5 Islands Private Speedboat w/ Snorkeling + Lunch & Drinks

Hold on tight, the east coast comes fast. This private speedboat trip packs islands, a waterfall, snorkeling, wildlife, beach time, and lunch into one long day on the water. I especially like the private boat for up to four people and the chance to snorkel in Blue Bay Marine Park, where you may spot tropical fish, sea turtles, and dolphins. The main concern is timing: although the tour is sold as nine hours, some bookings have ended several hours early.

I also like the easy, all-in-one format. Your day starts and ends at Trou d’Eau Douce, with optional hotel or Airbnb transfers around Mauritius, and the price works out to $124.50 per person when four people share the $498 boat. Still, the guide’s language skills, the amount of food and drink served during the day, and the actual return time deserve a clear check before you book.

Key points at a glance

• Private speedboat for up to four: You get your own boat rather than sharing the day with a large cruise group.
• Blue Bay Marine Park snorkeling: The marine park is the strongest wildlife stop, with tropical fish and possible sightings of sea turtles and dolphins.
• A full east-coast route: The plan includes Ile aux Cerfs, Grand River South East, Ile aux Phares, Ile de La Passe, Ile aux Aigrettes, and Ilot Margenie.
• Beach BBQ and drinks: Grilled chicken, fish, rice, pasta, garlic bread, and salad are served on Ile aux Cerfs, with beer, wine, rum, soft drinks, juice, water, and snacks.
• Early departure pays off: A morning start can mean calmer conditions and fewer boats at the main stops.
• Confirm the guide and schedule: English is listed as available, but German-speaking support has not always matched the booking, and some days have finished early.

Why this private boat day is appealing

Mauritius has many water excursions, but this one tries to cover a lot of ground without putting you on a large shared catamaran. You stay with your own small group, move by speedboat, and can spend more time together rather than negotiating space with dozens of other people.

The price is $498 per group of up to four. For four people, that is $124.50 each before any optional transfer cost. That is not a cheap outing, but it becomes easier to justify when you value privacy, a dedicated boat, lunch, drinks, snorkeling equipment, and a nine-hour schedule. For only one or two people, the price feels much less attractive.

I would look at this as a full-day sampler of the east and southeast coast, not a quiet private yacht charter. The route is active and ambitious. You will move often, step ashore several times, swim, eat on a popular beach, and spend plenty of time in the sun.

Starting at Trou d’Eau Douce and heading to Ile aux Cerfs

The trip starts and ends at Trou d’Eau Douce, a useful launch point for the east coast. Hotel and Airbnb pick-up and drop-off are available around Mauritius as an optional extra, while at least one booking near the launch point received complimentary transport. Ask about the transfer price and pickup area before paying, since the base price does not include it.

The first planned stop is Ile aux Cerfs, with about 45 minutes to look around and have refreshments. This early visit gives you a quick introduction to the island before the boat continues toward the waterfall and other stops.

Later, Ile aux Cerfs returns as the main beach stop, this time for roughly two hours. That is when you can swim, sunbathe, drink coconut water, or pay separately for activities such as parasailing and a tube ride. Keep your expectations in check: these extra watersports are not part of the $498 price.

Ile aux Cerfs is likely to be the busiest part of the day. Lunch is served on the beach, and live music or a sega show may add a party feel. That can be fun if you want music and a social beach setting. If you prefer peace, you should be ready to walk away from the main lunch area and find a quieter patch of sand.

Grand River South East and the waterfall stop

From Ile aux Cerfs, the boat heads toward Grand River South East. Here, a waterfall runs into the Indian Ocean, making this one of the more striking scenery stops on the route.

The visit is not only about the falls. You also have the chance to see and feed wild Mauritian monkeys. That is an unusual addition to a boat tour, but I would treat the feeding as a questionable practice rather than a highlight to encourage. The food mentioned in one account was chips, which is not a good habit for wild animals. Enjoy seeing the monkeys, but ask the guide what is appropriate before offering them anything.

This stop also shows why a guide matters. The boat route has several named islands and natural sites, but the experience is better when someone explains what you are seeing. Some bookings had very little commentary in English, leaving basic questions unanswered. If you want history and context, confirm that your requested language is actually available on your date.

Ile aux Phares and Ile de La Passe

The boat then passes Ile aux Phares and Ile de La Passe. These islands add a historical and scenic side to the outing, which is why the tour may appeal to you if you want more than a beach-and-snorkel day.

The information provided for the trip does not promise a long guided visit on either island. Think of them mainly as part of the boat route and the visual story of Mauritius, unless your skipper explains that you will go ashore. The speedboat lets you cover these points efficiently, but it also means the day can feel like a series of quick glimpses.

That is not necessarily a flaw. A private boat makes it easier to see several locations in one day. The tradeoff is less time at each one. If you want a slow historical tour with detailed explanations, this is not the right format.

Snorkeling at Blue Bay Marine Park

Blue Bay Marine Park is the centerpiece for many people. You receive snorkeling equipment and stop in the marine park for a session among tropical fish. Sea turtles are also part of the advertised wildlife, and dolphins may be seen from the boat.

Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, so I would book this for the marine setting and snorkeling rather than for a promise of dolphins. One booking had the good fortune to see a school of dolphins and a sea turtle close by. That kind of encounter can make the day memorable, but nature decides the schedule.

The snorkeling stop is also one reason an early start makes sense. A morning departure can bring fewer boats and calmer conditions at popular points. One highly positive booking specifically valued the early timing because later hours brought more boats and rougher water around the stops.

Bring sunscreen and a camera, as advised, but protect both carefully around the water. You should also expect a wet, sunny day on an open speedboat. The provided information does not specify whether dry storage is available, so keep valuable items in a waterproof pouch.

Ile aux Aigrettes and the return across the lagoon

After Blue Bay, the boat passes Ile aux Aigrettes for refreshments. The route then returns toward Ile aux Cerfs, passing Ilot Margenie along the way.

This part of the day is less about a major scheduled activity and more about the ride itself. You get time on the lagoon, views of the coast, and the thrill of the engine as the boat cuts across the water. A private group can enjoy this stretch at its own pace, though you should not expect silence. A powerful speedboat is exciting, but it is also noisy and exposed.

The route covers a large area. That is a benefit if you want a broad sample of Mauritius’s islands and marine sites. It also explains why the day can feel busy. You will spend meaningful time moving between stops rather than staying in one bay.

BBQ lunch, open bar, and the all-inclusive question

Lunch is prepared on Ile aux Cerfs and includes grilled chicken, grilled fish, rice, pasta, garlic bread, and salad. One family had vegetarian children and received food adjusted to their needs, which is a useful sign for groups with simple dietary requests. Tell the operator about those needs in advance rather than waiting until the beach.

The open bar is described as including rum, wine, beer, juice, soft drinks, and water. Rum cocktails may be prepared by the barman, and coconut water is also mentioned during beach time. Snacks are included as well.

Here is the important catch: the phrase all-inclusive does not always seem to mean drinks and snacks available throughout the entire day. Some bookings found the supply limited before the final island stop, with only a small cooler and a couple of bags of chips. The full selection appears to be more available toward the final beach portion.

I would not book this mainly for unlimited refreshments. See the food and drinks as a useful extra attached to a private island day. If you need regular food, extra water, or a particular drink, bring your own supply if permitted, or ask exactly what will be on the boat.

The lunch setting can be lively, with music, sega entertainment, and many people in a party mood. Some will love that. Others may prefer to eat quickly and move to a quieter part of the beach.

What the private boat changes

The private format is the clearest advantage. Up to four people can share the boat, so you avoid joining an unknown group and can spend the day with family or friends. It also makes the price easier to understand when the boat is full.

A private booking does not mean every stop is private. Ile aux Cerfs, the marine park, and the beach lunch area are public or shared settings. The boat is yours, but the islands and popular swimming points will not be empty.

The speedboat adds energy and saves time between locations. You will feel the spray, hear the engine, and get a much faster ride than a slow lagoon cruise. If you suffer from motion sickness or dislike a rough ride, this style may not suit you. The supplied information does not state how sheltered the boat is, so ask the operator about the vessel if comfort is a major concern.

Guide quality, language, and actual timing

The listed guide languages are English, French, German, Italian, and Romanian. That is helpful on paper, but you should confirm the language when booking and again before departure. A few German bookings did not receive the promised German-speaking guide, and one guide spoke very little English.

The best day described in the information involved a skipper named Anil. He was praised for being engaged and friendly, and the day included monkeys, dolphins, a sea turtle, snorkeling, flexible food for vegetarian children, and a later parasailing session. If you are able to request Anil, it is worth asking, though the information does not guarantee his availability.

The advertised duration is nine hours. This needs special attention. Some departures finished around 3:15 p.m., despite an expected 5 p.m. return, and another ended after only five hours at about 2 p.m. That is a serious difference when you are paying for a full-day private experience.

Before you go, confirm:

• The exact departure and return times
• The language of the guide or skipper
• Whether lunch and drinks are available during the entire day
• The cost of hotel or Airbnb transfer
• Which watersports cost extra
• Whether the route will include all planned stops

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your plans are still shifting, but they do not solve an early finish or a language mismatch on the day.

Who should book this Mauritius excursion?

I would recommend it to a group of up to four that wants a busy day on the water and values privacy. Families, couples traveling with friends, and small groups interested in snorkeling, beaches, wildlife, and boat speed will get the most from it.

It is also a good match if you want one outing to cover several parts of Mauritius rather than booking separate waterfall, snorkeling, and beach activities. The tour gives you a broad day with plenty of variety.

I would be cautious if your main goal is a guaranteed nine-hour schedule, a strong history lesson, or a truly unlimited bar. I would also think twice if you want a quiet, uncrowded beach experience. Ile aux Cerfs can be lively, and the lunch setting may feel too social for some people.

Is the $498 price good value?

With four people, the price can be fair. You receive a private boat, snorkeling gear, lunch, drinks, snacks, a waterfall visit, island stops, and possible wildlife encounters. The optional transfer may add convenience, and the price of parasailing or a tube ride is separate.

With two people, the same boat becomes $249 each. For one person, it is poor value unless privacy matters more than cost. A shared boat would likely be cheaper, though it would not offer the same private setting.

The value also depends on receiving the full day promised. An early return turns a nine-hour package into a much more expensive half-day trip. That is why I would put the return time and inclusions in writing before departure.

My verdict: book it with a few checks

This is a lively, ambitious way to see Mauritius by water. I like the private speedboat, the Blue Bay snorkeling, the broad route, and the combination of beach lunch with possible dolphins and sea turtles. The strongest outings seem to come with an early start, an engaged skipper such as Anil, and a small group that enjoys a busy schedule.

I would book it if you are four people, want a private day, and are willing to confirm the guide, food supply, and exact timing first. I would skip it if you need a guaranteed nine-hour program, dependable German support, or a fully stocked bar from the first minute. The experience has real value, but only when the advertised schedule and service match what you receive.

FAQ

Where does the speedboat tour start and end?

The tour starts and ends at Trou d’Eau Douce.

How long is the activity?

The advertised duration is nine hours. You should confirm the exact return time before departure because some bookings ended much earlier than planned.

How many people can join the private boat?

The price covers a private group of up to four people.

Is hotel pickup included?

Optional pickup and drop-off are available for hotels and Airbnbs around Mauritius, but the transfer is not included in the base activity price.

What food is served for lunch?

The beach BBQ includes grilled chicken, grilled fish, rice, pasta, garlic bread, and salad. Dietary requests may be accommodated, but you should communicate them in advance.

What drinks are included?

The advertised drinks include rum, wine, beer, juice, soft drinks, and water. Snacks are also included, but availability during the day may be limited before the final island stop.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included for the Blue Bay Marine Park session.