5 Islands Private Speedboat w/ Snorkeling + Lunch & Drinks

The best part of this Mauritius day is the private speedboat: you move quickly between islands, lagoons, a waterfall, and Blue Bay Marine Park without being tied to a large boat schedule. I like the chance to snorkel near Ile aux Aigrettes and the generous beach lunch at Ile aux Cerfs. I also like that the tour can include hotel pickup across Mauritius.

The main caution is that the promised nine hours and all-inclusive service have not been consistent for every booking. Some departures ended around 2 p.m., and some guests received little food or drink before the final island. Confirm the timing, language, and refreshments with Mauritius Luxury Tours & Transfer before you pay.

Key points at a glance

• A private boat for up to four people gives your group more room and a faster route than a shared cruise.
• Blue Bay Marine Park is the main snorkeling stop, with tropical fish and possible sightings of dolphins and sea turtles.
• Anil the skipper received especially warm praise for his friendly service and effort with families.
• The beach BBQ at Ile aux Cerfs includes grilled chicken, fish, rice, pasta, garlic bread, and salad.
• The open bar is strongest at the final island, so do not assume unlimited drinks will be available all day.
• An early start is the smart choice, since the marine stops can become crowded later in the morning.

Speeding east from Trou d’Eau Douce

Your day begins and ends at Trou d’Eau Douce on Mauritius’s east coast. From there, you board your own speedboat and head toward the island chain, with the engine and open water providing much of the entertainment between stops.

This is not a slow sightseeing cruise. The boat is meant to cover ground, and the fast ride lets you fit several different settings into one day: a sandy island, a river waterfall, historic offshore islands, a marine park, and a long beach break.

The private format is the strongest reason to consider the trip. The listed rate is $498 for a group of up to four, which works out to $124.50 per person if you fill the boat. That is not cheap for a day on the water, but it becomes more reasonable when split among four people and compared with paying separately for a boat trip, snorkeling, lunch, and drinks.

The package is less attractive for a solo visitor or couple who wants a quiet, highly polished luxury charter. For two people, the same group price is a much larger cost per person, and the quality of the day depends heavily on the skipper and how closely the operator follows the advertised schedule.

Ile aux Cerfs for a first look

The first planned stop is Ile aux Cerfs, where you have about 45 minutes for a visit and refreshments. This gives you a quick introduction to one of Mauritius’s best-known beach islands before the boat continues to the waterfall.

That short stop is useful for photographs and a first swim if conditions allow, but it is not enough time for a full beach afternoon. You return to Ile aux Cerfs later for about two hours, so I would treat this opening visit as a brief orientation rather than the main event.

The island is also where optional watersports may be available. Parasailing and a tube ride are not included in the tour price, so budget separately if you want them. One family used the final Ile aux Cerfs stop for parasailing and found it a good way to finish the day, but you should confirm current prices and availability locally.

Grand River South East and the waterfall

The boat then heads to Grand River South East, where a waterfall runs toward the Indian Ocean. The setting gives the day a welcome change of pace after the speedboat ride and beach scenery.

You will also have the chance to see and feed wild Mauritian monkeys. This is an unusual stop, but it comes with a clear ethical concern. Food used for the feeding has included chips, which may not sit well with you. If you are uncomfortable encouraging wild animals to eat processed snacks, ask the guide what the feeding involves before taking part.

The waterfall visit is one of the included attractions, but the supplied information does not give a fixed stop length. Ask the skipper how much time you will have there, especially if the group has a particular interest in photographs or the monkeys.

Ile aux Phares and Ile de la Passe

The route continues toward Ile aux Phares, followed by a pass near Ile de la Passe. These islands add a historical and scenic layer to the outing, which is why the trip suits people who want more than a simple swim-and-lunch cruise.

The tour description presents the islands as iconic spots, but it does not promise a guided walk or a detailed history talk. The amount of explanation may depend on the person running your boat. One important warning is the language service: English, French, German, Italian, and Romanian are listed, but a German-speaking guide was not available for some bookings despite being requested.

If learning the background of the islands matters to you, confirm your preferred language and ask whether the guide will provide commentary during the ride. Do not assume that selecting a language at booking guarantees a guide who speaks it fluently.

Snorkeling in Blue Bay Marine Park

Blue Bay Marine Park is the day’s main water activity. You receive snorkeling equipment and time in the water among tropical fish, with the possibility of seeing sea turtles and dolphins.

The marine park is a strong reason to book this experience rather than a basic island transfer. You get a proper snorkeling session, not just a quick stop for a swim. The water conditions and wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, so think of dolphins and turtles as possible rewards rather than promised encounters.

One family had close views of a dolphin group and a sea turtle, then enjoyed enough time near Ile aux Aigrettes to take in the underwater life. That points to the value of an early departure. A later start can mean more boats at the popular marine stops and a less settled experience in the water.

Bring sunscreen and a camera, as requested by the operator, but protect both from salt water. The provided information does not confirm whether underwater phone cases or dry bags are supplied, so bring your own protection if you plan to photograph the fish.

Ile aux Aigrettes and the return route

After Blue Bay Marine Park, the boat passes by Ile aux Aigrettes for refreshments. The route then turns back toward Ile aux Cerfs, passing Ilot Margenie along the way.

This part of the day is less about a major attraction and more about the pleasure of being on the lagoon. You have time to settle into the boat, watch the islands pass, and enjoy a drink or snack. Still, the refreshments are an area where expectations need managing.

The tour is advertised with unlimited snacks and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. In practice, some people received only a couple of drinks and two bags of chips before the final island. Others found that food and drinks were plentiful once lunch and the open bar began at Ile aux Cerfs.

I would not book this as an all-day drinking cruise. Think of the open bar as mainly part of the beach lunch stop, and carry a little extra water if you have specific needs. Water, juice, soft drinks, beer, wine, and rum are listed, along with rum cocktails.

Two hours at Ile aux Cerfs

The final major stop is Ile aux Cerfs, where you are meant to have about two hours on the white sand. This is the longest beach break of the day and the point where the outing shifts from sightseeing to relaxation.

You can swim, sunbathe, drink coconut water, or use the optional watersports. While you are on the beach, lunch is prepared with grilled chicken, grilled fish, rice, pasta, garlic bread, and salad.

The food is one of the better parts of the package, especially for families. Vegetarian requests were accommodated for children on one departure, but you should state dietary needs clearly before the boat leaves. The operator does not list a separate vegetarian menu, so flexibility rather than a fixed selection is what you should expect.

A beach BBQ can also be a lively affair. Live music or a sega show may be part of the atmosphere, and the surrounding crowd can become noisy and party-focused. If you want peace and quiet, you can usually move away from the busiest area, but this is not a secluded private beach lunch.

The two-hour stop is long enough to make the day feel less rushed if the boat keeps to schedule. It is also where the advertised timing matters most. Some departures have finished several hours early, leaving much less time for swimming, lunch, and rest.

Food, drinks, and the all-inclusive promise

The menu covers the basics well. You get a substantial combination of meat, fish, starches, bread, and salad rather than a small snack box. The inclusion of both grilled chicken and grilled fish gives mixed groups more choice.

The open bar lists Mauritian beer, wine, rum, rum cocktails, juice, soft drinks, and water. A friendly barman is supposed to prepare drinks at the beach, with music or sega entertainment in the background.

The phrase all-inclusive needs a practical reading. It appears to mean that lunch, listed drinks, and snacks are covered, not that refreshments will be flowing at every stage of the boat ride. If you need regular food, have children with you, or do not drink alcohol, ask exactly when snacks and soft drinks will be served.

This is also a nine-hour outdoor day in tropical sun. Bring sunscreen, water if you prefer a dependable supply, and a camera. The operator specifically suggests sunscreen and a camera, but the information does not mention towels, changing facilities, or special dietary guarantees.

Guides, languages, and service quality

The tour is offered with live guiding in English, French, German, Italian, and Romanian. The actual experience can depend on who is assigned to your private group.

Anil is the named skipper associated with a particularly successful family outing. He was described as engaged and pleasant, and the family appreciated both the boat work and his attention to their needs. That kind of skipper can make a large difference, especially when the day includes several stops and children.

At the other end, some departures had very little explanation during the journey, and questions went unanswered because the driver spoke limited English. This matters if you want history, wildlife information, or a clear explanation of what happens next.

Before departure, confirm three points:

• The guide’s actual language ability
• The planned return time
• When drinks and snacks will be available

Those questions are simple, but they address the main areas where expectations can differ from the advertised plan.

Hotel pickup and timing

Hotel pickup and drop-off are optional and available across Mauritius, including hotels and Airbnbs. The supplied information does not give a separate transfer price, so ask whether your location adds a fee.

One family near the launch point received free pickup and return service. If you are staying close to Trou d’Eau Douce, transport may be simple, but guests elsewhere should confirm the arrangement rather than assume it is included in the $498 group price.

The listed duration is nine hours, with the start and end at Trou d’Eau Douce. In practice, some departures have returned much earlier, including one that finished around 2 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. That is a serious issue if you have planned your day around a full tour.

An early start is your best tactic. It can reduce boat traffic at the snorkeling sites and give you calmer conditions at the islands. Ask for the exact meeting and return times in writing before you travel.

Who should book this speedboat day?

I would recommend it most strongly to a group of up to four that wants many Mauritius highlights in one outing. Families, couples traveling with friends, and active visitors who like swimming, snorkeling, beaches, and boat rides will get the most from the format.

It is also a good choice if you want a private boat without arranging every part of the day yourself. The lunch, equipment, island route, and optional transfers are bundled together, which saves planning time.

I would be more cautious if you want a formal history tour, guaranteed multilingual commentary, a quiet luxury setting, or a tightly controlled nine-hour schedule. It is also not the right pick if feeding wild monkeys with snack food bothers you or if you expect the bar to operate fully throughout the entire trip.

The rating of 4.2 from 18 reviews suggests a generally positive experience with noticeable inconsistencies. The most praised elements are the snorkeling, early start, scenery, helpful organization, flexible food service, and capable skippers such as Anil. The main complaints concern language support, limited early refreshments, and tours ending well before the stated duration.

Should you book the five-island tour?

Book it if you are four people sharing the price and want a full day that combines a fast boat, island stops, snorkeling, wildlife sightings, waterfall scenery, and a beach BBQ. The private setup and range of stops give you more variety than a basic lagoon cruise.

Before committing, contact Mauritius Luxury Tours & Transfer to confirm the exact return time, the guide’s language, hotel transfer cost, and how the all-inclusive drinks and snacks will be handled. If those points are clear, this can be a very enjoyable way to cover the east coast and Blue Bay in one day.

If the operator cannot confirm the schedule or your language request, choose a different boat outing. The setting is excellent, but the value depends on receiving the full time and service you are paying for.

FAQ

How long is the private speedboat tour?

The advertised duration is nine hours. The trip starts and ends at Trou d’Eau Douce, but you should confirm the exact return time because some departures have ended earlier than planned.

How many people can join the private group?

The price of $498 covers a private group of up to four people.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel and Airbnb pickup and drop-off are available as an optional service across Mauritius. Confirm the cost and arrangements for your accommodation before booking.

What food and drinks are included?

The BBQ includes grilled chicken, grilled fish, rice, pasta, garlic bread, and salad. Listed drinks include rum, wine, beer, juice, soft drinks, and water, along with snacks. The open bar is mainly associated with the Ile aux Cerfs beach stop.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, and the main snorkeling session takes place in Blue Bay Marine Park.

Which languages are available for the live guide?

The listed guide languages are English, French, German, Italian, and Romanian. Confirm your preferred language in advance, as availability may vary.