Speed, snorkeling, and beach BBQ.

This 9-hour VIP-style cruise from Trou d’Eau Douce strings together five islands, a waterfall stop, and Blue Bay Marine Park in one day, with a crew that keeps things moving. I especially like the small-group limit of 8, which helps you avoid the cattle-car feel you get on bigger tours, and you still get the big-day sights.

Two more things I’m drawn to: the all-inclusive open bar (rum, beer, wine, juices, soft drinks, water) and the fact that snorkeling gear is included, so you do not waste time hunting for equipment. The itinerary also has a good rhythm, you get a first island breather, then wildlife and scenery, then your main beach lunch setup.

One potential drawback: the speedboat format is great for views, but it is not always the gentlest ride if you get seasick easily. Also, hotel pickup and drop-off are only available at an additional cost, so plan your meeting point time if you are booking without transport.

5 Islands Speedboat, Sea Turtle Snorkeling, and East Coast Waterfalls

I like tours that feel efficient, but not rushed. This one is built around the Mauritius East Coast route, with lagoon cruising and island hopping, then a beach lunch day that actually matches the travel time. You start and finish at Trou d’Eau Douce, and in between you hit classic spots like Ile aux Cerfs, Grand River South East, Blue Bay Marine Park, and Ile aux Aigrettes.

What makes this feel “VIP” is the way they bundle the best stops into a smaller-group day. Even better, if you have four people or more, they can arrange a private speedboat for your group. That matters, because in a group of 8, your crew can give more direct attention during snorkeling and onboard comfort.

Finally, the tour is explicit about what you get included: snorkeling equipment, beach BBQ lunch, and unlimited snacks plus drinks. When a day is priced at $125 per person, it helps to know the basics are covered, so you can focus on the water, the fish, and the scenery.

Key Things That Make This Tour Work

• Small group of 8 means less waiting around and easier crew attention during water time
• Open bar all day with rum, wine, beer, juices, soft drinks, and water
• Snorkeling gear included so you go straight from briefing to the water
• Blue Bay Marine Park stop focused on clear-water snorkeling with tropical fish
• Beach BBQ lunch cooked for you at Ile aux Cerfs, with live music or sega show in the background

Getting To Trou d’Eau Douce and How the Day Flows

Your meeting point is the Debarcader Trou d’Eau Douche jetty. This matters because the whole schedule depends on getting to the dock on time. One thing I like about the operation, based on the way the day runs, is that timing updates are part of the experience, not an afterthought. You should expect a departure window where the guide explains the plan before you head out.

Once you are on board, you get a speedboat cruise with lagoon views and plenty of chances to spot sea life from the water. The itinerary is built so you are not just “driving to islands,” you are doing short sightseeing windows that add up.

The day has two anchors on the water. First, the island hopping and snorkeling segments. Second, the long beach time at Ile aux Cerfs later, when lunch is prepared and you can linger on the sand.

Speedboat Island Hopping: Ile aux Cerfs, then Grand River South East

The tour starts with a familiar favorite: Ile aux Cerfs, with a 45-minute visit early on. This first stop is a reset. You get refreshments, you stretch your legs, and you get that immediate East Coast vibe before the day picks up speed with more stops.

From there, the route heads toward Grand River South East, where you get a waterfall view as it flows into the Indian Ocean. This is the kind of stop that adds variety to a water-heavy day. If you have spent your first Mauritius days on beaches, the waterfall moment gives the landscape a different dimension.

Then comes a wildlife-style interaction: an opportunity to meet and feed wild Mauritian monkeys. I treat this part with the right mindset. Feeding wildlife is exciting, but it is also something you should approach calmly and follow crew instructions closely. The tour frames it as an opportunity, not a guaranteed zoo-style encounter, so go in expecting natural behavior rather than a scripted performance.

Ile aux Phares and the Route to Blue Bay: Fast Views, Key Geography

After the waterfall and monkey stop, you pass through more island scenery, including Ile aux Phares. Then the route continues toward Blue Bay, passing Ile de La Passe along the way.

This is more than scenic cruising. The route is designed so that your snorkeling moment lines up with a place known for marine life. Blue Bay Marine Park is the real reason many people book this day, because you are not just swimming in random water, you are snorkeling in a protected marine area.

The tour’s pacing also helps. You go from island views and land sightings into a dedicated snorkeling window, so you do not feel like you are constantly changing gear and mental focus.

Blue Bay Marine Park Snorkeling: Sea Turtles, Currents, and Real Tips

The centerpiece water time is snorkeling in Blue Bay Marine Park. Snorkeling sessions are timed as part of the day, and snorkeling equipment is included, which saves a lot of hassle. The crew also provides guidance, and that matters because currents can be an issue in any open-water snorkeling spot.

Based on what you will experience on board, the best approach is simple: listen to the briefing, keep awareness of where the boat is, and do not fight the water. In a fast-moving speedboat day, that kind of discipline makes the difference between a relaxed snorkel and a frantic one.

The tour includes the chance to view dolphins and sea turtles. That is not the same as a promise that you will see them every time. In nature, sightings depend on luck and conditions. Still, the overall setup, including the way the crew watches from the water, gives you a reasonable shot.

If your goal is one clear, memorable snorkeling session rather than multiple short and chaotic dips, this itinerary is built for that.

Ile aux Aigrettes Refreshments and Back Toward Ile aux Cerfs

After Blue Bay, the tour adds another quick stop: passing Ile aux Aigrettes for refreshments. This gives you a chance to rehydrate, cool down a bit, and settle your body after snorkeling.

Then the pace shifts back toward Ile aux Cerfs, with lagoon cruising and more ocean views along the way. This part of the day is when you can start looking at the beach plan in your head.

You are also likely to see more wildlife signals from the water, even if the day’s main snorkeling moment already happened. Sea turtles and dolphins are part of the included viewing options, so the route makes sense: you spend time where life is more likely to show itself.

Beach BBQ Lunch on Ile aux Cerfs, plus the Open Bar and Sega Sounds

Now comes the long, satisfying stretch: white sands at Ile aux Cerfs, plus time to swim and sunbathe. This is when the tour shifts from motion into a beach rhythm.

Lunch is a BBQ prepared on the beach, with options like grilled chicken and grilled fish, rice, pasta, garlic bread, and salad. The practical win here is that you are not eating a rushed meal somewhere inland. You eat where you want to be.

The all-inclusive open bar is running during the beach time too: rum, wine, beer, juices, soft drinks, and water. There are also cocktails prepared by the barman. If you are someone who values not having to count every drink, this is the kind of included comfort that makes the $125 price feel more justified.

There is also live music entertainment or a sega show in the background during this part of the day. Even if you are not a sega superfan, that sound track helps the day feel like a real vacation, not just a tour schedule.

Optional extras at Ile aux Cerfs are also mentioned, like parasailing and a tube ride. Since those are presented as watersports options rather than part of the core inclusion list, treat them as add-ons you may choose if you want adrenaline.

Wildlife and Sea Life: What to Expect, What to Plan For

Let’s keep this grounded. The tour gives you chances to spot dolphins and sea turtles, plus the monkey interaction on land. But nature is nature, so sightings are never guaranteed in a single 9-hour outing.

What I like is that the day is structured around “seeing opportunities,” not a single fragile moment. You have marine life odds while cruising, another chance during snorkeling at Blue Bay Marine Park, and the overall lagoon route for additional wildlife possibilities.

For monkeys, you have a designated waterfall and feeding opportunity stop. That means you are not waiting around for random animal sightings. Still, wild animals behave like wild animals. Keep expectations flexible, follow the crew’s instructions, and you will get a better experience.

If you are the type who gets frustrated when wildlife does not show up on cue, this is the best kind of day to book. The sights are spread out, so you are not dependent on one perfect second.

Price and Value: Is $125 a Good Deal for 9 Hours?

At $125 per person for 9 hours, this tour lives or dies on value. Here, the math makes sense because the inclusions are not just token items.

You get:

• Snorkeling equipment
• BBQ lunch on the beach
• Unlimited snacks and drinks, including alcohol and non-alcohol options
• Lagoon cruise plus multiple iconic stops (waterfall visit, island hopping, marine park time)

In other words, you are not paying extra for core elements like snorkeling gear and lunch once you are on board. And because it is a speedboat day, you also pay for the transport between islands and marine areas, which is usually where half-day tours get expensive.

If you need hotel pickup and drop-off, remember that it is at an additional cost. If you can reach Trou d’Eau Douce on your own, you will likely feel better about the price. If not, budget the transfer.

For private options, the tour notes private speedboats for families of 4 and above. If you are splitting costs, the value can jump fast, especially when you add in the included food and drinks.

Who This Tour Suits Best (and Who Should Skip It)

This tour is a great fit for:

• People who want East Coast highlights packed into one day, without dealing with a crowded group vibe
• Snorkelers who want one solid marine park session with gear provided
• Groups of friends or families who enjoy a social day, but still prefer a small-group size
• Travelers who like included comforts, especially the open bar and beach BBQ lunch

You might skip it if:

• You are highly sensitive to motion and speed. The day is built on speedboat travel, so seasickness risk is real.
• You want long, slow island time. This is a fast-moving island-hopping schedule, not a whole day of one beach only.

One more practical note: bring sunscreen and a camera. Between snorkeling, beach sun, and ocean light, you will want it.

Should You Book This 5 Islands VIP Speedboat Day?

If your ideal Mauritius day includes speedboat views, a real snorkeling stop at Blue Bay Marine Park, and a beach BBQ lunch with included drinks, I think this is an easy “yes.” The small-group limit of 8 is the kind of detail that quietly upgrades the whole experience, from how the snorkeling session is handled to how relaxed your island time feels.

Book it especially if you have at least four people and can request a private boat. That is when the day stops feeling like a group tour and starts feeling like your own itinerary.

If you have limited time on Mauritius and want the East Coast highlights without chaining together multiple transport days, this 9-hour format is a strong value play. Just be honest with yourself about motion sensitivity, and plan your meeting point timing for Trou d’Eau Douce.

FAQ

FAQ

Where is the meeting point?

You meet at the Debarcader Trou d’Eau Douche jetty. Search for Debarcader Trou d’eau Douche on Google Maps to find it.

How long is the tour?

The duration is 9 hours.

Is this a small group tour?

Yes. The group is limited to 8 participants.

What is included in the price?

Included items are the waterfall visit, island hopping, snorkeling equipment, BBQ lunch on the beach, unlimited snacks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, iconic spots, lagoon cruise, and the chance to view dolphins and sea turtles.

Are drinks included?

Yes. There is an all-inclusive open bar with rum, wine, beer, juice, soft drinks, and water.

Do I need to bring snorkeling gear?

No. Snorkeling equipment is provided.

Is hotel pickup included?

No, hotel pick-up and drop-off are available around Mauritius, but at an additional cost.

What food will I get?

Lunch is a beach BBQ with grilled chicken and grilled fish, rice, pasta, garlic bread, and salad.

What languages is the guide available in?

The live tour guide is available in English, French, German, Italian, and Romanian.

Is there an option to cancel?

Yes. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.