Catamaran, BBQ, Ile Gabriel , Ile Plate ,Coin de Mire

Sun, sea, and a second day on the road. This two-day Mauritius experience pairs a catamaran cruise from Grand Baie with a private-car tour through the island’s southern sights. I like the mix of open-water relaxation and inland culture, and I like that the second day includes a driver, lunch, tea, rum, temples, and La Vanille Nature Park. The main drawback is that the first day is a shared catamaran trip, so it may feel crowded rather than private.

The price is listed at $82.22 per person, while the private villa costs extra. That can make this a good-value choice if you want several major sights in one booking, but you should confirm exactly what is included before paying for accommodation.

Key points to know before booking

• Two very different days: Day one is a seven-hour catamaran outing from Grand Baie, while day two is a six-hour private-car tour through southern Mauritius.
• The northern islands depend on weather: The boat heads beyond the reef, so rough conditions can lead to cancellation or a changed date.
• BBQ lunch, beer, and wine are included: The catamaran day is built around swimming, snorkeling, food, drinks, and time on the beaches.
• The villa is optional and extra: The available private villa sleeps four people in two bedrooms, making it more useful for a small family or group than a solo visitor.
• The second day covers a lot: You visit La Vanille Nature Park, Grand Bassin, a rum distillery, Bois Cheri Tea Plantation, Gris Gris, and La Roche qui pleure.
• The first day is shared, the second is private: This difference matters if you are choosing the tour for personal service or quiet travel.

Two days that show different sides of Mauritius

This tour works because the two days have different moods. The first is easygoing and social, with the sea doing most of the work. The second is more active and sightseeing-focused, with a private car and driver taking you across the southern part of the island.

You begin at Grand Baie Public Beach, a practical departure point in northern Mauritius. The boat day lasts about seven hours. Day two lasts about six hours and ends back at the meeting point, although the exact timing of each stop can depend on road conditions and the pace of the group.

The setup is worth understanding. The first day is a common catamaran cruise with other people aboard. The second day is described as a private activity for your own group, with pickup and drop-off by private car and driver. If you want a private boat, this is not the right choice. If you want a private land day after a social sea day, the arrangement makes sense.

Setting out from Grand Baie toward the northern islands

Grand Baie is the starting point for the catamaran day. From here, you head toward the northern islands, including Ile Plate, also called Flat Island, and Ile Gabriel. The tour information also refers to Coin de Mire in the title and mentions Round Island as part of the northern island group, so it is wise to ask the operator for the exact route and island stops before departure.

The northern-island setting is the chief attraction. You leave the busy resort area behind and spend the day offshore, with beaches, open water, and reef scenery replacing roads and shops. I like this kind of first day because it gives you time to slow down. There is no long list of monuments to memorize and no pressure to keep moving every twenty minutes.

The boat day includes time to relax, swim, and snorkel. Snorkeling equipment details are not provided, so ask if gear is supplied or if you should bring your own. The experience is designed for sun and water rather than a formal guided lesson, so confident swimmers may get more from it than anyone hoping for a highly structured marine program.

The tour notes that the catamaran travels outside the reef. That is an important practical point. Offshore weather can change quickly, and rough water may force the operator to cancel or move the trip. This is not a flaw in the tour, but it does mean you should avoid placing it on the only available day of a short Mauritius visit.

BBQ lunch, drinks, and the shared-catamaran tradeoff

A BBQ lunch with beer and wine is included on the catamaran day. That adds real value to the price because you are not simply paying for transport to an island and then arranging your own food. The meal also fits the day’s mood: casual, outdoors, and social.

Still, it is best to set your expectations correctly. A shared catamaran can be lively and crowded, especially during popular periods. You may have less room to spread out, and the day will not offer the quiet, personal feel of a private charter. The supplied tour details specifically note that the boat is shared, so anyone looking for a secluded sailing trip should compare this with a private-catamaran option.

For me, the shared format works best for people who enjoy a friendly boat atmosphere and want a full day on the water without paying private-charter rates. It works less well for anyone who dislikes crowds, needs a calm setting, or expects individual attention throughout the cruise.

The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible, which is useful information for planning. Even so, access on the beach, boat, and island stops can vary. You should confirm the boarding arrangements and any mobility needs with Oceanafrican Tours before booking.

The northern islands are about relaxation, not a packed schedule

The first day is described as a full day of sun, food, drinks, beaches, and relaxation. That is a strength. You are not trying to squeeze every northern-island sight into a rushed timetable.

The likely rhythm is simple: sail from Grand Baie, spend time around the islands, swim or snorkel, eat, and return. The tour description does not give exact hours at each island, so do not book it expecting a detailed archaeological or naturalist program.

I would treat this as a reset day. After arriving in Mauritius, a boat trip can help you get your bearings without demanding much effort. It also gives you a taste of the northern coast before the more structured southern drive on day two.

The weather warning matters again here. Because the route is outside the reef, sea conditions can affect the schedule. If poor weather cancels the trip, the policy offers a different date or a full refund. You should keep your itinerary flexible enough to accept a change.

Day two begins with La Vanille Nature Park

The second day shifts inland and south. You travel by private car with a driver, which is a major advantage over trying to combine these stops independently by bus or taxi.

La Vanille Nature Park is one of the main attractions. The visit includes giant tortoises and crocodiles, giving the day a strong wildlife element. This is particularly useful for families, since the park adds something different from the boat, temples, tea, and coastal viewpoints.

The tour description does not specify how much time you spend inside the park or which additional exhibits are included. I would ask for the expected stop length if the tortoises are a priority for you. The park is part of a packed southern route, so this is a broad sightseeing day rather than a slow visit to one attraction.

Lunch is listed at the Hungry Crocodile restaurant. Having lunch built into the day simplifies the schedule and means you do not need to search for a restaurant while moving between stops. Menu details are not provided, so anyone with dietary restrictions should contact the operator ahead of time.

Grand Bassin adds a cultural side to the drive

The route continues to Grand Bassin, where you visit Hindu temples around the crater lake. This is one of the tour’s most valuable inclusions because it gives the day cultural context rather than making it only a string of scenic stops.

You should approach this part of the tour respectfully. It is a religious site, not simply a photo stop. The itinerary says the visit is intended to help you discover Hindu culture in Mauritius, so it can add meaning to the rest of the trip, especially if your time on the island has so far focused on beaches and resort areas.

The schedule also includes a rum distillery. Mauritius has a long connection with sugarcane, and rum production is a natural part of the island’s food and agricultural story. The information provided does not state whether a tasting is included, how long the stop lasts, or which distillery you visit. Ask for those details if rum is a major reason you are considering the tour.

Bois Cheri Tea Plantation explains a daily staple

At Bois Cheri Tea Plantation, you learn about tea cultivation and the tea-making process. This stop gives you a look at another side of Mauritius, one based on farms, processing, and local production rather than beaches.

I like the inclusion of the tea factory because it gives the road day a clear thread. The rum distillery and tea plantation both connect sightseeing with the island’s agricultural economy. You are not just looking at scenery. You are learning how products associated with Mauritius are grown and made.

The experience is likely to appeal to curious adults and families with older children. The description does not state whether tastings, factory demonstrations, or a museum visit are included, so confirm the exact format before you go. The name Bois Cheri is specified, but the tour details do not provide a full breakdown of the tea stop.

Gris Gris and La Roche qui pleure bring you to the coast

The southern route finishes with some of Mauritius’s more rugged coastal scenery. Gris Gris is known here as part of the island’s wild southern edge, and La Roche qui pleure, or the rock that cries, adds a memorable natural feature to the route.

This is a useful contrast with the calm northern-island day. The boat trip gives you beaches and open water, while the southern coast offers a rougher, more exposed setting. You get a wider sense of Mauritius by seeing both.

The route covers many different sights in only six hours. That is efficient, but it also means you should not expect long, unhurried visits everywhere. The private car helps because your group has its own vehicle, yet the day remains a broad overview of southern Mauritius.

Is $82.22 per person good value?

At $82.22 per person, the tour offers a lot of coverage for the price. You get a seven-hour catamaran outing, BBQ lunch, beer and wine on the boat day, and a separate six-hour southern trip with a private car and driver. The second day also includes admission to La Vanille Nature Park and lunch at the Hungry Crocodile restaurant.

The value depends on what you would otherwise pay for these parts separately. A private southern driver, park entry, lunch, a catamaran cruise, and a BBQ meal could add up quickly. For someone who wants a ready-made two-day plan, the package is attractive.

The price becomes less compelling if you want a private boat or if you plan to skip several southern stops. You also need to budget for the optional villa, since accommodation is extra. The villa sleeps four across two bedrooms, so it may be sensible for a small group sharing the cost. For one or two people, paying extra for it may not make as much financial sense.

Since the booking requires availability confirmation within 48 hours, do not assume the tour is final until the operator confirms it. Oceanafrican Tours is the named provider, and you should direct questions about the villa, exact island route, meals, and mobility needs to the company before committing.

Who will get the most from this tour?

I would recommend this experience to you if you want variety and prefer a simple plan. It suits people who want one day of sea time and one day of sightseeing without arranging every transfer themselves.

It is especially well matched to:

• Couples or small groups who enjoy a social boat trip
• Families interested in wildlife, beaches, and cultural sites
• Visitors with only a short stay who want broad coverage
• People who value a private car and driver on the southern route
• Anyone who wants lunch and drinks handled in advance

I would think twice if you want a quiet private cruise, a specialist wildlife tour, or a slow cultural visit with lots of time at each stop. The day one boat is shared, and day two includes many locations in a limited number of hours.

The experience is also weather-sensitive. Put the catamaran day early in your Mauritius schedule if possible. That gives you room to move it if offshore conditions are poor, though the operator may instead offer another date or a refund.

Should you book the Mauritius two-day tour?

Book it if you want a practical combination of northern-island sailing and southern Mauritius sightseeing at a moderate per-person price. The strongest parts are the change of pace between the two days, the included BBQ with beer and wine, the private car on day two, and the unusual range of stops from giant tortoises to Hindu temples and tea production.

Do not book it expecting a private boat or a leisurely, deeply detailed visit at every location. Confirm the exact northern-island route, the villa cost, boarding access, and what happens at the rum and tea stops before paying.

For a first visit, I think the mix is appealing. You get a relaxed day on the water, then a useful introduction to the island’s wildlife, religion, farming, rum, and rugged southern coast. That broad look is the reason to choose it.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Grand Baie Public Beach in Grand Baie, Mauritius.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately two days. Day one is about seven hours, and day two is about six hours.

Is the catamaran private?

No. The catamaran cruise is a shared trip with other people. The second day is described as a private tour for your group.

Is accommodation included?

No. Accommodation is extra. The available private villa has two bedrooms and sleeps four people.

Is lunch included?

A BBQ lunch with beer and wine is included on the catamaran day. Lunch at the Hungry Crocodile restaurant is listed for the southern day.

What places are visited on the second day?

The southern tour includes La Vanille Nature Park, Grand Bassin, a rum distillery, Bois Cheri Tea Plantation, Gris Gris, and La Roche qui pleure.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Poor weather or failure to reach the minimum number of participants may also lead to a different date or a full refund.