30 am in Trou d’Eau Douce. That early start matters because the trip lasts about seven hours, and the boat ride alone takes roughly one hour and 30 minutes each way. You should think of this as a scenic boat journey with several stops, not a beach day with a short transfer.

I like that balance. The speedboat makes the day feel active, and each stop changes the view. The trade-off is simple: if you want hours of quiet swimming in one place, this will feel rushed. If you want to collect several east-coast sights in one outing, the pace works well.

The group limit is 15 people. That is small enough to feel more personal than a large cruise boat, but it does not mean private use. If privacy matters to you, confirm the arrangement before paying. One party expected a private trip for four and found a shared boat carrying roughly 12 people.

Île aux Cerfs gives you the main beach break

Île aux Cerfs is the center of the day. You spend about one hour to one hour and 30 minutes there, depending on how the schedule is described, with lunch and drinks served on the island.

The appeal is straightforward. You get time on a well-known island beach without having to arrange a separate boat transfer, restaurant stop, and return crossing. The BBQ is included, along with soft drinks and alcoholic drinks, so you can keep the day simple and avoid paying for the main meal separately.

I would set your expectations carefully. This is not a long, lazy afternoon at Île aux Cerfs. The stop is one part of a wider circuit, and the boat must continue to the lighthouse, snorkeling site, waterfall, and final beach stop. You’ll have enough time to eat, take in the setting, and enjoy the sand, but not endless free time.

The lunch setting is one of the more appealing details. Eating a BBQ on the sand gives the outing a casual island feel. It also saves you from returning to the mainland for a midday meal, which would cut into your limited sightseeing time.

Ile aux Fouquets Lighthouse adds a touch of history

The next notable stop is Ile aux Fouquets, also called Ile aux Phare. You spend about 30 minutes here, and the skippers explain the island’s history before you have time to look around.

The lighthouse gives the boat trip a purpose beyond swimming and sunbathing. You get a brief connection with Mauritius’s maritime past, while the island setting adds something different from the sandy beach at Île aux Cerfs.

Thirty minutes is a short visit, so do not expect a long historical tour. The value is in the change of scene and the skipper’s explanation. You can see an old coastal landmark, hear some context, and continue on without spending half the day at one site.

The trip also includes a small stop near the D’Alblair shipwreck. The information provided does not give a separate time for this stop, so treat it as a brief look from the boat or a short pause rather than a full attraction visit. It is a useful detail for anyone who enjoys maritime sights, but it should not be the main reason you book.

Eau Bleue is the best stop for getting in the water

At Vieux Grand Port, the boat stops at Eau Bleue, described as a natural aquarium. You have about 40 minutes for snorkeling in clear water and looking for tropical fish.

This is the part I would value most if you enjoy being in the sea. The time is long enough for a proper swim rather than a quick photo stop, yet short enough to keep the whole circuit moving. Clear water and fish give the outing a stronger nature element than a simple beach transfer.

You should have a moderate level of physical fitness for the day. The activity involves a speedboat, island stops, and snorkeling, so it is not designed as a purely sit-down sightseeing tour. The provided details do not specify equipment, changing facilities, or the exact swimming conditions, so ask the operator if those points matter to you.

Keep an eye on the weather. Sea conditions affect both comfort and the chance of completing the route. This experience requires good weather, and poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund.

Grande Riviere Sud Est brings a waterfall stop

After Île aux Cerfs, the boat heads to Grande Riviere Sud Est, home to the second-longest waterfall in Mauritius. The stop lasts about 15 minutes.

That is enough time for a quick view and photographs, but not a long walk or extended visit. The waterfall works best as part of the full route. You get a freshwater sight after the sea stops, and the river setting breaks up the beach-and-boat rhythm.

The tour description says you travel along the Grand River to reach the waterfall. This gives the ride another scenic section rather than treating the waterfall as an isolated photo stop. Still, the short timing means you should keep your expectations practical. It is a compact stop, not a separate waterfall excursion.

Ile aux Aigrettes is a final drink by the beach

On the return journey, you stop at the beach of Ile aux Aigrettes for about 30 minutes and have a last drink.

This is described as a beach stop, not a full visit to the island’s nature reserve. That distinction matters. You should not assume that you will take a long reserve tour or see wildlife beyond what the beach setting offers. The stop is a pleasant final pause before heading back to Trou d’Eau Douce.

I like the way it gives the day a gentle ending. After snorkeling, sightseeing, lunch, and the waterfall, you get one more chance to sit near the water with a drink. It also makes the return journey feel less like one long ride back.

The $88.81 price makes sense if you use the whole package

At $88.81 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach Île aux Cerfs, but it is more than a single island transfer. The price includes the full speedboat outing, lunch, soft drinks, and alcoholic drinks.

The value comes from combining several paid elements into one day. You get transport across the coast, a BBQ, the lighthouse stop, snorkeling time, the waterfall, and two additional island or beach visits. If you would otherwise pay separately for a boat trip, lunch, and snorkeling, the package becomes easier to justify.

The value is weaker if your main goal is a long stay on one beach. You spend about three hours in boat travel, including the outward and return crossings. That travel time is part of the experience, with views along the coast, but it reduces time at the islands.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included in the base price. You need to reach Trou d’Eau Douce for the 7:30 am meeting time, or arrange a transfer at an extra cost. Check your accommodation’s distance from the meeting point before booking, since an early taxi or paid transfer can change the real cost of the day.

Shared boat or private charter: clarify this before booking

The most important practical point is the boat arrangement. The maximum group size is 15, but the trip should not automatically be treated as private.

A previous booking for four people was expected to be private, but the party boarded a speedboat carrying about 12 people. The outing was still enjoyable for that group, but the misunderstanding caused real disappointment and a refund was refused.

My advice is simple: ask Sam Tours directly if you are booking for a small party and want exclusive use. Do not rely on the size of your own reservation. A shared trip can be fun, especially with a friendly skipper and a small group, but private and shared experiences are different products.

The positive side is that the group cap keeps the boat from becoming a large crowd. One strong point from the available feedback was the organization, punctuality, and friendly guide service. No guide name is provided, so you should not expect to choose a particular skipper.

Timing, comfort, and what to bring

The early departure is worth taking seriously. You meet at 7:30 am, and the trip runs for about seven hours. You need to arrive ready for a full morning and afternoon on the water.

A moderate physical fitness level is recommended. You will board and ride a speedboat, move around at several stops, and take part in snorkeling if you choose to enter the water. The provided details do not give specific information about accessibility, so ask Sam Tours before booking if you have mobility concerns.

I would plan for the basics: sun protection, a swimsuit, a towel, and a secure way to protect valuables from spray. The tour includes drinks, lunch, and alcoholic drinks, but the details do not say what snorkeling equipment is supplied or whether storage is available. Those are sensible questions to ask before departure.

The weather policy is useful. If poor weather cancels the trip, you can accept another date or receive a full refund. The experience also requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not reached, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

For a normal cancellation, you receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Who will enjoy this seven-hour outing

I would choose this trip if you want to see several east-coast sights in one day and enjoy being on the water. It suits couples, friends, and families with older children who can handle a fast boat, island stops, and snorkeling.

It is also a good fit if you like a planned day. The route, meal, drinks, and main stops are arranged for you, so you do not have to negotiate separate boats or search for lunch at Île aux Cerfs.

I would be more cautious if you want complete privacy, lots of time on one beach, or a slow sightseeing pace. The boat ride is a major part of the day, and the waterfall and lighthouse visits are brief. You should also confirm the shared or private setup before booking.

The rating of 4.5 from six reviews suggests a generally strong experience, but the small number of responses means you should focus on the practical details rather than treat the score as a guarantee. The most useful positive points are the organization, punctual departure, professional service, and friendly guide. The clearest concern is the private-trip misunderstanding.

Should you book the Île aux Cerfs speedboat trip?

Book it if you want a busy sampler of Mauritius’s east coast, with snorkeling, a beach BBQ, island scenery, a lighthouse, a waterfall, and drinks in one package. At $88.81, it offers fair value when you plan to use all those parts.

Before paying, confirm that your booking is shared or private, ask what snorkeling gear is provided, and work out how you will reach Trou d’Eau Douce by 7:30 am. If you are happy with a full boat day and short stops, this is a practical way to cover a lot of ground. If you want a private charter or hours of uninterrupted beach time, choose a different arrangement.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Trou d’Eau Douce in Mauritius.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 7:30 am.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts about seven hours.

How much boat travel is involved?

Boat travel takes about one hour and 30 minutes each way, included in the total tour duration.

What is included in the price?

The price includes the full-day speedboat tour, lunch, alcoholic drinks, and soft drinks.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included in the base price, but they can be provided for an extra cost.

How many people can join the boat?

The activity has a maximum of 15 participants.

Which islands are visited?

The route includes Île aux Cerfs, Ile aux Fouquets Lighthouse, and a beach stop at Ile aux Aigrettes.

Is snorkeling part of the tour?

Yes. The boat stops at Eau Bleue, described as a natural aquarium, for about 40 minutes of snorkeling.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund.