Speed Boat Tour île aux Cerfs and Others Gems of The South

A private beach makes a big difference. This half-day speedboat trip leaves from Chantauvent Guesthouse at Pointe d’Esny, away from the busier jetties, and takes you across Mauritius’s broad southeastern lagoon toward Ile aux Cerfs. I like the small maximum group of 10, and I like that the route includes more than one postcard beach: you also pass shipwreck remains, coral islands, a lighthouse island, and a waterfall.

The tour runs about five to six hours, starting at 9:30 am, with time for swimming, snorkeling, a beach barbecue, and a relaxed return to the guesthouse. The main caution is lunch. One guest found the meal poor and said a requested vegetarian option was missed, although the operator apologized and confirmed that vegetarian meals can be accommodated. Put dietary needs in writing and repeat them before departure.

Key points to know before booking

• Starts from Chantauvent’s private beach: You avoid the feel of a crowded public jetty and begin close to the water.
• Small-group boat: The maximum is 10 people, leaving room for a more personal outing.
• Several southern stops: The route includes views of Dalblair 1902, Ile aux Aigrettes, Ile du Phare, Ilot Vacoas, and the Ile de la Passe area.
• Beach time at Ile aux Cerfs: Expect roughly three hours for swimming, snorkeling, relaxing, and a barbecue.
• A friendly captain matters: Sebastian received especially warm praise for creating a personal route for a small party.
• Weather affects the day: Poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund.

Why the Chantauvent departure is a smart start

The tour begins at Chantauvent Guesthouse, also called Maison d’Hotes, on Coastal Road in Pointe d’Esny. The stated departure time is 9:30 am, and the activity ends back at this same meeting point.

I like this starting point because it sets a quieter tone. You are not being pushed through a large harbor operation. Instead, you begin from a family-run guesthouse with a private beach, then head directly onto the lagoon. The first 30 minutes are spent cruising away from shore, with the morning breeze and open water doing much of the work.

That setting is especially useful if you want a boat day that feels personal rather than highly packaged. With no more than 10 people, the captain has more room to respond to the group. A small party may get a route that feels more individual, as one Spanish-speaking guest found when Sebastian created a private circuit for a group of only two people.

You should still arrive ready for a water-based day. The tour is built around the boat, the sea, and beach stops, not museums or long guided walks. If you prefer a tightly scheduled sightseeing bus with constant commentary, this will feel quite different.

Reading the southeastern lagoon from the boat

The lagoon is the main stage for the morning. As the boat moves out from Pointe d’Esny, the trip is less about getting from one island to another and more about seeing how Mauritius’s southeastern coast is shaped by shallow water, coral islets, channels, and open sea.

The route includes a look toward Ile aux Aigrettes, a coral-limestone island rather than a volcanic one. Its dry coastal forest is important because it preserves some of the last remaining examples of a type of forest that once covered much of Mauritius.

The available timing does not clearly promise a landing on Ile aux Aigrettes, so treat this as a sighting or passing point unless the captain says otherwise. That is not a problem, but it helps set expectations. You are paying for a moving coastal tour with several stops, not a full nature reserve visit.

This is also where a good captain adds value. The boat gives you a wider view than you would get from the beach, while the small group makes it easier to ask questions or request a closer look when conditions allow.

The Dalblair 1902 wreck and a slice of maritime history

The boat passes near the remains of the Dalblair, a steel, three-masted ship that ran onto rocks in Blue Bay on the night of February 6 to 7, 1902. The vessel had sailed from Cardiff in the United Kingdom toward Port Louis with coal aboard, carrying a crew of 24 under Captain McLaren.

The stop lasts about 15 minutes and has no admission charge. Do not expect a long archaeological visit. This is a short pause near the wreck area, best understood as a visual marker and a chance to hear the story behind it.

I appreciate this kind of stop because it breaks up the swimming and beach routine. The southern coast is not only about bright water and sand. The wreck points to the shipping routes that connected Mauritius with ports far beyond the Indian Ocean.

Visibility and sea conditions will affect how much you can see. The description refers to the remains, not a full snorkel session around the wreck, so keep your expectations modest.

Ile du Phare, the lighthouse island

The route then reaches Ile du Phare, also known as Ile aux Fouquets or Lighthouse Island. This coral island lies about five kilometers off the southeastern coast, near Ilot Vacoas and Ile de la Passe.

The planned stop is about 45 minutes, and admission is free. Its appeal comes from the combination of coral geology, exposed island scenery, and the lighthouse itself. The island has held national park status since June 5, 2004.

This is one of the more distinctive parts of the day. A beach at Ile aux Cerfs is easy to understand: sand, water, lunch, and sun. Ile du Phare offers a different mood, with a more isolated feel and a clear connection to navigation along the coast.

Ask the captain what the conditions allow when you arrive. The supplied details confirm a stop, but they do not spell out exactly how much time is spent ashore or how close the boat gets to every feature. Boat tours can change their order according to wind, waves, and water conditions.

Three hours at Ile aux Cerfs

Ile aux Cerfs is the centerpiece, with about three hours allocated to the island. That is enough time to slow down instead of treating the beach as a quick photo stop.

The planned mix includes swimming, snorkeling, beach time, and a barbecue. This is where the tour shifts from coastal sightseeing to simple holiday pleasure. You can get wet, eat, sit in the sun, or do very little. For many people, that freedom is the main reason to choose this trip.

The island is also the point at which the tour offers the best value for a relaxed day. A private boat ride alone can feel brief, but several hours on Ile aux Cerfs gives the price more weight. At $81.30 per person, the cost covers a five to six-hour outing with a boat, multiple coastal stops, island time, and lunch. It is not a bargain-basement excursion, but the small group and broad route make it reasonable for someone who wants more than a direct transfer to the island.

Snorkeling conditions are not guaranteed to be dramatic. Water clarity, wind, and sea conditions can change the view from one day to the next. Still, the chance to swim and snorkel in the lagoon adds useful variety, especially if you are happy to enjoy the water without expecting a major reef expedition.

The barbecue deserves a little planning

Lunch is the clearest weak point to consider. One person rated the overall outing highly but found the barbecue disappointing and said there had been no suitable vegetarian or dietary alternative, despite making the request during booking.

The operator apologized and said vegetarian food can be provided. That response is encouraging, but you should not leave this to chance. State your dietary requirements clearly when booking, then confirm them with the provider before the boat leaves. If you have a serious allergy or a strict diet, ask exactly what will be served rather than relying on a general promise of accommodation.

For everyone else, the barbecue is meant to be part of the island stay, not a restaurant meal. Set your expectations accordingly. The beach, water, and time to relax are the stronger parts of this stop.

A freshwater waterfall at the river mouth

Another part of the route takes the boat through a river mouth among trees to a waterfall, where fresh water meets the sea. The supplied details do not give the waterfall a name or a separate duration, so you should view it as a scenic stop within the day rather than a major hike or attraction.

The setting offers a pleasant change from open lagoon cruising. Instead of coral islands and sea views, you get trees, a narrow water route, and falling fresh water. It is the sort of stop that helps the tour feel like a southern-coast circuit rather than a simple ride to Ile aux Cerfs.

There is no information confirming a walk to the falls or a swim beneath them. Plan on seeing the waterfall from the boat unless the captain explains otherwise. This is a good example of why flexibility matters on a small speedboat tour: the exact experience can depend on water level, weather, and the group’s pace.

The ride back to Pointe d’Esny

After the island and waterfall sections, the boat returns to Chantauvent Guesthouse. The final stop is listed as about one hour, which gives you a choice that many tightly scheduled day trips do not offer.

You can leave for your taxi, or stay a little longer on the warm sand with a drink and the last afternoon light. That flexibility makes the return point more than a drop-off. If your transport is waiting, you can finish promptly. If not, you can extend the calm without adding another transfer.

The activity ends at the original meeting point. You will need to arrange your own way to and from Coastal Road, Pointe d’Esny, unless your accommodation handles that separately. The location is near public transportation, and most people can take part, but the operator does not provide more detailed accessibility information.

How the small group changes the feel

The 10-person limit is one of the strongest reasons to consider this tour. A smaller boat group usually means less waiting when the captain stops, more space to move around, and a better chance to ask for information or clarify the plan.

It also allows the day to feel less rigid. One guest specifically praised Sebastian, saying he created an exclusive circuit for a very small party. Another gave the host full marks and praised the clean, modern boat and the range of sights.

That personal element may not be identical on every departure. Sebastian may not be your captain, and a fuller group will naturally feel less private than a two-person outing. Still, the group cap gives this trip an advantage over larger boat excursions.

Who will get the most from this trip

I would choose this tour if you want several things in one morning:

• A boat ride through Mauritius’s southeastern lagoon
• A small group rather than a large crowd
• Time for swimming and snorkeling
• A proper block of beach time at Ile aux Cerfs
• Coastal stops with more character than a single resort beach
• A relaxed return to the same private beach where you began

It suits couples, families, and small groups who want a mix of motion and downtime. Most people can participate, but you should be comfortable boarding a boat and spending much of the day around water.

I would hesitate if your main goal is a flawless gourmet lunch, a fully guided nature walk, or guaranteed access to every island feature. The route is active but informal. The captain’s judgment and the weather shape the order and feel of the day.

Price, timing, and cancellation advice

The price is $81.30 per person. Since the trip lasts about five to six hours and includes a speedboat, several stops, swimming, snorkeling, a barbecue, and a small group capped at 10, I consider it fair value for a full half-day on the water.

The 9:30 am start is practical. It gives you a morning departure without forcing an extremely early pickup, then leaves the afternoon open after the return. The activity is often reserved well ahead, with an average booking time of 52 days before departure, so popular dates may deserve early attention.

Mobile tickets are accepted. Confirmation normally arrives at booking, though reservations made within one day of departure are confirmed as soon as possible and remain subject to availability.

You can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not refunded. The trip needs suitable weather and a minimum number of participants. If the operator cancels for either reason, you can receive a different date or experience, or a full refund.

FAQ

Where does the speedboat tour start?

It starts at Chantauvent Guesthouse, on Coastal Road in Pointe d’Esny, Mauritius. The meeting point includes access to the guesthouse’s private beach.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 9:30 am.

How long does the tour last?

The tour takes approximately five to six hours.

What is included during the day?

The experience includes the speedboat outing, multiple southern coastal and island stops, time for swimming and snorkeling, a barbecue at Ile aux Cerfs, and admission where specified. It ends back at the meeting point.

How many people can join the boat?

The maximum group size is 10 people.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

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

Should you book it?

I would book this tour if you want a personable speedboat day with more variety than a straight trip to Ile aux Cerfs. The private-beach departure, small group, modern clean boat, several island stops, and generous beach time give it a well-rounded shape.

Book with one clear condition: confirm your lunch needs before departure. If you do that, and if you are happy to let weather and sea conditions guide the exact order, this is a strong choice for seeing Mauritius from the water without spending the whole day in a large organized group.