5 Islands Private Speedboat w/ Snorkeling + Lunch & Drinks

The best part of this trip is the range: in one long day, you move from a roaring speedboat and waterfall to sea turtles, tropical fish, and dolphins, then finish with a beach lunch and two hours on Ile aux Cerfs. It is a fast, full day rather than a quiet cruise.

I especially like the private boat for up to four people, which gives you more room and a more personal ride than a large-group excursion. The early start is another smart choice, since the popular stops can become crowded later. The main concern is consistency: some outings have ended hours early, and the promised drinks, snacks, or guide language have not always matched expectations.

Key points to know before you book

• A full day on a private speedboat: The advertised duration is nine hours, starting and ending at Trou d’Eau Douce.
• Blue Bay Marine Park snorkeling: Equipment is included, with chances to see tropical fish, sea turtles, and dolphins.
• A beach BBQ at Ile aux Cerfs: Expect grilled chicken, grilled fish, rice, pasta, garlic bread, and salad.
• A useful early-start tip: An early departure can mean calmer stops and fewer boats around the main sights.
• Guide language needs checking: English, French, German, Italian, and Romanian are offered, but German-speaking guests have not always received a German-speaking guide.
• Private does not mean quiet all day: The beach lunch may include a lively party atmosphere, and optional parasailing or tube rides cost extra.

A fast start from Trou d’Eau Douce

This experience begins and ends at Trou d’Eau Douce on Mauritius’s east coast. You can arrange hotel or Airbnb pickup and drop-off around Mauritius for an additional fee, while pickup near the departure point may be included in some arrangements. Confirm the exact transport cost before you pay.

The private group format is the biggest practical advantage. The price is $498 for up to four people, so the cost works out to about $124.50 each if your group is full. That is not a budget boat trip, but it becomes more reasonable when you split it among four people and add the snorkeling gear, lunch, drinks, island visits, and a private boat.

You should allow the full morning and afternoon for this outing. It is sold as a nine-hour day, although the actual timing has not always been reliable. Some departures have finished around 2 p.m., well before the stated 5 p.m. return. I would confirm the start and end time in writing, especially if you are arranging this around a flight, dinner reservation, or another tour.

An early start is worth considering. The first part of the route is popular, and the main bays and islands can feel much busier once more boats arrive. An early departure also gives you a better chance of enjoying the water before wind and boat traffic pick up.

Ile aux Cerfs gives you an easy first taste

The first scheduled stop is Ile aux Cerfs, where you have about 45 minutes for a short visit and refreshments. This is a good way to get your bearings, but do not mistake it for the main beach stay. You return later for roughly two hours, when lunch and most of the relaxation time take place.

Ile aux Cerfs is the classic postcard stop on this route: white sand, warm water, coconut drinks, and optional water activities. You can swim, sunbathe, or pay extra for parasailing and a tube ride. Parasailing was a highlight for one family, but it is not included in the $498 price, so keep your wallet handy if you want more than beach time.

The beach setting is appealing, but it can also be social and noisy. The lunch period may have a party feel, with live music or a sega performance listed as possible entertainment. You can usually move away from the busiest patch of sand, but this is not the place to expect a private, silent picnic.

Grand River South East and the monkey stop

From Ile aux Cerfs, the boat heads toward Grand River South East. Here you see a waterfall flowing toward the Indian Ocean, a distinctive sight because the fresh water runs directly into the sea.

The stop also includes a chance to feed wild Mauritian monkeys. This is one of the more unusual moments on the route, especially for families, but I would treat the feeding as a mixed feature. The food described in one account was potato chips, which is not a responsible choice for wild animals. Enjoy watching the monkeys, but ask the crew what is being offered and avoid encouraging poor feeding habits if you can.

The waterfall is best understood as a scenic stop rather than a long walk or major nature visit. The attraction is the view from the water and the meeting of river and ocean. If you want extensive land exploration, this tour is not built for that. Its strength is the quick succession of coastal sights.

Ile aux Phares and Ile de la Passe

The boat then continues toward Ile aux Phares, followed by a route past Ile de la Passe. These islands add a historical and exploratory note to the day, though the information provided does not promise a formal island tour or a long guided history talk.

That point matters. The outing is marketed for people who like history, adventure, and exploration, but the guide may give only limited commentary. One German-speaking group found that their skipper did not explain much in English, leaving questions unanswered. Another group had an excellent day with Anil, who was described as engaged and friendly.

I would ask before departure how much guiding you can expect. If you want a detailed account of the islands, confirm that the person on your boat will provide it in your language. If your priority is scenery, speed, swimming, and time on the water, limited commentary may not bother you.

Blue Bay Marine Park is the underwater highlight

Blue Bay Marine Park is the strongest stop for anyone booking this trip mainly for snorkeling. Equipment is included, and you get time to swim among tropical fish. The route also offers chances to see sea turtles and dolphins, although wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed.

The snorkeling area near Ile aux Aigrettes is singled out as a good place to watch the underwater life. One family had enough time to appreciate the marine setting rather than being rushed in and out. Bring your own camera if you want photographs, but protect it carefully around salt water and fast boat movement.

The water experience can vary with conditions. The tour gives you a chance to see marine life, not a promise of a private wildlife encounter. You may spot dolphins from the boat and sea turtles near the snorkeling area, but the crew cannot control where animals appear.

I like that the route combines the marine park with several coastal stops. You are not spending nine hours doing only one activity. The trade-off is pace: a speedboat can cover ground quickly, but you will have less time for quiet observation than on a slow sailing trip.

Ile aux Aigrettes and the open bar

After Blue Bay Marine Park, the boat passes by Ile aux Aigrettes for refreshments. This is also when the all-inclusive open bar is described as opening, with rum, wine, beer, juice, soft drinks, and water.

The drinks list sounds generous, but the timing is important. Some people expected unlimited drinks and snacks throughout the whole day, then found that most of the supply appeared near the final island stop. One account described only two bags of chips and two drinks during the earlier part of the outing. If snacks and drinks are central to your decision, ask exactly what is available during the boat ride, at the snorkeling stop, and before lunch.

Alcohol and a fast boat in the sun require some sense. Drink water, use sunscreen, and avoid treating the open bar as the main attraction. The boat ride, marine park, and islands are the real value here.

The beach BBQ at Ile aux Cerfs

The final return to Ile aux Cerfs brings the main meal and the longest island break. The listed BBQ includes grilled chicken, grilled fish, rice, pasta, garlic bread, and salad. This is a more substantial meal than the earlier refreshments, and individual food requests may be accommodated. Vegetarian children were catered for during one family’s outing.

Your friendly barman may prepare rum cocktails, and beer, wine, juice, soft drinks, and water are included according to the tour details. The food is served on the beach, which makes lunch part of the setting rather than a quick meal back at the dock.

The atmosphere is not always peaceful. A lively crowd may gather around the lunch area, especially if music or a sega show is taking place. I would see that as a plus if you want a festive Mauritius experience, and a drawback if you want a secluded beach day.

You get about two hours here, which is enough for a swim, sunbathing, a coconut drink, and perhaps an optional water activity. That is a better use of time than rushing through the island in half an hour. Still, check whether your actual boat will follow this schedule, because reported return times have varied widely.

What the private format is really worth

A private boat gives you control over the group atmosphere and avoids sharing the entire day with a large busload of people. For four friends or a family, $498 can be fair value because it includes a full route, snorkeling gear, lunch, drinks, and a dedicated speedboat.

For one or two people, the price feels much steeper. You are paying for exclusivity as much as for the stops. A shared boat may cost less, but the supplied details do not provide a comparison price, so I would compare the total cost rather than assume the private option is automatically better.

The private format also lets you ask for adjustments, though you should not assume every request can be granted. Confirm the return time, language, pickup, food needs, and drinks before setting off. Those details have caused the most disappointment.

Hotel and Airbnb transfers are optional. If your accommodation is near Trou d’Eau Douce, meeting at the departure point may be simpler. If you are staying elsewhere in Mauritius, paid transfer can save you the trouble of arranging transport, but get the price before booking.

Language, guiding, and what to bring

The stated guide languages are English, French, German, Italian, and Romanian. In practice, a German-speaking guide has not always been available even when requested. If you do not speak English or French comfortably, confirm the language by message and ask for the guide’s name.

Anil is the guide and boat leader specifically praised for being friendly and committed. You cannot assume he will operate every departure, but asking whether he is assigned to your date may help set expectations.

Bring sunscreen and a camera. You will be exposed to sun on the boat, at the marine park, and on the beach. A secure waterproof pouch is sensible for phones and small valuables, though that accessory is not listed as included.

Wear clothing suitable for swimming and bring whatever you need to stay comfortable after snorkeling. The provided information does not specify lockers, changing facilities, or towel service, so do not assume those are available.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a reserve-now, pay-later option. Those terms give you some flexibility, but they do not solve the main practical issue: confirm the actual operating time and inclusions before the cancellation deadline.

Who should book this day on the water?

I would recommend it most strongly to a group of up to four people who want many highlights in one day and value having their own boat. It suits families, friends, and couples who want a mix of swimming, wildlife, island scenery, beach time, and a party-style lunch.

It is also a good fit if snorkeling matters to you. Blue Bay Marine Park, tropical fish, possible turtles, and possible dolphins give the day a clear marine focus.

I would be more cautious if you need a German-speaking guide, want detailed historical commentary, or expect drinks and snacks to flow continuously from the first minute. I would also hesitate if a strict nine-hour schedule matters, since some outings have ended much earlier than planned.

Should you book it?

Book this trip if you want a busy, scenic private boat day and can confirm the details before departure. The best parts are genuinely strong: an early ride across the east coast, Blue Bay snorkeling, the waterfall, wildlife sightings, a generous beach lunch, and relaxed time on Ile aux Cerfs.

Before paying, ask four direct questions: Who is the guide, and what language will be used? What time will the boat return? Are drinks and snacks available throughout the day? Is hotel pickup included or charged separately?

If the answers are clear and your group can split the cost, this is a good way to pack much of Mauritius’s east and southeast coast into one outing. If you want a slow, quiet, highly informative cruise with guaranteed timing, choose something less ambitious.

FAQ

Where does the speedboat tour start and end?

The tour starts and ends at Trou d’Eau Douce.

How long does the activity last?

The advertised duration is nine hours. Confirm the operating hours before departure because some outings have ended earlier than the planned return time.

What is included in the price?

The tour includes the waterfall visit, island hopping, snorkeling equipment, lagoon cruising, BBQ lunch, unlimited listed alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, snacks, and visits to the stated scenic and wildlife stops.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel and Airbnb pickup and drop-off around Mauritius are optional. The supplied information does not state one universal transfer price, so confirm the cost before booking.

Which languages are available?

The stated guide languages are English, French, German, Italian, and Romanian. Confirm your requested language in advance, since a German-speaking guide has not always been available.

Are parasailing and tube rides included?

No. Parasailing and tube rides at Ile aux Cerfs are optional activities and are not included in the tour price.

Can you cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.