Mauritius: 3 Activities + Ile aux Cerfs Boat tour w/ BBQ

Mauritius packs a lot into this tour: three water activities at Belle Mare, followed by a speedboat ride to Grand River South East Waterfall and the beaches of Ile aux Cerfs. I like the mix of thrills and scenery, and I like that the BBQ includes local drinks such as beer, wine, and rum. The main catch is the split meeting points, since you must arrange your own ride between Belle Mare and Trou D’eau Douce.

I also like the helpful water-sports crew, especially the gentle guidance reported during the underseawalk, and the lively speedboat route through the east coast. But the schedule can feel tight, and one poor experience involved missing Ile aux Cerfs after a delayed start, so you need to watch the clock.

Key points to know before booking

• Three Belle Mare activities start the day: Parasailing, underseawalk, and tube riding are included, with about two hours at the water-sports base.
• The tour uses two separate locations: Start at Aquasea Watersports Belle Mare, then arrange a taxi or rental car to Trou D’eau Douce.
• Grand River South East Waterfall comes by speedboat: You get a short scenic stop, with a chance to spot monkeys in the trees along the riverbanks.
• Lunch is served on Ile aux Margenie: The package includes a BBQ meal and local drinks, though the meal description should be confirmed at booking.
• Ile aux Cerfs is the beach finale: You get time for swimming, sandy beaches, sightseeing, and a possible arts and crafts market visit.
• The price is strongest for active visitors: At $124 per person, it bundles several paid activities, transport on the water, food, and drinks, but not land transfers.

Belle Mare starts with three different kinds of fun

Your morning begins at Aquasea Watersports Belle Mare, located between Long Beach hotel and Emperror Restaurant. The first portion lasts about two hours and focuses on parasailing, underseawalk, and a tube ride in the clear lagoon.

Parasailing gives you the biggest view. From above the water, you get a broad look at Belle Mare’s coast and the lagoon. It is the calmest of the three activities once you are in the air, though the launch and return can feel more exciting than the flight itself.

The underseawalk offers a different sort of encounter. You wear special equipment and walk beneath the surface rather than swimming freely. The crew receives particularly strong praise for being gentle and helpful, which matters here because first-time participants may feel unsure during the initial descent. The activity is suitable for children from age nine if they have broad shoulders, but the general tour is not suitable for children under eight.

The tube ride supplies the roughest, most playful action. You are pulled across the lagoon while holding on, so expect splashes and sudden movement. Comfortable clothes, swimwear, a towel, and a change of clothes are essential. Keep your camera protected, and bring more sunscreen than you think you need.

One point needs clarification before you pay. The main description lists parasailing, underseawalk, and tube riding, while the itinerary also refers to scuba diving and a banana boat ride. The included-services section again confirms the first three activities. I would ask Atlantis Tours Mauritius to confirm the exact morning lineup so there are no surprises.

The two-location plan needs careful timing

This is not one continuous departure from a single dock. You finish the water activities at Belle Mare, then make your own way to Trou D’eau Douce, about 15 minutes by car according to the supplied details.

That short drive is manageable, but it is still your responsibility. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, and neither is the transfer between the two activity points. A taxi or rental car is the practical answer. If you use a taxi, allow enough time to find the second meeting point and get settled before the boat leaves.

This arrangement is the tour’s biggest weakness. One unhappy participant reported having no clear timing during the morning activities, arriving late at the second meeting point, and missing Ile aux Cerfs as a result. That is a serious issue because Ile aux Cerfs is one of the main reasons to book the package.

Ask for the exact handover time before starting at Belle Mare. Keep your phone available, avoid adding extra stops, and tell the water-sports office that you have a boat departure later. The tour is advertised as six hours, so there is not much room for a relaxed lunch break or a slow transfer.

Speedboat scenery at Grand River South East Waterfall

Once you reach Trou D’eau Douce, you board a speedboat with the crew and head toward Grand River South East Waterfall, also known as Cascade Diamamouve. The ride takes you through the river and its surrounding valleys, with a short stop of about 30 minutes for photos, sightseeing, and a closer look at the falls.

The waterfall is not only about the falling water. Look into the trees along the banks for monkeys, which can be easy to miss if nobody points them out. Bring your camera, but protect it from spray. The boat can be wet, and the river approach may involve sharp turns or quick movement.

The quality of the explanation may vary. One highly rated account praised the boat guide’s skill around the waterfall, while another found the speedboat ride too loud and wanted more information about the falls and monkeys. I would treat this as a scenic stop first and a formal guided nature talk second.

The stop is short, so do not expect a long walk or a broad exploration of the river. The value comes from seeing the waterfall from the water and getting a quick change from open lagoon to river scenery.

BBQ lunch on Ile aux Margenie

After the waterfall, the boat continues to Ile aux Margenie, a small island where lunch is served on the beach. The meal is described as a three-course BBQ, with soft drinks, juice, water, beer, wine, and local rum included.

The setting is part of the appeal. You eat near the shore rather than in a standard restaurant, and the beach setting gives the meal a relaxed island feel. A German visitor described the food as simple but sufficient, with the location doing much of the work. That is a fair way to approach it: this is a practical outdoor lunch, not a fine-dining event.

There is one inconsistency worth noting. One French-language account described receiving only one dish, despite the advertised three-course meal. Since portions and meal service can vary, confirm what the three courses include before booking if lunch is especially important to you.

The drinks package adds real value. Beer, wine, local rum, juice, soft drinks, and water are included, so you are not paying separately for every refreshment. Drink sensibly, especially in the sun and on a moving boat, and keep water in the mix.

Ile aux Cerfs delivers the classic Mauritius finish

The final island stop is Ile aux Cerfs, known for white sand, palm trees, and clear lagoon water. You get about 90 minutes here for free time, swimming, sightseeing, and possibly browsing an arts and crafts market.

This is the most unstructured part of the day. You can swim, sit on the beach, look around the island, or simply enjoy the color of the lagoon. If you have spent the morning being pulled, lifted, and bounced across the water, the chance to slow down is welcome.

Do not expect a private beach. Ile aux Cerfs is a well-known stop, and the experience is built around a popular island setting rather than solitude. The short visit also means you must choose what matters most. If swimming is your priority, head for the water early. If you want crafts, leave time to look around before returning to the boat.

The island visit can feel rushed if the morning runs late. That is why the transport gap matters so much. The day works best when the Belle Mare activities begin on time and the transfer to Trou D’eau Douce is arranged in advance.

What the $124 price really includes

At $124 per person, this is not the cheapest way to visit the east coast, but it combines several separate costs. You receive three Belle Mare water activities, a speedboat trip, the waterfall visit, BBQ lunch, local drinks, Ile aux Margenie, and Ile aux Cerfs.

For an active visitor, that bundle can be good value. Paying for parasailing, an underseawalk, and a tube ride separately could quickly add up, before lunch and the boat trip. The package also saves you from having to plan each water activity and island stop as separate bookings.

The value is weaker if you mainly want a quiet beach day. You still pay for the high-energy morning, even if you would rather spend those hours swimming or relaxing. You also need to add the cost of getting from Belle Mare to Trou D’eau Douce, since land transport is not included.

The six-hour duration keeps the price easier to judge. This is a concentrated activity day, not a leisurely full-day outing with long stops. The advertised description calls it a full-day experience, but the stated duration is six hours, so plan around the shorter figure.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this tour to couples, friends, and active families who want several Mauritius highlights in one booking. It suits people who like trying new water activities and do not mind changing locations during the day.

The underseawalk is a good choice for someone who wants an underwater experience without needing to swim long distances. Parasailing suits people who want views and a mild adrenaline rush, while the tube ride is better for those who enjoy fast, splashy fun.

The tour is not suitable for pregnant women, people with back or heart problems, people recovering from recent surgery, or people with a low level of fitness. Comfortable clothing and water-friendly shoes are sensible, and you should be prepared to get wet on the speedboat.

The host or greeter speaks English and French. Specific guide names are not provided, but the strongest praise concerns the Aquasea crew’s patient, professional approach during the water activities. The boat commentary appears less consistent, so do not book this mainly for detailed interpretation of the waterfall.

Practical packing advice for a wet day

Bring sunglasses, a hat, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, water, a change of clothes, and a camera. Reapply sunscreen throughout the day, especially after swimming and before the boat ride.

A waterproof pouch is useful for phones and wallets, though no waterproof storage is specifically included. Keep personal expenses separate from the included lunch and drinks, since shopping and other purchases are not covered.

Bad weather can affect individual activities. If an activity is cancelled because of weather, the supplied terms state that it will be handled with a partial refund. The tour also allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and offers reserve-now, pay-later booking.

Should you book this Mauritius tour?

Book it if you want maximum variety: three water activities, a river waterfall, a beach BBQ, and time at Ile aux Cerfs. The best parts are the friendly Belle Mare crew, the mix of calm and high-energy activities, the beach lunch, and the chance to see the east coast by speedboat.

Skip it if you dislike tight schedules or want a quiet, unhurried island day. Before booking, confirm the exact morning activities, get the transfer timing in writing, and arrange your ride from Belle Mare to Trou D’eau Douce. With those details settled, the $124 package offers a lively and practical way to see several of Mauritius’s east-coast highlights in one outing.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The stated duration is six hours. The day includes about two hours of water activities at Belle Mare, a waterfall stop of about 30 minutes, and roughly 90 minutes each for lunch and free time around Ile aux Cerfs.

Where does the tour start?

Meet the team at the Aquasea Watersports office at Belle Mare, between Long Beach hotel and Emperror Restaurant.

Do I need to arrange transport between the two locations?

Yes. After the Belle Mare activities, you must arrange your own taxi or rental car to Trou D’eau Douce for the speedboat portion. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Which water activities are included?

The included activities are parasailing, underseawalk, and a tube ride. Another itinerary reference mentions scuba diving and a banana boat ride, so confirm the exact lineup with the provider before departure.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A three-course BBQ lunch is included, along with soft drinks, juice, water, beer, wine, and local rum. One account described a simpler single-dish meal, so confirm the serving details if this matters to you.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The general tour is not suitable for children under eight. The underseawalk is practical for children from age nine if they have broad shoulders.

What happens if bad weather cancels an activity?

Any activity cancelled because of bad weather is handled with a partial refund. You can also cancel the booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.