Snorkel with Dolphins, Lunch on Benitiers island, Speedboat

The main draw here is the chance to watch and swim near dolphins in Tamarin Bay, then race across the west coast by speedboat. I like the small maximum group of 14 and the fact that snorkeling gear, lunch, salad, and drinks are included. You also get time at Crystal Rock and Ile aux Benitiers, not just a quick dolphin encounter.

The main caution is that wildlife does not follow a timetable. The dolphin approach can be less close than hoped, and poor water visibility may make underwater viewing difficult. Ile aux Benitiers can also feel crowded, so this suits you best if you value a lively shared day more than a quiet island escape.

Key points at a glance

• Dolphin watching in Tamarin Bay: The day begins with the area’s best-known marine attraction, using a speedboat and supplied snorkeling equipment.
• A small group of up to 14: This is more personal than a large boat outing, with crew available to help with equipment and life jackets.
• Crystal Rock stop: You can get into the water near the famous rock if the group wishes, with time for a swim and photos.
• Three hours at Ile aux Benitiers: Enjoy beach time, lagoon swimming, some snorkeling, and a barbecue lunch with salad and drinks.
• Useful west-coast scenery: The route includes ocean views, beaches, mountains, and a distant view of Le Morne, a UNESCO-listed site linked to Mauritius’s past.
• Good value at $64.79: The price covers a seven-hour-plus outing, lunch, drinks, snorkeling gear, and the boat trip, but not transport to Tamarin.

Setting out from Tamarin at 7:30 am

Your meeting point is Blond Boulette, Boulette La Baie, in Tamarin. The beach is the starting point and the finish, so allow a few minutes to find the spot and get your sea legs before boarding.

The early start matters. Tamarin Bay is the first major stop, and the morning road journey can take more than an hour if you are staying far away. Traffic can slow the trip before you even reach the coast, so arrange your own transport with plenty of time to spare.

Private transportation is not included. That keeps the price down, but it means you need to reach Tamarin independently and return from the same meeting point. A short walk along the beach before departure is a pleasant way to get oriented, but do not treat it as a formal sightseeing stop.

The outing lasts about 7 hours and 15 minutes, with roughly four hours around Tamarin Bay and Crystal Rock, followed by three hours at Ile aux Benitiers. The exact time at each attraction can change, which is normal on a wildlife and sea trip.

The boat group is limited to 14 people. That number is worth noting because it gives the crew a better chance to help each person with gear, swimming, and boarding than a large excursion boat would. Life jackets are available, and the crew is there to guide you.

Watching dolphins in Tamarin Bay

The first major part of the morning is dolphin watching in Tamarin Bay. You will travel by speedboat, which makes the ride itself part of the attraction. The west coast opens up around you with ocean, beaches, mountains, and changing views from the water.

The plan includes swimming and snorkeling with dolphins. It is important to read that promise realistically. Dolphins are wild animals, and their movement cannot be controlled. The boat may approach them, but there is no guarantee they will remain close, swim beneath you, or appear in clear water.

That uncertainty is the central trade-off of this trip. One outing may produce an exciting close encounter. Another may offer only brief surface views. Water clarity can also vary, and poor visibility can make it hard to see dolphins underwater even when they are nearby.

I like that the experience does not rely on dolphins alone. If the animals keep their distance, you still have a speedboat ride, a swim, snorkeling, Crystal Rock, and an island lunch ahead. Still, if your only reason for booking is to guarantee an underwater dolphin sighting, you should lower your expectations.

The water portion may require more effort than the calm lunch stop. One account of the outing specifically warns that the first section is not ideal for less athletic people. You should be comfortable entering the sea, swimming or snorkeling with equipment, and handling movement around a boat.

The crew supplies snorkeling equipment free of charge. Life jackets are also available, and the crew can help you use the gear. That is useful if you are an occasional snorkeler, though it does not remove the need for basic comfort in open water.

Crystal Rock and the first swim

After the dolphin activity, the boat continues toward Crystal Rock. This is one of the more unusual sights in the lagoon, and it gives the morning a clear second target instead of making the whole trip depend on dolphin luck.

If the group wants, you can get into the water near the rock. The supplied plan allows for swimming close to it and even touching the large formation. Time at each attraction is indicative, so the length of this stop can change with sea conditions and the day’s pace.

Crystal Rock is a good fit for anyone who enjoys simple sea activities: jump in, swim around a landmark, and take in the view from the water. It is less suitable if you want a long, quiet snorkeling session at one reef. The schedule covers several attractions, so this is a stop within a moving day, not a private swim outing.

The water may be clear enough for enjoyable snorkeling, but visibility is not guaranteed. If the sea is cloudy, you may get more from the scenery and the swim than from looking underwater.

Crossing to Ile aux Benitiers

The move to Ile aux Benitiers changes the rhythm. After the early dolphin search and speedboat ride, you get about three hours on the island. The setting includes beach, white sand, vegetation, and a lagoon suitable for swimming and some snorkeling.

This is the part of the day that makes the price easier to justify. You are not simply paying for a short boat ride and a quick wildlife stop. The tour gives you a longer island stay, a meal, drinks, and free time by the water.

Ile aux Benitiers still has a natural feel, but do not expect solitude. The island can be crowded, which may make it difficult to find a peaceful corner or enjoy the beach without other groups nearby. I would think of it as a social island stop with good scenery, not a private-island retreat.

That distinction helps you choose. If you like a shared beach meal and the energy of other groups around, the crowd may not bother you. If you picture an empty beach and silent lagoon, this may feel less special than expected.

You can swim in the lagoon and do some snorkeling from the island. The description does not promise a particular reef, marine life, or underwater site, so plan for a pleasant water break rather than a specialist snorkeling session.

Barbecue lunch, salad, and drinks

Lunch is served on Ile aux Benitiers and includes a barbecue, salad, and drinks. All drinks are included, which is a useful detail in a hot, active day. You will not need to budget separately for the meal or standard refreshments supplied during the outing.

The meal is described as convivial, so expect a shared island lunch rather than a formal restaurant setting. That style fits the trip: wet swimsuits, beach time, boat travel, and a relaxed meal in the middle of the day.

I see the lunch as one of the strongest practical features. A separate meal would add cost and interrupt the island stop. Here, you can eat without leaving the beach area, then return to swimming or simply rest before the boat heads back.

Do keep your expectations grounded. The information confirms barbecue food, salad, and drinks, but it does not specify menu choices or options for particular dietary needs. If you have an important dietary requirement, ask the provider before booking rather than assuming the included meal will suit you.

The west coast views and Le Morne

The scenery is a steady part of the trip. From the boat and the island, you can see beaches, mountains, ocean, and smaller coastal features. The speedboat gives you changing angles that you would not get from a single beach.

Le Morne is also visible from a distance for much of the route. The mountain is a UNESCO-classified international historical site and is closely tied to Mauritius’s past. This tour does not visit the mountain or provide a dedicated land tour there, but seeing it from the water adds useful context to the west-coast setting.

I like this distant view because it gives the day a sense of place beyond swimming. You are not looking at an interchangeable tropical beach. You are moving through a part of Mauritius with a clear mountain backdrop and an important connection to the island’s history.

Do not book the trip as a substitute for a Le Morne visit. The mountain is viewed from far away, and the focus remains dolphins, the sea, Crystal Rock, and Ile aux Benitiers.

What the $64.79 price really covers

At $64.79 per person, this is a strong-value package if you plan to use all of its parts. The price includes the boat outing, dolphin watching, snorkeling equipment, life jackets, the Crystal Rock stop, about three hours on Ile aux Benitiers, barbecue lunch, salad, and drinks.

The value is less clear if you only want dolphin watching. Wildlife encounters are uncertain, and you may not see dolphins underwater. In that case, the included island stop and meal become especially important because they give the day several worthwhile elements.

The lack of private transportation is the main extra cost to consider. You need to reach Tamarin and return from there. Depending on where you are staying, this may be a simple local journey or a more time-consuming drive affected by morning traffic.

A mobile ticket and booking confirmation at the time of purchase make the basic arrangements straightforward. The advertised maximum of 14 people is another positive for the price. You are paying for a shared trip, but not a huge boat crowd.

Who will enjoy this speedboat day

I would recommend this trip to you if you want several west-coast highlights in one morning and afternoon:

• You enjoy active outings with swimming, snorkeling, and boat travel.
• You want dolphins included but understand that wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.
• You like a social barbecue lunch rather than arranging food yourself.
• You appreciate a smaller group and crew assistance.
• You are staying close enough to Tamarin to manage your own transport.
• You want scenery and variety instead of spending the whole day at one beach.

It may be a poor match if you dislike open-water activity, are not comfortable with the physical demands of the dolphin section, or want a quiet and uncrowded island. It is also not ideal if the sole goal is clear underwater dolphin viewing.

The tour is designed for most participants, but that does not mean it is effortless. The first section involves boat movement, getting into the water, and snorkeling. Be honest about your swimming ability and ask the crew for help when needed.

Weather, cancellation, and timing

The trip requires good weather. If conditions force a cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not reached.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded or accepted, so check the weather and your transport plans early.

The morning start also shapes the day. You will need to be at the Tamarin meeting point by 7:30 am, then allow enough time for the dolphin and Crystal Rock section before lunch on the island. Since each stop has an indicative duration, remain flexible rather than planning another fixed activity immediately after the return.

Should you book this Mauritius dolphin tour?

Book it if you want a value-focused sea day with dolphins, speedboat scenery, Crystal Rock, island time, and lunch in one package. The small group, included gear, included drinks, and seven-hour-plus schedule give it more substance than a short dolphin cruise.

Skip it if you need guaranteed close dolphin contact, perfect underwater visibility, or an uncrowded island. The best way to approach this outing is to treat dolphins as the exciting opening possibility, then enjoy the wider day even if nature keeps them at a distance.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is Blond Boulette, Boulette La Baie, M9FH+62X, Tamarin, Mauritius. The activity starts at 7:30 am.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends back at the meeting point in Tamarin.

How long does the experience last?

The total duration is approximately 7 hours and 15 minutes.

What is included in the price?

The price includes lunch with barbecue food, salad, and drinks. Snorkeling equipment is also included, and life jackets are available.

Is transportation to Tamarin included?

No. Private transportation is not included, so you need to reach the Tamarin meeting point independently.

How many people can join the boat trip?

The activity has a maximum of 14 participants.

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 or failure to meet the minimum number of participants may also result in a different date or a full refund.