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Everything you need to know before booking your cruise.
The best catamaran cruise to Ile aux Cerfs is a full-day east-coast tour that includes the GRSE waterfall, coral-reef snorkeling, a freshly grilled BBQ lunch, an open bar, and free time on the island's white-sand beaches. The best cruises depart from Trou d'Eau Douce, use licensed vessels with experienced local crews, and keep groups small enough for personalized service.
Choose a catamaran if you want a relaxed, spacious day with shaded seating, sunbathing nets, and a leisurely sail. Choose a speedboat if you prefer a faster, more active trip that visits more snorkeling spots and spends extra time on the beach. Both include the GRSE waterfall and a BBQ lunch; the catamaran is smoother for families and non-swimmers, while the speedboat feels more adventurous.
Our shared Ile aux Cerfs catamaran cruise starts at €50 per adult, with children aged 2–9 at €35 and infants under 2 free. The 5 islands tour is €70 per adult, and the speedboat tour starts at €40 per adult. Private charters and hotel transfers are priced on request. All prices are inclusive of BBQ lunch, open bar, snorkeling gear, and the GRSE waterfall excursion.
Yes. Ile aux Cerfs is one of the most photographed islands in the Indian Ocean, famous for powdery white sand, calm turquoise water, and coral reefs. The island has no roads and is only reachable by boat, so arriving by catamaran or speedboat is part of the experience. A full-day tour is the best way to combine the island with the GRSE waterfall and snorkeling.
Wild dolphins live in the east-coast lagoon and are most often seen on early-morning speedboat and 5-island tours. Sightings are never guaranteed, but our 5 islands tour includes a dedicated dolphin-watching segment with roughly a 50% chance of encountering spinner dolphins. The catamaran cruise focuses more on the waterfall, snorkeling, and beach time.
Yes. Our tours are family-friendly and suitable for non-swimmers. We provide life jackets for all ages, masks and fins, and the crew stays close by during snorkeling stops in calm, shallow lagoon water. The catamaran is especially stable for young children and older guests. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times.
Hotel transfers are optional and available island-wide for an extra charge. When you book, tell us your hotel or area and we will confirm the transfer cost and pickup time. If you prefer to make your own way, we will send you the exact meeting point at Trou d'Eau Douce or Pointe Jerome.
You can cancel or reschedule up to 48 hours before departure at no charge. If we cancel the tour due to bad weather or unsafe sea conditions, you can choose a free reschedule or a full refund. Safety is the captain's final decision, and we notify guests as early as possible when conditions change.
Booking direct gives you the best price because there is no platform commission, instant WhatsApp confirmation from our local team, flexible payment options, and direct communication if plans change. You also get our free cancellation and weather-refund guarantee, and your money stays with a local Mauritian operator rather than an overseas booking platform.
Ile aux Cerfs is the larger, famous island with white-sand beaches and optional water sports. Ile aux Margenie (also called Ilot Mangénie) is a smaller, quieter island next to it. Our speedboat tour serves its BBQ lunch on Ile aux Margenie because it is calmer and less crowded, giving guests a more peaceful beach setting before free time on Ile aux Cerfs.
The boat ride from Trou d'Eau Douce to Ile aux Cerfs is roughly 30–45 minutes depending on the vessel and sea conditions. A typical full-day tour includes additional stops at the GRSE waterfall and a snorkeling site, so you spend most of the day on or near the water rather than just travelling.
Wear your swimsuit under light clothes, bring a towel, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and a waterproof phone case or camera. We provide snorkeling gear, life jackets, lunch, and drinks. Bring a little cash for optional water sports on Ile aux Cerfs and any souvenirs.
Our Île aux Cerfs catamaran cruise and Île aux Cerfs speedboat tour depart from Trou d'Eau Douce on the east coast of Mauritius or Point Jerome. Exact meeting points and times are sent in your booking confirmation, and hotel transfers can be arranged on request.
You can book online through our website or by contacting us directly by WhatsApp, phone or email. A small deposit may be required to confirm your date, with the balance payable before or on the day of the tour. We recommend booking in advance during peak season (June–September and December–January) as spaces fill quickly.
Hotel pickup and drop-off can be arranged for an additional charge, depending on where you are staying in Mauritius. When you book, let us know your hotel or area and we will confirm transfer availability and cost, or send you the exact meeting point if you prefer to make your own way there.
All three are full-day tours that typically run around 6 to 7 hours, usually starting in the morning and finishing in the mid to late afternoon. The catamaran cruise tends to be the most leisurely, while the speedboat tours are faster paced. Exact start times and durations are confirmed in your booking.
The Shared Speedboat 5 Islands Tour and the standard Île aux Cerfs cruises are shared (join-in) tours, so you travel with other guests, which keeps the price affordable. Private charters of the speedboat or catamaran can be arranged for families, couples or groups who want the boat to themselves. Contact us for private pricing.
Boat tours run year-round in Mauritius. The drier, sunnier months from May to December generally offer the calmest seas and clearest water for snorkeling, while January to April is warmer with occasional tropical showers. Mornings usually have the calmest conditions, which is why dolphin and snorkeling tours start early.
If we cancel a tour because of bad weather or unsafe sea conditions, we offer you the choice of rescheduling to another date or a full refund. Safety always comes first, so the captain may adjust the route or timing on the day. We monitor conditions closely and notify you as early as possible.
Bring swimwear, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a light cover-up and a waterproof phone or camera. We recommend wearing your swimsuit under your clothes and bringing a little cash for optional extras such as water sports. Snorkeling gear, life jackets, lunch and drinking water are already provided.
There is only 50% chances to see dolphins in the east coast during 5 islands tours in Mauritius.
The Île aux Cerfs Catamaran Cruise is a full-day east-coast sailing trip that includes a relaxed cruise to Île aux Cerfs island, a stop at the GRSE waterfalls, snorkeling over the lagoon's coral, free time on the island's beaches, and a freshly grilled BBQ lunch served on board. Soft drinks and onboard facilities are included; the spacious deck makes it ideal for families and groups who prefer a calm, leisurely pace.
Both visit Île aux Cerfs and the GRSE waterfalls with a BBQ lunch and snorkeling, but the feel is different. The catamaran is slower, smoother and more spacious, great for relaxing, sunbathing on deck and larger groups. The speedboat is faster and more direct, spends more time on the island and at snorkeling spots, and serves its BBQ on Île aux Margenie. Choose the catamaran for a laid-back sail and the speedboat for a quicker, more active day.
The GRSE waterfalls are scenic cascades at the mouth of the Grand River South East, the longest river in Mauritius, on the east coast near Île aux Cerfs. Boats approach the falls so you can view and photograph them up close from the water. It is a viewing-from-the-boat stop rather than a landing, as the falls are best appreciated from the river.
Île aux Margenie (Îlot Mangénie) is a small, quieter island next to Île aux Cerfs on the east coast of Mauritius. Our speedboat tour serves its BBQ lunch here because it is calmer and less crowded than the main island, giving you a more peaceful beach setting to enjoy your grilled meal before exploring Île aux Cerfs itself.
The speedboat tour takes a faster, more direct route to the east-coast lagoon. A typical day includes the boat ride to the GRSE waterfalls for viewing and photos, a BBQ lunch on Île aux Margenie, and free time to relax and swim on Île aux Cerfs. Because the boat is quick, you spend less time travelling and more time in the water and on the beach.
Our BBQ lunch is freshly grilled on the day and typically includes a choice of marinated chicken, fish or sausages, served with rice, salads, bread and seasonal sides. Soft drinks and water are provided. Menus may vary slightly by tour and season, and dietary options can be arranged when you book in advance.
Yes. We can cater for vegetarian, halal, no-pork, seafood-allergy and other dietary requirements on all three tours. Please tell us your requirements at the time of booking, at least 24 hours before departure, so our crew can prepare a suitable meal for you.
Yes, masks and life jackets are provided free of charge on all three tours. Non-swimmers and beginners can still enjoy snorkeling: life jackets keep you buoyant, the sites are in calm, shallow lagoon water, and the crew stays close by to help. You do not need to be a strong swimmer to take part.
Yes, all three tours are family-friendly and suitable for children. Our boats are licensed and regularly maintained, the crew is experienced, and life jackets in adult and child sizes are provided. The catamaran cruise is especially comfortable for young children and older guests thanks to its stable, spacious deck. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times.
Île aux Cerfs is a famous island off the east coast of Mauritius known for its white-sand beaches, turquoise lagoon and relaxed island atmosphere. During your free time you can swim, sunbathe, walk the beaches, grab a drink, and book optional water sports such as parasailing, tube rides and undersea walks, which are paid separately on the island.
Our shared boat tours start at €40 per adult for the speedboat tour, €50 per adult for the catamaran cruise, and €70 per adult for the 5 islands tour. Children aged 2–9 receive discounted rates and infants under 2 travel free. Private charters and hotel transfers are priced on request.
Île aux Cerfs is famous for its powdery white-sand beaches, calm turquoise lagoon, and coral reefs on the east coast of Mauritius. The island is only reachable by boat, which makes arriving by catamaran or speedboat part of the experience. It is one of the most photographed and visited islands in the Indian Ocean.