3 North Islands Catamaran Cruise with Lunch & Drinks on island.

The best part of this trip is the change of view. From Grand Baie, you spend roughly an hour and a half crossing open water before reaching the small islands north of Mauritius. Ilot Gabriel and Ile Plate offer white sand, shallow turquoise water, and a much quieter setting than the mainland.

I like the chance to land on a near-virgin island and the freedom to swim or snorkel at your own ability. I also like that lunch and drinks are included, so you can spend the day outside without adding restaurant costs. The main consideration is the atmosphere: this can be a loud, party-style cruise, and the planned stop at Coin de Mire depends on safe sea conditions.

Key points at a glance

• Three northern islands: Visit Ilot Gabriel and Ile Plate, then pass close to Coin de Mire, also called Gunner’s Quoin.
• Long ocean crossing: The trip from Grand Baie to the first island takes about 90 minutes, so the boat ride is a major part of the day.
• Lunch and drinks included: A BBQ, salad, and drinks are part of the price, with lunch advertised on the island.
• Snorkeling is flexible: Swim and snorkel near the islands according to your comfort and ability.
• Social party atmosphere: Music, dancing, beer, and rum may be central to the experience, not a minor extra.
• Weather matters: The captain decides if sea conditions are suitable, especially near Coin de Mire.

The northern islands make the boat ride worthwhile

This is not simply a transfer to a beach. The open-water crossing is part of the experience, giving you views that are impossible to get from the road. From the catamaran, you see the changing colors of the sea and the islands as low, pale shapes on the horizon before their beaches come into view.

The route takes you north from Grand Baie toward two small islands about 10 kilometers from the coast. Ile Plate, or Flat Island, and Ilot Gabriel sit beside a shallow lagoon edged with white sand. Their appeal is visual and immediate: bright water, open sky, and a feeling of distance from Mauritius proper.

I would plan this as a full sea day rather than a quick sightseeing outing. The advertised duration is about seven hours, and roughly an hour and a half is spent reaching the first island. If you want a short boat trip followed by hours at the beach, this may feel slow. If you enjoy being on the water, the crossing gives the day its shape.

The catamaran is described as large, powerful, stable, and fully licensed. The listed maximum is 48 people, although one account describes more than 60 people aboard. That difference matters if you are expecting a quiet, spacious sail. You should confirm the current group size before booking if personal space is important to you.

Ilot Gabriel: white sand, swimming, and Paille En Queue birds

The first island stop is Ilot Gabriel Beach. You land here and have time for swimming, snorkeling, and exploring a beach described as close to untouched. The shallow water around the island is the main attraction, so bring a willingness to get wet rather than expecting a formal guided tour.

One special detail is the Paille En Queue, the white-tailed tropicbird associated with Mauritius. You may see these endemic birds close to the island, including around their nests. This gives the stop more character than a standard sandbar visit, though you should watch from a respectful distance and avoid disturbing nesting areas.

The schedule lists about two hours at Ilot Gabriel. That is enough time to swim, snorkel, dry off, and sit on the sand without rushing from one activity to the next. I like this amount of unstructured time. You can choose the pace that suits you, rather than being required to join every activity.

The tradeoff is that the beach experience depends on conditions and crowding. A small island can feel peaceful when people spread out, but less so when a full boat comes ashore. The boat’s music and social mood may also continue around the beach, so this is not a silent nature outing.

Ile Plate and the lagoon between the islands

The next stop is Ile Plate, known in English as Flat Island. The two-hour-thirty-minute allocation makes this the longest island portion of the day. You get time to appreciate the white sand and lagoon, swim again, and take a break from the boat.

Ile Plate and Ilot Gabriel are close together, but they do not offer exactly the same experience. Ilot Gabriel is presented as the more intimate beach stop, with a chance to see Paille En Queue birds. Ile Plate gives you a broader stretch of island time and a chance to relax after the first swim.

The advertised plan includes lunch on the island, with BBQ food, salad, and drinks included. That is a useful part of the price because food near popular coastal areas can quickly add to the cost of a day out. Still, the exact serving location may vary. One account describes the crew preparing a BBQ while the boat was near Coin de Mire, and another expressed disappointment at not eating on the island. If the island lunch is central to your decision, confirm the current arrangement before you pay.

Drinks are part of the package, and the atmosphere can become quite lively early in the morning. Beer, rum, dancing, and loud music have all been part of the experience described by past participants. Some people will see this as the point of the trip. Others will find it too much, especially if they came for a quiet swim and bird watching.

Coin de Mire: the snorkeling stop depends on the sea

Coin de Mire is also called Gunner’s Quoin or Gunner’s Point. It is a small volcanic island about eight kilometers north of Mauritius, covering roughly 65 hectares. The catamaran passes nearby rather than landing there.

The area is known for clear water and snorkeling at an average depth of about six meters, with depths ranging from three to nine meters. When conditions are suitable, the natural aquarium near Coin de Mire is described as one of the best snorkeling areas in the north of Mauritius.

You should read the wording carefully: reaching the snorkeling spot is subject to favorable weather and sea conditions. The captain makes the final safety decision. That means the stop is a welcome bonus, not something you should treat as guaranteed. If the water is rough, the boat may pass the island without stopping for a swim.

This is also where the trip’s safety judgment matters most. A captain may choose to skip the site even when the day looks pleasant from shore. I would rather lose one snorkeling stop than have the boat force a difficult swim in open water.

The itinerary gives about two hours at this part of the route, including the approach and return. You may be able to snorkel near the island, but you will not set foot on Coin de Mire. Pack your expectations accordingly: this is a view-and-water stop, not a third beach landing.

What lunch, drinks, and music mean in practice

The included food is listed as a BBQ, salad, and drinks. That makes the $58.08 price easier to assess, since the fare covers a full day on the water, island access, food, and beverages rather than transport alone.

The meal is informal. You should not book this expecting a restaurant setting or a carefully paced culinary experience. It is more useful to think of lunch as fuel for a day of swimming and sitting in the sun. If you have dietary restrictions, the available information does not specify alternatives, so ask the provider before departure.

Drinks are not limited to water or soft drinks in the description. Beer and rum are part of the reported party atmosphere. The music may be very loud and may continue for much of the trip. That can make the cruise fun for a group of friends, but it can also make conversation, quiet reading, or a peaceful nap difficult.

I would choose this trip for a social day, not for solitude. The phrase booze cruise is a fair warning for the tone, even though the itinerary also offers nature, snorkeling, and bird watching. You can enjoy both sides, but the party element may dominate.

Getting there and handling the timing

The meeting point is Grand Baie Public Beach, with an 8:30 a.m. start. The activity ends back at the same meeting point. Private transportation is not included, so you need to arrange your own way to Grand Baie Public Beach.

The location is near public transportation, but no hotel pickup is listed. Give yourself enough time to find the correct beach meeting point and be ready before departure. A late arrival could be especially awkward because the boat spends much of the morning away from shore.

A mobile ticket is accepted, and confirmation is provided when you book. The activity is listed as suitable for most people, but swimming and snorkeling are optional activities rather than requirements. You can sit on the boat or island if you do not want to enter the water.

The operator can cancel for poor weather or if the minimum number is not reached. You are offered another date or a full refund in those cases. There have been complaints about cancellation notices reaching people late, including one person who arrived at the meeting point and paid for a taxi. Because of that, check your email, phone, and messaging app before leaving for Grand Baie, especially when the forecast is uncertain.

Is $58.08 good value?

At $58.08 per person, this is a competitive price for a seven-hour outing that includes a catamaran ride, two island landings, lunch, salad, and drinks. The value is strongest if you plan to swim, eat the included meal, and enjoy the boat’s social mood.

The price is less compelling if you mainly want a quiet beach day. You are paying for the long boat route and the party atmosphere as much as for the islands. A person who dislikes loud music or alcohol-focused outings may find that much of the package does not suit them.

I also would not book it solely for Coin de Mire snorkeling. The location is appealing, but the captain may skip it when conditions are unsafe. Think of the day as a northern-island cruise with possible snorkeling, not as a guaranteed snorkeling excursion.

The advertised maximum of 48 people suggests a moderate group, but the reported onboard count has varied. Ask how many people are expected on your date if crowding would affect your decision. The boat is described as stable and fully licensed, which is reassuring, but a large group can still mean queues, noise, and limited quiet space.

Who should book this catamaran day?

I would recommend it to you if you want several things in one outing:

• A full day on the sea rather than a short sightseeing trip
• White-sand beaches and shallow lagoon water
• Flexible swimming and snorkeling
• A BBQ lunch and drinks included in the fare
• Music, dancing, and a friendly party mood
• The chance to see Paille En Queue birds near Ilot Gabriel

Families and mixed-age groups may find the flexible schedule useful, since not everyone has to snorkel. Most people can participate, but anyone with mobility or swimming concerns should ask the operator for current boarding and shore-transfer details.

I would be cautious about booking if you need a quiet boat, a guaranteed snorkeling session, a precise island lunch, or a small group. The sea can change the plan, and the sound level may be high. Also remember that Coin de Mire is viewed from the boat and nearby water, not visited on foot.

Should you book it?

Book this trip if you want Mauritius scenery with a generous dose of music, drinks, and open-water time. The strongest parts are the two island landings, the white sand, the included BBQ, and the chance to snorkel near Coin de Mire when conditions allow.

Skip it if your ideal day is calm and quiet, or if you are choosing it mainly for a guaranteed third-island stop. Before booking, confirm the expected group size, the current lunch location, and the cancellation notification process. Those three details will tell you whether this is the relaxed island outing you want or a lively party cruise with beach stops.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran cruise start?

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

What time does the activity begin?

The scheduled start time is 8:30 a.m.

How long does the cruise last?

The experience lasts about seven hours and ends back at the Grand Baie meeting point.

Which islands are included?

The route includes Ilot Gabriel, Ile Plate, and a pass near Coin de Mire, also called Gunner’s Quoin. You land on Ilot Gabriel and Ile Plate, but you do not land on Coin de Mire.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A BBQ, salad, and drinks are included in the activity price. The description advertises lunch on the island, but the serving location can vary, so confirm it before booking if this detail matters to you.

Is snorkeling included?

Swimming and snorkeling are included activities near the islands. Snorkeling near Coin de Mire depends on favorable weather and sea conditions, and the captain makes the final decision.

How long does it take to reach the first island?

The trip from Grand Baie to the first island takes about one and a half hours.

Is private transportation included?

No. Private transportation is not included. You need to make your own way to Grand Baie Public Beach.

How many people can join the activity?

The listed maximum is 48 people. One account describes more than 60 people aboard, so you should confirm the expected group size for your date.

What happens if bad weather cancels the cruise?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. The activity also requires a minimum number of participants, and a cancellation for that reason carries the same options.