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

The best part of this Mauritius day is the variety. In about seven hours, you move from a sandy island lunch to a colonial-era lighthouse, a waterfall, a snorkeling stop, and a beach drink on Île aux Aigrettes. The speedboat keeps the route lively, though around three hours of the day is spent getting to and from the main stops.

I like the small maximum group of 15 and the fact that lunch, BBQ food, and drinks are included. I also like the mix of water time and sightseeing, since you are not stuck on one beach all day. The main thing to check before booking is the group arrangement: this is not automatically a private boat, and one booking party of four found about 12 people aboard.

Key points to know before booking

• Three island stops: Île aux Cerfs, Île aux Fouquets lighthouse island, and Île aux Aigrettes beach.
• A full day on the water: The tour lasts about seven hours, including roughly 90 minutes of boat travel each way.
• Lunch and drinks included: Expect a BBQ meal, alcoholic drinks, and soft drinks.
• Snorkeling at Eau Bleue: The stop lasts about 40 minutes at a natural aquarium near Vieux Grand Port.
• A compact group, not a guaranteed private charter: The boat can carry up to 15 people.
• Early start from Trou d’Eau Douce: Departure is at 7:30 a.m., with the boat returning to the same meeting point.

Why this speedboat route works so well

Mauritius is easy to picture as one long beach holiday, but its eastern coast gives you more to see than sand and sea. This trip strings together several sights that would be awkward to visit independently in one morning and afternoon.

You get the bright-water appeal of Île aux Cerfs, but the day also includes the old lighthouse on Île aux Fouquets, a waterfall reached along the Grand River, and a snorkeling stop at Eau Bleue. That mix gives the outing a better rhythm than a simple beach transfer.

The speedboat is important here. You are not spending the day on a slow ferry, and the ride itself becomes part of the experience. At the same time, you should be realistic about the timing. The operator estimates about one and a half hours of boat travel each way, so the seven-hour schedule includes a substantial amount of time in transit.

That is not necessarily a problem. If you enjoy being on the water, the ride links the stops in a pleasant way. If you want maximum time swimming or lying on the beach, a single-island excursion may suit you better.

Starting at Trou d’Eau Douce at 7:30 a.m.

The day begins at Trou d’Eau Douce, a useful departure point for exploring Mauritius’s eastern waters. You need to arrange your own way to the meeting point because hotel pickup and drop-off are not included in the listed price. Pickup can be provided for an extra charge.

The early start matters. It gives the boat time to cover the route and still fit in several stops before returning to Trou d’Eau Douce. You will want to plan your morning around being ready at 7:30 a.m., rather than treating this as a flexible late-start beach day.

The experience is aimed at people with a moderate level of physical fitness. You should be comfortable boarding a boat, moving around a beach or island stop, and taking part in snorkeling if you choose. The tour has mobile-ticket confirmation, and booking confirmation is provided at the time of purchase.

Île aux Cerfs, the main beach stop

Île aux Cerfs is the central stop on the trip. You spend about an hour and a half there, with lunch and drinks served on the island. The food element is practical as well as enjoyable: you do not need to arrange a separate restaurant booking or carry a full meal for the day.

The meal is described as a BBQ, with alcoholic drinks and soft drinks included. That makes the $88.81 price easier to assess, especially if you would otherwise pay separately for a boat trip, lunch, and refreshments. It also means you should think of the price as covering a full outing rather than transport alone.

Your time on Île aux Cerfs is not unlimited. An hour and a half gives you enough time to eat, walk along the sand, and enjoy the setting, but not enough for an unhurried full-day stay. If your priority is a long, quiet beach session, you may find the schedule a little busy.

I like that the beach stop comes with a clear purpose and a meal rather than being just a quick photo pause. Still, keep an eye on the return time. The other stops are part of the value of this trip, and lingering too long on Île aux Cerfs would affect the rest of the route.

Île aux Fouquets and its lighthouse

The lighthouse stop adds a bit of character to an otherwise water-focused day. Île aux Fouquets, also known as Île aux Phare, is visited for about 30 minutes. The skippers give a briefing on the island’s history, so you get some context rather than simply seeing a structure from the boat.

Thirty minutes is a short visit, but it fits the overall design of the tour. This is a sampler of eastern Mauritius, not a slow historical tour devoted to one island. The lighthouse gives you a change of scene and a reason to look beyond the beach.

The exact amount of time you spend on land may depend on how the boat handles the stop, but the stated plan includes time to visit the island. Bring a phone or camera if you want pictures, but do not expect a long guided walk or a large museum-style visit. The appeal is the setting, the old lighthouse, and the story supplied by the skipper.

This is also one of the stops that makes the trip feel more rounded. You are not simply being shuttled between swimming areas. You get a small piece of Mauritius’s maritime past along with the coastal views.

Eau Bleue for a 40-minute snorkeling stop

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

This is the most hands-on part of the day. It gives you time in the water without using up the whole schedule. If you enjoy snorkeling, 40 minutes is long enough to make the stop worthwhile, though it is still a short outing rather than a dedicated reef excursion.

Water conditions matter here. The trip requires good weather, and poor weather can lead to a changed date or a full refund. That policy makes sense for a speedboat and snorkeling tour, since wind and rough water affect both comfort and safety.

Do not book this portion expecting an elaborate guided marine-life lesson. The information provided promises a clear-water snorkeling stop with tropical fish, not a specialist wildlife tour. You should see it as a chance to swim and look around at one attractive point on the route.

Grande Rivière Sud Est and its waterfall

After Île aux Cerfs, the boat heads along the Grand River to Grande Rivière Sud Est. The stop is about 15 minutes and features the second-longest waterfall in Mauritius.

The short timing tells you what to expect. This is a scenic viewing stop, not a hike to the base of the falls. You will have a chance to see the waterfall and take in the river setting, but the tour does not allow for a long walk or extended exploration.

Even with only 15 minutes, the waterfall is a welcome contrast to the open sea. It shows another side of eastern Mauritius and breaks up the beach and snorkeling stops. If you enjoy seeing several natural sights in one day, this brief visit adds real value.

The route along the Grand River is also part of the attraction. The boat trip is not just empty travel between scheduled points. The waterway gives the day a different feel from the offshore island stops.

Île aux Aigrettes, a final beach drink

On the return, the boat stops at the beach of Île aux Aigrettes for about 30 minutes. The plan includes a final drink, making this a relaxed end to the sightseeing portion of the day.

This is a beach stop rather than a full visit to the nature reserve. The information provided specifically describes access to the beach, so you should not assume that you will tour the reserve or see its wildlife. That distinction matters if you are booking because of the reserve itself.

As a short final pause, Île aux Aigrettes works well. You can have a drink, enjoy the shore, and let the pace of the day slow down before the boat returns to Trou d’Eau Douce. It is a small detail, but ending with a drink on the sand feels more pleasant than simply making the long ride back immediately.

The unlisted shipwreck stop

The route also includes a small stop at the shipwreck of D’Alblair. This is mentioned as part of the overall day, although the detailed timing does not assign it a separate duration.

Treat it as an additional sight rather than a major stop. You may have time to look at the wreck from the boat or pause nearby, but the trip does not promise a long visit or a separate activity there. It is another reason to keep expectations flexible on a multi-stop boat route.

The shipwreck, lighthouse, waterfall, and snorkeling area give the tour more texture than a straightforward island transfer. You see several different types of attraction without having to organize separate transport for each one.

What the $88.81 price really covers

At $88.81 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a day in Mauritius, but the price includes a fair amount. You are paying for a full-day speedboat trip, lunch, alcoholic drinks, and soft drinks, along with stops at several coastal sights.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise pay for a boat excursion and a meal separately. It is also useful for anyone who wants one organized route instead of arranging transport between Trou d’Eau Douce, Île aux Cerfs, the lighthouse, the waterfall, and the snorkeling area.

The value is weaker if you mainly want to sit on Île aux Cerfs. You spend only about 90 minutes there, and much of the day is divided among several short stops. In that case, a simpler beach trip might give you more of what you want.

You should also budget for getting to Trou d’Eau Douce unless you pay extra for pickup. That additional transport cost is not included in the $88.81 price, so the final amount may be higher for anyone staying far from the meeting point.

Group size and the private-trip warning

The tour has a maximum of 15 people, which keeps it smaller than a large boat excursion. A small group usually makes boarding, meal service, and moving between stops easier.

However, a maximum of 15 does not mean the trip is private. One party booked for four people and found around 12 people on the speedboat. The outing was still enjoyable, but the expectation of a private trip caused real disappointment.

This is the most important booking point. If you want a private boat, ask before paying and get the arrangement confirmed in writing. Do not assume that booking for a small party creates a private charter.

For most people, a shared boat is a reasonable trade-off for the range of stops and included food. You get a social day on the water and a fixed route. If privacy is central to your plans, look for a specifically private option instead.

Timing, comfort, and what to bring

Seven hours is long enough to feel like a main holiday outing, but the timetable is active. You have the early meeting time, extended boat travel, several stops, lunch, and the return ride. The pace suits you if you prefer seeing several places in one day.

The physical demands appear moderate, but you should be ready for boat boarding and beach movement. Snorkeling is optional in the sense that the itinerary describes a stop for it, not a required activity, but you should be comfortable around the water if you plan to take part.

A few practical choices will help:

• Wear clothing that works for both a boat ride and beach stops.
• Bring sun protection and a change of clothes for snorkeling.
• Keep your phone or camera secure around the boat and water.
• Plan your route to Trou d’Eau Douce before the 7:30 a.m. start.
• Confirm whether you are booking a shared boat or a private charter.

The tour operator requires good weather. If weather forces a cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not reached. For your own cancellation, you need to cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Who should book this Mauritius boat trip

I would choose this trip if you want a broad taste of Mauritius’s eastern coast in one day. It suits couples, families, and small groups who like switching between beaches, landmarks, snorkeling, and scenery instead of staying put.

It is also a good fit if you value an organized day with food and drinks included. The itinerary takes care of the basic structure, and the skippers provide information about Île aux Fouquets rather than leaving every stop unexplained.

I would look elsewhere if you want a private boat without having to ask, a long snorkeling session, or several quiet hours on one beach. The trip is designed around variety, not extended time at any single place.

The strongest praise connected with the experience is aimed at its organization, punctual running, and friendly professional guiding. That matches the tour’s design: it works best when the route stays on schedule and the guide keeps the transitions moving.

Should you book it?

Book this speedboat trip if you want to combine Île aux Cerfs with a lighthouse, waterfall, snorkeling stop, beach drink, and BBQ in one outing. The included meal and drinks make the price reasonable for a full day, and the maximum group size of 15 keeps the boat from becoming a large excursion.

Before booking, confirm two things: how you will reach Trou d’Eau Douce and whether you are joining a shared boat. If you accept those points, this is a lively and efficient way to see several eastern Mauritius sights. If your perfect day means privacy or uninterrupted beach time, choose a simpler or explicitly private boat trip instead.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts at Trou d’Eau Douce, Mauritius, at 7:30 a.m. It ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts about seven hours. Around one and a half hours of boat travel each way is included in that total duration.

Is hotel pickup included?

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

What food and drinks are included?

Lunch is included, along with BBQ food, alcoholic drinks, and soft drinks.

Is the boat trip private?

The trip is not automatically private. It has a maximum of 15 participants, and a booking party may share the speedboat with other people.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.