Grand Baie Catamaran Tour: Our Day on the Northern Islands
Published 30 October 2026
The northern islands were beautiful. The crossing was also rougher than I expected, and I'd rather you know that before booking! Our Grand Baie catamaran day took us past a protected island, then to Flat Island for a barbecue lunch on the beach and across to Îlot Gabriel for a lazy afternoon. It was our first proper outing in Mauritius, and after a few days of pretty average weather, it turned into the perfect day.
Quick answer: which catamaran route did we take?
We departed from Grand Baie for the northern islands, landing on Flat Island, also called Île Plate, and Îlot Gabriel, and passing a third, protected island that nobody can step onto. This wasn't an Île aux Cerfs cruise. We booked it through a brochure left in our Grand Baie Airbnb, and it cost MUR2,037 / A$61.04 per person in August 2026, with lunch and drinks included. Dan rated the day 9 out of 10.
Start with the islands, not the prettiest booking photo
Mauritius boat trips can take you to very different places. For this day, the northern route was the point: Grand Baie departure, an open-water crossing and stops at Flat Island and Gabriel. A page advertising a catamaran somewhere else on the island won't necessarily give you the day in these photos.
On the way out we passed an incredible island that no one is allowed to land on, because it's protected for wildlife. We saw it from the boat, so I count two stops, not three. When you compare trips, check the departure point, the named islands and which ones are landings rather than pass-bys.
If you're browsing options, compare Grand Baie boat trips. There are loads, so check each route carefully and, as I said in our video, check the group numbers too. We booked ours from that brochure, so none of these listings is our exact operator.
The morning departure from Grand Baie
We were staying in Grand Baie, so we simply walked to the port. We had to be there at 8:20 and left at about 8:40, which made it a day worth preparing for the night before rather than adding to a busy morning.
Pack a towel each, too. We somehow brought one towel onto the beach between us, left the other on the boat and ended up hanging our bags off a dead tree! Your booking will have its own meeting time, and if you're staying elsewhere, ask about transfers before deciding that a north-coast boat day fits easily into the holiday.
Our Grand Baie guide explains why we stayed in the north for this opening part of our month.
The crossing: the part I wouldn't leave out
The swell was big on the way there and on the way back. The crossing took about an hour and 15 minutes to an hour and a half each way, and it was choppy both times. Honestly, it didn't feel that bad on the catamaran itself.
If you're someone who gets seasick, though, keep this in mind. Dan's advice is to take seasickness medication before you go if you're prone to it, and I'd follow it.
Afterwards we went home, freshened up and headed to LUX for sunset cocktails, which was the perfect end to the day! I wouldn't plan anything more demanding than that, because an early start and two long crossings are tiring even on a day you love.
Flat Island and Îlot Gabriel
This was the part that made the trip worth setting aside a day for. Flat Island came first, and we pulled up to the most beautiful spot, with crystal-clear water! We had time to explore and swim before lunch.
After lunch, a little dinghy took us across to Îlot Gabriel, which is so close, and we spent a few hours just chilling there. There were quite a few people on the beach, but there's a lot of beach, so we spread out and went for a swim in that beautiful blue water. The colour was divine, and the mountain peaks of mainland Mauritius across the water were insane. You can snorkel there too.
I couldn't stop watching the birds, which look a bit like seagulls until you see their tails (I said they look like a stingray turned into a bird!), and I'm obsessed with the pretty geckos here. Follow the crew's instructions about where to swim, because conditions can change through the day.
Lunch and the group on our day
Lunch was cooked on the catamaran and served on the beach at Flat Island, and it was a feast: chicken, sausages, fresh fish, pasta salad, rice, a normal salad and bread. To drink there were soft drinks, water, local beer and a home-made cocktail with Mauritian rum that the crew called jungle juice. It was sweet and then really bitter, and we decided it tasted a bit like a Long Island iced tea. The food was 10 out of 10!
There were about 25 to 30 people on our boat, and some of the other boats had way more. It was a sociable day, and we met a group of Aussies, some French people and some Italians. If a quieter boat matters to you, ask about actual numbers before booking.
When we pulled back in, there were street food vendors right by the boats, so we tried a special roti filled with veg. It was very sloppy and super hard to eat, almost like curry and bread together, and so good!
The private Vitamin Sea sunrise later in our month had a completely different feel. If that's the choice you're making, read the sunrise article: different departure area, route and style of morning, with a hosted experience clearly identified.
What we paid, and what I'd compare now
Our recorded price was MUR2,037 / A$61.04 per person during our August 2026 trip, with lunch and drinks included. It sits in our Mauritius budget alongside everything else we spent that month.
Compare the complete price, actual route, transfers, lunch, drinks, equipment and cancellation terms for your booking, and ask what happens if the sea conditions change. A cheaper headline price can be a different outing once you compare those details.
If your accommodation doesn't have a brochure like ours did, browse Grand Baie options here and look for Flat Island and Gabriel in the route before choosing.
Where I'd stay and where the day fits
We used an Airbnb in Grand Baie, close enough to walk to the port. For a self-catering alternative now, I'd compare Dodo Square Residence; Royal Palm Beachcomber Luxury is a separate resort-led splurge option. Match the property to your meeting point rather than assuming every north-coast stay is walkable to your boat.
In a shorter holiday, I'd put the cruise near the start of a north-coast block and leave a little room for the weather. Ours had been average for days before this one turned perfect. Our ten-day route shows how to build in that flexibility.
Watch our Mauritius trip
Watch our Mauritius vlog on YouTube, 45m21s. This is also our newest public full-length video, verified for this article.
FAQs about the northern catamaran
Did you go to Île aux Cerfs?
Not on this trip. Our route from Grand Baie stopped at Flat Island and Îlot Gabriel in the north, and passed a protected island you can't land on.
Is the booking link your exact operator?
No. We booked through a brochure in our Grand Baie Airbnb. The link is for comparing Grand Baie options, so check each route and group size.
Was the sea rough?
Yes, it was choppy both ways, with a crossing of about 75 to 90 minutes each way on our day. If you're prone to seasickness, take medication before you go.
Was lunch included?
Yes. Lunch and drinks were part of our day: chicken, sausages, fresh fish, rice, pasta salad, salad and bread, with soft drinks, local beer and rum cocktails. Confirm what's included in the particular booking you choose, including dietary arrangements.
