5 Islands All-Inclusive Speedboat w/Snorkeling Sea Turtle

The best part of this nine-hour speedboat trip is its range. In one long day, you can race across Mauritius’s largest lagoon, watch a waterfall meet the sea, snorkel among tropical fish, visit five islands, and finish with a beach BBQ and drinks at Ile aux Cerfs. It is a big day, but the boat keeps the pace lively.

I like the small group of up to eight, which should feel far more personal than a packed catamaran. I also like the mix of active and easygoing stops: several snorkeling sessions and a fast ride, followed by two hours to swim, sunbathe, or try watersports. The main caution is consistency. A German booking once went out without its promised guide, missed Blue Bay Marine Park, and did not receive the open bar, so confirm the details before departure.

Key points to know before booking

• Five East Coast islands in one day: You visit Ile aux Cerfs, Ile aux Phares, Ile de La Passe, Ile aux Aigrettes, and Îlot Margenie, with time also spent around Blue Bay and Grand River South East.
• Skipper Sino has received strong praise: One small group described the boat as fast and clean and called the day exceptional.
• Blue Bay is the main snorkeling stop: Expect tropical fish and several chances to get in the water, though conditions can affect the experience.
• The beach lunch is part of the value: Grilled chicken, fish, rice, pasta, garlic bread, and salad are served at Ile aux Cerfs.
• The open bar is included: Rum, wine, beer, juice, soft drinks, water, and snacks are listed, with cocktails prepared during the beach stop.
• Transport is not included by default: You meet at the jetty in Trou d’Eau Douce, while hotel pickup and return cost extra.

Why this East Coast speedboat day works

Mauritius has plenty of boat excursions, but this one tries to combine the island’s greatest hits into one outing. You are not simply ferried to a beach and left there. The route links islands, a river waterfall, a marine park, wildlife encounters, swimming, lunch, and a long stay at Ile aux Cerfs.

That makes the experience a good fit if you want one active day to cover a lot of ground. I especially like the speedboat format because it gives you more time at the stops than a slow cruise can. The tradeoff is that you spend much of the day moving, and the schedule can feel full if you prefer long, quiet beach time.

The boat holds no more than eight participants. That matters on a day built around swimming and sightseeing. You should have a better chance of getting explanations, help with snorkeling gear, and a clear view from the boat than you would in a large group.

The tour is offered with live guiding in English, French, German, Italian, and Romanian. The named skipper in the strongest account was Sino, who was praised for operating a fast, clean boat. Since one German-speaking booking ran without its promised language guide, I would confirm your guide language a day before departure if that detail matters to you.

Trou d’Eau Douce and the first run to Ile aux Cerfs

The meeting point is the jetty at Trou d’Eau Douce. Search for Debarcader Trou D’eau Douche on Google Maps, then look for the jetty when you arrive. This is not a hotel pickup tour unless you pay extra for transport, so allow enough time to reach the departure point.

The first stop is Ile aux Cerfs, where you have about 45 minutes for a visit and refreshments. The island is one of the best-known beach areas on Mauritius, with white sand and clear lagoon water. This first stop gives you a quick taste of the beach before the boat returns later for a much longer stay.

Forty-five minutes is enough for a quick walk, photos, and a drink. It is not enough for a relaxed beach session, so do not treat this as your main island break. The longer two-hour visit comes later, after the sightseeing loop.

Grand River South East and the waterfall

From Ile aux Cerfs, the boat heads toward Grand River South East. Here, you see a waterfall flowing into the Indian Ocean, a striking setting that makes sense from the water. The speedboat lets you approach the river mouth without committing half a day to a separate land excursion.

There is also a chance to see and feed wild Mauritian monkeys near the waterfall. This is one of the more unusual parts of the day, but it deserves a little care. Wildlife encounters are not fully predictable, and feeding wild animals is not an activity everyone will feel comfortable with. If you take part, follow the crew’s instructions and keep your hands clear of the animals.

This stop adds variety. After the open water and beaches, you get a change of scenery with fresh water, rock, vegetation, and wildlife. It also gives the guide a chance to explain the area, assuming the promised guide is present.

Ile aux Phares, Ile de La Passe, and the island story

The route continues toward Ile aux Phares, then passes Ile de La Passe on the way to Blue Bay. These islands give the trip its historical and exploratory flavor. The tour is designed for people who want more than a swim, and the guide is meant to provide context as you move between the islands.

Do not expect a long land visit at every island. Several are viewed from the boat or included as part of the crossing. That is useful for covering ground, but it also means the quality of the commentary matters. With a good guide, the island-hopping feels purposeful. Without one, it can become a fast ride past names on a map.

This is why I would confirm the language and guide arrangement before you leave. One booking specifically reported receiving no information about the five islands because the German-speaking guide became ill and no English-speaking replacement was available. The skipper operated the boat, but did not provide the expected tour commentary.

Blue Bay Marine Park and the snorkeling sessions

Blue Bay is the water-focused center of the day. The boat is supposed to enter Blue Bay Marine Park, where you can snorkel among tropical fish. Snorkeling equipment is included, and several water sessions are part of the plan.

For many people, this will be the most valuable stop. A beach can be visited almost anywhere in Mauritius, but time in the marine park adds a different view of the island. You get to see the lagoon from below rather than only from the deck or shore.

Bring your own camera if you want photographs, but protect it carefully around the water. Sunscreen is also specifically recommended. You will be exposed to strong sun during boat crossings, beach time, and snorkeling, with little shade guaranteed.

Keep expectations sensible. Snorkeling depends on sea conditions, visibility, timing, and the exact stop selected by the crew. One booking reported that Blue Bay was not visited at all and that the snorkeling was poor. That is a serious failure against the planned program, so ask at the start of the day if Blue Bay is on the route and what conditions look like.

The activity also advertises chances to view dolphins and sea turtles. Treat these as possible sightings rather than guaranteed encounters. Wildlife does not follow a schedule, and the tour does not promise a private dolphin or turtle encounter.

Ile aux Aigrettes and the open bar

After Blue Bay, the speedboat passes by Ile aux Aigrettes for refreshments. This is another short island stop rather than a long walk ashore. It helps break up the route before the boat turns back toward Ile aux Cerfs.

The open bar is listed as part of the all-inclusive package. Drinks include rum, wine, beer, juice, soft drinks, and water, with snacks available as well. During the beach lunch, the barman is expected to prepare rum cocktails and serve drinks such as Mauritian beer and wine.

That is a useful inclusion on a nine-hour outing. Buying every drink separately from a beach concession would quickly increase the cost, and having water available is important in the tropical heat. I would still bring sunscreen and use the water regularly, especially if you are drinking alcohol.

Again, check that the bar is actually operating when you board. One reported experience received no open bar at all, and the participants had to serve themselves nonalcoholic drinks. This may have been a service problem rather than the normal routine, but it is worth clarifying before the boat leaves the jetty.

The final two hours at Ile aux Cerfs

The last major stop is a return to Ile aux Cerfs, this time for about two hours. The boat passes Îlot Margenie on the way. This is your main chance to slow down after the sightseeing circuit.

You can swim, lie on the white sand, drink coconut water, or take part in paid or optional watersports such as parasailing and a tube ride. The supplied information names those activities but does not state that they are included in the $125 price, so ask before committing to an extra charge.

The timing is sensible. By this point, you have spent hours on the water and may welcome a fixed beach base. Two hours gives you enough time to swim and eat without feeling rushed, though it will pass quickly if you also want watersports and photos.

The setting is attractive, but Ile aux Cerfs is a famous stop, not a remote island hideaway. You are choosing convenience and a classic Mauritius beach scene rather than solitude. For a first visit to the East Coast, that is a fair trade.

BBQ lunch, music, and what is really included

Lunch is prepared on the beach and includes grilled chicken, grilled fish, rice, pasta, garlic bread, and salad. That is a generous menu for a day on a small boat, and the choice of chicken and fish should suit different preferences.

The meal is one of the stronger value points. You do not need to pack a full lunch or leave the island to find food. The beach setting also makes the meal part of the experience rather than a stop at an ordinary restaurant.

Live music or a sega show is advertised during lunch. Sega is a traditional Mauritian music and dance style, so this can add local character to an otherwise familiar beach outing. However, the actual entertainment may be modest. One small group was seated away from the main activity and found the music to be a one-person guitar performance rather than a full sega show.

That does not make the lunch worthless, but it does mean you should not book this solely for the entertainment. Think of the music as a possible extra, while the food, beach time, and drinks are the more reliable parts of the plan.

Is $125 a fair price?

At $125 per person, the tour is not the cheapest way to reach Ile aux Cerfs. Its value comes from the number of elements packed into the day: a small-group speedboat, five-island route, waterfall stop, snorkeling equipment, marine park visit, BBQ lunch, snacks, an open bar, and a guide.

If all of those pieces operate as planned, I consider the price reasonable for a full-day outing. Booking separate boat transport, lunch, drinks, and snorkeling would take more planning and might cost as much once added together. The small group also gives the package an advantage over larger shared cruises.

The value drops sharply if Blue Bay is skipped, the guide is absent, or the drinks are not provided. Those are not minor details. They are central parts of what you are paying for. Before booking, confirm the departure point, guide language, Blue Bay stop, and inclusions with Mauritius Luxury Tours & Transfer.

Hotel pickup and drop-off around Mauritius are available at an additional cost. If you are staying far from Trou d’Eau Douce, paid transport may be worthwhile, since the activity lasts nine hours and starts early enough that a complicated public transport plan could be tiring. The exact pickup price is not provided, so ask for it before paying.

Who will enjoy this boat trip most?

I would choose this tour if you want a full East Coast sampler and enjoy being active. It suits couples, friends, and small families who like speedboat rides, swimming, snorkeling, and a social beach lunch.

It also works well for first-time visitors who want to see several famous places in one day. The route covers enough ground to help you decide where you might want to return for a slower visit.

You may want something else if you dislike fast boats, need a quiet schedule, or care most about a long uninterrupted beach stay. The day includes many crossings, and the open bar can make it feel more like a party excursion than a nature trip, depending on the group.

Families should check the details directly with the operator, since the supplied information does not state age limits or child pricing. Anyone joining should bring sunscreen and a camera, and should be ready for sun, spray, and time in the water.

The cancellation terms are useful: you can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and reserve now while paying later. Availability and starting times should be checked for your chosen date.

My booking advice

I would book this for the small-group format, broad route, snorkeling, and included lunch and drinks, but only after confirming the practical details. Ask for the guide’s name and language, and confirm that Blue Bay Marine Park and the open bar are operating on your date.

The strongest day will be led by a good guide and skipper, with Sino’s reported clean, fast boat setting a useful standard. If the operator can deliver the full program, $125 buys an efficient and enjoyable slice of Mauritius’s East Coast.

I would skip it if your priority is guaranteed wildlife, a quiet beach day, or a formal cultural performance. The itinerary is ambitious, and the quality depends on the crew delivering each promised part. For an active visitor who wants many sights in one day, it is worth considering. Just confirm what is running before you board at Trou d’Eau Douce.

FAQ

Where does the speedboat tour start and finish?

The tour starts and ends at the jetty in Trou d’Eau Douce. Search for Debarcader Trou D’eau Douche on Google Maps to locate the meeting point.

How long does the activity last?

The experience lasts nine hours. Starting times depend on availability for your chosen date.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The route includes Ile aux Cerfs, Ile aux Phares, Ile de La Passe, Ile aux Aigrettes, and Îlot Margenie. It also includes sightseeing around Blue Bay and Grand River South East.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off throughout Mauritius are available at an additional cost.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The beach BBQ includes grilled chicken, grilled fish, rice, pasta, garlic bread, and salad.

What drinks are included?

The all-inclusive drinks selection includes rum, wine, beer, juice, soft drinks, and water. Unlimited snacks are also included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, and the tour includes several snorkeling sessions.

What languages are available for the guide?

Live guiding is offered in English, French, German, Italian, and Romanian. The group is limited to eight participants.