5 Islands Private Speedboat w/ Snorkeling + Lunch & Drinks

Mauritius packs a surprising amount into this private speedboat day: five islands, a waterfall, wild monkeys, Blue Bay Marine Park, and a long stop at Ile aux Cerfs. The boat is your base, so you move between major sights without joining a large shared cruise.

I like the chance to snorkel near sea turtles and tropical fish, and I like the way the day combines active stops with two hours to swim or sunbathe. The BBQ lunch, drinks, and optional hotel transfer also make the $498 group price easier to understand, especially for four people.

The main caution is that the advertised nine hours does not always seem to happen. Some outings have ended several hours early, and language support can be uneven even when a German-speaking guide is requested. Confirm the departure, return time, guide language, and what is included before you pay.

Key points to know before booking

• Five island route: Visit Ile aux Cerfs, Ile aux Phares, Ile de La Passe, Ile aux Aigrettes, and Ilot Margenie, with stops and views along the way.
• Blue Bay snorkeling: Use the supplied equipment to see tropical fish, with a chance of spotting sea turtles and dolphins.
• Beach BBQ: Eat grilled chicken, grilled fish, rice, pasta, garlic bread, and salad on Ile aux Cerfs.
• Private boat setting: Your group of up to four has its own speedboat, rather than sharing the vessel with a large tour crowd.
• Open bar at the beach stop: Beer, wine, rum, juice, soft drinks, water, and snacks are included, but the timing of service deserves clarification.
• Check the schedule: The tour is sold as nine hours, yet some departures have returned around 2 p.m. instead of 5 p.m.

The speedboat day at a glance

This is an east and southeast coast outing built around movement. You start at Trou d’Eau Douce, climb aboard a private speedboat, and spend the day crossing the lagoon and coastal waters around Mauritius.

The route is not just a string of photo stops. It mixes island scenery, a river waterfall, wildlife, snorkeling, a beach meal, and optional water sports. That variety is the reason to choose it over a simple beach cruise.

The private format matters. With a group of up to four, you can enjoy the boat without being tied to a large party. You also have more room to ask for a slower look at a view or to talk with the skipper about the next stop.

Still, private does not always mean quiet. Ile aux Cerfs is a popular island, and the lunch area can feel social and party-oriented. You can usually move away from the main group during your free time, but do not book this expecting a deserted island.

Starting at Trou d’Eau Douce

The boat trip begins and ends at Trou d’Eau Douce on the east coast. If your hotel is nearby, a complimentary transfer may be available. Hotel and Airbnb pick-up throughout Mauritius is offered as an optional extra, so ask about the cost before booking if you are staying far from the launch point.

An early start is the smart choice. The morning gives you a better chance of reaching the main sites before boat traffic builds. An early departure also makes the snorkeling stop more pleasant, with less movement and noise around the water.

Bring sunscreen and a camera. You will spend much of the day exposed to sun and spray, and the route offers plenty of moments worth recording. The supplied snorkeling equipment is included, so you do not need to arrange your own set unless you prefer a personal mask and snorkel.

Ile aux Cerfs and the first island stop

The first planned stop is Ile aux Cerfs, where you have about 45 minutes for a short visit and refreshments. This first stop gives you time to get your bearings before the faster boat ride continues.

Ile aux Cerfs is known for white sand, clear lagoon water, and water sports. The longer return visit later in the day is the important one, while this first stop works more like an introduction to the island.

If you want a relaxed day, use this opening pause to enjoy the shore and take photos. If you plan to try parasailing or a tube ride later, this is also a useful time to see where those activities are offered. Parasailing and the tube ride are not part of the tour price, so budget separately for them.

Grand River South East and the waterfall

From Ile aux Cerfs, the boat heads toward Grand River South East. Here, freshwater drops over a waterfall and runs toward the Indian Ocean. The setting gives you a change of pace from the open lagoon and a chance to see one of Mauritius’s better-known coastal sights from the water.

The visit is brief rather than a long land walk. You are there to view the waterfall and enjoy the boat approach, not to spend hours hiking around the river.

This is also the point where the tour introduces its wildlife element. The outing includes feeding wild Mauritian monkeys. That may be memorable, especially for families, but the practice deserves a clear-eyed response. Feeding wild animals can affect their behavior, and one account specifically objected to the use of chips. I would enjoy watching the monkeys, but I would ask the crew exactly what food is being used and avoid treating the animals like pets.

Ile aux Phares and Ile de La Passe

The speedboat then passes Ile aux Phares and Ile de La Passe. These islands add history and scenery to the route, even though the supplied schedule gives less detail about time spent ashore at either one.

Ile aux Phares is associated with the old lighthouse that helped guide ships through the waters around Mauritius. Ile de La Passe also sits in a part of the coast shaped by maritime routes and colonial-era conflict. From a private boat, you mainly experience these places as striking offshore landmarks rather than museum visits.

That distinction is important. If you want long guided talks about Mauritius’s past, this is not a dedicated history tour. If you like seeing historic places in their coastal setting while moving through a full day of nature stops, the route gives you a useful glimpse.

Snorkeling in Blue Bay Marine Park

The strongest part of the day for many people will be Blue Bay Marine Park. You stop for a snorkeling session among tropical fish, using equipment supplied by the operator.

Blue Bay is one of Mauritius’s best-known marine areas, and the appeal is simple: you get a close look at the lagoon without needing a full scuba excursion. The outing also includes the chance to see sea turtles and dolphins. Sightings are never something a responsible operator can guarantee, but the wildlife possibility adds real excitement to the crossing.

You should set realistic expectations. This is a group snorkeling stop within a larger day, not a specialist marine biology trip. Conditions can affect visibility and animal sightings. Still, the combination of shallow lagoon water, tropical fish, and a chance of turtles makes this a worthwhile use of the boat time.

Keep your camera secure and use sunscreen before you enter the water. Reapply after snorkeling, since the sun can feel stronger than expected when you are wet and riding in an open boat.

Ile aux Aigrettes and the return across the lagoon

After Blue Bay Marine Park, the route passes Ile aux Aigrettes for refreshments. Ile aux Aigrettes is known as a nature reserve, though this speedboat itinerary does not describe a reserve visit or walking tour. You should treat it as a scenic island pass with a refreshment break, not as an organized land excursion.

At this stage, the open bar is meant to become a larger part of the day. Drinks listed include Mauritian beer, wine, rum, juice, soft drinks, and water. Snacks are also included.

Here is where you should clarify the wording before departure. The experience is promoted as all-inclusive, but some outings have had only a small cooler with limited drinks and a couple of bags of chips available during the earlier part of the trip. The main meal and fuller drink service appear to be connected to the final Ile aux Cerfs stop. If unlimited drinks throughout the cruise matter to you, ask the crew when the bar opens and what snacks will be loaded on your boat.

Two hours at Ile aux Cerfs

The final major stop gives you about two hours on Ile aux Cerfs. This is the most flexible part of the day, and it is where the tour shifts from sightseeing to holiday mode.

You can swim, sunbathe, drink coconut water, or simply sit on the white sand. If you want more action, parasailing and a tube ride are available at extra cost. Those activities are not included, so do not assume the price covers them.

Lunch is prepared on the beach. The listed meal includes grilled chicken, grilled fish, rice, pasta, garlic bread, and salad. That is a generous spread for a boat day, and the menu gives you both meat and fish options. Individual requests have been accommodated before, including vegetarian meals for children, but you should state dietary needs when arranging the tour rather than waiting until lunch.

Live music or a sega show may add entertainment during the meal. Sega is Mauritius’s traditional music and dance style, so this can give the beach stop a local touch. The tradeoff is atmosphere. The lunch area can attract people in a strong party mood, and it may not feel peaceful at the busiest point. The good news is that two hours gives you time to eat, then walk or sit farther away from the main activity.

How the private format affects value

The price is $498 for a group of up to four. At full capacity, that works out to about $124.50 per person before any optional transfer or water sports. For a private boat, snorkeling equipment, lunch, drinks, island stops, and a full day on the water, that can be fair value for a small family or group of friends.

For two people, the same price becomes $249 per person. That is harder to justify if you mainly want a short boat ride and a beach lunch. The private format is most useful when four people share the cost and want control over the setting.

You are also paying for convenience. The route links several places that would be awkward to combine independently in one day. You do not need to arrange a separate waterfall trip, marine park outing, island cruise, and beach meal.

The value drops sharply if your trip ends early. A day advertised at nine hours should not finish after five hours unless you have agreed to a shorter plan. Confirm the expected return time at Trou d’Eau Douce, and ask what happens if weather or local conditions change the route.

Guides, languages, and communication

The tour lists live guiding in English, French, German, Italian, and Romanian. Anil has been specifically praised for being an engaged skipper and guide, including helping a family with children and vegetarian meal needs.

Do not assume that selecting a language guarantees a fluent guide on the boat. German-speaking guests have booked that option and received an English-only guide, with little information offered unless they asked questions. If guide commentary matters to you, confirm the language in writing and ask who will lead your departure.

The boat operator and guide are central to the experience. A good skipper can make the island route feel connected, point out wildlife, explain what you are seeing, and keep the timing clear. A quiet driver who gives few explanations can leave you unsure about the next stop, especially on a long day with several place names.

I would prepare a few questions in advance: How long will we stay at each island? When will lunch be served? When does the open bar begin? What is the planned return time? Those answers will tell you more than the sales description.

Who should book this outing

This is a good fit for a small group that wants one active day with many different stops. Families can combine swimming, wildlife, a beach meal, and optional water sports without changing tours each day. Friends may like the private boat, rum cocktails, music, and freedom to set the mood.

It also suits first-time visitors who want to cover several famous coastal sights quickly. The route gives you a broad taste of Mauritius: lagoon water, offshore islands, a waterfall, marine life, and a popular beach.

You may want a different experience if you dislike speedboat travel, want a quiet and uncrowded beach, or care most about detailed historical interpretation. It is also not ideal if you need a fixed nine-hour schedule and cannot tolerate an early return.

The monkey feeding may trouble visitors who prefer wildlife experiences with no direct feeding. If that is you, say so clearly and ask whether you can simply watch from the boat or shore.

Booking advice and final verdict

Book this tour if you are four people, want a private boat, and value variety over long stays at one place. Choose the earliest available start, confirm the guide language, and get the exact return time before departure. Ask for written clarification on hotel transfers, snack service, and extra-cost water sports.

I would be more cautious for a couple paying the full group price or for anyone expecting a truly unlimited bar from the first minute. The strongest elements are the private boat, Blue Bay snorkeling, the possibility of turtles and dolphins, and the well-planned beach lunch stop.

The trip earns its price when it runs close to the full schedule and the crew communicates well. If those details are confirmed, it is a lively and efficient way to see Mauritius from the water. If not, the early finish and thin daytime refreshments can make the cost feel poor.

FAQ

Where does the speedboat tour start and finish?

The tour starts and ends at Trou d’Eau Douce on the east coast of Mauritius.

How long does the tour last?

The advertised duration is nine hours. You should confirm the planned return time because some departures have ended much earlier than scheduled.

How many people can join the private group?

The price covers a private group of up to four people.

What islands does the route visit?

The route includes Ile aux Cerfs, Ile aux Phares, Ile de La Passe, Ile aux Aigrettes, and Ilot Margenie.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included for the Blue Bay Marine Park stop.

Can I see dolphins and sea turtles?

The tour includes opportunities to see dolphins and sea turtles, but sightings are not guaranteed.

What food is served for lunch?

The BBQ lunch includes grilled chicken, grilled fish, rice, pasta, garlic bread, and salad. Vegetarian requests have been accommodated, so mention dietary needs when booking.

What drinks are included?

Included drinks are listed as Mauritian rum, wine, beer, juice, soft drinks, and water. Snacks are also included, but confirm when full drink service begins and what will be available during the boat ride.

Is hotel pick-up included?

Hotel and Airbnb pick-up and drop-off throughout Mauritius are available as an optional transfer. A complimentary transfer may be available for some hotels near the starting point, so confirm the arrangement before booking.