Mauritius: Speedboat Tour to Ile aux Cerfs with Lunch

The best part of this outing is the combination of fast boat rides and slow island time. You skim across the lagoon to Ile aux Cerfs, pass mangroves and turquoise water, then stop at the Grande Rivière South East waterfall before settling down to lunch on the beach.

I like the easy mix of scenery and food, and I like that the $64 price includes a full BBQ lunch, drinks, the island visit, and the waterfall stop. The main drawback is time: lunch takes a sizable part of the five-hour program, so you may want more time to walk and swim on Ile aux Cerfs.

• A 20-minute speedboat ride starts the day from Trou d’Eau Douce.
• Ile aux Cerfs offers free time for beach walking and lagoon views.
• The Grande Rivière South East waterfall is reached by a 45-minute boat ride and viewed on a cruise.
• Beach lunch includes fish, chicken, garlic bread, salad, pasta, fruit, and drinks.
• The $64 cost covers the main activities and meal, with vegetarian and gluten-free food available on request.
• A 4.6 rating from 158 bookings reflects strong marks for organization, staff, food, and value, while one clear concern is limited island time.

Setting Out From Trou d’Eau Douce

Your meeting point is outside Chez Tino Restaurant on B59 in Trou d’Eau Douce, a useful detail because you do not need to search for a remote marina. Meet there, receive a short briefing, and walk to the jetty with the guide.

The staff speak French and English. No individual guide names are provided, so you should expect service in those two languages rather than a tour built around a named local guide.

The first boat ride lasts about 20 minutes. That is long enough to make the crossing feel like part of the experience rather than a simple transfer. You get open views of the coast and lagoon as the speedboat carries you toward Ile aux Cerfs.

A speedboat is a good match for this route. It gives you the thrill of moving quickly across the water and makes it possible to combine several stops in half a day. It also means a more exposed, active ride than a slow ferry. If you have back trouble, this is not the right outing, and people with mobility impairments may find the boat and beach access difficult.

Ile aux Cerfs and Its White Beaches

Ile aux Cerfs is the main visual reward. You have free time to walk, look across the turquoise water, and enjoy the white sandy beaches. The description emphasizes the island’s beach scenery, lagoon, and lush mangrove areas rather than a long guided tour, so you should expect to explore at your own pace.

That freedom is useful. You can choose a quiet walk, sit near the water, or simply enjoy the setting before the next boat ride. I prefer this kind of stop to a tightly managed photo pause because you get at least some control over your time.

Still, keep your expectations sensible. The total excursion lasts five hours, and the schedule includes two boat transfers, the waterfall cruise, and lunch. One booking comment specifically wished for more time on the island and less time at lunch. If your main goal is a long beach day, this trip may feel rushed.

The island stop works best for you if you want a sampler: a taste of Ile aux Cerfs, a waterfall visit, a boat ride, and a meal in one compact outing. If you want hours of swimming and reading on the sand, consider how much island time you need before booking.

The 45-Minute Ride to Grande Rivière South East

After time at Ile aux Cerfs, the speedboat travels for about 45 minutes toward the Grande Rivière South East waterfall. This is the longest boat section in the schedule, and it gives the outing a stronger sightseeing element than a simple beach transfer.

The route passes through the lagoon and toward the river area, with mangroves and green coastal scenery along the way. You will not be hiking to the waterfall. The stop is described as a boat cruise and pass-by, so the appeal comes from seeing the falls from the water and taking in the surrounding scenery.

The waterfall is known here as the GRSE waterfall, short for Grande Rivière South East. It is one of the tour’s main landmarks, and the setting adds variety after the open beach. The itinerary also notes monkeys near the waterfall, which may give you an entertaining glimpse of local wildlife, though no close encounter is promised.

The 45-minute ride is worth considering before you book. I like that it lets you see more of east Mauritius, but it also takes time away from Ile aux Cerfs. If you enjoy being on the water and seeing several kinds of scenery, the length feels useful. If you mainly want sand and swimming, it can feel like a long detour.

BBQ Lunch on the Beach

Lunch is served on Ile aux Cerfs and forms a substantial part of the day. The menu includes fish, chicken, garlic bread, mixed salad, pasta, and seasonal fruit. Vegetarian and gluten-free meals are available on request, so make that request before the trip rather than waiting until the food is served.

Drinks are included too: beer, wine, rhum, soft drinks, water, and juice. That matters at $64 because you are not paying separately for a basic meal and then adding every drink at the end. The inclusion of water and juice is especially practical during a warm day by the lagoon.

The meal is not presented as a restaurant tasting menu. It is a beach BBQ, which means the value comes from the setting, the shared meal, and the fact that lunch is already arranged. You can sit near the sand, take in the water, and avoid spending part of your limited island time choosing a place to eat.

There is a tradeoff. Lunch takes time, and one person felt the balance should favor more island exploration. I would think of the meal as one of the core activities, not a short refueling stop. If you enjoy a relaxed beach lunch with a drink, that is a plus. If you would rather eat quickly and get back into the water, the schedule may test your patience.

What the $64 Price Really Covers

At $64 per person, this is a solid package if you plan to use all its parts. You receive the speedboat transportation, the Ile aux Cerfs visit, the GRSE waterfall cruise, lunch, and a broad selection of drinks. Buying those pieces separately could take more planning and may not produce a lower total.

The strongest value comes from variety. In five hours, you get:

• A fast boat ride from Trou d’Eau Douce
• Free time at Ile aux Cerfs
• A 45-minute ride through the lagoon and river area
• A view of the GRSE waterfall
• A beach BBQ
• Beer, wine, rhum, soft drinks, water, and juice
• A return speedboat ride

The price is less attractive if you measure value only by time on the beach. The island stop is shared with a waterfall visit and a long boat ride, and the lunch occupies a meaningful portion of the schedule. You are paying for a compact east-coast experience, not a full-day island stay.

The food and drink package also makes this easier to budget. You know the main meal and drinks are covered, and there should be less need to carry extra cash for lunch. Vegetarian and gluten-free options add value for people with those needs, as long as the request is made ahead of time.

The Return to Trou d’Eau Douce

After lunch and island time, you take another speedboat ride of about 20 minutes back to Trou d’Eau Douce. The return ends at the same general meeting point, outside Chez Tino Restaurant.

The final ride gives you one more stretch of lagoon scenery before the day ends. Because the activity begins and finishes in the same area, it is fairly simple to fit into a day based around east Mauritius. The schedule does not require a long overland transfer between the meeting point and the coast.

The full duration is five hours, though the exact start time depends on availability. You should check the available departure before planning other activities around it. Leave enough room in your day for the boat schedule, lunch, and possible changes in how long the island stop feels.

The staff have been especially well regarded for organization, friendliness, welcome, and care. One particularly positive account praised the crossing, guide, meal, beach BBQ, rum, waterfall visit, and speedboat return. That combination points to a well-run outing rather than a bare boat transfer.

Who Will Enjoy This Mauritius Boat Tour

I would recommend this experience to you if you want to see several east-coast sights without arranging separate transport. It suits couples, families, and small groups who like water travel, open scenery, beach time, and a meal included in the price.

You will probably enjoy it most if you:

• Want a half-day outing rather than a full-day cruise
• Like speedboats more than slow sightseeing boats
• Want Ile aux Cerfs and the GRSE waterfall in one trip
• Prefer lunch and drinks arranged in advance
• Are happy with a sampler of the island rather than a long stay on one beach
• Can manage boat access and beach conditions comfortably

It may not suit you if you have back problems or limited mobility. The speedboat ride, jetty access, and beach setting can be demanding, and no special mobility arrangements are described.

It is also not the best choice if your top priority is maximum time at Ile aux Cerfs. The schedule gives you free time, but lunch and the waterfall route take part of the five-hour outing. For many people that variety is the point. For others, it is the compromise.

Practical Details Before You Book

Meet outside Chez Tino Restaurant, B59, in Trou d’Eau Douce. A short briefing comes before you walk to the jetty, so arrive ready to move rather than treating the restaurant as the actual boarding spot.

French and English are available. The experience is operated by Societe fernand lacour & fils, and the service includes a guide and driver arrangement for the boat portion.

Cancellation is flexible up to 24 hours before the outing for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Mauritius plans are still shifting.

Food needs attention. Vegetarian and gluten-free meals are available on request, but you should make the request before departure. The listed meal includes fish and chicken, along with garlic bread, salad, pasta, and seasonal fruit.

The activity does not identify a group size, so I would not assume a private boat or a small personal tour. Think of it as a shared speedboat experience unless your booking specifically confirms otherwise.

My Verdict on Ile aux Cerfs, the Waterfall, and Lunch

I would book this tour if you want an efficient introduction to east Mauritius and like the idea of combining boat scenery, beach time, and a BBQ. The $64 price is fair because it covers the boat, two major sights, lunch, and drinks, not just transport to Ile aux Cerfs.

I would pause if you want a long, unhurried beach stay. The 45-minute ride to the GRSE waterfall and the extended lunch period reduce your time on the island, and that was the one clear criticism in the feedback.

For most visitors, the choice comes down to variety. Choose this outing for a lively half-day with several stops and plenty included. Skip it in favor of a simpler beach day if your ideal plan is to plant yourself on the sand and stay there.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts outside Chez Tino Restaurant on B59 in Trou d’Eau Douce, Mauritius. The outing returns to Chez Tino Restaurant.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts five hours. The listed boat rides include about 20 minutes to Ile aux Cerfs, 45 minutes toward Grande Rivière South East, and 20 minutes back.

What food is included?

Lunch includes fish, chicken, garlic bread, mixed salad, pasta, and seasonal fruits. Vegetarian and gluten-free food is available on request.

Which drinks are included?

Included drinks are beer, wine, rhum, soft drinks, water, and juice.

What languages are available?

The driver and guide service is available in French and English.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve now and pay later is also available.