REVIEW · ÎLE AUX CERFS
Mauritius: 3 Activities + Ile aux Cerfs Boat tour w/ BBQ
One strong day, two Mauritian coasts, zero dull moments. I like how this trip packs real lagoon action in the morning, then slows down for beaches, swimming, and lunch on small islands. You also get up close to the Grand River South East Waterfall called Cascade Diamamouve. One thing to plan carefully: the tour runs from two locations, so getting to the afternoon speedboat on time is on you.
Here’s what makes it worth your time: you trade hotel beach time for hands-on water sports like parasailing and the underseawalk, then you end with white sand at Ile aux Cerfs. The BBQ setup on Ile aux Margenie includes a 3-course meal plus a solid range of drinks, including local rum. The only real drawback is timing and movement between stops, which can cut into the afternoon if you’re late to the second location.
In This Review
- Quick hits before you go
- A full day of lagoon thrills and island calm
- Belle Mare: where the adrenaline starts (parasailing, underseawalk, tube ride)
- Underseawalk: who it fits best
- What you should bring for the water
- Trou d’eau Douce speedboat ride: the ride is part of the experience
- Cascade Diamamouve: Grand River South East Waterfall close-up
- Monkeys at the riverbanks
- Ile aux Margenie BBQ lunch: the food break that keeps the day moving
- How to enjoy it without feeling rushed
- Ile aux Cerfs: white sand, lagoon swimming, and a bit of culture
- What makes the island stop work
- A practical swimming note
- Price and Logistics at a glance (and how to make it feel easy)
- Who should book this, and who should skip it
- Booking verdict: should you book this Mauritius water and island day?
- FAQ
- Where is the meeting point?
- How long is the tour?
- What water activities are included at Belle Mare?
- Do I get to swim at Ile aux Cerfs?
- What is included in the BBQ lunch?
- What waterfall do we visit?
- Is there any wildlife to look for at the waterfall?
- Do I need transport to get between the two locations?
- What should I bring?
- Is this tour suitable for children and for people with health conditions?
- What if bad weather causes a cancellation?
Quick hits before you go

- Belle Mare lagoon thrills: parasailing, underseawalk, and tube ride time in the crystal-clear water
- Big scenery moment: a guided look at Cascade Diamamouve, the Grand River South East Waterfall
- Wildlife by the water: monkeys can be spotted along the riverbanks near the falls
- BBQ lunch with drinks: 3-course BBQ on Ile aux Margenie with soft drinks, juice, water, beer, wine, and local rum
- Ile aux Cerfs payoff: free time on a white-sand beach, plus swimming in the lagoon and an arts and crafts market visit
Other crossings to Ile aux Cerfs, compared
A full day of lagoon thrills and island calm

This is the kind of Mauritius outing I’d call practical adventure. In six hours, you do a morning of active water sports at Belle Mare, then you shift gears to scenery and beach time. The day is built around moving by water, not just sightseeing from land, which changes the feel immediately.
I like the rhythm here. You start with adrenaline and wet hair. Then you get the payoff views at the waterfall, eat on the beach, and finish with actual swimming time in the turquoise lagoon at Ile aux Cerfs. If you want a “do a lot, see a lot” day that still ends relaxed, this fits.
Your one heads-up is logistics between locations. You’re not picked up and dropped off at your hotel, so you will likely arrange transport yourself, especially from Belle Mare to the speedboat departure area at Trou d’eau Douce after the first water sports block.
Belle Mare: where the adrenaline starts (parasailing, underseawalk, tube ride)

The morning begins at Aquasea Watersports Belle Mare. The vibe is straightforward: get suited, get briefed, then get in the water. This is where the tour earns its keep, because you’re not watching other people have fun. You’re doing it.
The three headline activities are:
- Parasailing for that quick rush above the lagoon
- Underseawalk, which lets you move along underwater without the same level of scuba training pressure
- Tube ride, the fun roller-coaster style push on the water
This is not a “float around and take photos” morning. If you’re the type who likes your holidays to include a little physical effort, you’ll be into it.
Underseawalk: who it fits best
Underseawalk is practical for kids from about age 9 with broad shoulders. That detail matters, because comfort and fit are part of making it enjoyable rather than stressful. Also, the overall tour is not suitable for people with back problems, heart problems, recent surgeries, low fitness, or for pregnant women. So be honest with your body before you book.
What you should bring for the water
Plan like you’re going to get wet (you are). Bring:
- swimsuit, towel, and a change of clothes
- sunglasses and a hat
- sunscreen, and sunscreen you can reapply
- water and a camera
And wear comfortable water-ready shoes if you have them. The tour expects you to move between equipment and locations.
More time on the lagoon, boat by boat
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Trou d’eau Douce speedboat ride: the ride is part of the experience

After the Belle Mare activities, you head to the second location for the speedboat to Ile aux Cerfs. The tour runs from two different points during the day, and hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. So treat this part like the core logistical task.
The payoff is that you don’t just get driven somewhere. You travel by speedboat from Trou d’eau Douce on the east coast. That means:
- you’ll feel the breeze and sea spray
- you may get splashed, so wet conditions are possible
- you arrive with a different kind of “we’re actually going” momentum
A small practical tip: build in buffer time. One of the biggest annoyances with island days is cutting it close and then watching the schedule tighten.
Cascade Diamamouve: Grand River South East Waterfall close-up

The waterfall stop is one of the most memorable scenic breaks. The Grand River South East Waterfall is known locally as Cascade Diamamouve. You get more than a distant view, because the experience includes a guided look plus a boat cruise and sightseeing along the way.
Expect:
- a photo stop
- guided tour time
- views you can actually feel, not just glance at from a road pull-off
Monkeys at the riverbanks
One of the cooler details: you might spot monkeys along the riverbank when you’re near the waterfall area. That’s the kind of wildlife moment that makes you look up, slow down, and stop treating the day as pure checklists.
Also, the boat cruise and close views are why this stop works even if you’ve seen waterfalls before. Here, you’re getting the river-and-valley feeling, not just a single dramatic drop.
Ile aux Margenie BBQ lunch: the food break that keeps the day moving

After the waterfall, you head to Ile aux Margenie, a small island set up for the BBQ meal. This is your lunch reset. You’re on a beach, eating something more substantial than a quick snack, and you get drinks during the meal.
The BBQ lunch is a 3-course set-up on the beach. Drinks included cover soft drinks, juice, water, beer, wine, and local rum. That’s a broad range, which matters because it reduces the “what do we do for drinks?” friction that can ruin a relaxed meal on tours.
How to enjoy it without feeling rushed
Some tours make lunch feel like paperwork. This one is designed as a proper pause, but you still have the rest of the day waiting. So I recommend eating at a calm pace, then taking a quick walk or swim break if you have time, before you move on.
If you’re the type who likes trying local rum, this is one of those included moments that makes the value feel real.
Ile aux Cerfs: white sand, lagoon swimming, and a bit of culture

Then comes the reason many people pick this day trip: Ile aux Cerfs. As you approach, you’ll see palm trees and the white beaches framed by the bright turquoise water. It’s one of those spots where your brain goes quiet for a minute.
At Ile aux Cerfs, you’ll have time to:
- relax on the white sandy beaches
- swim in the crystal clear lagoon
- do some sightseeing
- visit an arts and crafts market
What makes the island stop work
This is not just a photo stop. You get free time, and swimming is built into the plan. That’s important because Ile aux Cerfs is the kind of place where “seeing it” is only half the point. The lagoon is the point.
Also, the market visit gives you a low-pressure cultural moment. You’re not forced into a long shopping push. You just have a place to browse and pick up small souvenirs if you want them.
A practical swimming note
Bring the same mindset you used in the morning: plan for sun and water. Reapply sunscreen if you can, and keep your towel easy to reach. The day moves fast enough that small things like sunscreen timing make a big difference in comfort.
Price and Logistics at a glance (and how to make it feel easy)

The price is $124 per person for a full-day package including lagoon activities, a speedboat tour, waterfall viewing, and lunch with drinks. On paper, that sounds like a lot, and in practice it usually is. But here the structure matters: you’re buying multiple major blocks in one go, not just one boat ride.
Where the value shows up:
- You get multiple water sports rather than a single activity.
- You get the speedboat transfer and the island time at Ile aux Cerfs.
- Lunch is not just snacks. It’s a 3-course BBQ with a range of drinks.
Where your planning matters:
- Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.
- The day uses two locations. You need a way to get from the Belle Mare activities to the Trou d’eau Douce speedboat area afterward.
If you want the day to feel smooth, do this one thing: organize transport with a buffer. Don’t assume you can improvise minutes before departure. One delay can squeeze your afternoon, and the island time is the big finish.
Who should book this, and who should skip it

This experience is a strong match for:
- people who enjoy active water sports, not just sunbathing
- couples and friends who want both adventure and an easy beach finish
- travelers who like a “one day, multiple highlights” itinerary
It might feel like the wrong fit if:
- you have mobility limits or medical concerns, since the tour is not suitable for people with back problems, heart problems, recent surgeries, or low fitness
- you are pregnant
- you have very young kids, since the tour is not suitable for children under 8
For families thinking about underseawalk specifically: it’s noted as practical for kids from around 9 years with broad shoulders. That’s a good baseline, but it still depends on comfort with the activity setup.
If you’re unsure, I’d treat this as a day where the water time is the main event. If you love water, you’ll have a great time.
Booking verdict: should you book this Mauritius water and island day?
Yes, I’d book it if you want a day that mixes real physical fun in a lagoon with an island payoff at the end. The combination of Belle Mare water sports, the waterfall stop at Cascade Diamamouve, and a proper BBQ lunch on Ile aux Margenie makes it feel like more than the sum of its parts.
I’d think twice if you hate moving around or if you don’t have an easy way to handle the two-location schedule. This is the kind of trip where being late can shrink your time on Ile aux Cerfs. If you can manage that transport piece confidently, the rest of the day is built for enjoyment.
FAQ
Where is the meeting point?
Meet at Aquasea Watersports office between Long Beach hotel and Emperror Restaurant.
How long is the tour?
The duration is 6 hours.
What water activities are included at Belle Mare?
Parasailing, underseawalk, and tube ride are included.
Do I get to swim at Ile aux Cerfs?
Yes. There is swimming time at Ile aux Cerfs in the lagoon.
What is included in the BBQ lunch?
You get a 3-course BBQ lunch plus a selection of local drinks, including soft drinks, juice, water, beer, wine, and local rum.
What waterfall do we visit?
You visit the Grand River South East Waterfall, known as Cascade Diamamouve, with a photo stop and guided viewing.
Is there any wildlife to look for at the waterfall?
You might spot monkeys along the riverbank around the waterfall area.
Do I need transport to get between the two locations?
Yes. The tour takes place at two different locations, and hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You’ll need to hire a taxi or rent a car to travel from the first location to the speedboat departure point.
What should I bring?
Bring sunglasses, a hat, swimwear, a change of clothes, a towel, a camera, sunscreen, and water.
Is this tour suitable for children and for people with health conditions?
Children under 8 are not suitable. Underseawalk is practical for kids from around 9 years with broad shoulders. It’s also not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, heart problems, recent surgeries, or low fitness.
What if bad weather causes a cancellation?
If an activity is cancelled due to bad weather conditions, it will be handled with a partial refund.
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