Ile aux Cerfs catamaran: full-day luxury cruise from Pointe Jérôme
East-coast catamaran cruises · shared or private charter · since 1998
Quick answer: our full-day Ile aux Cerfs catamaran cruise departs Pointe Jérôme (Mahébourg) at 9:00 AM and sails the east lagoon past Ile aux Aigrettes and Lighthouse Island to a snorkelling stop, the Grand River South East waterfall, a fresh BBQ lunch with unlimited open bar on board, and 1.5–2 hours of beach time on Ile aux Cerfs itself — returning by about 4:00 PM. All-inclusive on a 42-ft catamaran (max 30–34 guests, or private charter), with kids under 3 free. The Pointe Jérôme departure is the scenic long way in — and that's the point. Version française disponible.
[ Book your catamaran cruise on WhatsApp ]
BBQ lunch & open bar · snorkeling gear included · GRSE waterfall · shared or private · English & French crew
The scenic route to Mauritius's most famous islet
Most Ile aux Cerfs tours run the short shuttle from Trou d'Eau Douce. Ours sails from Pointe Jérôme, next to the Preskil resort near Mahébourg — the long, beautiful way in, across one of the island's widest lagoons, with Lion Mountain behind you, the Blue Bay Marine Park waters around you, and the islets of the south-east — Ile aux Aigrettes, Ile aux Phares — sliding past on the way. More time on the water, better views, smaller crowds. It's one of the classic things to do in Mauritius, done from its best angle.
Who this cruise is for
Families — calm lagoon water the whole way, shaded seating, onboard toilets and fresh-water showers, life jackets in every size, and a crew that genuinely welcomes children. Under-3s sail free; ages 4–11 at a discount. Two small cabins on board for naps and nappy changes.
Couples & honeymooners — cocktails on the trampoline nets, a quiet stretch of white sand at the island, and the golden-hour sail home. There's a reason this is the most-booked honeymoon day on the east coast.
Solo travellers — a friendly shared boat with a small cap: easy company when you want it, a sunny net to yourself when you don't.
Groups & celebrations — birthdays, reunions, or the boat entirely to yourselves: private charters run the same route with a customised menu and pace.
Your day on the water, hour by hour
08:45 · Check-in at Pointe Jérôme — next to the Preskil Island Resort, about 15 minutes from the airport; secure parking by the jetty. Welcome aboard with tea, coffee, juice and pastries.
09:00 · Set sail across the east lagoon — Lion Mountain and the Mahébourg bay behind you, Ile aux Aigrettes (the famous conservation reserve) and the historic Ile aux Phares to starboard. Flying fish are common; dolphins make occasional cameos.
10:30 · Snorkelling stop — anchored inside the island's largest coral lagoon: clear, calm and shallow. Gear provided, crew on hand for beginners; non-swimmers sunbathe on the nets.
11:30 · Grand River South East waterfall — we nose into the mouth of Mauritius's longest river to see the falls tumbling out of the jungle (tide permitting). Watch the cliffs for the fruit-bat colony and the banks for monkeys.
12:15 · BBQ lunch & open bar — grilled fish, chicken kebabs and sausages cooked fresh on board, with salads, rice, breads and tropical fruit (vegetarian on request). The bar — beer, rum, wine, cocktails, softs — pours all day.
13:30 · Ile aux Cerfs — through the channel past Anahita to a quiet white-sand stretch of the island. 1.5–2 hours to swim the shallow lagoon, stroll the beaches, or try optional watersports (parasailing, tube rides — bookable on the island).
15:00 · The sail home — Sega music, last drinks, golden light on the lagoon. Back at Pointe Jérôme around 16:00.
What's included
Full-day cruise (~7 hours) on a 42-ft catamaran — max 30–34 guests, experienced local captain and crew
Light breakfast on boarding; BBQ lunch grilled fresh on board (vegetarian and dietary needs catered with notice)
Unlimited open bar all day — beer, wine, rum, cocktails, soft drinks, juice, water
Snorkelling stop with all gear (bring your own mask if you prefer)
GRSE waterfall visit (weather and tide permitting)
Ile aux Cerfs beach stop with 1.5–2 hours of free time
Live Sega music and a crew full of local stories
Onboard comfort: shaded lounge, sunbathing nets, two bathrooms/changing rooms with fresh-water showers, life jackets in all sizes
Optional extras: round-trip hotel transfers from anywhere on the island (we're transfer specialists — just ask) · watersports on Ile aux Cerfs · full private charter with customised menu, ideal for weddings and events.
Practical facts & what to bring
Kids' pricing: under 3 free; ages 4–11 discounted.
Getting there: Pointe Jérôme jetty, beside the Preskil Island Resort — 15 minutes from the airport, secure parking on site; arrive 15 minutes before departure.
Seasickness: rare — the route stays inside calm lagoon water; take a tablet an hour before if you're prone.
Weather policy: we monitor the marine forecast; if conditions are unsafe we reschedule or refund in full. Passing showers don't stop the day.
Bring: swimsuit worn under clothes, towel, reef-safe sunscreen, hat and sunglasses, flip-flops (water shoes handy for rocky shallows), waterproof pouch for your phone, a light cover-up, and some cash or a card for island extras and optional crew tips.
Original data · The Barefoot Bespoke Index
Why the Pointe Jérôme departure wins
2 routes — Trou d'Eau Douce runs the short shuttle; Pointe Jérôme sails the full south-east lagoon
~7 hours — Time on the water, most of it cruising scenery the short route never sees
30–34 — Maximum guests on our 42-ft boat; comfort, not a floating coach
Under 3s free — And 4–11s discounted, which is why families fill the calendar
70 euros—Shared per-person and private-charter prices needs to be quoted
100% — Days with lunch, bar, gear and waterfall included; nothing sold as a surprise extra
The honest takeaway: the islet is the same whichever way you sail — the difference you're buying is the journey. The Pointe Jérôme route turns the transfer into the cruise itself: more lagoon, more islets, more mountain backdrop, fewer boats.
Source: route and vessel details per our operating partners.
The process
How your catamaran day works
Pick shared or private
The convivial shared boat, or the whole catamaran for your crew with a custom menu.
Tell us your date and your party
Kids' ages for the right life jackets and pricing; dietary needs for the galley; transfers if you want collecting.
We confirm and you show up
Check-in 8:45 at Pointe Jérôme — parking on site, directions sent with your booking.
Sail, snorkel, feast, beach, repeat
The crew handles everything else. Your only job is choosing between the nets and the shade.
Case study
A honeymoon couple who almost booked the short shuttle
Guests: honeymooners from the UK · Brief: Ile aux Cerfs "properly" — romantic, unhurried, no cattle-boat feel
They'd nearly booked a cheap shuttle from Trou d'Eau Douce — fifteen minutes across, dropped on the busiest beach, back with the crowds. We suggested the long way: the Pointe Jérôme route with the lagoon crossing, the waterfall, lunch on board and a quieter stretch of the island. They spent the crossing on the nets with cocktails, had the waterfall photo stop practically to themselves, and watched the sail home turn gold. Her review called it "the day the honeymoon actually felt like a honeymoon."
Almost booked — A 15-minute shuttle to the busiest beach Chose instead — The full-lagoon route with waterfall and lunch aboard The nets, the cocktails — The crossing became the highlight 5★ — "the day the honeymoon actually felt like a honeymoon"
The concrete result
What the scenic route delivered
A full lagoon crossing with Lion Mountain views — not a shuttle hop
The waterfall stop most Ile aux Cerfs tours skip entirely
1.5–2 hours on a quieter stretch of the island
5★ review — "we saw more from the boat than most people see from the island"
First-hand reviews
In our guests' own words
★★★★★ "The sail from Pointe Jérôme was the best part — lagoon, mountains, islets, waterfall. The island stop was almost a bonus. Food and open bar superb." — J., United Kingdom (via Google)
★★★★★ "Travelled with a 2-year-old and a 6-year-old. Life jackets in their sizes, a cabin for the nap, a crew that adored them. Easiest family day of the trip." — C., France (via TripAdvisor)
★★★★★ "Booked the private charter for my wife's birthday. Same route, our music, our pace, a cake smuggled aboard by the crew. Faultless." — S., Germany (via GetYourGuide)
A contrarian view
The cheapest way to Ile aux Cerfs is the worst way to see it
Ile aux Cerfs is so famous that a whole industry exists to get you there as cheaply and quickly as possible — speedboat shuttles that cross in minutes and drop you on the most crowded beach with a thousand other day-trippers. It works. It's also the surest way to wonder what the fuss was about.
The islet is the destination; the lagoon is the experience. Buy the shortest crossing and you've skipped the best part of your own day out.
The full-day catamaran flips the maths: the crossing becomes the cruise — snorkelling, the waterfall, lunch and the bar on the water — and the island becomes the relaxed finale on a quieter stretch of sand. Same famous islet, completely different day.
The fair caveat: if you're on a tight budget or a tight schedule and simply want your feet on Ile aux Cerfs, the cheap shuttle honestly does that job — go early, beat the crowds, enjoy it. But if the day itself is the point — a honeymoon, a family day, a celebration — the lagoon route is the one you'll remember. Want more islets in one day? Take a look at our 5 islands tour.
Questions, answered straight
Ile aux Cerfs catamaran — FAQs
What time does the cruise start and finish?
Check-in by 8:45 AM at Pointe Jérôme, departure at 9:00 AM, back around 4:00 PM — roughly 7 hours on the water.
Is food and drink really all included?
Yes — light breakfast on boarding, a BBQ lunch grilled fresh on board, and an unlimited open bar (beer, wine, rum, cocktails, softs) all day. Dietary needs catered with advance notice.
How much time do we get on Ile aux Cerfs?
About 1.5–2 hours of free time — swim, sunbathe, explore, or add optional watersports like parasailing (booked on the island).
Is it suitable for young children?
Very — calm lagoon water, life jackets in all sizes, shaded seating, toilets and showers, and two small cabins for naps. Under-3s sail free; 4–11s are discounted.
What if the weather turns?
We monitor the forecast and reschedule or refund in full if conditions are unsafe. Passing tropical showers don't stop the day.
Can you arrange hotel pickup, or a private charter?
Both — round-trip transfers from anywhere on the island (we're transfer specialists), and private charters on the same route with a customised menu for weddings, birthdays and events.
Book the scenic route to Ile aux Cerfs
One message with your date and party, and your catamaran day is booked — direct, commission-free, with local support before, during and after.