Mauritius: Ile aux Cerfs Boat Tour with BBQ Lunch and Drinks

The best part of this Mauritius outing is the variety packed into one boat trip: a river waterfall, a beach barbecue, and the bright lagoon around Ile aux Cerfs. You leave from Trou D’eau Douce, speed along the east coast, and finish with time to swim or simply stretch out on the sand.

I like the included drinks, which cover water, juice, soft drinks, beer, wine, and local rum. I also like the lunch setting on Ile aux Margenie, a small island where the barbecue is served right on the beach. The main caution is organization. Recent feedback points to crowding, delays, and confusion between the speedboat and catamaran options.

Key points

• Grand River South East Waterfall: Travel upriver to Cascade Diamamouve, with a chance to spot monkeys in the trees along the banks.
• Beach barbecue: Eat a three-course BBQ lunch on Ile aux Margenie with halal food and vegetarian meals available by request.
• Ile aux Cerfs lagoon: Spend about two and a half hours swimming, browsing local crafts, or adding paid activities such as parasailing and tube riding.
• Small-group format: The boat is limited to 14 participants, though the wider stop may feel busy at popular times.
• Five-and-a-half-hour schedule: This is a compact outing rather than a full dawn-to-evening cruise, with morning departure and afternoon return.
• Optional transfers: Hotel pickup and drop-off can be selected for several Mauritius districts, or you can meet the boat near Green Island Restaurant.

A fast start from Trou D’eau Douce

The trip begins across from Green Island Restaurant on the beach at Trou D’eau Douce, unless you select hotel pickup. This village on Mauritius’s east coast is the launch point for many trips toward Ile aux Cerfs, and the speedboat gets you moving quickly.

You are welcomed by the crew, then set off along the coast and waterways. The boat ride is part of the attraction, not just transport. You feel the wind, see the coast from water level, and cover ground faster than you would on a slower cruise.

That speed comes with a tradeoff. A speedboat is more exposed to spray and motion than a catamaran, so bring sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, and a change of clothes. Pregnant women should not book this activity.

The tour is listed at 330 minutes, or five and a half hours. That gives you enough time for three distinct stops, but it also means each part has a firm schedule. If you want a lazy, unhurried day at the beach, this is not that kind of outing.

Grand River South East Waterfall and Cascade Diamamouve

The first major stop is Grand River South East Waterfall, also known as Cascade Diamamouve. The boat moves through the river valleys toward the falls, offering scenic views before stopping for photographs and sightseeing.

The waterfall is not presented as a long hike or a remote walk. You see it from the water, getting close by boat. That makes the stop easy to fit into a half-day program, though it also limits your time on land.

Keep your camera ready as you travel along the riverbanks. Monkeys may be visible among the trees, which adds a little wildlife interest to what could otherwise be a quick photo stop. Sightings are not guaranteed, but watching the banks gives you something to do while the boat approaches the falls.

This part of the trip can feel rushed if you want a quiet nature visit. The scheduled waterfall stop is about 30 minutes, and feedback points to a busy, highly managed feel at times. I would treat it as a scenic introduction to Mauritius’s waterways rather than a long, peaceful nature walk.

Lunch on Ile aux Margenie

After the waterfall, the boat heads to Ile aux Margenie for lunch. The meal is served on the beach, which is one of the strongest features of the day. You are not eating in a restaurant away from the water. Instead, the sand, sea, and open air form the setting for a three-course barbecue.

The food is halal, and vegetarian options are available if requested ahead of time. That is worth arranging before departure rather than hoping for a suitable plate at the last minute.

Drinks are included. You can expect soft drinks, juice, water, beer, wine, and local rum. For a $56 price, that matters. Beach meals and drinks can quickly add up on island excursions, and this package removes much of that uncertainty.

The lunch stop is scheduled for about one hour. That is enough for a proper meal, but not a leisurely afternoon picnic. Timing may also vary in practice. One recent account described a significant wait for the lunch transfer, with a pickup planned for noon arriving around 12:40. That kind of delay can reduce your time at the next stop.

Still, the barbecue is the part I would count as the best value in the food side of the tour. You get a hot meal, a beach setting, and a useful range of drinks without paying separately for each glass.

Ile aux Cerfs: white sand and clear water

After lunch, you continue to Ile aux Cerfs, the best-known beach stop on this route. As you approach, palm trees and pale sand appear around the turquoise lagoon. The setting is exactly the kind of place many people picture when they plan a Mauritius beach day.

You have around two and a half hours here, making it the longest part of the excursion. Use that time to swim, sit on the beach, take photographs, or browse the arts and crafts market. The lagoon is the main attraction, and you should bring swimwear, a towel, and a change of clothes so you can enjoy it properly.

The water is described as clear and calm-looking, but conditions can change with weather and tide. The tour may be cancelled in poor weather, with a different date or a full refund offered. That policy is helpful for a boat trip, since the quality of the day depends heavily on sea conditions.

Ile aux Cerfs also offers extra sea activities, including parasailing and tube riding. These are not included in the $56 price. If you want to try one, budget separately and confirm the cost before committing. The included visit works perfectly well without paid activities, especially if your main goal is swimming and beach time.

The island can be busy. One rating specifically criticized the number of people on the boat and the mass-market feel of the waterfall visit. The beach may also feel less secluded than its photographs suggest. You are paying for access to a famous island with clear water, not a private beach retreat.

What the $56 price really covers

At $56 per person, this tour offers a lot for a single outing. The price includes the speedboat ride, waterfall visit, BBQ lunch, and a broad selection of drinks. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included only if you choose the option that provides them.

The value is strongest for you if you want one organized package. You do not need to arrange separate transport to Trou D’eau Douce, find a boat to the waterfall, locate lunch, and then negotiate your way to Ile aux Cerfs. The day has a clear route and includes the major sights.

The value is weaker if you dislike group schedules. You may spend time waiting for transfers, sharing a boat, or moving on before you are ready. Paid water activities are extra, and the island itself is not described as a private or quiet stop.

The group is limited to 14 people, which sounds suitably small for a speedboat. Still, the boat may feel crowded, and the overall experience at popular stops can involve more people than the boat limit suggests. Small group does not mean private tour.

Transport, pickup, and timing

You can meet the boat across from Green Island Restaurant on the beach. Pickup is also available from selected accommodation areas across Mauritius, including Moka, Rivière Noire, Flacq, Grand Port, Rivière du Rempart, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Savanne, Pamplemousses, and Green Island Beach Restaurant.

This wide pickup range is useful if you are staying away from the east coast. It can also add road time before and after the boat trip. If you select hotel transfer, your driver is expected to meet you at the hotel reception or outside your accommodation.

Check the exact starting time when booking. The activity is described as a morning departure with an afternoon return, but the specific time depends on availability and the option selected.

Pay close attention to the wording of your booking. A recent complaint involved a party expecting a speedboat but being directed toward a catamaran instead. If the type of boat matters to you, confirm it at the meeting point before leaving shore. The speedboat ride is a central part of this experience, so a mix-up would change the character of the day.

Food, clothing, and useful packing advice

Wear comfortable shoes for getting on and off the boat and moving around the beach. Pack swimwear, a towel, a spare set of clothes, sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, water, and a camera.

The change of clothes is especially practical. You may encounter spray on the boat, and wet swimwear is uncomfortable during the return trip. A waterproof bag for your phone and camera would also be sensible, although it is not listed as required equipment.

Bring modest expectations about meal timing. The barbecue is a strong part of the package, but it is served within a scheduled tour. Vegetarian food can be arranged, and the meal is halal, so make your dietary needs known in advance.

Infants aged one to four are free. The activity is not suitable for pregnant women, and the speedboat format may be less comfortable for anyone who is sensitive to motion. The supplied information does not give a specific accessibility assessment, so ask the provider before booking if you need assistance with boarding or beach access.

The organization question

The activity has a solid outline but uneven reports on execution. The food and inclusive drinks receive the clearest praise, while the weak points involve waiting and confusion over transport.

One account described the lunch as very good and praised the attractive setting. The same account reported a 40-minute wait for the return transfer. Another gave the boat a low score because it felt too crowded and the waterfall visit seemed like a production line.

The overall rating is 3.9 from 103 ratings. That suggests a generally worthwhile outing with enough inconsistency to justify careful planning. I would confirm the boat type, meeting point, pickup time, and return arrangements on the morning of the tour.

The English and French-speaking crew can guide the activity in either language. No individual guide names are provided, so you should not expect a named specialist guide as part of the booking.

Who should book this Mauritius boat trip?

I would recommend it to you if you want to see several east-coast highlights in one morning and afternoon. It suits first-time visitors, couples, families with older children, and anyone who values an included meal and drinks over a private schedule.

It also suits people who want a mix of activity and rest. You get a fast ride, a waterfall, a beach meal, swimming, and time for crafts or optional water sports. You do not need to choose between an inland sight and a beach stop.

I would be more cautious if your priority is peace and privacy. Ile aux Cerfs is a popular island, and the boat may feel crowded. You may also find the schedule too tight if you want long, quiet stops or dislike waiting for group transfers.

The trip is also a less obvious choice for serious wildlife fans. Monkeys may be seen at the waterfall, but the excursion is not a dedicated wildlife outing. The waterfall visit is short, and the main focus is the coast and beach.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a practical, good-value sampler of Mauritius’s east coast. The combination of speedboat travel, Cascade Diamamouve, beach BBQ, included drinks, and Ile aux Cerfs swimming time is hard to match at $56.

Skip it if you want a private boat, a slow pace, or firm control over every minute. If you book, confirm that your reservation is for the speedboat, ask for clear pickup instructions, and keep your schedule flexible enough to absorb delays.

FAQ

Where does the boat tour start?

The meeting point is on the beach across from Green Island Restaurant in Trou D’eau Douce. Hotel pickup and drop-off are available if you select that option.

How long does the activity last?

The listed duration is 330 minutes, or five and a half hours. The tour begins in the morning and returns in the afternoon.

What places do I visit?

You visit Grand River South East Waterfall, Ile aux Margenie for lunch, and Ile aux Cerfs for swimming, sightseeing, and an arts and crafts market visit.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A three-course BBQ lunch is included and served on Ile aux Margenie. The food is halal, and vegetarian options are available by request.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Included drinks consist of soft drinks, juice, water, beer, wine, and local rum.

Are water sports included?

No. Activities such as parasailing and tube riding at Ile aux Cerfs cost extra.

What languages are available?

The live tour guide service is available in English and French.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If poor weather causes the tour to be cancelled, you are offered another date or a full refund.