5 Islands Tour Mauritius

"We left Trou d'Eau Douce just after seven and the water was completely still, so the run out felt smooth even sitting at the bow. The 5 islands tour mauritius took us past Îlot Mangénie and Île de l'Est well before the catamarans arrived. Bring reef shoes because the coral rubble near the sandbank is sharp underfoot."

"Our skipper reversed the usual order and dropped us at Île aux Cerfs early, which meant an empty stretch of white sand and proper filao shade. Snorkelling near the reef edge turned up parrotfish and one small ray sitting on the bottom. The Grande Rivière Sud-Est waterfall stop was shorter than I expected but the basalt gorge is worth seeing."

"The 5 islands tour mauritius delivers on water quality — that pale turquoise really does look like the photographs in May light. My only note is that shade on the boat ran out around noon, so a hat and reef-safe sunscreen matter more than you think. Our guide knew the lagoon channels well and pointed out the old lighthouse island across the bay."

"Water was warm and clear enough to see the bottom at around four metres without straining. We snorkelled off Ilot Chat and a green turtle drifted through the group, which the crew clearly had not arranged. Small things made a difference here — a solid boarding ladder and a dry box that actually stayed dry."

"We sorted our 5 islands tour mauritius tickets the evening before and the jetty pickup ran on time. Wind picked up mid-morning so the crossing to Île de l'Est got bumpy, worth knowing if you are prone to seasickness. The coral garden on the return leg was what our teenagers talked about afterwards."

"Standing on the sandbank with water at knee height and reef stretching in every direction is the part that stayed with me. The tour des 5 îles crew handled a group of fourteen without it ever feeling packed. Masks and fins were provided, though I would bring your own if you are particular about fit."

"The reef and the water were very good, and the crew were friendly and clearly safety-minded. Two of the island stops felt rushed, which took some shine off an otherwise solid morning on the lagoon. The sea was choppy that day so it may have been weather rather than the operator."

"We had done catamaran trips elsewhere, but the 5 islands tour mauritius covers far more actual ground — five separate anchorages instead of one long drifting cruise. Île aux Phares in the Mahébourg lagoon was the surprise, with the ruined coral-block lighthouse standing out of the scrub. Late light coming back into Trou d'Eau Douce gave me the photograph I kept."

"Our two children, seven and ten, coped fine at the snorkel stops with the crew watching from the boat. Mauritius east coast landmarks look completely different from the water — you finally see how the outer reef shelters the whole lagoon. Wear something you can swim in from the start rather than trying to change on board."

"February trade winds made the outer crossing lively and spray soaked half the boat, so pack a dry bag for phones. Once we were back inside the reef at Îlot Mangénie the surface flattened to a green that looked almost artificial. The skipper switched easily between English and French and was patient with the slower swimmers."