Full-Day At Ile Aux Cerf: Speed Boat, GRSE, Lunch On A Private Island & Transfer

The speedboat ride is the real star. This full-day outing pairs a fast, splashy cruise from Trou d’Eau Douce with several hours on the bright beaches of Ile aux Cerfs. I like the mix of freedom and structure: you get time to swim or rest, then a three-course Mauritian BBQ lunch with unlimited drinks, followed by a trip up to Grand River South East Waterfalls.

I also like the small maximum group size of 12 and the included hotel pickup, air-conditioned vehicle, boat transfers, guide, and lunch. The main caution is consistency. Some departures have had delays, crowded conditions, extra charges for sunbeds or water sports, and limited English interpretation when the group language was French.

Key points to know before booking

• Fast boat from Trou d’Eau Douce: The ride across the east coast lagoon includes sharp turns, sprays, and open views of the turquoise water.
• About five hours around Ile aux Cerfs: You have time to swim, stroll, sunbathe, snorkel, or pay extra for activities such as parasailing and tube riding.
• Private-island three-course BBQ: Vegetarian and nonvegetarian meals are available, with advance notice needed for a vegetarian lunch.
• Unlimited lunch drinks: Water, soft drinks, beer, red, rosé, and white wine, plus local rum, are included with the meal.
• Grand River South East Waterfalls: The boat enters the waterfall channel, where monkeys and fruit bats may be visible in the trees.
• Weather and timing matter: The tour starts around 9 a.m., lasts seven to eight hours, and can be affected by rain, cyclones, late pickups, or boat delays.

Why this east-coast day works well

I see this as a convenient way to cover several popular Mauritius sights without arranging separate transport. You are collected at your hotel or accommodation anywhere in Mauritius, driven to Trou d’Eau Douce, taken by boat to Ile aux Cerfs, fed lunch, shown the GRSE waterfalls, and returned by boat and vehicle.

That matters because the east coast attractions are spread across water and road. Booking each part separately could mean finding a driver, locating a boat operator, arranging lunch, and keeping an eye on departure times. Here, the basic pieces are bundled into one day.

The tour costs about $110.38 per person. That is not a cheap beach transfer, but it can be fair value if you use the included transport, meal, drinks, guided waterfall stop, and several hours on the island. The value drops if you only want a quiet beach day, plan to avoid alcohol, or expect every chair and water sport to be included.

The experience is best for you if you want variety. It is less suitable if your ideal day means sitting quietly in one place with no engine noise, no fixed lunch schedule, and no chance of delays.

The morning drive to Trou d’Eau Douce

Pickup is scheduled around 9 a.m., though the exact time depends on your location. You begin in an air-conditioned vehicle with a certified guide and driver, heading toward Trou d’Eau Douce, a fishing village on the east coast.

The drive itself is short in the published schedule, about 15 minutes for this first leg, but your total road time depends on where you are staying. A pickup from a distant part of the island can take longer, and the operator notes that pickup times vary by location.

I would treat the 9 a.m. time as a target rather than a minute-by-minute promise. One important warning comes from the handling of a delayed pickup and delayed return reported on a departure. Another complaint involved a cruise-ship party arriving two hours late. The operator still ran the excursion, but a late start can squeeze the beach time and make the afternoon feel rushed.

If you are coming from a cruise ship, confirm the meeting plan very carefully and leave enough time to get off the ship. A minimum of two people is required to book, and the group can include up to 12 people.

The speedboat crossing to Ile aux Cerfs

At Trou d’Eau Douce, you transfer to a speedboat for the ride across the east coast lagoon. This is more than simple transport. The boat ride is one of the most enjoyable parts of the day, especially if you like speed, open water, and a bit of spray.

The route gives you views of clear lagoon water, palm-lined shores, and the white beaches of Ile aux Cerfs. The boat uses a 150-horsepower Yamaha or Mercury outboard engine, and the later return ride is described as having fast runs, hard turns, and sharp spins.

That sounds fun, but you should know what you are signing up for. This is not a gentle sightseeing cruise all day. You may get wet, and the boat ride can feel lively. Bring a towel and spare clothes, as the operator specifically recommends both.

The speedboat is also where the strongest praise has been directed. The skipper and boat ride received repeated approval, with one French-language account calling the skipper excellent and another praising the excitement of the fast boat. If you enjoy the ride itself, this tour has a clear advantage over a slower ferry transfer.

Music and onboard atmosphere may vary. One poor experience involved loud music containing swearing during the waterfall portion. That does not prove every departure will be like this, but it is worth knowing if you prefer a calm, family-focused boat trip.

Five hours on Ile aux Cerfs

Ile aux Cerfs gives you the long middle section of the day. The island is known here for white sand, palm trees, and shallow-looking turquoise water. You can use the time in several ways:

• Swim in the lagoon.
• Walk along the sandy shore.
• Snorkel during the available break.
• Sunbathe under a parasol.
• Try a paid water sport.
• Simply sit and enjoy the view.

The tour includes free time rather than a tightly guided program. I like that arrangement because beach days are personal. You may want to swim while someone else in your group wants a chair and shade.

However, do not assume every beach comfort is covered by the $110.38 price. A complaint specifically concerned sunbeds costing extra. The tour description says chairs and parasols are provided, but the practical experience may depend on the beach area and how seating is managed on the day. Ask your guide where the included seating is located before paying for anything.

Parasailing and tube riding are explicitly excluded and cost extra. The same caution applies to other water sports, including any activity not clearly listed as included. Snorkeling is mentioned as part of the day, but equipment details are not given, so ask whether gear is supplied or bring your own if you have it.

The island can become crowded, particularly during peak season. One complaint described too many people and an uncomfortable experience. The maximum group of 12 applies to this tour, not to the entire island. Your boat group may be small while the beach itself remains busy.

A Mauritian BBQ lunch on a private island

Around midday, you leave the beach area for lunch on a private island. The meal is described as a three-course Mauritian BBQ, ending with a local dessert. Vegetarian food can be arranged, but you need to request it when booking.

The food received strong praise from several people, including one last-minute booking that still found the day well organized and the lunch very good. Another positive account described the private BBQ as a highlight. That said, food quality and presentation may not be identical on every departure. One dissatisfied customer described being served a sausage without a bun and compared it to a hotdog. I would keep expectations at the level of a generous outdoor BBQ, not a polished restaurant meal.

The unlimited drinks are a meaningful part of the package. During lunch, you can have water, soft drinks, beer, red wine, rosé, white wine, and local rum. If you are planning to drink, this improves the value of the tour. If you do drink alcohol, remember that the day still includes a fast boat ride and time in the sun. Pace yourself.

Vegetarian requests and food allergies should be shared in advance. The operator also asks you to report any illness. The available information confirms vegetarian and halal options, so ask for the halal meal when booking rather than waiting until lunch.

Lunch lasts about an hour. That gives you enough time to eat and enjoy the setting, but it is not a long, lazy afternoon meal. The schedule then moves back toward the lagoon and the waterfalls.

Grand River South East Waterfalls by boat

The GRSE waterfall stop adds a different side of Mauritius. Instead of another beach, the speedboat follows the lagoon toward the mouth of Grand River South East, where the river channel meets the sea.

The boat cruises along the waterfall canal for about 30 minutes. You can expect a close view of the falls, wooded riverbanks, and the meeting point of freshwater and the coast. The setting is more shaded and enclosed than Ile aux Cerfs, so it breaks up the bright, open beach hours.

Monkeys may appear in the old trees along the banks, and fruit bats may be seen perched high above the river. A French-language account even described feeding monkeys, but I would not treat feeding wildlife as a promised part of the tour. Watch the animals without expecting the skipper to bring you close or encourage contact.

This stop is included in the price, but the viewing experience depends on water conditions, boat traffic, and how long the skipper spends in the channel. It is a sightseeing pass rather than a long walk to a viewpoint. If waterfalls are your main reason for booking, you may want a separate land-based visit with more time.

The boat’s behavior also matters here. A loud soundtrack, particularly one with offensive language, was a specific complaint during the waterfall stop. If you are traveling with children or want to hear the river and birds, tell the skipper politely that you prefer lower music.

The return ride and trip back to your hotel

Around 3:30 p.m., you return to the speedboat for the final coastal ride. The description promises a wet and energetic run with fast acceleration, turns, and splashes before reaching Trou d’Eau Douce.

That ride can be a memorable finish, especially if the morning crossing has already put you in the mood for speed. It can also be tiring after hours in the sun, a meal, and time in the water. Keep your spare clothes dry in a sealed bag, and do not leave your towel where it can blow away.

After reaching the village, you transfer back to the air-conditioned vehicle for hotel drop-off. The full experience lasts about seven to eight hours, but the real finish time can shift. A boat was reported to be around 30 minutes late on one return, so avoid booking a tightly timed evening plan.

The advertised schedule mentions returning to the hotel for dinner, but the core excursion is a day trip with lunch. I would not rely on an exact arrival time for a flight, cruise departure, or important reservation.

Language, group size, and comfort

The operator lists a certified private guide and driver, but the language experience needs attention. One person booked an English-speaking tour and found the group mainly French-speaking, with only a small amount of English interpretation.

If English commentary is important to you, confirm it before departure. The group may still be multilingual, and the amount of spoken explanation can vary. This is especially relevant during the drive and waterfall stop, where the guide’s explanation adds much of the cultural value.

The group limit of 12 is a useful feature. It should make hotel pickup and boat boarding easier than a large coach excursion. Still, small group does not mean private access to the island, and the public beach areas can be busy.

The tour requires no special participation level beyond being able to take part in a boat and beach outing. Bring your own towel, spare clothes, and any personal items you need for sun protection. Food allergies, vegetarian meals, halal meals, and illness should be reported in advance.

Weather, cancellations, and the booking decision

This outing depends heavily on weather. In a cyclone or torrential rainfall alert, the operator may cancel and provide a full refund. If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund, so check the local start time carefully.

I would book this if you want a lively east-coast day with a strong boat component, beach time, a filling lunch, and a short waterfall visit. It suits couples, families, and small groups who appreciate having transport and food arranged but still want free time.

I would hesitate if you require a guaranteed English-only group, dislike fast boats, need an exact return time, or expect sunbeds and water sports to be included. The most reliable highlights are the speedboat ride, the scenery, the lunch package, and the chance to see GRSE from the water. The least certain parts are seating, crowd levels, music, language balance, and punctuality.

At roughly $110 per person, I see fair value for an active full day, especially if you use the unlimited drinks and included transfers. Just book with realistic expectations: this is a busy island excursion with a thrilling boat ride, not a private silent retreat.

FAQ

Where does the Ile aux Cerfs tour start?

The tour offers pickup from any hotel or accommodation in Mauritius. The listed start time is around 9 a.m., but pickup time can vary by location.

How long does the excursion last?

The experience lasts approximately seven to eight hours.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A three-course Mauritian BBQ lunch is included, with vegetarian and nonvegetarian meals available. Vegetarian meals should be requested in advance.

What drinks are included with lunch?

Included drinks are water, soft drinks, red wine, rosé, white wine, beer, and local rum.

Are parasailing and tube riding included?

No. Parasailing and tube riding cost extra. Other water sports may also require additional payment.

Is the Grand River South East Waterfall visit included?

Yes. Sightseeing at Grand River South East Waterfalls is included, with about 30 minutes spent cruising along the waterfall canal.

What should I bring?

Bring your own towel and spare clothes because the speedboat ride can be wet. You should also advise the operator in advance about food allergies, illness, vegetarian meals, or halal meal requirements.