Ile aux Cerfs is the island Mauritians and visitors alike dream about: a long, low spit of white sand and casuarina trees off the east coast, wrapped in a shallow turquoise lagoon that glows in every photograph. It is the most popular day trip in Mauritius, and the best way to arrive is under sail, cruising up the lagoon on a catamaran rather than taking the short shuttle boat from Trou d’Eau Douce. This page links to the Full-Day Catamaran Cruise to Ile aux Cerfs with BBQ Lunch run by Catamaran Cruises Mauritius, one of the most reviewed trips on the island, with a rating of 4.6 from more than 500 reviews. The boat leaves Pointe Jérôme, near Mahébourg in the south-east, at nine in the morning and sails north inside the reef, passing the Ile aux Aigrettes nature reserve on the way. You stop to snorkel in the lagoon, then spend about two hours on Ile aux Cerfs to swim, walk the beaches or try the paid water sports on offer there. Back on board, the crew serves a barbecue buffet with pineapple for dessert, and local beer, wine, Mauritian rum and soft drinks are included. Hotel pickup is part of the package, which makes this an easy, good-value first trip for couples, friends and families.
How it works: the cruise lasts about seven hours. Guests meet at the Pointe Jérôme embarkation point near Mahébourg at 8:30 for a 9:00 departure, and hotel pickup and drop-off are included; drivers from the north and west leave very early, around 7:00, so the east and south-east are the most convenient bases. Lunch, drinks, snorkel gear and tips are included, the boat takes up to about thirty guests, and free cancellation is possible until 24 hours before.
What you see: the route runs inside the reef along the south-east coast, passing Ile aux Aigrettes, a protected island where conservationists have brought back native forest and rare birds, before reaching Ile aux Cerfs. On the island, the best swimming is on the lagoon side, and there are beach bars, restaurants and parasailing and other water sports for an extra fee. Some guests see a river and waterfall from the boat, but views vary and this is not the main event.
Making the most of it: bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and a cover-up, as there is little shade on deck. The lagoon is calmer in the morning and the trade winds can make the return choppy in the cooler months. Reviews praise the crew and the snorkelling, but note occasional late starts and loud music, so set expectations for a lively day rather than a quiet sail.
What to expect
The experience
A shared full-day catamaran sail inside the south-east reef, with a snorkel stop, about two hours on Ile aux Cerfs and a barbecue lunch with drinks on board.
Best time
The dry, sunny months from May to December are most reliable, and the lagoon is usually calmest in the morning before the trade winds pick up.
How long
About seven hours on the water, plus hotel transfers that can add an hour or more each way from the north and west.
Tips
Pack reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, a towel and a dry bag for your phone, and bring some cash for water sports on the island.
Quick picks
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want one perfect beach-and-lagoon day with everything included.
- Families
- Children enjoy the boat, the snorkelling and the shallow water on the island, and kids travel at a reduced rate.
- Couples
- A sunny, sociable day with lunch, rum and a white-sand island, best followed by a quiet evening back at the hotel.
- Pair with
- The northern islands catamaran from Grand Baie for a second, wilder sail, or a dolphin morning on the west coast.
- Time needed
- A full day, so keep the evening free and plan nothing else.
Good questions
Where does the Ile aux Cerfs catamaran leave from?+
It leaves from the Pointe Jérôme embarkation point near Mahébourg in the south-east, with boarding at 8:30 and departure at 9:00. Hotel pickup is included, so most guests are driven there.
What is included in the cruise?+
A barbecue buffet lunch, coffee or tea, local beer, wine, rum and soft drinks, snorkel gear and gratuities are all included. Water sports on Ile aux Cerfs cost extra.
How long do you spend on Ile aux Cerfs?+
The stop on the island lasts about two hours. That is enough time to swim, walk the beach and have a drink in the shade.
Is the catamaran suitable for children?+
Yes, children are welcome with an adult and pay a reduced rate. The trip is not wheelchair accessible.
Can I cancel the catamaran trip?+
Yes, cancellation is free until 24 hours before the start. After that the booking is not refundable.
