Mauritius: Ile Aux Cerfs Catamaran Trip w/ Lunch & Transfer

The best part of this day is the mix: you get a catamaran sail, a waterfall trip, snorkeling, a cooked lunch, and time on one of Mauritius’s famous beaches. It is not just a ride from port to island. You keep changing views, boats, and activities, which gives the long day a good rhythm.

I like the family-style crew service and the amount included for $110. Food, water, beer, wine, rum, soft drinks, transfers, and life jackets are covered. I also like the comfortable 42-foot catamaran, with room to sit in sun or shade. The main drawback is simple: time at Ile aux Cerfs can feel short, often around an hour to 90 minutes, especially if you add parasailing or another paid water sport.

Key points to know before booking

• Grand River South East comes first: Reach the waterfall by speedboat, with a chance to see monkeys and fruit bats along the river.
• The snorkeling stop is brief: It is often around 25 minutes, so bring your own mask if you want the best fit and more independence.
• Lunch is cooked on board: The three-course barbecue may include chicken, fish, prawns, sausage, couscous, and separate food for special dietary needs.
• The boat has breathing room: Groups have ranged from about 15 to 27 people, with seating inside, outside, in shade, and on the front nets.
• Ile aux Cerfs is the beach highlight: White sand, palm trees, warm water, a bar, and optional paid activities await.
• The transfer adds real value: A private air-conditioned vehicle is used for many hotel pickups, even from the north of Mauritius.

A full day from your hotel to Trou d’Eau Douce

Freshverde Holidays picks you up at your hotel reception anywhere in Mauritius. Your driver should contact you with the pickup time, and several drivers, including Kavi, Qasid, Sam, and others, have been praised for clear communication and friendly conversation.

The ride to Trou d’Eau Douce is part of the practical value here. If you stay in the north, the transfer can take about an hour and a half, so this is an early start and a long day. The upside is that you do not need to arrange a taxi, find the port, or worry about getting back after several drinks in the sun.

You are due at the port around 9:15 a.m., with the catamaran leaving at about 9:30. Exact pickup times depend on your hotel location, so keep your morning flexible. A croissant or light snack may be offered as the boat gets underway, but the main meal comes later.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, and the return transfer is included. That matters after a day outdoors. You can simply meet the driver at Trou d’Eau Douce around 4 p.m. and ride back to your accommodation.

Sailing the east coast on a 42-foot catamaran

The catamaran is the main stage for the day. At 42 feet, it has enough room for several seating areas, though the exact group size varies. Some departures have carried about 15 to 18 people, while others have had 23 to 27. Even at the higher end, the layout gives you options: stretch out on the front nets, sit in the open air, or move into shade.

That flexibility is useful in Mauritius. The sun can be strong, and the wind can change how warm you feel on the water. Bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, swimwear, a towel, and dry clothes. A waterproof bag for your phone is sensible, though it is not specifically listed among the provided items.

The crew supplies music, often with local Mauritian songs mixed into the playlist. The mood is social and easygoing rather than quiet and formal. Crew members have included Billy, Chris, and their family teams, with sons helping on board on some departures. Names and crew members can change, but the service style is clear: drinks are offered often, food is kept moving, and the crew checks that people are comfortable.

If you want a silent sailing trip with a naturalist explaining every bay, this is not that. It is a relaxed boat party with scenic cruising, swimming, food, and conversation. That will suit many couples and families, but it may not suit someone looking for a small, highly educational nature tour.

Grand River South East and the waterfall ride

The first major stop is Grand River South East, one of the most enjoyable parts of the route. You transfer from the catamaran to a smaller speedboat and travel roughly 500 meters upstream to the waterfall.

The speedboat gets you close to the falls and into the narrow river setting. Keep your eyes on the old trees along the banks. Monkeys may appear in the branches, and fruit bats can be seen resting high above the water. Sightings are not guaranteed, but several departures have had close views of monkeys, and some people even saw them being fed. Do not treat wildlife as a promise, but do bring a camera that can handle spray.

This short boat change also gives the day some variety. The catamaran is slow and spacious, while the speedboat feels quick and playful. The drawback is that the waterfall stop is not a long hike or a full nature walk. You see the falls from the water, then return to the catamaran.

Some departures have also spotted dolphins or turtles during the wider cruise. These are lucky extras, not part of the guaranteed schedule. The same goes for dolphins seen near the snorkeling area. Enjoy them if they appear, but book this trip for the planned route rather than for wildlife sightings.

Snorkeling in the lagoon

After the waterfall, the catamaran heads into clear lagoon water for a swimming and snorkeling break. You can expect coral and tropical fish, though the amount of marine life varies with conditions and location. One of the clearest practical points is that this is not primarily a snorkeling tour.

The stop may last only about 25 minutes. That is enough for a quick swim and a look at the reef, but not enough for a long, unhurried session. If snorkeling is your main reason for visiting Mauritius, choose a specialist reef trip instead. If it is one pleasant part of a wider day, this stop works well.

Bring your own mask and snorkel if you have them. Equipment details are not specified, and one person noted that having personal gear would have been useful. Life jackets are included, and the water at the stop has been described as shallow enough to help less confident swimmers feel at ease, but you should still be comfortable entering the sea.

The snorkeling stop can also be a good time to stay on board. You can sit in the shade, watch swimmers, or enjoy the view if you do not want to get wet. That makes the trip workable for mixed groups, where one person wants to snorkel and another prefers to relax.

A three-course barbecue lunch at sea

Lunch is served after snorkeling, either on board or, depending on the setup, on the beach. The meal is described as a three-course menu, with barbecue food forming the centerpiece. Meals have included grilled chicken, fish, prawns, sausage, couscous, and other accompaniments.

Food is one of the strongest parts of the package. Several departures have had more than enough to eat, and the crew serves food freshly rather than handing you a small prepacked box. A vegetarian option is available, and the food is halal. If you have an allergy, tell the crew before the meal. One guest with a seafood allergy received food cooked separately, but advance notice is still the wise move.

Drinks include bottled water, juice, soft drinks, beer, wine, and local rum. This is a generous inclusion for a seven-hour boat trip, particularly if you are comparing the price with a hotel-arranged excursion. Pace yourself. Mauritius sun, wind, alcohol, and sea motion can catch up with you quickly.

Lunch is social. People tend to settle into conversations with the crew and other passengers, and the music continues. If you want a peaceful meal, sit away from the speakers and choose a shaded spot if available.

Ile aux Cerfs, beautiful but time-limited

Ile aux Cerfs is the postcard stop. As you approach, you see palm trees, white sand, and bright turquoise water. The island is made for swimming, sunbathing, taking photos, and a slow walk along the shore.

You usually have about an hour to 90 minutes here, though the time can be reduced if you choose an activity. That is enough for a swim and a look around, but it is not enough to explore every facility or linger without watching the clock. Several people wished for a longer island visit, and I think that is the fairest criticism of the itinerary.

Optional activities include parasailing, tube riding, and an undersea walk. These are not included in the $110 price. Parasailing can be a good choice if you want a dramatic view and a little adrenaline, but it will take time away from the beach. Have cash available if you decide to pay for an activity, and expect these add-ons to be expensive.

The island itself can be busier and more commercial than the open-water parts of the trip. There are facilities, water sports, and a bar, so this is not a deserted-island experience. Still, the beach and water are the reason people come, and you get enough time to understand the appeal.

If you prefer beach time above all else, consider booking a beach-focused excursion instead. If you want to combine the island with a waterfall, snorkeling, lunch, and a scenic cruise, this shorter stop is a reasonable trade.

The return sail and the real value of $110

The catamaran returns to Trou d’Eau Douce at about 4 p.m., followed by your hotel drop-off. The return sail is slower and calmer. You have already seen the waterfall, eaten lunch, and used the water, so this is your chance to sit on the front nets, listen to music, and watch the east coast pass by.

At $110 per person, the price is not the cheapest way to reach Ile aux Cerfs. But it covers transport from your hotel, a full catamaran day, the waterfall transfer, snorkeling, lunch, water, alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, and return transport. Paying separately for a taxi, boat, meal, and drinks could quickly reduce the difference.

The value is strongest if you are staying far from Trou d’Eau Douce, want drinks included, or prefer someone else to handle the day. It is weaker if you only want two hours on the beach, avoid alcohol, or already have transport and a cheaper boat option.

The overall rating of 4.3 from 1,922 ratings points to a consistently good experience, though not a perfect one. The most praised elements are the crew, hotel transfers, food, cleanliness, and relaxed atmosphere. The most useful caution is the same throughout: snorkeling is short, and island time can feel compressed.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and reserve-now, pay-later booking make it easier to fit into a changing Mauritius schedule. The trip needs good weather. If conditions cancel it, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Who will enjoy this Mauritius boat trip

I would choose this for couples, families, and first-time visitors who want to see several east-coast highlights in one day. It is also a good fit for a mixed group because you can snorkel, swim, sunbathe, drink, take photos, or stay on board.

The trip is less suitable for someone who wants a quiet luxury cruise, serious reef time, or a long stay on Ile aux Cerfs. It is also physically active in small ways: you board boats, transfer to a speedboat for the waterfall, and enter the water for snorkeling. Although the activity information mentions wheelchair accessibility, the same information says it is not suitable for wheelchair users. If access is important, confirm directly before paying.

Infants aged 1 to 4 are free, and at least two people are required per booking. Guides speak English, French, and Hindi. Those details make the trip practical for families and multilingual groups, but you should still give the operator your dietary needs and hotel details early.

Should you book the Ile aux Cerfs catamaran trip?

Book it if you want a well-filled day on the water rather than a single beach transfer. The crew service, generous drinks, cooked barbecue, clean catamaran, and included hotel transport give this trip strong value. The waterfall and possible monkey sightings add something you would miss on a simple island cruise.

Go in with the right expectations. You may see dolphins, turtles, or plenty of fish, but none is guaranteed. Snorkeling is a short stop, and Ile aux Cerfs may get only 60 to 90 minutes. For most people, that balance works because the day offers far more than a beach visit. If you want the longest possible island stay, choose a different tour. If you want variety, comfort, and a friendly crew, this is an easy Mauritius day trip to recommend.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran trip depart from?

The catamaran departs from Trou d’Eau Douce on the east coast of Mauritius, at about 9:30 a.m.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included from hotels anywhere in Mauritius, with transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.

What languages do the guides speak?

The live guides speak English, French, and Hindi.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A three-course lunch is included, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. The food is halal.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Bottled water, juice, soft drinks, beer, wine, and local rum are included.

Are water sports included in the price?

No. Parasailing, tube riding, the undersea walk, and other water sports are optional and cost extra.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, a hat, swimwear, a change of clothes, a towel, and sunscreen. A personal snorkel mask may also be useful.