Mauritius: Speedboat Tour to Ile aux Cerfs with Lunch

The best part of this five-hour outing is the mix of fast coastal travel and easy island time. You speed from Trou d’Eau Douce to Ile aux Cerfs, pass through clear lagoons, pause at the Grande Rivière South East waterfall, then settle down to a beach BBQ with drinks. It packs several classic east-coast sights into one morning or afternoon.

I like two things in particular: the route has real variety, and lunch is included rather than left to chance on a busy beach. You get sand, mangroves, a waterfall, a boat ride, and time to walk or relax. The main drawback is the balance of time. One recent booking found lunch too long and wished for more time on Ile aux Cerfs, so this suits you best if you want a broad outing rather than hours on one beach.

Key points at a glance

• A 20-minute speedboat ride starts the day: You leave from Trou d’Eau Douce and reach Ile aux Cerfs quickly.
• Ile aux Cerfs gives you free time: Walk the white-sand beaches, enjoy the lagoon, or simply sit with a drink.
• The GRSE waterfall is seen by boat: The 45-minute speedboat section leads inland toward the falls and surrounding mangroves.
• Beach BBQ is part of the price: Lunch includes fish, chicken, garlic bread, mixed salad, pasta, seasonal fruit, and drinks.
• French and English are available: The driver provides a short briefing and handles the boat portions of the outing.
• The tour costs $64 per person: That is fair value if you want transport, several stops, lunch, and drinks in one half-day plan.

Leaving Trou d’Eau Douce by speedboat

Your meeting point is outside Chez Tino Restaurant on B59 in Trou d’Eau Douce. This is a central, practical place to begin, but give yourself enough time to find the restaurant and gather before the departure.

The day opens with a short briefing about the route. Then you walk to the jetty and climb aboard the speedboat. The first ride takes about 20 minutes, which keeps the opening stretch lively without turning the boat ride into the whole event.

I like this start because it gets you onto the water quickly. The east coast is the setting here, with turquoise lagoons, green mangroves, and low island scenery replacing the roads and resort areas. The speedboat also makes the journey feel like part of the outing, not just transport between stops.

You should expect some motion. The activity is not a calm sightseeing cruise from beginning to end. The provided information advises against booking if you have back problems, and the speedboat format may not suit anyone who finds a fast boat uncomfortable.

Free time on Ile aux Cerfs

Ile aux Cerfs is the main reason to book this trip. The island is known for white sandy beaches and clear turquoise water, and the plan gives you free time to walk and enjoy the shore before the waterfall section and lunch.

This open time is valuable because you are not pushed from one photo stop to another. You can use it for a beach walk, a look at the lagoon, or simple rest in the sand. If your ideal Mauritius day includes sun, water, and very little scheduling, this is the portion you will care about most.

There is also a tradeoff. The full outing lasts five hours, and that time is shared between the first ride, Ile aux Cerfs, the waterfall cruise, lunch, and the return. You should not book this expecting a full day devoted only to the island.

One booking from Italy specifically wished for more time on Ile aux Cerfs because lunch took up too much of the day. That is useful advice. If beach time is your top priority, keep an eye on the schedule and do not assume that the island stop will fill most of the five hours.

The 45-minute route to Grande Rivière South East

After time at Ile aux Cerfs, the speedboat continues for about 45 minutes toward Grand River South East, also called the GRSE waterfall area. This is the longest boat section, and it changes the mood from open beach to a more enclosed river setting.

The plan includes a boat cruise and a pass by the waterfall rather than a long walk or an extended stop on land. You will see the falls from the water, along with lush green mangroves and the river surroundings. The setting gives the tour a welcome change of pace after the bright beach and lagoon.

The waterfall is also associated with monkeys in the supplied tour information. That detail adds interest, but it is best to treat the stop as a scenic boat visit rather than a wildlife-focused excursion. You are passing through the area, not joining a dedicated animal tour.

I think this part makes the outing feel more complete. Without it, the day would be mainly a beach transfer with lunch. The river and waterfall section adds a second side of Mauritius, though you should choose another trip if you want a long, land-based visit at the falls.

A beach BBQ with Mauritius in the background

Lunch is served at Ile aux Cerfs and includes fish, chicken, garlic bread, mixed salad, pasta, and seasonal fruits. A vegetarian or gluten-free meal is available on request, so you should state that need when booking rather than waiting until the day itself.

Drinks are included too: beer, wine, rum, soft drinks, water, and juice. That matters at a beach stop, where buying every drink separately can quickly push up the cost. A cold drink and a plate of food also give you a proper break after the boat sections.

The meal is designed as a relaxed beach BBQ, not a formal restaurant lunch. I like that fit. You are eating near the sand and water, with the scenery doing much of the work. The food list is broad enough for a mixed group, including people who prefer chicken, fish, salad, pasta, or fruit.

Still, lunch takes time away from Ile aux Cerfs. One of the clearest practical criticisms was that the meal felt too long compared with the island visit. If you want to make the most of the beach, eat efficiently and keep track of the remaining time.

The return ride to Trou d’Eau Douce

After lunch, you return by speedboat to Trou d’Eau Douce. The final ride takes about 20 minutes, so you are not facing another long transfer at the end of the day.

The return gives you one last look at the lagoon and coast. It also keeps the schedule compact. A five-hour plan works well if you are fitting this around other Mauritius activities, an evening meal, or time at your hotel.

The provider is Societe fernand lacour & fils. The driver speaks French and English, and the main communication includes a briefing on the route. The strongest practical praise attached to the organization, welcome, guide, crossing, meal, and attentive service, which tells me the human side of the outing matters as much as the scenery.

What the $64 price covers

At $64 per person, this is a solid package if you want a simple half-day on the east coast. You are paying for the speedboat rides, the Ile aux Cerfs visit, the GRSE waterfall stop, a BBQ lunch, beer, wine, rum, soft drinks, water, and juice.

The value improves if you would otherwise need to arrange separate transport, a boat, lunch, and drinks. It is also useful for people who prefer one organized route rather than piecing together several local connections.

The price is less compelling if you mainly want long, unhurried beach time. A self-planned visit focused on Ile aux Cerfs might give you more control over how long you stay, though this tour adds the waterfall and includes the meal and drinks.

The overall score of 4.6 from 158 ratings points to a dependable product, but the small criticism is worth keeping in mind: the schedule has several moving parts. You are buying variety and convenience, not complete freedom.

Who will enjoy this boat trip most

I would recommend this outing to you if you want to see several east-coast highlights in one manageable block. It suits couples, families with older children, and groups who like a mixture of scenery, swimming or shoreline time, and a meal together.

It also works well for first-time visitors who want a straightforward introduction to Ile aux Cerfs. You do not need to plan boat connections, work out the waterfall route, or find a beach lunch. The guide and driver take care of the basic flow.

You may want to skip it if you have back problems or mobility impairments, as the activity is specifically not considered suitable for those conditions. The boat and jetty access may also be uncomfortable if you need a fully accessible setup.

This is not the right choice for a quiet, private island day. The fixed route and shared schedule mean you follow the group plan. In return, you get an efficient combination of beach, river, waterfall, and BBQ.

Useful planning details before you book

The meeting point is outside Chez Tino Restaurant, B59, Trou d’Eau Douce, Mauritius. The activity lasts five hours, but starting times can vary, so check the available departure before you commit to other plans.

The operator allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Mauritius schedule is still changing.

Ask for a vegetarian or gluten-free meal in advance. The standard menu includes fish and chicken, along with garlic bread, mixed salad, pasta, and seasonal fruit.

The tour is offered in French and English. If you need clear instructions in one of those languages, this arrangement should work well. If you need another language, the available information does not confirm it.

Bring a sensible attitude toward the timetable. You will have free time at Ile aux Cerfs, but the waterfall passage and lunch also have a place in the five-hour plan. The best way to enjoy it is to see the tour as a rounded east-coast outing rather than a long beach stay.

Should you book this Ile aux Cerfs tour?

Book it if you want good variety for $64. The combination of speedboat travel, Ile aux Cerfs, the GRSE waterfall, a beach BBQ, and included drinks gives you a lot to cover in five hours. The organization and meal have been especially well received, and the route is easy to understand.

Think twice if your only goal is maximum time on Ile aux Cerfs. The 45-minute waterfall section and lunch make the day more varied, but they also reduce the hours available on the sand.

For most visitors who want a convenient taste of Mauritius’s east coast, I think the balance works. Go in expecting a lively shared boat outing with a fixed rhythm, not a private beach escape, and the $64 price feels well judged.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

You meet outside Chez Tino Restaurant, B59, Trou d’Eau Douce, Mauritius.

How long does the experience last?

The activity lasts five hours.

What language does the driver speak?

The driver speaks French and English.

What places does the tour visit?

The tour visits Ile aux Cerfs and the Grande Rivière South East waterfall area.

How long is the first speedboat ride?

The first speedboat ride takes about 20 minutes.

How long is the boat section to Grand River South East?

The speedboat journey toward Grand River South East takes about 45 minutes.

What food is included at lunch?

Lunch includes fish, chicken, garlic bread, mixed salad, pasta, and seasonal fruits.

Are drinks included?

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

Can I request a vegetarian or gluten-free meal?

Yes. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available on request.

Is the activity suitable for people with back problems or mobility impairments?

No. The activity is listed as unsuitable for people with back problems and mobility impairments.