Boat Trips in Mauritius: A Local Guide to the Lagoon
Boat trips in Mauritius mean a day inside the lagoon that rings the island: catamaran cruises, speedboat tours, pirate-boat days and private charters, almost all with snorkelling, a beach and lunch included. The east coast around Trou d'Eau Douce and Île aux Cerfs is the busiest and the most scenic stretch. Shared days start from about Rs 2,000 per person.
Our guides
Which coast?
Next: Which boat?Mauritius is small enough that any coast is reachable for a day trip, but each one sails differently. The east coast holds the largest lagoon on the island and its most famous island, Île aux Cerfs, with the GRSE waterfall and a sheltered reef on the way: it is the classic full day, and it is ours. The north, from Grand Baie, is about the islets offshore, with longer crossings in more open water. The west, from Black River, is early-morning dolphins and the scenery of Le Morne, with calmer afternoons.
If you are staying on the east coast, you are already in the right place. From the north or west, an east coast day is an hour to ninety minutes by car each way; we offer hotel pick-up so nobody has to drive home after the open bar.
Catamaran Cruise to Île aux Cerfs
Jump on board our large and spacious catamaran and enjoy a refreshing, relaxing day cruising on turquoise water. Snorkelling • The GRSE waterfall • BBQ lunch on board • Île aux Cerfs.
Which boat?
Next: What a day on the water includes| Boat | Feel | Typical price (shared) | Choose it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catamaran | Roomy, stable, slow and sociable; lunch grilled on deck under sail | From Rs 2,500 per person | The classic relaxed day |
| Speedboat | Fast crossings, more time at each stop, lunch on the beach | From Rs 2,000 per person | Packing the whole coast into a day, or the 5 Island Tour with dolphins |
| Pirate boat (Sirène d'Or) | Hand-built wooden sailing boat with music, a bar and a waterslide off the deck | From Rs 2,500 per person | Families and groups who want fun on board |
| Private charter | Any of the above for your own group and timetable | From Rs 15,000 per boat | Celebrations, privacy, your own pace |
| Big-game fishing boat | A day outside the reef after marlin, tuna and dorado | From Rs 42,000 per boat | Anglers; not a sightseeing trip |
Tino Boats prices as published on our trip pages; see each trip for what is included.
What a day on the water includes
Next: How to book a boat trip in MauritiusA good shared day trip in Mauritius includes the crew, every stop, snorkelling equipment, lunch and drinks. On the east coast that day runs from the Trou d'Eau Douce jetty at nine: the waterfall at the mouth of the Grande Rivière Sud-Est, the reef at mid-morning, lunch grilled on board or served on the beach, and the afternoon at Île aux Cerfs before sailing home by four. The 5 Island Tour swaps part of that for dolphin watching and the islands of Île au Phare and Île aux Aigrettes.
What it should not include is surprises: a bar that turns out to be paid, a lunch that turns out to be a restaurant you pay for, or a half day sold as a full one. Ask for the inclusions in writing, and expect a weather policy that reschedules or refunds when the skipper calls it off.
How to book a boat trip in Mauritius
Next: About the family behind these guides- Book direct with an operator that owns its boats; it is usually cheaper and you know who is skippering
- Book a few days ahead in peak season (October to April) and for private charters; shared days often have space at short notice
- Pay a deposit online to hold the date, or send an availability request if you are still planning
- Tell the operator about children, dietary needs and your hotel, so lunch, life jackets and transfers are right
- Be at the jetty fifteen minutes early; the morning sea is the best of the day
Everything here is what we tell our own guests at the jetty.
Tino Boats, Trou d'Eau Douce, since 1995
About the family behind these guides
Next: Frequently asked questionsTino Boats has sailed from the Débarcadère in Trou d'Eau Douce since 1995: three decades, more than fifty thousand guests and a 4.9 rating from over five hundred reviews. We wrote these pages because most of what travellers read about our coast is written by people who have never cast off from it. Everything here is what we tell our own guests at the jetty.
Discover the East Coast by speedboat
Skimming the largest lagoon in Mauritius, wind in your hair.
Frequently asked questions
The questions guests ask us at the jetty, answered the way we answer them there.
What is the best boat trip in Mauritius?
For most visitors, the full-day east coast trip from Trou d'Eau Douce: the GRSE waterfall, lunch and the afternoon at Île aux Cerfs, by catamaran, speedboat or pirate boat, with a snorkelling stop on the catamaran and pirate-boat days. The 5 Island Tour is the pick if you want dolphins and more islands.
How much does a boat trip cost in Mauritius?
Shared full-day trips start from about Rs 2,000 per person with lunch included, and the catamaran and pirate-boat days add snorkelling. Private boats start from Rs 15,000 for a speedboat and Rs 50,000 for a catamaran, for the whole boat.
Where do boat trips to Île aux Cerfs leave from?
From Trou d'Eau Douce on the east coast, at the public jetty known as the Débarcadère. It is about 45 minutes from the airport and an hour or more from the north and west coast resorts.
Do I need to be able to swim?
No. Life jackets are provided, the lagoon is shallow and calm, and snorkelling is optional. Plenty of our guests spend the snorkelling stop on the net watching the fish from above.
Can you see dolphins on a boat trip in Mauritius?
Yes. On the east coast the 5 Island Tour keeps watch for wild dolphins and turtles on the way out; on the west coast, early-morning dolphin trips leave from Tamarin. They are wild, so sightings are likely rather than guaranteed.
What should I bring on a boat trip?
Swimsuit, towel, reef-safe sunscreen, hat, sunglasses and a little cash for extras such as parasailing. Snorkelling gear, lunch and drinks are included on our trips.
