Fast water, slow views, five islands. I love the private charter setup that keeps the CataSpeed with you all day, and I love the snorkeling stops where gear is included. It is a great way to sample the East Coast islands without losing time to frequent transfers.

From a 7:00am hotel pickup to an about 4:00pm return, you get one focused day built around island hopping, a BBQ lunch on Ile aux Margenie, and a visit to the Grand River South East Waterfall. There is an ice box onboard for soft drinks, bottled water, local beers, and wines, so you stay comfortable while you bounce between beaches.

One thing to consider is the boat feel. Some people find this CataSpeed more like a small, fast ride than a quiet catamaran, so motion or noise may matter if you prefer a calmer pace.

Key highlights you will feel the moment you arrive

• Private all-day CataSpeed with hotel pickup and return transfer
• Five island circuit: Ile aux Flamants, Ile aux Phares Lighthouse, Ile de la Passe, Ile aux Aigrettes, and Ile Aux Margenie
• Snorkeling at the Aquarium stop with masks, snorkels, fins, and life jackets for infants, children, and adults
• BBQ lunch on Ile aux Margenie served by the chefs on cruise, with drinks included
• Grand River South East Waterfall time with chances to see macaques and fruit bats
• Ile aux Cerfs Island for swimming and beach time, with an important reality check for snorkeling

How the East Lagoon private charter runs from pickup to return

This is a full-day outing with a simple rhythm. A driver picks you up at 7:00am from your hotel or a given location in a private car, then drops you at the cruise harbor. The cruise itself starts at 8:30am and runs until around 4:00pm, when the driver brings you back to your pickup point.

That private-car start matters more than it sounds. You do not have to figure out buses, queues, or timing gaps on your own. It is also a big help if you are staying away from the main cruise areas, or if you just want your day to start moving on time.

It is also designed as a stay-with-you boat day. The CataSpeed charter stays with you for the whole day, so you can manage your own time on the islands, whether that means a short stroll, a swim in the lagoon, or hanging out on deck. The provider is Pereybere Travel Tours Ltd, and the crew communicates in French and English.

Finally, it runs rain or shine. That does not mean you will never get wet. It means the plan is not quietly canceled every time clouds roll in. If you book, plan your mindset around being outdoors most of the day.

The CataSpeed boat day: comfortable speed, real lagoon time

The CataSpeed is built for lagoon cruising. You glide in crystal-clear water at a comfort speed, stopping at islands and snorkeling areas instead of doing the usual one-port, one-activity pattern.

Two things make this kind of trip work well for most people:

1. You spend more time on the water than in transit. With an all-day charter, you are not constantly loading and unloading.
2. You can choose your rhythm. Some folks want to hop off fast, others want to snorkel slowly and then relax.

If you are sensitive to motion, keep in mind the boat comparison. One downside that comes up is that this speedboat style can feel less like a quiet, long, smooth catamaran and more like a smaller, faster ride. If you are the type who plans sunglasses, stomach meds, and a good hat for boat days, you will likely be fine, but it is smart to know the vibe ahead of time.

Island hopping on Mauritius East: what each stop is really for

This day is all about five island moments plus a waterfall break. The stops are spread through the day so you get variety, not just back-to-back beach time.

Ile aux Flamants

Ile aux Flamants is one of the classic East Lagoon islands, and it is a good first taste of the day. Think beach time and lagoon scenery, with a relaxed feel that sets the tone before you jump into snorkeling later.

The practical value here is that it is not just a name on a map. Early-day island time helps you get your bearings: where you can swim, where it is calm, and what the overall water conditions feel like.

Ile aux Phares Lighthouse

This stop is tied to the lighthouse area, which makes it feel more like a sightseeing island than a pure beach stop. You get that mix of postcard views and a chance to stretch your legs.

If you are the kind of traveler who likes to take photos fast, then move on, this is a good fit. You get enough time to enjoy the views without losing the whole day to one location.

Ile de la Passe

Ile de la Passe is another island stop that keeps the circuit moving. The setting is built for that short, satisfying island rhythm: step off, enjoy, swim if conditions allow, then back to the boat.

You will likely appreciate this stop if you like variety, not long slogs. It is part of the broader plan to rotate islands across the lagoon.

Ile aux Aigrettes

Ile aux Aigrettes is on your itinerary and is known for being a strong nature and scenery stop in the East Lagoon area. In a day packed with water and islands, this helps keep the experience feeling fresh rather than repetitive.

This is also a good place to slow down for a moment. Even if you are not snorkeling at every stop, just having that extra island scenery break makes the day feel longer in a good way.

Ile Aux Margenie for BBQ lunch and island time

Ile Aux Margenie is the lunch island, and that is not just a meal stop. The chefs come onboard and serve the BBQ lunch while you are on the cruise.

That is a small detail with big impact. You are not hunting for a restaurant, not waiting on a kitchen, and not losing momentum. Lunch feels like part of the day, not a forced pause.

You also get the chance to relax on the island after eating. If your perfect day includes food plus downtime, this stop helps deliver that.

Snorkeling at the Aquarium stop: gear included, pace on your side

This trip includes snorkeling at the Aquarium stop. The biggest practical win is simple: all snorkeling gear is provided, including mask, snorkel, and fins. You also get life jackets for infants, children, and adults.

So you can arrive without packing snorkeling equipment, and you can focus on the water.

What I like about this setup is that it lowers the “friction cost” of snorkeling. You do not need to manage wet gear, rental lines, or fit issues unless you are very picky about mask comfort. And because you are with the same boat team all day, snorkeling fits naturally into the stop times.

Snorkeling quality can vary by conditions, and there is one important caution later in the day about Ile aux Cerfs. Still, the Aquarium stop is the dedicated snorkeling moment here, and that is what most people come for.

Grand River South East Waterfall: where wildlife steals the scene

Midday brings the standout nature moment: a visit and swim at the Grand River South East Waterfall. This is where the day shifts from islands to something more wild and alive.

The wildlife angle is real. You can see monkeys in their natural habitat, and you might also spot fruit bats sleeping upside down in the trees. The waterfall stop can also bring macaques into view depending on the moment you arrive.

What makes this valuable is the contrast. After hours of lagoon beaches and island scenery, the waterfall adds depth. It changes your senses from saltwater and sunshine to misty, cooler air and that “nature is doing its own thing” feeling.

One more point. Because there is time to swim here, this is not just a quick look-and-go photo stop. If you like mixing swimming with sightseeing, you will probably enjoy this part.

BBQ lunch on Ile aux Margenie: food that actually fills the day

Lunch is BBQ on Ile aux Margenie, and it is served by chefs on the cruise. That means the meal feels integrated into the day rather than like a separate activity you have to plan around.

The BBQ includes:

• Garlic breads
• Mix salads
• Sausages
• Chicken
• Fish fillets
• Dessert (flaming bananas or local Ananas)

On drinks, the list is generous for a boat day. The ice box includes bottled water, juice, soft drinks, white wine, rose wine, and rhum. In plain terms, you can eat well and keep hydrated without hunting for purchases at each stop.

This matters for value. If you are comparing day trips, a big part of the price is often transport plus activities. Here, food and drinks are clearly built into the package, and that makes it easier to judge whether it is a smart spend.

Ile aux Cerfs Island: beach time, plus one snorkeling reality check

The itinerary ends with Ile aux Cerfs Island, where you get time for beach enjoyment and swimming. It is a classic stop for a reason. The water and the island setting are the kind that make you want to slow down and do nothing.

Still, there is one caution to keep in mind. One of the rougher bits of feedback focused on Ile aux Cerfs being messy with trash and that it could spoil the snorkeling feel, since the stop can be long and snorkeling may not be possible in the way you expect.

So if you are booking with snorkeling as your top priority for Cerfs, I would treat this as a beach-and-relax stop first, and a bonus snorkeling area second. The Aquarium snorkeling stop is the clearer bet based on the structure of the day.

Dolphins and the animal moments that make the day feel special

Even when an itinerary is solid on paper, animal sightings can turn the day into a memory you keep.

On this trip, dolphins are a possibility and have been spotted close to the boat. If you are lucky, you get that sudden moment where you stop looking at the timeline and just watch the water doing its own show.

You may also get monkey feeding moments during the wildlife-heavy parts of the day. Combined with the waterfall stop that can include macaques and fruit bats, the wildlife angle is a strong theme here. It is not just scenic travel. You are actively in animal territory.

Price and value: is $170 per person a good deal?

At about $170 per person, this is not a budget filler. But it can be good value if the things you care about match what is included.

Here is what is bundled:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off by private car
• A private CataSpeed charter that stays with you for the day
• Snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, fins)
• Life jackets for infants, children, and adults
• BBQ lunch with a full menu
• Drinks via the onboard ice box, including wine and rhum

When you add that up, you are paying for more than “a boat ride.” You are paying for transport, equipment, and meals, and those are usually the items that inflate the cost of DIY plans.

Where the value can wobble is if your main goal is calm comfort, quiet time, and guaranteed snorkeling at every single stop. The boat style can feel fast, and Ile aux Cerfs is the one place where snorkeling expectations may not match reality. If you go in knowing that, you are more likely to feel like the price fits the day.

Who should book this East Lagoon day and who should think twice

This trip is a strong match if you:

• Want a single, full-day East Coast package with minimal hassle
• Like island hopping and want the boat to do the moving
• Want snorkeling but do not want to manage gear rentals
• Prefer a day that mixes scenery with a nature stop at a waterfall

It is a weaker match if you:

• Need a very quiet, slow, low-motion boat experience
• Are only booking for the best possible snorkeling on Ile aux Cerfs
• Are very sensitive to rough water or sound on smaller speedboats

Should you book the CataSpeed East Lagoon cruise?

I would book this if you want an efficient, day-long Mauritius East Lagoon taste with real variety: multiple islands, one dedicated snorkeling stop, a waterfall visit with wildlife potential, and a BBQ lunch that is actually part of the experience.

Hold off or choose another option if you are chasing a calm, catamaran-style lounge day, or if snorkeling success at Ile aux Cerfs is your make-or-break factor. Here, the Aquarium stop is the clearer snorkeling focus, while Cerfs can be more hit-or-miss depending on conditions and the on-the-ground feel.

If your idea of a perfect travel day is “get on the water, see islands, eat well, and let nature throw in surprises,” this one fits.

FAQ

What time is pickup for the full-day cruise?

The driver picks you up at 7:00am from your hotel or another given location and takes you to the cruise harbor.

What time does the cruise start and when do we return?

The cruise starts at 8:30am and you return around 4:00pm, when the driver brings you back to your pickup location.

Which islands are included on the trip?

The cruise includes Ile aux Flamants, Ile aux Phares Lighthouse, Ile de la Passe, Ile Aux Margenie, Ile aux Aigrettes, and Ile aux Cerfs Island.

Is snorkeling gear included?

Yes. The tour provides snorkeling gear including mask, snorkel, and fins, plus life jackets for infants, children, and adults.

What is included for lunch and drinks?

Lunch is BBQ on Ile Aux Margenie, with items like garlic breads, mix salads, sausages, chicken, fish fillets, and dessert (flaming bananas or local Ananas). Drinks are included from the onboard ice box, including bottled water, juice, soft drinks, white wine, rose wine, and rhum.

Does the tour run rain or shine?

Yes, the tour takes place rain or shine.

Can I cancel and get a full refund?

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