Catamaran Cruise to Ile Aux Bénitiers: Dolphin watch, Crystal Rock & Transfer
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
3.6/5
Based on 58 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Catamaran Cruise to Ile Aux Bénitiers: Dolphin watch, Crystal Rock & Transfer worth booking?
Catamaran Cruise to Ile Aux Bénitiers: Dolphin watch, Crystal Rock & Transfer is a 7-hour experience in Trou d'Eau Douce, Mauritius, from $124 per person. It scores 51 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 3.6/5 rating across 58 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 51 / 100
- Rating
- 3.6/5 (58)
- Duration
- 7 hours
- From
- $124 per person
Enjoy a full-day catamaran cruise to see the rare spinning Dolphins on the west coast of Mauritius including snorkeling at the Crystal rock and a visit to Benitiers Island. You will set sail to the magical cruise to Ile
What you get
About this experience
Enjoy a full-day catamaran cruise to see the rare spinning Dolphins on the west coast of Mauritius including snorkeling at the Crystal rock and a visit to Benitiers Island. You will set sail to the magical cruise to Ile aux Benitiers. During this catamaran cruise, you will discover the dolphins of Tamarin bay. Anchoring at Ile aux Benitiers, take advantage of the crystal-clear water and sandy beaches while snorkeling or just lazing around. You will have a delicious BBQ lunch on the catamaran. The menu includes fresh fish, chicken, rice, pasta and potato salad, a variety of fresh salads and a dessert with a selection of unlimited local alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks in a 44ft beautiful catamaran. This catamaran west coast cruise offers a great combination of nature, beautiful lagoons, encountering dolphins in their natural habitat and enjoying the cruising experience. It is a must visit place to see when visiting Mauritius – it is a place of unique wildness and tranquility.
What's included
Included
- Snorkeling at The Crystal Rock
- 3-course lunch (Veg & non-veg lunch)
- Dolphin watch in the open ocean
- Visit to Ile aux Benitier islet
- Selection of unlimited drinks onboard (Wine, Beer, Soft & local Rhum)
- Pick-up and drop-off at any hotel or accommodation in Mauritius
- Private transportation in a fully air conditioned vehicle
What you'll see and do
Riviere Noire
Your adventurous Catamaran trip to Ile Aux Benitier begins with a complimentary hotel pick-up at your accommodation anywhere in Mauritius. You will meet and be greeted by our certified guide and after boarding to your comfortable vehicle, then set off to Tamarin, a fishing village nestled on the West Coast of Mauritius. The cruise is done on a great 40 feet catamaran along the South West coast of Mauritius which is considered one of the most beautiful area, and a must place to see when visiting Mauritius – it is a place of unique wildness and tranquility. As part of this cruise tour, you will discover the dolphins of Tamarin bay, visit and snorkel at the famous Crystal rock which stands out in the middle of the lagoon, and stay on Benitiers Island for relaxation on its beautiful sandy beaches. The cruise itself starts at 09:00 am. You will have a short pre-departure briefing by the boat’s captain.
30 minutes here
Tamarin Bay
Then the catamaran will depart heading to Tamarin Bay area where you can encounter dolphins in their natural habitat. This is a unique chance to explore the spectacular lives of these magnificent marine mammals in their aquatic habitat. A little information about Dolphins in Mauritius Dolphins are perhaps the most fantastic of all the creatures that live in the ocean. The dolphins, cheerful and playful, are a symbol of intelligence and grace. In Mauritius, the dolphins live in pods of about 20 individuals or more and can be observed swimming from Tamarin Bay (on the west coast of Mauritius), on their way to the deep sea off the coast of the Le Morne peninsula. The most common dolphins in Mauritius are the Bottlenose Dolphin and the Spinner Dolphin. The Bottlenose Dolphin and the Spinner Dolphin have chosen the West Coast of Mauritius their place for rest and sleep before heading for the deep sea for their fishing.
60 minutes here · Admission included
Crystal Rock
From Tamarin bay the cruise will continue along the coral reefs to the lagoon of La Preneuse. During the cruise the crew members will make your time enjoyable, they will tell you about local folklore and play local Mauritian music which will lift the spirits of everyone on board. The catamaran will stop for breaks in some key locations, where you can enjoy a swim and some snorkeling in the sea, or enjoy the sun and drinks onboard the catamaran. While cruising you will visit the famous Crystal Rock and will have a spectacular view of the Rempart Mountain, the Black River mountain range, and of the magnificent Le Morne Mountain. This subliminal rock formation sits just a couple of hundred meters away from the shore and offers a splendid view to anyone who lays their eyes on it. Snorkeling is a great way to have a glimpse into the mesmerizing marine life and the underwater world of Mauritius.
60 minutes here · Admission included
Ile aux Benitiers
After snorkeling, we will cruise to Benitier Islet. While cruising, you will have a delicious BBQ lunch onboard. The menu includes fresh fish, chicken, chicken sausages, rice, pasta salad, a variety of fresh salads and a dessert. At the benitier islet, you will enjoy some relaxation time - have the leisure to tan on the beach, walk along the endless beaches of Benitiers Island or explore the amazing lagoons and coral reefs that are in close proximity to the beach. This will be a very magical moment, snorkeling in the blue turquoise lagoon, seeing the local singing and dancing sega music. A true Mauritian experience! Following the visit to Benitiers Island, the catamaran will cruise back to Tamarin. An added bonus for this excursion is that you can enjoy a full open bar service for free, including both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks This catamaran trip is all about having a relaxed and fun moment aboard a catamaran while enjoying the company of your loved ones or friends.
300 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 60 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- no, hi, de, fi, ru, pt, hr, fr, hu, zh-TW, uk, sk, ur, sv, en, it, es, cs, ar, ja, zh-CN, pl, ro, da, tr, nl
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Freshverde Holidays
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Please advise of any food allergies or illness.
- Children ages 3 years and under are free. Please notify of CHILD/ INFANT SEAT at the time of booking
- Pick-up time may vary depending upon your location
- Please bring your own towels and another spare clothes
- In case of of Cyclone or torrential rainfall alert, you will receive a full refund if cancellation is made by the operator
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 58 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Food and drink
5 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Photo opportunities
3 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Pace and timing
2 mentionsSeveral reviewers found the schedule tight or the day long.
Traveler reviews
58 verified traveler reviews for Catamaran Cruise to Ile Aux Bénitiers: Dolphin watch, Crystal Rock & Transfer. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Boat Cruise
The music was too loud and it wasn't accommodating.
Response from the operator: Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We’re sorry to hear that the music felt too loud and that the experience was not as accommodating as expected. Your comments are truly appreciated and will be shared with the team as we continuously work on improving the comfort and enjoyment of our guests. We hope to have the chance to welcome you again for a better experience in Mauritius 🌴
via Tripadvisor
Pathetic and a rip-off tour compared to others
This was one of the worst tours that I have done in Mauritius. The pictures of what you get on the tour are misleading. The staff on the boat were extremely unprofessional. There was not enough snorkel gear for even 10 people on the boat - no flippers as well. We went on a boat called Coral Queen and was not in a good condition as compared to other boats. The transfer was very unprofessional as well. Just left us at the jetty and did not tell us what to do or who we where going with. Literally wasted an hour waiting for the boat to depart and there was no safety briefing like they claim to do. I defintely would not recommend using this tour operator if you want to have good time on the tour. When I compare this to other tours that I used on the island previously, this will rate a 1 out of 10. The cutlery, crockery and the glasses were not clean and neat. The tender boat was terrible and the engine cut-off midway during transfer. There was defintely more than 30 people on the tour. So to sum up in a nutshell this is a rip-off tour and my recommendation is not to book it if you want to have a good time.
Response from the operator: We’re really sorry to read about your experience—this is not the standard we aim to deliver. Your feedback has been taken very seriously, especially regarding the condition of the boat, the equipment, safety briefing, and the way the transfer was handled. This is certainly not the kind of experience we want our guests to have, and we understand how frustrating this must have been. We are currently looking into this with the team and the boat operator to address each of these points properly. Thank you for bringing this to our attention—it truly helps us improve and ensure better experiences going forward.
via Tripadvisor
Cancelled at last minute
At 2134 the night before the planned trip it was cancelled apparently due to bad weather. Many other tours continued and a tour operator in the area that others proceeded with no issue. We believe the tour operator simply cancelled on us for some other reason which was very disappointing. We then had to find another tour operator to take us on this trip the following day which threw out all our planned activities.
Response from the operator: We’re very sorry to hear about this experience and understand how disappointing and disruptive it must have been. While weather can sometimes affect tours, it is clear that the late cancellation caused you significant inconvenience and affected your plans. We sincerely apologize for the frustration this caused and for the negative impact on your holiday schedule. Your feedback is important, and we will review this internally to ensure better communication and more reliable planning for future guests. We truly regret that your experience did not meet expectations.
via Viator
Average experience
If you want a ride on an older catamaran with smelly bathrooms and smokers this is for you. The service is fine and the lunch was good but they ran out of beer and ice by 1:00. If you’re staying on the north side of the island it took us two hours to get to the dock.
Response from the operator: Thank you for your feedback. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the service and lunch, though we’re sorry for the inconveniences with the catamaran conditions, limited beer and ice, and the long transfer from the north side. Your comments are very helpful, and we’ll review them to improve the overall experience for future guests. We hope to welcome you back to Mauritius for a smoother and more comfortable trip 🌴
via Viator
Manav and Freshverde were perfect!!
Manav, our driver was also our guide during our transfers to and from our hotel and always on time. We enjoy a lot with the tríp to Bentiers island organized by Freshverde. We could see some dolphin but we think people must be more respectable with dolphin. We enjoy visiting Benitiers island, we tasted coconut cocktail and the food prepared by Fresverde was really good. Manav was a good driver and a good person and thats why we choosed him as our private guide for other trips. We recomend Manav and the company Freshverde also.
Response from the operator: Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled that Manav made your trips enjoyable and reliable, and that you loved Benitiers Island, the coconut cocktail, and the food. We really appreciate your recommendation and are glad you chose him for your private tours too!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 7 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 20
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 51
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Catamaran Cruise to Ile Aux Bénitiers: Dolphin watch, Crystal Rock & Transfer: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Trou d'Eau Douce.
How much does Catamaran Cruise to Ile Aux Bénitiers: Dolphin watch, Crystal Rock & Transfer cost?
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Prices start at $124 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Trou d'Eau Douce usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Catamaran Cruise to Ile Aux Bénitiers: Dolphin watch, Crystal Rock & Transfer take?
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Plan for about 7 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Trou d'Eau Douce is not rushed.
Is Catamaran Cruise to Ile Aux Bénitiers: Dolphin watch, Crystal Rock & Transfer worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 51 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (3.6/5 across 58 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Trou d'Eau Douce, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Catamaran Cruise to Ile Aux Bénitiers: Dolphin watch, Crystal Rock & Transfer?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Catamaran Cruise to Ile Aux Bénitiers: Dolphin watch, Crystal Rock & Transfer suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 7-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Catamaran Cruise to Ile Aux Bénitiers: Dolphin watch, Crystal Rock & Transfer?
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Around 20 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Trou d'Eau Douce can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Trou d'Eau Douce and add a light layer if any part of the 7-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Catamaran Cruise to Ile Aux Bénitiers: Dolphin watch, Crystal Rock & Transfer start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Trou d'Eau Douce within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Trou d'Eau Douce?
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On Outty we rank every Trou d'Eau Douce experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Mauritius full day : Private north tour, Ile Aux Cerfs full day shared catamaran with BBQ lunch & drinks, Southern Tales Tour: Crocodile Park, 23-Colored Earth & Lunch. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Trou d'Eau Douce?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Trou d'Eau Douce?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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