Mauritius South Tour Including Blue Bay Glass Bottom Boat & Snorkelling

Blue Bay Marine Park is the star here. The water shifts through several shades of blue, and a glass-bottom boat takes you over coral and tropical fish before you slip in for a snorkel. You then trade the lagoon for Gris Gris’s pounding surf, crocodiles and tortoises at La Vanille, and a rum tasting at St. Aubin.

I like the private vehicle and flexible timing, since you can spend longer at Blue Bay or shorten a stop that does not suit you. I also like the mix of sea, wild coast, animals, gardens, and rum in one day. The catch is simple: entrance fees and lunch are extra, and the day may feel rushed if you try to do every stop.

What makes this southern Mauritius day special

• Blue Bay’s glass-bottom boat and snorkeling: The marine park offers clear water, coral formations, and tropical fish, with equipment supplied.
• A private road trip for your group: Hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, parking, and waiting time are included.
• Gris Gris shows another side of Mauritius: Here the coral reef breaks, leaving powerful waves to strike dark coastal cliffs.
• La Vanille is more than a tortoise stop: Its grounds include Nile crocodiles, giant tortoises, palms, banana trees, bamboo, and a large insect collection.
• St. Aubin adds local flavor: You can see rum production, sample different rums, and visit a colonial house and plantings of vanilla and anthuriums.
• The schedule is adjustable: You choose how long to stay, but that freedom requires some discipline if you want to see all four places.

Blue Bay Marine Park sets the pace

Your day starts around 9 a.m. with pickup from your hotel in an air-conditioned taxi, minibus, or coach. The vehicle is insured, and a fully licensed driver handles the route. Since this is arranged as a private transfer for your group, you avoid collecting strangers at several hotels and can discuss the order of the day with your driver.

At Blue Bay Beach, the color of the water explains the name. From shore, you board a glass-bottom boat for the short trip into Blue Bay Marine Park. The boat gives you two ways to see the area: look down through the glass for coral and fish, then use the supplied mask and snorkel to see the reef at water level.

This is the strongest part of the experience. The water can remain clear even under cloudy skies, and the marine life includes trumpet fish, other tropical fish, coral formations, and smaller sea creatures. You should allow the full two hours here if snorkeling is high on your list. Cutting this stop short to make room for every other attraction would miss the point of booking the tour.

The boat portion is not necessarily private. The vehicle and day plan are private for your group, while the glass-bottom boat section can be shared. That distinction matters if you expect a completely private boat ride.

Bring a swimsuit, towel, sun protection, and a change of clothes. Snorkeling equipment is included, but lunch and snacks are not. The supplied information does not promise food at Blue Bay, so plan around the fact that this is an active morning stop rather than a meal stop.

Gris Gris and La Roche qui Pleure show the wild coast

After the calm water of Blue Bay, Gris Gris feels like a different island. Much of Mauritius is protected by coral reefs, which helps create the gentle lagoons associated with the coast. At Gris Gris, the reef breaks, leaving the shore open to the sea.

Give yourself about 30 minutes to look from the cliffs and take photographs. The main sight is the contrast between solid rock and large waves. Nearby, La Roche qui Pleure, or the Rock That Cries, appears to shed tears when waves strike its surface.

This stop is brief, and that is probably right for the schedule. Gris Gris is a scenic viewpoint, not a swimming beach. The rough water and exposed coast make it a place to watch from a safe position rather than enter the sea. If you prefer beaches, coral, and warm shallow water, Blue Bay will be more rewarding. If you want a sharper sense of the southern coast, Gris Gris supplies it in half an hour.

La Vanille combines animals, plants, and insects

La Vanille Réserve des Mascareignes takes about two hours. Its 3.5 hectares contain palms, banana trees, giant bamboo, and animal enclosures. The headline attractions are the Nile crocodiles and giant tortoises, with stated numbers of about 2,000 crocodiles and 1,000 giant tortoises.

The tortoises are likely to be the most appealing part for many people. They offer a slower, land-based contrast to the quick movement of fish at Blue Bay. The crocodiles provide a more imposing sight, while the greenery gives the visit a shaded garden setting.

The insectarium adds another layer. It contains a private collection of 23,000 species, making it more than a quick animal photo stop. If insects interest you, leave enough time to look carefully rather than treating the building as an optional extra.

I would set expectations before paying the entrance fee. La Vanille can feel underwhelming if your main goal is snorkeling or dramatic scenery, especially after the strong opening at Blue Bay. The park also costs extra, so you have a genuine choice: pay for the animal park, or use the flexible schedule to spend more time elsewhere.

That flexibility is useful, but it also creates a small planning problem. The listed stops add up to roughly six and a half hours before driving, meals, and transitions. The tour lasts about eight hours, so you may not have time for a full visit at every stop. Ask your driver to help you protect the time for the places you care about most.

St. Aubin turns the final stop into a tasting

Rhumerie de Saint Aubin uses traditional and artisanal methods to produce rum. The visit can include the factory, an explanation of the rum-making process, and samples of several varieties.

This is not just a tasting room. You can also see a colonial house and plantations of vanilla and anthurium flowers. Those details help connect the drink to the island’s agricultural life, rather than presenting rum as a stand-alone souvenir.

Allow about two hours if you want the complete visit. The attraction fee is not included, so check the cost before committing. St. Aubin is closed on Saturday afternoons, Sundays, and public holidays. This is the most important scheduling warning in the entire day. If your tour falls on one of those times, you may need to skip the stop or spend longer elsewhere.

You should also remember that lunch is not part of the price. One piece of feedback specifically raised concern about being taken to an expensive restaurant. The supplied details do not promise a particular lunch venue, so ask in advance where you will eat and how much control you have over that choice. A private day gives you room to discuss it, but it does not make meals free.

How the private format affects your day

The $100.86 per-person price buys more than admission to a single attraction. It covers hotel pickup and return, an insured air-conditioned vehicle, a licensed driver, parking and waiting time, the boat trip, and snorkeling equipment. For a group, that combination can be good value because transport is organized around your party rather than a fixed public schedule.

The price is less attractive if you plan to skip La Vanille and St. Aubin, since their entrance fees are extra. It becomes more reasonable if you want all the transport arranged and would otherwise need to hire a car or book separate outings.

The maximum group size is 15, but the private arrangement means the vehicle is intended for your own group. Do not assume this guarantees a private guide with long explanations at every stop. The service information promises a qualified driver, and one account described a driver who gave the group freedom but offered limited explanation. If detailed interpretation matters to you, ask at booking what guiding is included.

That point is worth stressing. The best version of this day is a cooperative road trip, with you choosing priorities and the driver helping manage time. It may not feel like a formal, heavily narrated sightseeing tour. If you want constant commentary, confirm that before booking.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would recommend this day to couples, families, and small groups who want several sides of Mauritius without arranging four separate visits. It works especially well if your group includes mixed interests: one person can snorkel, another can enjoy animals, and everyone gets the coastal scenery and rum stop.

It suits you if you value:

• Hotel pickup and return
• A private vehicle
• Flexible time at each attraction
• Snorkeling with equipment supplied
• A full southern Mauritius route in one day
• The option to skip attractions whose extra fees do not appeal to you

It is less suitable if you want a slow beach day. The itinerary covers a lot of ground, and you may need to choose between a complete park visit and longer time in the water. It is also a poor fit for anyone expecting all admission fees and meals to be covered.

The tour is rated 4.2 from nine ratings, which suggests a generally positive but not flawless experience. The repeated strength is Blue Bay, especially the clear water, coral, fish, and boat explanation. The weaker points are the uneven value of the later stops, extra costs, and the level of driver commentary.

Practical advice before you reserve

First, check the calendar. St. Aubin Rhumerie is closed on Saturday afternoons, Sundays, and public holidays. If rum is one of your main reasons for booking, do not leave this detail to chance.

Second, decide your priorities before pickup. I would put Blue Bay first, then choose between a full La Vanille visit and a proper St. Aubin visit based on your interests. Gris Gris takes only 30 minutes, so it is the easiest stop to keep.

Third, ask about lunch. Food is excluded, and an expensive restaurant can change the value of an otherwise fairly priced day. You should know the plan before setting off.

Finally, remember the cancellation terms. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the 9 a.m. start time. The experience requires good weather, and if poor weather forces cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund.

Should you book the Blue Bay and South Mauritius tour?

Book it if Blue Bay snorkeling is your priority and you want one private vehicle to connect it with the southern coast, animals, and rum. The marine park provides the clearest reason to go, and the supplied gear keeps the morning simple.

Book with caution if you want every attraction included in the price, a guaranteed private boat, or a guide who provides detailed commentary throughout. In that case, confirm the guiding arrangement, lunch plan, boat sharing, and admission costs before paying.

For most people, I would treat this as a flexible Blue Bay day with useful extras, not as four equal headline attractions. Protect your snorkeling time, check the St. Aubin opening day, and use the private schedule to avoid spending money on stops that do not interest you.

FAQ

What is included in the tour price?

The price includes a licensed qualified driver, an air-conditioned insured taxi, minibus, or coach, private hotel transfers, parking and waiting time, a glass-bottom boat ride, and snorkeling equipment.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Admission to La Vanille Nature Park and Rhumerie de Saint Aubin is extra. The supplier does not collect these fees, so you can choose to skip either attraction.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch and snacks are not included. You should ask about the planned lunch stop and prices before the tour begins.

Is the glass-bottom boat private?

The vehicle and transfers are private for your group, but the glass-bottom boat portion may be shared. The tour information specifically distinguishes the private tour from the boat section.

What time does the tour start and how long does it last?

The start time is 9 a.m., and the experience lasts about eight hours.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Poor weather may lead to a different date or a full refund.