Mauritius: Ile aux Cerf Catamaran w/Waterfall Visit & Lunch

The best part of this day is the changing view: one hour you are watching monkeys near a river waterfall, the next you are sailing over clear lagoon water toward palm-fringed beaches. The catamaran gives you time to slow down, not just snap a few photos and hurry on.

I like the included BBQ lunch and unlimited drinks, which make the $70 price easier to justify. I also like the cheerful crew, local Sega music, and the chance to snorkel, swim, or simply stretch out on deck. The main thing to consider is the long day. You need to reach Trou d’Eau Douce early, and the island can feel busy when several boats arrive.

Key points at a glance

• Grand River South East first: Take a short speedboat ride about 500 meters upstream to reach the waterfall and look for monkeys and fruit bats.
• A full day on the water: The outing runs from roughly 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a gentle catamaran ride between stops.
• Food and drinks are included: Breakfast snacks, BBQ fish, chicken, hotdogs, salads, saffron rice, bottled water, and unlimited alcoholic and soft drinks are part of the day.
• Several chances to swim: The route includes snorkeling and swimming stops in clear lagoon water, with coral and tropical fish.
• Ile aux Cerfs offers choice: You can relax on white sand, swim, stroll, or pay extra for activities such as parasailing, tube riding, and an undersea walk.
• Small-group booking: The group is limited to 15 people, although the boat itself is described as a large catamaran.

Starting at Trou d’Eau Douce at 8:30 a.m.

You meet at the docking station in Trou d’Eau Douce on Mauritius’s east coast. Search for Debarcader Trou d’eau Douche on Google Maps, and plan to arrive by 8:30 a.m. The catamaran leaves at about 9 a.m., so this is not a tour where you want to cut things close.

Hotel and Airbnb pickup are optional services, not part of the $70 price. If you arrange your own transport, allow enough time to find the dock and get settled before boarding. The listed duration is nine hours, while the sailing schedule runs about 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Either way, treat it as a full morning and afternoon outing.

The booking is limited to 15 participants, a useful detail if you prefer a more personal feel than a large party boat. The catamaran itself is described as large, so you should have room to sit, move around, and find a spot in the sun or shade. Seating arrangements can vary, but the important point is that the boat is set up for a relaxed day rather than a fast transfer between beaches.

The crew sets the mood with Sega music

The crew helps shape the day. They play local Mauritian Sega music, tell local stories, and keep the mood light with jokes. This matters because a long boat outing can feel repetitive if the crew simply gets you from one stop to the next.

The strongest praise centers on the crew’s friendly and attentive service. The team also keeps an eye on safety, with life jackets provided. One useful detail from the trip is that the crew may help arrange optional activities such as the undersea walk during the day, though those activities cost extra.

Do not expect a formal history lecture at every turn. This is a social cruise with local flavor, food, music, and scenery. You will likely enjoy it most if you want an easygoing day at sea rather than a tightly scripted educational tour.

Grand River South East waterfall by speedboat

The first major stop is Grand River South East, where you leave the catamaran for a shorter speedboat ride. The waterfall lies about 500 meters upstream, so the smaller boat can take you farther into the river than the catamaran can.

The ride gives you a different view of Mauritius. Instead of open lagoon and broad ocean views, you move between riverbanks lined with old trees. Keep your camera ready for wild monkeys jumping through the branches. Mauritian fruit bats may also be perched high in the trees near the waterfall.

The waterfall itself is scenic, but do not expect a long walk or a full land excursion. This is a short boat visit built into a larger sailing day. That makes it a good contrast to the beach stops, though anyone hoping for a serious waterfall hike may find this part brief.

After seeing the falls, you return to the catamaran. The transition is part of the fun, but it also means you should keep your belongings secure and bring only what you are comfortable carrying on and off a small boat.

Sailing the east-coast lagoon

Back aboard, the catamaran moves through clear water toward Ile aux Cerfs. The eastern side of Mauritius is known here for wide lagoon views, mountain scenery, greenery along the coast, and shifting shades of blue and green in the water.

This is the part of the day where the pace slows. You can listen to music, enjoy a drink, take photos, or watch the shore pass by. I like that the cruise is not built around constant activity. You get time to sit and enjoy being on the water.

The route is also well suited to people in the same group who want different things. One person can swim, another can snorkel, and someone else can stay dry with a cold drink. That flexibility is a real strength for families and mixed-age groups.

The sea can affect the ride, of course, and a catamaran day is weather dependent in feel even when the scheduled tour goes ahead. If you are prone to motion sickness, it is sensible to prepare before boarding. The information provided does not specify how rough the water may be or whether seasickness medication is available, so bring anything you normally use.

Snorkeling over coral and tropical fish

The crew stops for snorkeling and swimming in the lagoon. The water is described as clear, with coral reefs and tropical fish visible beneath the surface. You are given several chances to snorkel rather than just one hurried stop.

These breaks are valuable because they let you use the setting, not merely look at it from the deck. Bring your camera if it is suitable for water, but protect it carefully. Sunscreen is listed as an essential item, and you will need it even on a cloudy-looking day because you spend long stretches exposed to reflected light from the water.

Life jackets are included. That is reassuring for weak swimmers, though you should still stay within the area directed by the crew and follow their instructions. The tour details do not promise snorkel equipment, so confirm whether gear is supplied before booking if you do not have your own.

The snorkeling is best viewed as an easy lagoon stop, not a specialist reef excursion. You may see fish and coral in clear water, but conditions and marine life can change from day to day. The main reward is the chance to cool off and enjoy the water during a scenic sailing trip.

BBQ lunch with unlimited drinks

Food is one of the strongest practical reasons to consider this outing. Breakfast snacks are included early in the day, followed by a BBQ lunch with fresh fish, chicken, grilled hotdogs, salads, and saffron rice.

Lunch may be served on the beach or on the catamaran. That flexibility is helpful if the timing or weather changes. It also means you do not need to spend part of your island visit searching for a restaurant.

Drinks include bottled water, soft drinks, juice, beer, wine, and local rum. The supply is described as unlimited. That can add real value at $70, especially when you compare the cost of buying lunch and drinks separately during a full-day outing.

Still, treat unlimited alcohol as an inclusion, not a challenge. You spend the day in the sun, on a moving boat, and in the water. Water, shade, and a sensible pace will help you enjoy the entire return sail instead of fading after lunch.

The food is a casual outdoor BBQ, not a fine-dining meal. That is exactly right for the setting. You are eating with the sea around you, often in swimwear or beach clothes, and the meal is designed to keep the day moving.

Arriving at Ile aux Cerfs

Ile aux Cerfs is the main beach stop. As you approach, expect white sand, palm trees, and clear turquoise water. The island is a classic tropical day-out setting, with time to swim, stroll, sunbathe, or simply find a quiet place to sit.

The island is not only for doing nothing. Optional activities include parasailing, tube riding, and an undersea walk. These are not included in the tour price, so budget separately if one catches your eye. One useful point is that the crew may help arrange an undersea walk during the trip, but the rate can be higher than booking through other vendors or local shops.

That extra cost is worth considering carefully. The $70 tour already includes the boat, food, drinks, waterfall visit, snorkeling stops, and island time. Add-on activities can change the day from a good-value cruise into a more expensive package.

Ile aux Cerfs can also be the busiest section of the outing. It is a well-known beach destination, and several boats may arrive around the same time. If you want solitude, your best option is to use the island time for a walk or swim away from the main landing area rather than expecting an empty beach.

The return sail to Trou d’Eau Douce

After the island stop, you return to the catamaran for the sail back to Trou d’Eau Douce. By this point, the boat may feel like a floating lounge. You have eaten, swum, seen the waterfall, and had time on the beach, so the return journey gives you a final chance to enjoy the coast without rushing.

The views from offshore include Mauritius’s mountains, greenery, and shoreline. Bring a camera, but do not spend the entire trip behind it. The broad views, music, and relaxed pace are a large part of what you are paying for.

The day ends around 4 p.m. The long schedule suits you if you want one major sea day to cover several highlights. It is less suited to you if you prefer short tours, private timing, or a quiet beach with no fixed departure.

Is $70 good value?

At $70 per person, this is a strong package if you plan to eat, drink, swim, and see several sights in one day. The price covers the catamaran cruise, Grand River South East waterfall visit, Ile aux Cerfs, snacks, BBQ lunch, bottled water, and unlimited alcoholic and soft drinks.

The value improves for anyone who would otherwise pay separately for a boat ride, lunch, and drinks. It also saves you the trouble of arranging transport between the river, lagoon, and island.

The price is less attractive if you do not drink, have no interest in snorkeling, or want only a short visit to Ile aux Cerfs. You are paying for a full-day package with food, music, swimming, and social time. It is not the cheapest way to reach the island, but it gives you far more than a simple ferry transfer.

The rating is 4.6 from 206 ratings, and the strongest repeated praise is aimed at the crew, food, drinks, scenery, and overall atmosphere. Several detailed comments also point to clear water, fish, a well-run boat, and good value. One practical warning is that optional water activities may cost more through the tour than through other sellers.

Who should book this catamaran day?

I would choose this tour for:

• Couples who want a relaxed day with scenery, food, music, and beach time
• Families who need a mix of swimming, sightseeing, and easy meals
• Groups celebrating a birthday or special occasion
• First-time visitors who want several east-coast highlights in one booking
• Anyone who enjoys a social boat atmosphere and unlimited drinks

I would look elsewhere if you want a private boat, a quiet natural setting, a serious snorkeling trip, or a short and flexible outing. The group is limited to 15, but the day still has a set route and timetable.

Bring sunscreen and a camera. Wear clothing that can handle water and sun, and keep your schedule open until the afternoon. If you are booking an optional undersea walk, parasailing, or tube ride, confirm the added price before agreeing.

Should you book it?

Book this Ile aux Cerfs catamaran trip if you want an easy, full-day introduction to Mauritius’s east coast, with the major costs handled in advance. The combination of waterfall, lagoon, snorkeling, BBQ lunch, beach time, and music gives you plenty to do without making you plan every hour.

Skip it if your ideal holiday day means silence, privacy, or a long stretch on one uncrowded beach. For most people who want a cheerful day on the water and good value at $70, this is a sensible choice. The crew and included food are the main reasons it works so well, while the long schedule and extra cost of optional activities are the points to weigh before booking.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran tour meet?

Meet at the docking station in Trou d’Eau Douce on Mauritius’s east coast. Search for Debarcader Trou d’eau Douche on Google Maps.

What time does the tour run?

You should arrive at 8:30 a.m. The catamaran departs at about 9 a.m. and the day runs until roughly 4 p.m.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel or Airbnb pickup and drop-off are optional services and are not included in the stated price.

What food is included?

Breakfast snacks and a BBQ lunch are included. Lunch features fresh BBQ fish, BBQ chicken, grilled hotdogs, salads, and saffron rice.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Bottled water, soft drinks, juice, beer, wine, and local rum are included, with unlimited alcoholic and soft drinks listed as part of the tour.

What languages are available?

Live tour support is available in English, French, German, Italian, Hindi, and Spanish.