5 Islands All-Inclusive Speedboat w/Snorkeling Sea Turtle

Hold on tight, the east coast is made for speed. This nine-hour trip combines a small-group speedboat ride with five-island sightseeing, snorkeling, a waterfall stop, and a beach barbecue at Ile aux Cerfs. I especially like the limited group size of eight and the fact that lunch, drinks, snorkeling gear, and several major stops are included.

I also like the variety. You are not parked at one beach all day: you cruise the largest lagoon in Mauritius, visit Grand River South East, pass historic islands, snorkel at Blue Bay Marine Park, and finish with two hours on Ile aux Cerfs. The main caution is that the experience depends heavily on the day’s guide and route. One booking reported that the German-speaking guide was unavailable, Blue Bay was skipped, snorkeling failed, and the promised bar service did not happen.

Key details before you book

• Five east-coast islands in one day: The route includes Ile aux Cerfs, Ile aux Phares, Ile de La Passe, Ile aux Aigrettes, and Ilot Margenie, with Grand River South East and Blue Bay Marine Park also included in the planned route.
• A true small-group setup: The boat is limited to eight participants, though one recent trip had six people aboard.
• Two different beach and water experiences: You get short sightseeing stops and a longer two-hour break at Ile aux Cerfs for swimming, sunbathing, coconut water, or optional watersports.
• Lunch is served on the beach: The barbecue includes grilled chicken, grilled fish, rice, pasta, garlic bread, and salad.
• The open bar is part of the price: Rum, wine, beer, juice, soft drinks, water, snacks, and rum cocktails are included, but confirm service at boarding.
• The schedule is ambitious: Nine hours gives you a lot of Mauritius in one outing, but poor weather, staffing, or timing can affect which stops actually happen.

Why this speedboat day has appeal

At $125 per person, this is not a cheap boat ride. It is a full-day package that bundles transport on the water, several island visits, snorkeling equipment, food, drinks, and beach time. If you want to see much of Mauritius’s east coast without arranging separate excursions, the price can make sense.

The speedboat is the star. You hear the engine, feel the movement across the waves, and cover more ground than you would in a slow boat. That makes the day feel active rather than like a floating lunch cruise. The tradeoff is simple: a speedboat is more exposed to wind, spray, and rough water than a large covered vessel.

The group limit of eight is another strong point. A small boat can feel more personal, and you should have a better chance of hearing the skipper and moving around without a crowd. One highly positive booking had only six participants and praised the clean, fast boat and skipper Sino. That is the kind of setup this tour is aiming for.

Still, I would not book this solely for the word VIP. The actual value comes from the number of included elements and the small group, not from luxury treatment at every moment. The quality of the day rests on clear communication, a working route, and the delivery of the included services.

Starting at Trou d’Eau Douce

The trip begins and ends at the jetty in Trou d’Eau Douce. The meeting point is listed as Debarcader Trou D’eau Douche on Google Maps, so check the spelling before you leave and allow time to find the correct jetty.

Hotel pickup and drop-off across Mauritius are not included in the $125 price. They can be arranged for an additional charge. If you are staying far from the east coast, add that cost before comparing this tour with a package that includes land transport.

The listed duration is nine hours, and starting times depend on availability. That is a full day in the sun. Bring sunscreen and a camera, as requested, and expect your clothing to get wet from spray or swimming. No special clothing list is provided, so keep valuables protected and avoid bringing items that cannot handle water.

Ile aux Cerfs begins the island circuit

The first planned island stop is Ile aux Cerfs, where you have about 45 minutes for a visit and refreshments. This is a useful early pause before the faster sightseeing continues, but it is not the main Ile aux Cerfs stay. The longer return visit comes later and lasts about two hours.

Ile aux Cerfs is known here for its white sand, swimming, and leisure time. The short first stop gives you a quick look at the island before the boat heads onward. Do not expect to fit every beach activity into this first 45-minute window. Save your main swim, sunbathe, and relaxed meal period for the return.

The itinerary mentions coconut water at the island, along with optional parasailing and a tube ride. Those activities are described as choices during the two-hour break, but the supplied details do not say that the watersports are included in the $125. Treat them as possible extra-cost activities unless the operator confirms otherwise.

Grand River South East and the waterfall

From Ile aux Cerfs, the boat heads to Grand River South East. The attraction here is a waterfall flowing into the Indian Ocean, a scene that gives the day a welcome change from open water and sand.

You may also have the chance to meet and feed wild Mauritian monkeys. That is one of the more unusual parts of the route, and it adds a bit of wildlife interest to a schedule otherwise centered on islands and snorkeling.

Use common sense at this stop. Feeding wild animals is an active encounter, not a quiet nature view. Follow the skipper’s instructions, keep food secure, and do not assume the monkeys will behave like tame pets. The waterfall visit is included, but the exact time spent there is not specified.

A five-star booking specifically praised seeing dolphins and monkeys before the waterfall. Dolphins are included among the possible sights in the tour description, along with sea turtles, but neither sighting is guaranteed. Keep that distinction clear: the boat takes you through areas where you may see them, rather than promising a wildlife encounter.

The lighthouse islands: Ile aux Phares and Ile de La Passe

The next section brings the historic flavor promised by the trip description. You visit Ile aux Phares and pass by Ile de La Passe on the way toward Blue Bay.

The information provided does not give a long guided explanation of the islands, monuments, or battles connected with them. That matters if you are booking this mainly for history. You will see and pass these places from the boat, but the amount of interpretation depends on the live guide and the language available that day.

Guiding is offered in English, French, German, Italian, and Romanian. One serious complaint came from a booking made with a German-speaking guide after that guide became ill. No English-speaking guide was available, and the skipper was the only staff member able to communicate. As a result, the island visits came with no explanation. This is a reminder to confirm your preferred language shortly before the trip, especially if historical context is important to you.

Blue Bay Marine Park snorkeling

Blue Bay is meant to be one of the day’s main rewards. The boat passes Ile de La Passe and reaches Blue Bay Marine Park for snorkeling among tropical fish. Several snorkeling sessions are promised, and equipment is included.

This part can make the price worthwhile for anyone who wants more than a scenic boat ride. You have multiple chances to enter the water rather than one rushed stop, and the marine park provides a clear focus for the aquatic side of the day.

But this is also the itinerary point you should verify most carefully. One low-rated experience reported that Blue Bay Marine Park was not visited at all and that the snorkeling was unusable. That is a major gap because Blue Bay is not a minor extra. Ask at the jetty if the marine park is on that day’s route, and ask how many snorkeling stops are planned.

Sea turtles are listed among the wildlife you may see, but sightings are not certain. The same applies to dolphins. Bring your camera, but keep your expectations sensible. The value is the chance to see marine life in the right setting, not a guaranteed animal show.

Ile aux Aigrettes and the open bar

After Blue Bay, the boat passes Ile aux Aigrettes for refreshments. The itinerary then describes the all-inclusive open bar as fully available, with rum, wine, beer, juice, soft drinks, water, snacks, and specially prepared rum cocktails.

That mix works well for a long day on the water. You can choose an alcoholic drink, stick to soft drinks, or simply keep hydrated with water. The open bar also makes the trip feel more complete than a basic transfer between islands.

There is an important practical point here. One very negative booking reported that the open bar was not offered on the speedboat and that the participant had to distribute nonalcoholic drinks personally. Since the bar is a central part of the advertised value, confirm when and where drinks will be served before departure. Do not rely on the bar as your only source of water.

Passing Ilot Margenie back to Ile aux Cerfs

The route then turns back toward Ile aux Cerfs, passing Ilot Margenie along the way. This return section is not just a ride back to lunch. It gives you another view of the east-coast islands and lets the speedboat cover a broad stretch of the lagoon.

The trip is designed around movement, so you should enjoy the route itself. If you prefer a slow, quiet boat with long stops, this may feel rushed. If you like changing scenes and want to see several places in one day, the pace is a better fit.

The largest lagoon of Mauritius is a major part of the sightseeing. From the boat, you get a broad view that you cannot get from one beach or one fixed resort. The price reflects that transport and range, not just the meal at the end.

Two hours of beach time and a Mauritian barbecue

The final major stop is a two-hour break at Ile aux Cerfs. This is where the itinerary finally slows down. You can swim, sunbathe, drink coconut water, or consider parasailing and a tube ride.

Two hours is a useful amount of time. It gives you room to eat, spend time on the sand, and get into the water without treating every activity like a stopwatch exercise. Still, the island may be busy, and the tour does not promise a private beach area.

The barbecue lunch is prepared on the beach. The menu includes grilled chicken, grilled fish, rice, pasta, garlic bread, and salad. That is a generous spread for a boat excursion, with both meat and fish options and several filling side dishes. Snacks and drinks are included as well.

Live music or a sega show is planned during the beach stop. Sega is a traditional Mauritian music and dance style, so this can add a local touch to an otherwise activity-heavy day. Keep your expectations flexible. One booking found the entertainment was only a one-person guitar performance, and the table was set away from the music, making it hard to hear.

A separate five-star experience praised the barbecue as delicious, along with the snorkeling and sightseeing. Food quality can vary with timing and setup, but the menu itself is more substantial than the usual sandwich lunch.

What the $125 price really buys

The strongest argument for $125 is convenience. You are paying for a full day that includes:

• A nine-hour speedboat itinerary
• Five-island hopping
• A waterfall visit
• Lagoon cruising
• Snorkeling equipment and several snorkeling sessions
• Beach barbecue lunch
• Unlimited snacks and alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks
• A chance to see dolphins and sea turtles
• A two-hour Ile aux Cerfs stop
• A small group limited to eight people

If you arranged a boat, lunch, snorkeling, and island visits separately, the costs could add up quickly. The small group also gives the package more value than a crowded public boat, at least when the service matches the plan.

The weak point is reliability. The overall rating is 4.1 from nine ratings, which suggests a generally positive experience with meaningful variation. The five-star accounts praised the fast, clean boat, the skipper Sino, the wildlife sightings, the snorkeling spots, and the barbecue. The one-star account described major failures, including no guide in the booked language, no Blue Bay stop, poor snorkeling, no open bar, and limited entertainment.

I would book with a quick confirmation message. Ask about the guide language, Blue Bay, snorkeling, the open bar, and the beach entertainment. Those questions directly address the parts that most affect the value.

Who will enjoy this day most

I would recommend this tour to you if you want an active, all-day east-coast outing and prefer variety over long periods in one place. It suits couples, small groups of friends, and independent sightseers who like speed, water, wildlife, and a beach lunch in one package.

It is also a good fit if you want alcohol and soft drinks included rather than paying for every beverage separately. The small group is helpful if you dislike large excursions and want a closer look at the coast.

I would be more cautious if you need guaranteed historical commentary in a particular language, guaranteed snorkeling conditions, or a carefully staged cultural performance. The tour offers those elements, but the available information shows that staffing and execution can affect them.

Families should consider the speedboat format, swimming, snorkeling, and the chance to encounter wild monkeys. The supplied details do not provide age limits or child-specific arrangements, so ask the operator before booking with young children.

Booking and cancellation tips

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible. Starting times depend on availability.

The meeting point is the Trou d’Eau Douce jetty, and hotel pickup is extra. Confirm the pickup price if you are staying elsewhere in Mauritius. Bring sunscreen and a camera, and protect personal items from spray.

Should you book the five-island speedboat?

I would book it if the operator confirms that the full route is running, your preferred guide language is available, Blue Bay is included, and the bar service will be provided as described. At $125, the package offers strong value when the boat, snorkeling, barbecue, drinks, and island stops all come together.

I would skip it if you want a slow beach day, guaranteed wildlife, or a formal history tour. The best version of this outing is fast, social, and packed with scenery. The weak version loses too many promised elements. A short confirmation before paying is the sensible way to protect your day.

FAQ

Where does the speedboat tour start and end?

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

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts nine hours. Starting times depend on availability.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $125 per person.

Is hotel pickup included?

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

Which islands are included?

The planned route includes Ile aux Cerfs, Ile aux Phares, Ile de La Passe, Ile aux Aigrettes, and Ilot Margenie.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, along with several planned snorkeling sessions.

What food is served at lunch?

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

Are drinks included?

Yes. Unlimited snacks, alcoholic drinks, and nonalcoholic drinks are included. The listed drinks include rum, wine, beer, juice, soft drinks, and water.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.