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

The best part of this Mauritius outing is the contrast: one day puts you on a shared catamaran among northern islands, while the next takes you by private car through the island’s southern sights. You get sea, villages, temples, tea, rum, giant tortoises, and the rough Atlantic coast in one tidy package.

I like the BBQ lunch with beer and wine because it turns a long day on the water into an easygoing picnic. I also like the second day’s private car and driver, which gives your own group more room to set the pace than the shared boat allows. The main thing to consider is that the first day is not private, and the outer islands depend on good weather.

Key points to know before booking

• Three northern islands in one boat day: The cruise is designed around Ile Gabriel, Ile Plate, and Coin de Mire, with time for swimming, snorkeling, beaches, drinks, and rest.
• A shared catamaran on day one: The boat can be crowded, so this is better for a social day than a quiet private sailing trip.
• A private southern tour on day two: Your group travels by private car with a driver to La Vanille, Grand Bassin, Bois Cheri, the rum distillery, and Gris Gris.
• Lunch is built into both days in different ways: The catamaran includes a BBQ lunch, beer, and wine, while the southern outing includes lunch at the Hungry Crocodile restaurant.
• Accommodation is optional and extra: A private villa for up to four people has two bedrooms, but the room cost is not part of the listed tour price.
• Weather matters on the northern route: The islands are outside the reef, so rough conditions can lead to a change of date or a refund.

One booking, two very different days

At about $82.22 per person, this is priced as a broad Mauritius sampler rather than a single focused excursion. The value comes from combining a full catamaran day with a six-hour southern tour, rather than paying separately for sea and land outings.

The two days also feel different in pace. Day one is open-air and social, with a shared boat, sun, food, and water time. Day two is more structured and sightseeing-heavy, with a private vehicle carrying only your group.

That split is useful if you want variety. It is less ideal if you want two slow beach days or two fully private outings. The package works best for someone with limited time in Mauritius who wants to see more of the island without arranging every transfer separately.

The accommodation option needs careful attention. You can add a private villa sleeping four people in two bedrooms, but it costs extra. The supplied information does not state that the villa is required, so check exactly what is included in your booking before assuming the room is covered by the $82.22 price.

Day one: setting out from Grand Baie

The first day begins at Grand Baie Public Beach. Grand Baie is one of the island’s main northern resort areas, so the meeting point is practical if you are staying nearby. The cruise lasts about seven hours, giving you a full day rather than a quick ride along the coast.

The catamaran heads toward Mauritius’ northern islands, including Ile Gabriel, Ile Plate, and Coin de Mire. Flat Island, also called Ile Plate, is specifically highlighted as part of the route. Gabriel Island and Round Island are also part of the northern island group, so the exact sequence of stops can depend on conditions and the operating plan for the day.

Do not expect a private yacht experience. The boat is shared with other people taking the same cruise, and the available review information specifically points out that the catamaran can feel crowded. That is an important distinction. You will have the fun of a common sailing day, but not the quiet or personal space of a chartered boat.

What the northern islands offer

The main pleasure here is simple: you are out on the water, looking back toward Mauritius and moving between small offshore islands. The day is built around sun, beaches, food, drinks, and time to relax rather than a long list of formal guided stops.

You can snorkel and swim when conditions allow, then return to the boat for lunch or a rest. If you prefer not to get in the water, the catamaran still gives you room to sit, enjoy the sea views, and take the day at an easy pace.

I like that the program does not try to turn the boat trip into a rushed island checklist. A seven-hour cruise gives you time for the water and for doing very little, which is often the point of a Mauritius sailing day.

Still, the outer islands are exposed to open conditions. The supplied information notes that the islands are outside the reef and can be affected by weather. If the sea is rough, the route may be canceled or changed. Build a little flexibility into your schedule if seeing all three northern islands is a priority.

BBQ lunch, drinks, and the shared-boat question

The included BBQ lunch is one of the clearest benefits of the first day. Beer and wine are included as well, so you are not left arranging a meal during a day spent offshore. This makes the price easier to justify, especially when you compare it with booking a boat trip and then buying lunch and drinks separately.

The meal also shapes the mood of the cruise. You can treat the day as a relaxed picnic on the water, with swimming and snorkeling on either side of lunch. The information does not give a detailed menu, so anyone with dietary needs should confirm food arrangements before booking.

The shared setting can be a plus or a drawback. If you like meeting people and a lively boat atmosphere, the common catamaran may suit you. If you are looking for privacy, quiet, or a tailored route, the first day may disappoint. The contrast with day two is useful: the boat is shared, while the southern drive is private for your group.

Day two: southern Mauritius by private car

The second day lasts about six hours and takes place in a private car with a driver. This is the more varied sightseeing day, covering natural sites, religious places, food, rum, tea, and the southern coast.

Because only your group participates in this part, you have a more personal setting than on the catamaran. The supplied details do not name the driver, and they do not promise a custom route, so do not assume that every stop can be extended or rearranged. Still, traveling by private car is valuable here because the sights are spread across southern Mauritius.

Lunch is included at the Hungry Crocodile restaurant. That gives the day a proper pause instead of leaving you to search for food between stops. As with the boat lunch, a specific menu is not provided, so ask ahead if you have dietary restrictions.

La Vanille Nature Park and its giant tortoises

La Vanille Nature Park is one of the day’s most distinctive stops. The park is known in this tour for giant tortoises and crocodiles, giving you a close look at animals that are very different from the beach and boat scenery of day one.

This stop adds a family-friendly side to the trip, but it is not only for children. The giant tortoises give the park a strong sense of place, while the crocodile exhibits add something more unusual to a standard southern-island sightseeing route.

The admission ticket is included. That matters because nature parks can become an unexpected extra cost on a full-day drive. You get a clear change of pace here: after the open sea and beaches, you are walking through a managed nature attraction with animals as the focus.

Grand Bassin and the Hindu culture of Mauritius

The route also visits Grand Bassin, a crater lake associated with Hindu culture in Mauritius. The tour includes visits to Hindu temples around the lake, giving you a chance to see a part of the island that is easy to miss if you spend all your time on the coast.

This stop helps explain Mauritius as more than a tropical beach destination. The island’s culture is shaped by several communities and faiths, and Grand Bassin offers a visible connection to Hindu religious life.

Approach the temples as places of worship, not simply photo stops. The supplied information does not spell out a dress code or visiting rules, so it is sensible to dress respectfully and follow any instructions given on site.

Rum and tea: two tastes of the island

The southern route includes a rum distillery and Bois Cheri Tea Plantation. These stops give you a look at two products closely tied to Mauritius, and they are more engaging than simply driving from one viewpoint to another.

At the rum distillery, you can learn about the island’s rum production. The details do not state whether a tasting is included, so check what is part of your visit rather than assuming drinks are covered here. The only explicitly included alcoholic drinks are the beer and wine served with the catamaran BBQ.

Bois Cheri focuses on tea cultivation and the tea-making process. This is a useful stop for anyone curious about how a plantation crop moves from field to finished drink. It also gives the land-based day a quieter, more agricultural counterpoint to the animal park and coast.

I like this pairing because it turns the second day into more than a collection of viewpoints. You see how Mauritius presents its food and drink traditions, then move on to places tied to religion and nature.

Gris Gris and La Roche qui pleure

The final coastal portion includes Gris Gris and La Roche qui pleure, or the rock that cries. This is the rugged side of southern Mauritius, where the coast is valued for its force and shape rather than calm swimming water.

The contrast with the northern islands is sharp. Day one is about beaches, snorkeling, and a boat-based holiday mood. Gris Gris brings you to a more exposed coastline, with waves and rock formations providing a different view of the island.

The tour information does not promise a particular amount of time at each southern stop. If Gris Gris is your main interest, ask the operator how the six-hour route is usually divided. The private car gives your group a more comfortable way to move between sites, but a six-hour day still requires a steady schedule.

What the price includes, and what it does not

The listed price is $82.22 per person. For two days of activities, that is a reasonable starting price, particularly because the package includes the seven-hour catamaran cruise, BBQ lunch, beer, wine, the private-car day, admission to La Vanille Nature Park, and lunch at the Hungry Crocodile restaurant.

The value is strongest if you intend to visit both the northern islands and the southern attractions anyway. You avoid having to arrange two separate excursions, and day two includes private transport for your group.

You should also count the exclusions. Accommodation is extra, including the two-bedroom villa option for up to four people. The information does not list every possible admission or tasting cost at the rum distillery or tea plantation, so confirm those details when booking.

The first day’s shared boat is another part of the value calculation. You are paying for access to a full catamaran outing, not for a private charter. For some people, that is exactly right. For others, a smaller or private boat may be worth paying more for.

Who should book this two-day experience

I would recommend this tour to you if you want a broad first look at Mauritius and prefer to have transport arranged. It suits couples, families, and small groups who want a mix of sea time, culture, wildlife, food, and coastal scenery.

It is especially useful if you are staying in or near Grand Baie, since the first day starts and ends at Grand Baie Public Beach. The private southern outing also helps if you do not want to rent a car or plan a long route yourself.

Families may appreciate the combination of beaches, giant tortoises, crocodiles, and a manageable six-hour land day. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, though the information does not give detailed access notes for the catamaran, beaches, temple areas, or individual attractions. If you use a wheelchair, confirm the practical boarding and surface details before booking.

You may want a different arrangement if your top priority is privacy on the water, a slow pace, or guaranteed island access on a fixed date. Weather can affect the first day, and the catamaran is shared with other people.

Cancellation and weather planning

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.

The activity requires good weather. If conditions cancel the trip, you are offered another date or a full refund. A minimum number of participants is also required, and if that minimum is not met, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. Most people can participate, but the operator should confirm any special mobility or dietary needs before the trip.

Should you book it?

Book this experience if you want maximum variety in two days and like the convenience of having the major pieces arranged. The mix is unusually broad: northern-island sailing with BBQ and drinks, followed by a private southern drive with wildlife, temples, rum, tea, lunch, and dramatic coast.

Go in with clear expectations. Day one is a shared catamaran, not a private cruise, and the outer islands depend on weather. Accommodation costs extra, and some details about distillery visits and the villa should be confirmed before payment.

For a first visit to Mauritius, I think the combination offers good value. It gives you a quick sense of the island’s sea life, food, faith, farming, wildlife, and coast. If you want a quiet luxury boat day, choose something more private. If you want to see a lot without spending your holiday on planning, this is a sensible choice.

FAQ

Where does the experience start and end?

It starts at Grand Baie Public Beach in Grand Baie, Mauritius, and ends back at the meeting point.

How long is the experience?

The experience lasts about two days. Day one is a seven-hour catamaran cruise, and day two is a six-hour southern Mauritius tour.

Which islands are included?

The tour is designed to visit Ile Gabriel, Ile Plate, and Coin de Mire. Flat Island, also called Ile Plate, is part of Mauritius’ northern island group.

Is the catamaran private?

No. The first-day catamaran is shared with other people taking the same tour. The second day uses a private car and driver for your group.

Is accommodation included?

No. You can choose a private villa with two bedrooms that sleeps four, but accommodation costs extra.

What food and drinks are included?

The catamaran day includes a BBQ lunch with beer and wine. The southern tour includes lunch at the Hungry Crocodile restaurant.

Is the experience wheelchair accessible?

The experience is listed as wheelchair accessible. The supplied details do not explain access conditions for each boat, beach, temple, or attraction, so confirm those arrangements before booking.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

You are offered a different date or a full refund if the experience is canceled because of poor weather. The northern islands are outside the reef and can be affected by sea conditions.