5 Islands Speedboat Cruise incl. Snorkeling in Blue Bay + Lunch at Ile aux Cerfs

The best part of this day is the variety. You get a fast ride across the east coast, a waterfall, old lighthouse ruins, island scenery, lunch, and a long stop for snorkeling in Blue Bay Marine Park. It is a good way to pack several coastal sights into one outing without arranging separate boats and equipment.

I like the small group limit of 18 people, which should make the boat less crowded than a large catamaran. I also like the simple value: lunch, snacks, drinks, bottled water, snorkeling gear, taxes, and parking are included. Your skipper may add local stories, music, and plenty of personality. Andy, in particular, is praised for bringing energy to the day.

The main drawback is the schedule. Some island stops are brief, and the snorkeling time can feel short if conditions or the group slow things down. The loud music may not suit everyone, and the French-language booking choice is not always guaranteed in practice, so confirm your preferred language before you go.

Key things to know before booking

• Blue Bay is the main event: You get up to two hours for snorkeling in calm, shallow water known for coral and marine life.
• The group is capped at 18: This keeps the speedboat more personal, though it is still an active shared outing.
• Lunch and drinks are included: Expect food, snacks, bottled water, alcoholic beverages, and an open bar stop.
• The route covers several islands: Ile aux Cerfs, Ile aux Fouquets, Ile aux Aigrettes, and the waters near Grand Port all bring something different.
• Weather can change the plan: The snorkeling site may shift to Ilot Mangenie, and poor weather can cancel the trip.
• Bring patience for short stops: The tour covers a lot of ground, but not every island offers a long visit or many things to do ashore.

This is a full day on the water, not a quiet sightseeing cruise. You spend about seven hours moving between islands and coastal sights, with time for swimming, snorkeling, lunch, drinks, and short stops. The speedboat gives the day a lively rhythm, while the small group keeps it from feeling like a floating bus.

At $110.79 per person, the price makes the most sense if you plan to use the included extras. Lunch alone is not the reason to book it. The value comes from combining transport by boat, several island visits, snorkeling equipment, a marine park stop, refreshments, an open bar, and a guide in one package.

You meet at Blue Alizé Catamaran Ile aux Cerfs in Trou d’Eau Douce at 8:30 in the morning. Parking is available at the meeting point, which is useful if you are arranging your own way there. Private transportation is not included, so you need to reach the meeting point independently.

Speeding out from Ile aux Cerfs

The first stop is Ile aux Cerfs, one of the best-known island destinations on Mauritius’s east coast. You have about 45 minutes here, enough to look around, take photographs, and have refreshments, but not enough for a long beach day.

That short timing tells you what kind of tour this is. You are collecting highlights rather than settling in at one island. If Ile aux Cerfs is a major reason for your visit, you may prefer a dedicated Ile aux Cerfs excursion with more time on the sand. Here, it is the opening scene before the boat continues toward the river and open coast.

The boat ride itself is part of the appeal. You get changing views of the coast and a more active sense of the distance between the islands. A lively skipper can make these transfers fun, though music may be loud at times. If you prefer conversation and quiet views, ask where to sit and let the skipper know.

Grand River South East and the waterfall view

Grand River South East brings one of the day’s most familiar natural sights: a waterfall flowing toward the Indian Ocean. The water meets the coastal setting in a way that makes this more than a standard river stop.

The timing here appears brief, around 15 minutes in the stated schedule. That is enough for a look and some photos, but do not expect a long walk, a hike, or a private viewing platform. You see the waterfall from the water, which is the point of arriving by boat.

The route also passes places connected with the Battle of Grand Port. Ile de la Passe, a rocky islet in the bay, was part of a major naval battle in August 1810 between French and British frigates. The British lost four frigates in the action, although one was later recaptured. These details give the coastal scenery some human context, especially when your guide explains what you are seeing.

Ile aux Fouquets Lighthouse and Mauritius’s sea history

Ile aux Fouquets is also called Ile Phare, or Lighthouse Island. A lighthouse was built here in 1864, and it remained in use until the beginning of the 20th century. The island was discovered by Dutch settlers in 1598 and later served a strategic role during the fighting around Grand Port.

You do not visit a large museum or spend hours ashore. The value is in seeing the island from the boat and hearing how its location helped ships navigate and how the bay figured in Mauritius’s past. This is a good stop for anyone who likes a little history with their scenery.

The stop is listed at about 45 minutes, but exact time can vary with the day’s conditions and pacing. Bring a camera, but keep expectations sensible. The lighthouse is the attraction, not a long menu of activities.

Blue Bay Marine Park snorkeling

Blue Bay Marine Park is the strongest part of the day for anyone who wants to get into the water. The marine park became a national park in 1997 and was recognized as a wetland site under the Ramsar Convention in 2008. Its shallow, calm water and coral garden make it a natural place for a guided snorkeling session.

You receive snorkeling equipment, so there is no need to rent a mask and fins separately. The planned water time is about two hours, which is generous compared with the short island stops. Still, some people find the actual snorkeling portion shorter than expected once the group gets organized, equipment is distributed, and everyone enters and leaves the water.

The boat may use Blue Bay or move closer to Ilot Mangenie. The choice depends on weather conditions and the coral breeding season. That flexibility protects the schedule, but it also means you cannot treat one exact location as guaranteed.

The marine park is known for many coral varieties and plentiful marine life. You might see fish among the coral in clear, shallow water, though visibility can change with weather and sea conditions. This is not a private reef trip, and the quality of the swim depends partly on how comfortable the group is in the water.

If you are not keen on snorkeling, you can relax on the boat instead. The tour is not only for strong swimmers. Most people can participate, but you should be comfortable with a boat-based outing and getting in the water if you choose to snorkel.

Ile aux Aigrettes and the refreshments stop

After Blue Bay, the boat passes Ile aux Aigrettes, an islet off the southeast coast. It serves as a nature reserve and scientific research station, and it is also a popular place for both local people and visitors.

The stated stop lasts about 20 minutes and includes refreshments. This is also where the all-inclusive open bar is available. Alcoholic drinks are included, along with snacks and bottled water, so you can take a break after the swim without reaching for your wallet.

Do not expect a full nature reserve visit on this tour. The boat passes by or pauses near the islet, but the schedule does not describe a guided walk ashore. The attraction is the setting and the chance to hear about the island’s conservation role.

Lunch, drinks, and the pace of the day

Lunch is included, along with snacks, water, and alcoholic beverages. That matters because a seven-hour boat outing can become expensive when every drink and meal costs extra. You also avoid wasting time searching for food during a tightly planned route.

The exact lunch setting deserves some attention. The day may include a longer pause at an island or waterside location, and the length of that break can shape your impression of the tour. If you like a relaxed meal and time to talk, that pause may feel welcome. If you prefer constant movement and more sightseeing, it may feel too long.

One person found the lunch stop too extended and felt that fewer islands might have been enough. That is a useful warning. The tour’s strength is variety, but variety also means transitions, waiting, and stops that may not all interest you equally.

The atmosphere can be social. A skipper such as Andy may keep the group engaged with humor, music, and local stories. That energy is a plus if you want a cheerful day with other people. It is less ideal if you are looking for a quiet private cruise.

What the skipper adds

The guide matters on this tour because several stops are viewed from the boat. Without explanation, a lighthouse or rocky islet can become just another photograph. A good skipper connects the scenery with Dutch settlement, the old lighthouse, the Battle of Grand Port, and the conservation work at Ile aux Aigrettes.

Andy is specifically associated with a friendly, energetic style. The captain may also point out unexpected sights. Monkeys jumping onto the boat were an unexpected highlight for one outing, and dolphins have been seen during the day.

Dolphin encounters are not listed as a guaranteed part of the trip. If the boat follows dolphins, you may want to ask how the skipper approaches them. Some people enjoy the chance to see them, while others feel uncomfortable when a boat appears to pursue wildlife. It is fair to raise that concern before setting out.

Language also deserves a quick check. A French-language option was expected by one participant but the group was assigned to English instead. If the guide language matters to you, contact the operator before booking and again before departure.

Is the $110.79 price good value?

I think the price is reasonable for the number of inclusions, especially if you would otherwise pay separately for a boat trip, snorkeling gear, lunch, drinks, and parking. The route also covers a wide section of the east and southeast coast in one day.

The value drops if you mainly want long beach time or an unhurried snorkeling session. Ile aux Cerfs gets only about 45 minutes, some stops are short, and the day has a fixed group pace. A private charter would offer more control, but it would also cost more.

The group cap of 18 is a useful middle ground. You are not booking a private boat, but you are also not joining a huge crowd. For a solo visitor or couple, it offers an easy way to meet people while keeping the outing reasonably contained.

Who should book this speedboat day?

I would recommend it to you if you want one active day that covers a lot: islands, history, a waterfall, snorkeling, lunch, drinks, and a fast ride. It works especially well for first-time visitors who want an overview of the east and southeast coast rather than a single beach or reef.

It also suits people who like a social atmosphere and do not mind a skipper with personality. The boat, music, and quick changes of scene give the day plenty of energy.

I would hesitate if you want silence, private service, long swims, or deep time at each island. Families and mixed groups should also discuss the pace before booking, since not everyone may want the same amount of time in the water or on the boat.

The tour requires good weather. If conditions force a cancellation, you can take another date or receive a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Final call: book it or skip it?

Book this tour if your ideal Mauritius day is active, social, and varied. The combination of Blue Bay snorkeling, included food and drinks, a small group, and several historic island sights gives you solid value for $110.79.

Skip it if you would rather spend most of the day on one beach or reef. The strongest reason to choose this trip is the mix, not the depth of any one stop. Go in expecting a lively sampler of Mauritius by speedboat, and the schedule should make sense.