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

Island days and a south coast road trip make this a busy Mauritius sampler. This two-day experience pairs a seven-hour catamaran outing from Grand Baie with a six-hour private-car tour through the island’s south. I especially like the BBQ lunch with beer and wine and the chance to see Mauritius beyond its beaches, including a tea plantation, Hindu sites, a rum distillery, and La Vanille Nature Park.

I also like the practical split between a social day on the water and a private day with a driver. The main point to weigh is that the catamaran is shared and can feel crowded, while accommodation costs extra if you choose the private villa option. Weather also matters, since the northern island trip may be canceled in poor conditions.

Five things to know before booking

• Seven hours on the water: The first day begins at Grand Baie Public Beach and includes swimming, snorkeling, island scenery, food, drinks, and time to relax.
• The boat day is shared: You join other people on the catamaran, even though the second day is arranged as a private activity for your group.
• A full southern circuit: The road day combines La Vanille Nature Park, Grand Bassin, Gris Gris, La Roche qui pleure, a rum distillery, and Bois Cheri Tea Plantation.
• Lunch and drinks are included at sea: The BBQ lunch includes beer and wine, making the first day easier to budget.
• Villa accommodation is optional: A private villa with two bedrooms and space for four is available for an added cost, so check the exact accommodation arrangement before paying.
• Pickup is available: The second day includes pickup and drop-off in a private car with a driver, and the activity is wheelchair accessible according to the tour details.

Day one: seven hours from Grand Baie to the northern islands

Your first morning starts at Grand Baie Public Beach, one of the main departure points for boat trips in northern Mauritius. From here, the catamaran heads toward the northern islands, including Île Plate, also known as Flat Island, Île Gabriel, and the waters near Coin de Mire.

The route is designed as a relaxed day rather than a tightly timed sightseeing cruise. You get sun, sea views, swimming, snorkeling, food, drinks, and time to sit back. That loose rhythm suits anyone who wants a break from scheduled museum stops and road transfers.

The setting outside the reef can be exposed to changing weather. This matters because the northern islands are not simply a short harbor cruise. Wind and sea conditions can affect the trip, and poor weather may lead to a new date or a refund. Keep your schedule flexible, especially if this is one of the last activities of your holiday.

The tour description calls the experience a visit to all three northern islands. In practical terms, you should think of this as a catamaran day in the northern island area, with time around the islands rather than a promise of a long guided walk on each one. Ask for the exact boat route and landing plans if visiting a particular island is essential to you.

Île Plate and Île Gabriel: beach time with a boat-day feel

Île Plate, or Flat Island, and Île Gabriel are known here mainly as places to enjoy the water and beaches. You can expect the day to center on swimming, snorkeling, sun, and a shared lunch rather than formal sightseeing.

I like this part of the plan because it gives you time to enjoy Mauritius at a slower pace. You are not being hurried from one viewpoint to another. Bring the attitude of someone spending a day on a boat, not someone ticking off a list of monuments.

The trade-off is group atmosphere. The catamaran is a common boat shared with other people, so it is not a private sailing trip. If you want quiet, personal service, or complete control over the route, this may feel too social. If you enjoy meeting people and want a straightforward day on the water, the shared format helps keep the price reasonable.

Snorkeling is included as part of the day’s activities, but the available details do not specify equipment, water depth, or how long you spend in the water. If snorkeling is a main reason for booking, confirm what gear is supplied and whether conditions can change the plan.

BBQ lunch, beer, and wine on the water

The BBQ lunch is one of the clearest value points. Food is included, along with beer and wine, so you are not left arranging lunch during a full day away from Grand Baie.

A meal served during a boat excursion also helps the day feel self-contained. You can swim, relax, eat, and continue enjoying the island setting without returning to shore for a restaurant stop. The exact BBQ menu is not specified, so anyone with dietary needs should ask about options before departure.

Drinks are included, but you should still treat this as a day in the sun. Carry the personal items you need for comfort, including sun protection and any medication. Those suggestions are basic, but a seven-hour boat trip gives small omissions plenty of time to become annoying.

The optional villa and the two-day format

The experience lasts about two days, with accommodation available at an additional cost. The private villa has two bedrooms and sleeps four, which may work well for a family or a small group sharing the expense.

The important point is that the villa is not included in the advertised per-person price. At about $82.22 per person, the base cost covers the tour elements described, but you need to add the accommodation price when comparing it with a standard overnight package.

This setup may suit you if you want one combined booking for the sea day and the southern road trip. It may be less appealing if you already have a hotel in Grand Baie or prefer to choose your own room. Confirm whether the villa is required for the schedule or simply an optional add-on, and ask how the two days are arranged before booking.

Day two: Mauritius by private car

The second day changes pace completely. Instead of a shared catamaran, you travel in a private car with a driver, with pickup and drop-off included. The road portion lasts about six hours and covers several very different parts of southern Mauritius.

That private format is valuable because the day includes cultural, natural, and scenic stops that would be hard to connect efficiently on your own. You are not only visiting one attraction. You are building a broad picture of the island, from plantation history to Hindu religious life and the rough southern shore.

The schedule is full, though. Six hours is enough for a strong overview, but not enough for long visits at every stop. If you prefer to spend half a day at one nature reserve or tea estate, this itinerary may feel quick. If you want to see several headline sights in one day, the pace makes sense.

La Vanille Nature Park and the Hungry Crocodile restaurant

La Vanille Nature Park is the main wildlife stop. The visit includes giant tortoises and crocodiles, making it a clear choice for families and anyone interested in Mauritius’s animal life.

The park adds variety after the open-water day. Instead of more beaches, you get a land-based attraction with large reptiles and a different view of the island’s natural world. Admission is included, which makes the second day easier to price.

Lunch is served at the Hungry Crocodile restaurant. The tour includes a lunch menu there, though the supplied information does not list the dishes. If you have food allergies or strict dietary requirements, contact the operator in advance rather than assuming the menu will suit you.

The nature park is not simply a quick photo stop. Still, the whole day contains many stops, so your time there may be limited by the rest of the route. Families should also note that the day combines sightseeing, driving, and outdoor visits rather than offering a single child-focused attraction.

Grand Bassin and the Hindu culture of Mauritius

The route includes Grand Bassin, a crater lake associated with Hindu worship, along with visits to Hindu temples around the lake. This is one of the most meaningful parts of the day because it adds cultural context to a holiday often dominated by beaches and resorts.

You should approach this stop with respect. It is a religious site, not only a scenic viewpoint. Your driver can help you understand the visit, but no detailed guide commentary is specified, so do not book this expecting a long specialist-led cultural lecture.

Grand Bassin also breaks up the route between the coast and plantation country. The change of setting helps show how varied Mauritius is within a relatively small island. You move from sea-level scenery to a place tied to local faith and community life.

Gris Gris and La Roche qui pleure

The southern coast brings a rougher, more dramatic side of Mauritius. The itinerary includes Gris Gris and La Roche qui pleure, often translated as the rock that cries.

These stops are about the coastline itself, with waves and exposed shore replacing the calmer reef waters of the north. They offer a useful contrast: day one is built around swimming and relaxation, while day two presents the sea as a force that shapes the island’s edge.

Conditions at coastal viewpoints can change, and the details do not promise a long walk or specific swimming opportunity. Think of these places as scenic stops within a driving tour. Wear sensible shoes and follow local safety guidance, especially near uneven ground and open water.

Rum, tea, and the working side of Mauritius

The southern tour also visits a rum distillery and the Bois Cheri Tea Plantation. These stops add useful background to Mauritius’s farming and plantation economy.

At the tea plantation, you learn about tea cultivation and the tea-making process. This gives the road day more substance than a string of viewpoints. You see how a familiar drink connects to the island’s land, labor, and local production.

The rum distillery adds another local product to the route. The information provided does not specify tasting arrangements, so check what is included if sampling is important to you. The same advice applies to the tea visit: the stop is included, but the exact presentation and tasting details are not stated.

Together, the rum and tea visits make sense for curious adults who want more than beach time. They may be less appealing to very young children, who might prefer extra time at La Vanille or the coast.

What the $82.22 price really gives you

The listed price of $82.22 per person is attractive for a two-day combination that includes a full catamaran day, BBQ lunch, beer and wine, a private-car day, admission to La Vanille Nature Park, and lunch on the southern route.

The value depends on what you expect. For a private boat charter, it is not the right comparison because day one is shared. For a broad introduction to northern waters and southern Mauritius, the price is more convincing.

Remember the exclusions. Villa accommodation costs extra, and the information does not say that every possible admission, drink, or tasting on day two is included. Ask for a full cost breakdown before booking, particularly if you are comparing this with a hotel package or separate day tours.

Who will enjoy this two-day combination?

I would recommend it most to people who want variety without arranging separate transport. You get ocean time, a meal on the boat, wildlife, religious sites, plantations, rum, tea, and the southern coast in one compact plan.

It suits couples, families, and small groups who value convenience. The private car on day two is especially useful for a group that wants its own vehicle rather than a large coach.

It may not suit you if you want a quiet private sailing trip, a slow beach holiday, or a highly specialized cultural tour. The catamaran is shared, the schedule is full, and accommodation is an extra charge.

The experience is listed as wheelchair accessible, and most people can participate. Because the day includes a catamaran, beaches, outdoor sites, and coastal viewpoints, ask the operator about the exact access arrangements for your needs before confirming.

Booking advice and weather planning

Confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability. The activity also requires a minimum number of participants, so keep that in mind when building a tight Mauritius schedule.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. If bad weather cancels the trip, you are offered another date or a full refund.

I would schedule the catamaran early in your stay if possible. That leaves room to move the boat day if weather interrupts it. The southern road tour gives you a useful backup day because it does not depend on the same sea conditions.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a broad, good-value introduction to Mauritius and like the idea of combining a social day at sea with a private southern road trip. The BBQ, included drinks, private car, nature park, tea plantation, and coastal stops give you plenty for the price.

Skip it if your priority is privacy on the water, a slow itinerary, or guaranteed time on a specific island. Before paying, confirm the villa cost, the exact northern island route, snorkeling equipment, dietary options, and what happens if the catamaran schedule changes.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Grand Baie Public Beach in Grand Baie, Mauritius. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How long does each day last?

The catamaran day lasts about seven hours. The southern Mauritius tour lasts about six hours.

Is accommodation included?

No. A private villa with two bedrooms and space for four is available for an additional cost.

Is the catamaran private?

No. The catamaran day is shared with other people. The second day is a private activity for your group with a car and driver.

What food and drinks are included?

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

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. The northern island trip is subject to weather conditions.