Mauritius: Catamaran Cruise to Ile Aux Cerfs with BBQ Lunch

Mauritius’s east coast is at its best from the water, and this cruise gives you a full serving of it: a river waterfall, open sea, a white-sand island, swimming, snorkeling, lunch, and music. Ile aux Cerfs is the headline stop, but the journey is part of the pleasure.

I like the friendly crew and the generous food-and-drink setup. You get a proper BBQ lunch, plus soft drinks, juice, water, beer, wine, and local rum. I also like the mix of scenery and easygoing fun, with stops that work for couples, families, and birthday groups.

The main drawback is that this can feel busy and brisk. The waterfall stop may be short, the snorkeling time is not always long, and several boats can gather in the same places. Parking at Trou d’Eau Douce can also be awkward, so arrive early or select hotel pickup.

Key points to know before you book

• Grand River South East Waterfall: Reach the river by boat for a close view of Cascade Diamamouve, with a chance to spot monkeys in the trees.
• Six hours on the east coast: The trip combines a river ride, sea cruise, snorkeling, lunch, and roughly two and a half hours at Ile aux Cerfs.
• BBQ and drinks included: Lunch is served onboard, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices, halal food, and a broad selection of drinks.
• Friendly, lively crew: Staff such as Yona and Cedric have been singled out for warm service, music, dancing, and birthday celebrations.
• Snorkeling quality can vary: Some stops offer clear water and colorful fish, while others have limited sea life and less time in the water.
• Good value at $64: For a six-hour outing with lunch, drinks, island time, and optional transport, the price is attractive if you enjoy a social boat day.

Setting out from Trou d’Eau Douce

The cruise begins at Trou d’Eau Douce on Mauritius’s east coast. If you are meeting the boat yourself, the stated meeting point is opposite Green Island Restaurant on the beach. The beach launch is one of the less polished parts of the day, with several boats and groups sometimes gathering at once.

Give yourself extra time to find the right queue and boat. The small car park near the beach can fill up, and there may not be much direction on where to leave your car. If you are driving, plan ahead. A taxi or the hotel pickup option may save you a frazzled start.

Hotel collection and return are available if you choose that option when booking. Pickup covers several districts, including Flacq, Moka, Rivière du Rempart, Black River, Plaines Wilhems, Grand Port, Savanne, Pamplemousses, and Port Louis. One useful caution: a delayed pickup can put the whole schedule under pressure, so confirm the pickup details and be ready early.

Once you are aboard, the mood changes. The catamaran provides open seating, sea views, music, and a crew that keeps the day moving. This is not a quiet sailing lesson. It is a social outing with drinks, conversation, swimming, and Mauritian Sega music on the return.

The short run to Cascade Diamamouve

The first attraction is Grand River South East Waterfall, also known as Cascade Diamamouve. The catamaran heads upriver, and the narrower waterway gives you a different view of Mauritius than the broad coastal sailing that follows.

The waterfall is attractive, but you should set your expectations carefully. The boat may approach for a photo stop lasting around 30 minutes as part of the planned schedule, yet the actual viewing time near the falls can feel much shorter. Several boats may be trying to reach the same viewpoint, and strong currents can make the approach unsafe or impossible.

That weather and water condition matters. On one outing, the waterfall could not be visited because of strong currents. The operator offered no guarantee that every stop will happen, and that is sensible for a river trip. Still, the waterfall is a major reason to book, so you should understand that it is weather-dependent.

When conditions allow, look toward the riverbanks for monkeys in the trees. The ride upriver, the rock walls, and the chance to see wildlife make this more than a quick photo stop. Bring your camera, but keep it ready. The boat may not wait long once it reaches the viewpoint.

Snorkeling in the coastal water

After the river, the boat heads toward the coast for swimming and snorkeling. The water is often clear and shallow enough for confident children to stand with an adult nearby, although this is still an open-water activity. Bring your own snorkeling gear if you have it, since snorkeling equipment is listed among the items to bring.

The quality of the stop is the most uneven part of the cruise. You might find clear water and colorful fish, and some outings have included sightings of turtles and sea snakes. Other times, the chosen reef has looked damaged, with few fish to see. A few visitors have also felt that the stop was too close to the port or that crew members attracted small fish with bread rather than choosing a stronger snorkeling site.

Time can be limited too. If you are booking mainly for snorkeling, this is not the strongest choice in Mauritius. The cruise is better understood as a general day on the water, where snorkeling is one short part of a larger program.

I still like the stop because it breaks up the sailing and lets you cool off. You can swim even if you are not a keen snorkeler, and the shallow water can make this workable for families. Ask the crew where to enter and how long you have before boarding again.

BBQ lunch with local drinks

Lunch is served onboard after the water stop. The meal is a three-course BBQ setup, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices. All food is halal, which makes this a particularly practical option for mixed groups with different dietary needs.

The food has generally been one of the cruise’s strongest points. Expect a filling meal rather than a delicate restaurant experience. Fish, BBQ items, and side dishes are part of the appeal, and one food that received special praise was dorado when available. A lobster addition may also be offered for an extra charge, but the value of that upgrade is debatable. Some people considered it worthwhile, while others felt the added 3,000 Mauritian rupees was too much.

Drinks are included throughout the boat portion. The selection covers soft drinks, juice, water, beer, wine, and local rum. That makes a real difference to the price. You are not paying $64 and then adding a string of expensive drinks on top.

The meal is served in a casual, communal setting. The crew may keep the atmosphere lively, and some groups sing or dance after lunch. If you want a silent meal with a wide choice of courses, this is not that kind of outing. If you want a generous lunch, drinks, and a cheerful boat, it works well.

Food quality can vary slightly from day to day. Most comments describe the BBQ as tasty and plentiful, but one person found it average. That is a fair reason to book the meal as a useful inclusion, not as the central culinary event of your Mauritius holiday.

Ile aux Cerfs and its famous lagoon

Ile aux Cerfs is the main beach stop. After the boat reaches the island, you have about two and a half hours to swim, walk, relax, and visit the local arts and crafts market. The island is framed by pale sand, palm trees, and bright turquoise water, and the lagoon is the place to make the most of your free time.

The photographs may suggest an empty tropical paradise, but this is a popular stop. On busy days, the beach can feel crowded, and parts of the island have suffered from litter and poor upkeep. You may also find that the actual beach area looks less polished than promotional images suggest.

That does not erase the island’s appeal. The water and sand are genuinely beautiful, and the long free period gives you more freedom than a tightly guided sightseeing stop. You can swim, take photographs, browse crafts, or simply sit under the palms.

Optional activities at Ile aux Cerfs are not included. The available information does not specify every activity or its current price, so check before committing money on the day. If you want a relaxed visit, you can enjoy the lagoon without adding anything extra.

One practical point: the boat may drop you off without a detailed orientation. You might need to get your bearings quickly and decide where to spend your time. That freedom suits independent people, but some families may prefer clearer directions about the best swimming area, market, and meeting point.

The return with Mauritian Sega music

The sail back to Trou d’Eau Douce is usually the most social part of the day. Local Sega music provides the soundtrack, and the crew may encourage singing and dancing. This is where the cruise feels most distinctly Mauritian rather than simply another tropical boat excursion.

The tone depends partly on the group onboard. A birthday celebration can become a real event, and the crew has been praised for helping make birthdays memorable. Couples, families, and solo bookers can all fit in, but you should expect shared entertainment rather than a private experience.

The catamaran ride itself is comfortable when the weather is kind. If rain arrives, everyone may move inside, and a large group can make the boat feel cramped. One toilet for a full boat can also be a practical limitation, especially during the longer sailing stretches.

How much value do you get for $64?

At $64 per person, this is a strong package for a six-hour outing. You receive the catamaran cruise, the waterfall visit when conditions allow, a snorkeling and swimming stop, lunch, a wide drink selection, time on Ile aux Cerfs, and return entertainment.

The value improves if you use hotel pickup and would otherwise need to arrange transport to Trou d’Eau Douce. It also improves for anyone who expects to buy several drinks during a day on the water. Families should note that children aged 1 to 4 go free, which can lower the total cost.

The price is less compelling if your only goal is excellent snorkeling or a quiet, uncrowded beach. You may find the reef disappointing, and Ile aux Cerfs can be busy. The cruise earns its price through variety and convenience, not through perfect conditions at every stop.

I would compare it with the cost of arranging separate transport, a boat trip, lunch, and island access. Once those pieces are added together, this all-in-one format makes practical sense. It also removes much of the planning work, provided you are comfortable with a shared group experience.

Who will enjoy this cruise most?

I would recommend it for first-time visitors who want to sample several east-coast sights in one day. You get river scenery, a waterfall, open sea, swimming, a beach island, local music, and Mauritian food without having to coordinate separate bookings.

It is also a good fit for families. Young children will not necessarily snorkel, but they can enjoy the boat, shallow swimming areas, lunch, and beach time. The wheelchair-access information is useful: the catamaran is accessible, but wheelchair users need to stand briefly while boarding and leaving the shuttle boat, with crew assistance.

The cruise suits social couples and birthday groups especially well. The crew’s friendly style, music, and steady refreshments create a celebratory feel. People who prefer small boats, long snorkeling sessions, or quiet nature trips should look elsewhere.

If you are sensitive to crowds, choose your expectations carefully. The boat may be busy, and several catamarans can converge at the waterfall. Early arrival helps with the beach departure, but it cannot control how many people are booked for a given sailing.

What to pack for a smoother day

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, comfortable shoes, a change of clothes, and a camera. Comfortable footwear helps at the beach launch and on Ile aux Cerfs, while a dry change of clothes is useful after snorkeling and swimming.

Pack snorkeling gear if you have your own. Even though the stop is included, personal equipment may fit better and save time. Keep phones and cameras protected from spray, especially during the river approach and the shuttle boat transfer.

I would also bring a small waterproof bag for essentials. There is no need to overpack, since lunch and drinks are provided, but you will want quick access to sun protection and dry clothing.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve and pay later. Since the cruise depends on good weather, a cancellation caused by poor conditions should result in a different date or a full refund.

My verdict on the six-hour Ile aux Cerfs cruise

Book this cruise if you want a cheerful, well-priced day that combines many Mauritius highlights. The best features are the attentive crew, generous drinks, filling BBQ lunch, beautiful island setting, and the easy mix of sightseeing and free time.

Book with caution if you are choosing it for the waterfall alone or expect world-class snorkeling. The waterfall can be cut short by boat traffic or currents, while the reef may offer only modest marine life. Ile aux Cerfs is lovely, but it can be crowded and less tidy than the pictures suggest.

For $64, I think the balance is favorable. You are buying a full day of variety, not a private luxury cruise. Arrive early if you are driving, consider hotel pickup, bring your own mask and snorkel, and treat the music and social atmosphere as part of the experience. With those expectations, Atlantis Tours Mauritius offers a solid way to see the east coast from the water.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran cruise depart from?

The meeting point is opposite Green Island Restaurant on the beach at Trou d’Eau Douce. Hotel pickup and drop-off are available if you select the applicable option.

How long does the experience last?

The cruise lasts six hours. The schedule includes a visit to Grand River South East Waterfall, a snorkeling and swimming stop, lunch onboard, and about two and a half hours at Ile aux Cerfs.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A BBQ lunch is served onboard, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices. All food is halal.

Which drinks are included?

Included drinks are soft drinks, juice, water, beer, wine, and local rum.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Snorkeling and swimming are included, but snorkeling gear is listed among the items to bring. If you have your own equipment, take it with you.

What happens if bad weather cancels the cruise?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund.