Mauritius: Speedboat Tour to Ile aux Cerfs with Lunch

White sand, turquoise water, and a fast boat make this five-hour outing an appealing way to see east Mauritius in one compact trip. From Trou d’Eau Douce, you’ll visit Ile aux Cerfs, pass through the Grande Rivière South East area, and eat a beachside barbecue with drinks included.

I especially like the speedboat rides, which turn the transfers into part of the fun, and the fact that lunch, beer, wine, rum, soft drinks, juice, and water are covered. The main tradeoff is time: one recent booking rated the trip four out of five because lunch took too long and left less time on Ile aux Cerfs.

The outing is well suited to anyone who wants a lively island day without arranging several separate activities. You get beaches, a waterfall cruise, food, and lagoon views in one package, though people with back problems or limited mobility should choose another excursion.

Key points to know before booking

• The trip starts at Chez Tino Restaurant: Meet outside the restaurant on B59 in Trou d’Eau Douce for the briefing and walk to the jetty.
• Ile aux Cerfs is the main stop: You’ll have free time to walk, feel the sand underfoot, and enjoy the famous white beaches and clear lagoon.
• The Grande Rivière South East waterfall is viewed by boat: This is a scenic cruise and pass-by stop, not a long waterfall hike.
• Lunch is a full beach barbecue: The meal includes fish, chicken, garlic bread, mixed salad, pasta, seasonal fruit, and drinks.
• The timing favors variety over long beach time: The tour lasts five hours, but the boat rides and meal take a meaningful share of that period.
• French and English are available: The driver and guide service is offered in both languages.

Starting at Trou d’Eau Douce and Chez Tino Restaurant

Your meeting point is outside Chez Tino Restaurant, B59, in Trou d’Eau Douce. This matters because the restaurant is not just a name on a booking screen. It gives you a clear place to gather before the boat portion begins.

You’ll receive a short briefing about the day, then make your way to the jetty. I like this simple start. You are not left guessing where to go or expected to find a boat somewhere along the waterfront.

The briefing should help set expectations for the order of the stops. The day includes a speedboat trip to Ile aux Cerfs, free time on the island, a longer ride toward the Grande Rivière South East waterfall, lunch, and a final boat ride back to Trou d’Eau Douce.

The driver speaks French and English. If you have a question about the schedule, food, or meeting point, ask early. The outing moves through several stages, and a clear understanding of the plan makes it easier to enjoy your free time instead of watching the clock.

The first 20-minute speedboat ride

The first boat ride takes about 20 minutes. Rather than treating this as a dull transfer, think of it as the opening act. You’ll move out from Trou d’Eau Douce toward the east coast and the lagoon around Ile aux Cerfs.

A speedboat gives the route energy. You get the sensation of moving quickly across the water, and the changing views become part of the experience. The boat is also practical because it connects several separate places within a half-day schedule.

That said, speedboat rides are not the softest form of transport. If you have back problems, this trip is specifically listed as unsuitable for you. People with mobility impairments may also find the jetty, boat boarding, and movement between stops difficult.

Bring only what you need for the five hours. A small bag is easier to manage than a large one, especially when you are getting on and off the boat and moving between the beach and lunch area.

Free time on Ile aux Cerfs

Ile aux Cerfs is the heart of the outing. You’ll have free time to walk and take in the island’s white sandy beaches, clear lagoon water, and green mangrove areas.

This is the portion of the day where you set your own pace. You can stroll along the shore, sit by the water, or simply enjoy the tropical setting before the group continues. The island gives you the classic Mauritius scene: pale sand beside water in shades of blue and green.

The free time is valuable because the rest of the tour has a set rhythm. The waterfall is seen from the boat, and lunch follows a planned format. Ile aux Cerfs is your best chance to slow down and enjoy the surroundings without a guide leading every minute.

Pay attention to the schedule, though. It is easy to lose track of time on a beautiful beach. One booking gave the trip four out of five, with the specific complaint that too much time went to lunch and not enough remained on the island. That is useful advice if beach time is your main reason for booking.

You should also understand that this is not a full-day beach stay. The tour gives you an introduction to Ile aux Cerfs as part of a wider route. If you want hours of quiet beach time, a dedicated island transfer may suit you better. If you want a mix of beach, boat, waterfall, and lunch, the shorter visit makes sense.

The 45-minute ride toward Grande Rivière South East

After Ile aux Cerfs, the speedboat ride toward the Grande Rivière South East waterfall takes about 45 minutes. This is the longest boat section of the outing, and it changes the rhythm from walking and beach time to sightseeing from the water.

The route takes you through the lagoon and toward the river area. You’ll see coastal scenery, turquoise water, and mangroves as the boat travels inland. The waterfall is known as Grande Rivière South East, and the visit is described as a boat cruise and pass-by rather than a land excursion.

That distinction is important. You are not signing up for a waterfall trek. You’ll admire the falls from the boat, which keeps the visit easy to fit into a five-hour program and avoids a long walk. It also means the waterfall portion is shorter and more observational than the beach stop.

The setting has more than water and rock. The surrounding greenery and mangroves give the ride a different character from the open lagoon around Ile aux Cerfs. You might also see monkeys near the waterfall area. This detail came through in the strongest praise for the outing, along with the beach barbecue and the return by speedboat.

The 45-minute ride can feel long if you are eager to get back to the beach. Still, it is the part that gives the tour more range. Instead of seeing only one popular island, you get a coastal and river-side view of east Mauritius in the same morning or afternoon.

Beach barbecue with local flavor

Lunch is served on the beach and includes fish, chicken, garlic bread, mixed salad, pasta, and seasonal fruits. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available if requested in advance.

The meal is one of the better practical features of this tour. At $64 per person, you are not paying only for transport and a short stop on the island. The price also covers a substantial lunch and a selection of drinks: beer, wine, rum, soft drinks, water, and juice.

A barbecue on the beach also fits the day better than a formal restaurant meal. You can keep the coastal setting in view while eating, and the food break becomes part of the island experience rather than a pause away from it.

Still, lunch takes time. The five-hour schedule must fit food preparation, serving, and a return to the jetty. If you value every minute on Ile aux Cerfs, the meal can feel like it takes too large a share of the day.

I would request dietary needs before departure rather than waiting until lunch. The tour specifically supports vegetarian and gluten-free meals, but the information says these must be requested. That small step can prevent an avoidable problem.

The drinks list is generous for a half-day excursion. Beer, wine, rum, soft drinks, juice, and water are included, so you do not need to budget separately for a basic refreshment. Enjoy the rum responsibly, especially before the final speedboat ride.

Returning to Trou d’Eau Douce

After lunch, the boat makes the approximately 20-minute trip back to Trou d’Eau Douce. The return ride gives you one last look at the lagoon and coast before you arrive outside Chez Tino Restaurant.

The return is direct and keeps the outing within its advertised five-hour duration. You are not left arranging a separate transfer from Ile aux Cerfs or the lunch area, which is a real advantage when you want an easy half-day plan.

The final ride also helps the day feel complete. You begin at Trou d’Eau Douce, travel out to the island and river, and return to the same area. That makes this a useful choice if you are staying nearby or planning another activity after the tour.

Because departure times vary, check availability for the date you want. The duration is five hours, but the start time is not fixed in the information provided.

Is $64 a good value?

At $64 per person, the price is fair for the range of inclusions. You receive a speedboat outing, a visit to Ile aux Cerfs, a boat trip to the Grande Rivière South East waterfall, a barbecue lunch, and several drinks.

The value is strongest if you want variety. Booking these pieces separately could take more planning, and you would need to arrange transport, decide where to eat, and work out how to visit both the island and waterfall area. This tour bundles the main elements into one short outing.

The value is weaker if you want a long, unhurried stay on Ile aux Cerfs. The tour gives you free time there, but it also includes a substantial meal and two boat transfers. Your money pays for a broad sample of the east coast rather than a full day lying on one beach.

The food and drink inclusion makes the price easier to justify. Fish, chicken, garlic bread, salads, pasta, fruit, and drinks turn the excursion into a full activity rather than a simple boat ticket.

The overall rating is 4.6 from 158 ratings, and the strongest praise centers on the organization, friendly staff, guide, welcome, meal, and care shown throughout the day. One five-star assessment called the crossing, organization, guide, reception, food, waterfall visit, beach barbecue, rum, and return speedboat excellent. That matches the tour’s main strength: it combines several enjoyable parts without making you plan each one yourself.

Who should book this speedboat outing?

I would recommend it to couples, families with older children, and first-time visitors who want to see several east-coast highlights in one half-day. It also suits anyone who enjoys being on the water and prefers an active outing to a long stretch at a resort pool.

You’ll likely appreciate it if you want:

• A fast and scenic way to reach Ile aux Cerfs
• Free time on white sand and beside clear lagoon water
• A waterfall visit without a long walk
• A filling beach meal included in the price
• Beer, wine, rum, juice, soft drinks, and water included
• French or English communication

I would think twice if your top priority is quiet beach time. The 45-minute boat section to the waterfall and the lunch period reduce the time available to wander Ile aux Cerfs.

I would also avoid it if you have back problems or limited mobility. The activity involves a speedboat, a jetty, and movement between the boat, beach, and meal area. The trip does not promise a mobility-adapted setup.

Small details that make the day easier

Request a vegetarian or gluten-free meal before the tour. The option is available, but it is not described as automatic.

Arrive at the meeting point outside Chez Tino Restaurant with enough time for the briefing. The organized start is helpful, but the boat schedule depends on the group moving together.

Keep your beach expectations realistic. Ile aux Cerfs is the headline stop, but the outing is designed as a rounded east Mauritius experience. You will see the island, the lagoon, mangroves, and the Grande Rivière South East waterfall, then eat lunch on the beach.

If you want to protect your island time, keep lunch moving at a reasonable pace and return promptly when asked. That is the clearest practical lesson from the mixed feedback about the balance between eating and exploring.

The activity allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful if your Mauritius schedule is still shifting.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a well-organized sampler of east Mauritius with speedboat rides, Ile aux Cerfs, a waterfall cruise, beach barbecue, and drinks all in five hours. The excellent rating and praise for the staff, food, organization, and overall care support its appeal.

Skip it if you want to spend most of the day on Ile aux Cerfs or prefer a slow, quiet boat trip. For everyone else, $64 is a sensible price for a compact outing that delivers both classic scenery and a proper meal, with the main compromise being limited island time.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

The meeting point is outside Chez Tino Restaurant on B59 in Trou d’Eau Douce, Mauritius.

How long does the activity last?

The tour lasts five hours. Starting times vary, so you need to check availability for your chosen date.

What food is included?

Lunch includes fish, chicken, garlic bread, mixed salad, pasta, and seasonal fruits. Vegetarian and gluten-free meals are available on request.

Which drinks are included?

The included drinks are beer, wine, rum, soft drinks, water, and juice.

Is the Grande Rivière South East waterfall visited on foot?

No. The waterfall portion is described as a boat cruise and pass-by stop. You see the area from the boat rather than taking a listed walking excursion.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The driver service is offered in French and English.