Catamaran, BBQ, Ile Gabriel , Ile Plate ,Coin de Mire

Mauritius gives you two very different days in one booking: a catamaran outing to the northern islands, followed by a private-car tour through the island’s southern sights. You get sun, swimming, a BBQ lunch with beer and wine, then tea, rum, temples, tortoises, and sea cliffs.

I especially like the mix of water time and inland culture, plus the convenience of pickup and return at Grand Baie Public Beach. The main catch is important: day one is a shared, potentially crowded catamaran, and the northern islands sit outside the reef, so rough weather can cancel that portion.

Key points to know before booking

• Three northern islands in one day: Visit Flat Island, Ile Gabriel, and view or approach Coin de Mire on a catamaran from Grand Baie.
• BBQ lunch with drinks: Beer and wine are included with the midday meal on the boat.
• A much more private second day: Explore southern Mauritius by private car with a driver.
• Useful mix of sights: The route includes La Vanille Nature Park, Bois Cheri Tea Plantation, Grand Bassin, a rum distillery, Gris Gris, and La Roche qui pleure.
• Accommodation costs extra: A private villa for up to four people has two bedrooms, but it is not included in the listed price.
• Weather matters: The island cruise can be canceled in poor conditions, with a new date or refund offered.

Two days, two sides of Mauritius

At $82.22 per person, this experience is best understood as a compact Mauritius sampler rather than a simple boat trip. Day one is about open water, beaches, swimming, food, and time outside. Day two shifts inland and south, adding religious sites, local production, wildlife, and dramatic coastal views.

That contrast is the strongest reason to consider it. Many island excursions give you a beach and a boat, but this one also gives you a look at how Mauritius is shaped by tea, sugar, rum, Hindu culture, conservation, and coastal geology.

The schedule is described as two days, approximately. The first day lasts about seven hours, while the southern tour runs about six hours. Pickup is offered, and both days finish back at the meeting point at Grand Baie Public Beach.

One practical point needs attention before you pay. The boat day is a common tour with other people, even though the inland day is described as private for your group. If you want a quiet, exclusive sailing experience, this is not the right expectation. If you are happy to share a catamaran for access to several islands, the arrangement makes more sense.

Day one: sailing north from Grand Baie

Your first day begins at Grand Baie Public Beach, the meeting point for the catamaran. Grand Baie is one of northern Mauritius’s main holiday centers, so it is a convenient base for a day on the water.

The boat heads toward the northern islands, including Flat Island and Ile Gabriel, with Coin de Mire part of the island circuit. The open-water setting is the point. You can relax on deck, swim, snorkel, enjoy the beaches, and let the day move at an easy pace rather than racing between inland stops.

The northern islands sit outside the reef. That makes the scenery and sense of open sea appealing, but it also means the boat day depends heavily on conditions. Wind and waves can affect the route, comfort, and even whether the excursion operates. Keep some flexibility in your schedule if this cruise is a major reason for booking.

The island names can make this sound like three separate landings with plenty of time on each. The supplied details do not promise a specific landing pattern or exact amount of time at every island, so you should treat the day as a combined catamaran and island outing rather than assume a long stop at each place.

Flat Island, Ile Gabriel, and Coin de Mire

Flat Island is listed as the main northern-island destination for the cruise. It is paired with Ile Gabriel and the wider northern island group, including Round Island. You can expect the appeal to be simple: bright beaches, sea air, swimming, and a break from mainland sightseeing.

Ile Gabriel adds another island setting to the day. The schedule presents the northern islands as a place to relax and have fun, not as a guided history tour. Bring the right mindset. This is about water and outdoor time more than monuments or detailed interpretation.

Coin de Mire is a sharply recognizable island off the north coast, and its presence gives the boat route a strong visual marker. The information provided does not state that you will go ashore there, so do not book expecting a guaranteed landing. The same applies to the exact snorkeling spots. Snorkeling is offered, but specific equipment details and locations are not provided.

The catamaran is shared. That can work well if you like a social boat day and do not mind other people around you. It can feel less restful if you are hoping for lots of personal space. The most useful tip is to think of the boat as a shared platform for a full day outdoors, not as a private charter.

BBQ lunch, beer, wine, and time to slow down

A BBQ lunch is included, along with beer and wine. That is a real value point because meals and drinks can add up quickly on a full-day water trip.

The meal also helps set the pace. You are not simply being transported from one island to another. The day includes time to eat, sit back, swim, snorkel, and enjoy the water. If you prefer an active schedule packed with guided stops, you may find parts of the cruise slow. I see that as a benefit for anyone who wants a lighter day between more structured sightseeing.

The supplied information does not list the exact BBQ menu, nonalcoholic drink choices, or arrangements for dietary needs. If those details matter to you, ask the operator before departure. The inclusion of beer and wine is clear, but the full food and beverage plan is not.

The first day is also the part most exposed to cancellation. Poor weather can lead to a different date or a full refund. That policy is useful, but it does not remove the scheduling problem. Avoid placing the cruise on the final day of your Mauritius stay if you would have no room to move it.

Day two: southern Mauritius by private car

The second day changes character completely. Instead of a shared boat, you travel in a private car with a driver, and only your group participates. That gives this portion a more personal feel and makes it easier to focus on the stops that interest you.

The route covers southern Mauritius, where the sights are spread across a broad area. The tour combines a rum distillery, a tea factory, a nature park, Hindu temples around Grand Bassin, and the rugged coast near Gris Gris.

A six-hour day is efficient, but it is also fairly full. You should expect a sightseeing route with several stops rather than long, unhurried visits at each location. The private vehicle matters here because it connects places that would be awkward to combine independently in one short outing.

Lunch is included at the Hungry Crocodile restaurant. The information describes it as a delicious lunch menu, but does not provide the exact dishes. Admission to La Vanille Nature Park is included as well.

La Vanille Nature Park and the Hungry Crocodile lunch

La Vanille Nature Park is the wildlife stop. You can see giant tortoises and crocodiles, giving the day a change of pace after the cultural and agricultural visits.

The park is especially useful if you are traveling with children or if you want more than scenery and factories. Giant tortoises offer a close look at one of the island’s most memorable animals, while the crocodile enclosures add a more unusual element to the route.

The park is not presented as a wilderness trek. It is a nature reserve and attraction with included admission, so you should expect an organized visitor setting. That makes it accessible for a wide range of ages and interests, but perhaps less suited to someone seeking untouched nature.

The included lunch at the Hungry Crocodile restaurant gives you a proper pause during the southern circuit. Since the menu is not specified, contact the operator if you need to confirm vegetarian choices, allergies, or other dietary requirements.

Bois Cheri, rum, and the story of local production

The tea stop at Bois Cheri Tea Plantation adds useful context to the island beyond beaches. You learn about tea cultivation and the tea-making process, which gives the countryside visit a practical focus.

This is a good stop for anyone curious about how Mauritius produces and presents its agricultural goods. It is also a welcome contrast to the northern cruise. Day one is about the sea as scenery and recreation. Bois Cheri shows you a working side of the island connected to farming and processing.

The itinerary also includes a rum distillery. No particular distillery is named, and the provided information does not state whether tasting is included. You can expect a production-focused stop, but confirm the tasting details if that is important to you.

Taken together, the tea plantation and rum visit add more value than a simple drive through the countryside. You are not only looking at Mauritius, you are getting an explanation of two products strongly linked with the island’s identity.

Grand Bassin and Hindu culture

The southern route includes Grand Bassin, a crater lake surrounded by Hindu temples. This is the cultural heart of the day and one of the most meaningful stops for anyone who wants to understand Mauritius as more than a resort island.

The visit focuses on Hindu culture and the temples around the lake. Dress and behavior should be respectful at religious sites, even though the supplied tour details do not provide a formal dress code.

Grand Bassin also gives the route a quieter, more reflective pause between the wildlife park and the coast. The tour does not list a specific guide or religious talk, so do not assume a detailed lecture. Still, visiting the temples with a driver and organized route can help you fit this important part of Mauritius into a short stay.

I like that the second day does not treat culture as an afterthought. It puts Grand Bassin beside food production, wildlife, and the coast, giving you several ways to read the island.

Gris Gris and La Roche qui pleure

The final coastal sights include Gris Gris and La Roche qui pleure, translated as the rock that cries. This is the rugged end of the southern route, with exposed coastline and a very different mood from the calm northern beaches.

The information does not promise a swim here, and the names of these stops suggest that the main purpose is viewing the coast rather than using it as a beach break. Follow the driver’s advice near the shoreline and do not assume that every coastal area is suitable for entering the water.

These stops are valuable because they show a wilder side of Mauritius. You see the island’s edge as a place shaped by waves and rock, not only as a strip of resort sand. If you enjoy scenic viewpoints and natural drama, this may be one of the most memorable parts of the inland day.

What the $82.22 price really covers

The listed price is $82.22 per person. It covers a two-day program with the catamaran outing, BBQ lunch, beer and wine, the private southern tour, lunch at the Hungry Crocodile restaurant, and admission to La Vanille Nature Park.

The price does not include the optional villa accommodation. The villa sleeps four people and has two bedrooms, but it costs extra. This is worth checking carefully if you are comparing the package with a hotel stay. The basic price should not be treated as a two-day lodging package.

Value depends on how much of the itinerary you would otherwise arrange yourself. The boat day combines transport, food, drinks, and access to the northern island circuit. The second day links several widely spaced sights with a private car and driver. For a short Mauritius stay, that saves planning time and may cost less than arranging two separate day trips.

The trade-off is control. You do not get a private catamaran, and the southern route has several scheduled stops. You are paying for a ready-made combination, not a custom itinerary.

Who should book this two-day experience?

I would consider this tour a good fit if you want a broad first look at Mauritius and prefer having transport arranged. It works particularly well for:

• Couples who want one relaxed sea day and one active sightseeing day.
• Families interested in animals, beaches, and cultural sites.
• First-time visitors with limited time on the island.
• Small groups who can share the extra-cost villa.
• Visitors who do not want to organize separate boat, car, and attraction bookings.

It is less suitable if you want a private boat, a slow schedule, or guaranteed calm water. It may also disappoint you if your main goal is long snorkeling sessions, since the exact snorkeling locations and duration are not specified.

The experience is wheelchair accessible, which is useful, though the information does not explain access conditions for the catamaran, beaches, temples, or individual park areas. If you use a wheelchair, confirm the practical boarding and vehicle arrangements before booking.

Booking, weather, and cancellation advice

Confirmation is issued within 48 hours, subject to availability. The activity requires a minimum number of participants, so it can be canceled if that number is not reached.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather cancels the experience, you can receive a different date or a full refund.

The best planning choice is to schedule the boat day early in your stay. That gives you room to move it if open-water conditions turn poor. Since day one is weather-sensitive and day two is land-based, the pair works best when your schedule has some flexibility.

Should you book it?

Book this experience if you want a practical two-day introduction to Mauritius that combines northern-island sailing with a well-filled southern circuit. The included BBQ, drinks, park admission, lunches, pickup, and private car make the $82.22 starting price attractive, especially for a short visit.

Skip it if you want a quiet private yacht, a fully customized route, or certainty that every named island includes a long shore stop. The key decision is simple: accept a shared catamaran and weather risk on day one in exchange for a wide range of sights, then enjoy the more private and structured car tour on day two.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Grand Baie Public Beach in Grand Baie, Mauritius.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately two days. The catamaran portion takes about seven hours, and the southern Mauritius tour takes about six hours.

Which northern islands are included?

The northern itinerary includes Flat Island, Ile Gabriel, and Coin de Mire. Round Island is also identified as part of the northern island group, but the information does not specify a stop there.

Is the catamaran private?

No. The catamaran cruise is a common tour shared with other people. The second day, using a private car and driver, is private for your group.

Is accommodation included?

No. Accommodation costs extra. An optional private villa sleeps four people and has two bedrooms.

What food and drinks are included?

The boat day includes a BBQ lunch with beer and wine. The second day includes lunch at the Hungry Crocodile restaurant.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund if the experience is canceled because of poor weather.