Which catamaran cruise in Mauritius? The 7 trips compared

A catamaran comes up in almost every enquiry I get. And almost every time, the same question follows: which one? There are seven in my catalogue, between 51 € and 199 €, and they are not variations on a theme. The price tells you very little. What actually differs is the coast, the time spent at sea, and what you will see during the day.

Here is how I tell them apart when a guest asks.

The simplest rule: start from your hotel

A cruise rarely departs from your doorstep. The west coast catamaran boards near La Gaulette, the east coast one at Trou d’Eau Douce, the south-east one at Mahebourg. If you are staying in Grand Baie and heading east, allow an hour and a half of driving before you step aboard — and the same again on the way back, after a day in the sun.

That is not a dealbreaker, and plenty of my guests do it gladly. But you should know it beforehand, not on the morning itself.

The shortcut that works: if you are staying in the north, take the north. If you are on the east or south-east coast, the island’s finest trips are twenty minutes away.

The northern trips — the islets

The north has no long coastal cruise: it has islets. Coin de Mire, Flat Island, Ilot Gabriel, Ile d’Ambre. You sail out, you stop, you swim, you move on. It is island-hopping between uninhabited scraps of land, not a run along a coastline.

Three options:

• Ilot Gabriel catamaran — all-inclusive day, from 119 €. The classic. White sand, shallow lagoon, lunch on board.
• The northern islets — Coin de Mire, Flat Island & Ilot Gabriel, from 139 €. Same spirit, but covering all three islets, with the lighthouse on Flat Island and the cliff of Coin de Mire where red-tailed tropicbirds nest. Departure around 8am, back around 3.30pm.
• Ilot Bernaches & Ile d’Ambre, from 139 €. Further east, more secluded. Ile d’Ambre has mangroves and a story — it is where the wreck of the Saint-Geran is placed.

If you are staying in Grand Baie, Pereybere, Mont Choisy or Trou aux Biches, pick-up is at your hotel and you are on the water in under half an hour.

The west coast — dolphins and Crystal Rock

This is what I recommend to anyone who wants to see dolphins. Pods of spinner dolphins frequent Tamarin bay early in the morning, and the day starts there.

West coast catamaran — Crystal Rock & Ile aux Benitiers, from 129 €. After the dolphins, the boat heads for L’Harmonie, a quiet cove, then Crystal Rock — the lone boulder rising out of the lagoon and the photo stop of the day. It ends at Ile aux Benitiers, ringed by reefs. Lunch on board.

West coast catamaran & Le Morne bay, from 139 €. The variant that pushes on to Le Morne Brabant, the UNESCO-listed mountain that drops straight into the lagoon.

One honest word about the dolphins: they are wild animals. We see them very often, almost always, but nobody can guarantee them. Be wary of anyone who does.

The east coast — Ile aux Cerfs

This is the beach you saw in a photograph before you came. White sand, turquoise water, an islet off Trou d’Eau Douce. Which is also why it is the busiest trip on the island.

Two ways to get there:

• Ile aux Cerfs — catamaran + GRSE waterfall, from 51 €. The short version, and by far the best value in my catalogue for a day at sea.
• East coast catamaran — Ile aux Cerfs & Grand River South East waterfall, from 129 €. The full day: boarding at Trou d’Eau Douce, up to the waterfall approached from the sea, a swim in the lagoon, lunch served on board, then the afternoon on the island.

Advice I give everyone: ask me which departure is quietest depending on the day of the week. The difference in crowds between a Tuesday and a Sunday is considerable, and I know which ones to avoid.

The south-east — the least crowded coast

This is my recommendation for anyone who has already done Ile aux Cerfs, or who wants to avoid the crowds.

South-east coast catamaran — full day, from 189 €. A whole day along the south-east, the stretch where you meet the fewest boats. The crew knows the coves and lagoons worth stopping at. Lunch on board.

Luxury catamaran — south-east coast from Mahebourg, from 199 €. The same coast, with fewer people aboard and more comfort. This is what I suggest for a birthday or a honeymoon.

What is included, and what is not

On these trips, lunch is served on board, with drinks — cold beers and soft drinks. Mask and snorkel are provided. Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel.

Not included: tips for the crew, which are entirely up to you, and on-board extras on some formats.

Bring sunscreen — a lot of it — a hat, and a long-sleeved top if you plan to stay in the water. The sun on a catamaran deck is unforgiving, even on an overcast day.

Which season?

The sea is workable year-round, but it is not the same sea. From May to September the trade wind blows harder: pleasant on board, a little livelier offshore. From November to April the water is warmer and calmer — better for snorkelling, though the days are heavier.

The east and south-east coasts are more exposed to wind than the north. If someone in your group gets seasick, the north is the sensible choice.

I have written a fuller guide on when to visit Mauritius, if your dates are not fixed yet.

My advice, in one line

First time in Mauritius, hotel in the north, watching the budget: Ilot Gabriel. You want the postcard: Ile aux Cerfs. You want dolphins: the west coast. You want peace and quiet: the south-east.

And if you are still hesitating, tell me where you are staying and who you are travelling with. I will answer straight — including if the answer is that none of these seven suits you.