Catamaran to Tamarin Bay
Start at the sandbar, board a catamaran, cruise toward Tamarin Bay, spot dolphins at dawn, and swim in deep open waters.
Sail into one of Mauritius’ most unforgettable adventures, a full-day catamaran cruise along the island’s calm and sun-kissed west coast. Starting from the shallow turquoise sandbar of La Preneuse or Black River, you’ll glide across glassy waters toward the legendary Tamarin Bay, home to playful spinner and bottlenose dolphins.
The day begins quietly at dawn. The horizon blushes in soft pinks as the first light spills across the lagoon. At La Preneuse Beach, the sea is perfectly still, a mirror reflecting clouds and palms. A catamaran waits just beyond the sandbar, its white sails glowing gold in the early sun.
You wade through the shallows, the water cool against your ankles, before stepping aboard. The gentle hum of the engine fades as the sails catch wind, and soon the coastline begins to drift behind you, the tiny fishing boats, the swaying filao trees, the slow rhythm of coastal life.
As you head toward Tamarin Bay, the scent of salt and sunshine fills the air. The ocean turns from turquoise to deep sapphire, and just when you think the view couldn’t get more beautiful, the captain slows the boat. Everyone leans over the rail, silhouettes gliding just beneath the surface. Dolphins. Dozens of them. Sleek, curious, effortlessly graceful, they weave between the hulls, dancing in the boat’s wake. For a few minutes, time feels suspended, only the laughter of the crew and the sound of fins slicing water.
Once the dolphins drift away, the catamaran anchors near the mouth of the bay. The mountains of the Black River Gorges rise in the distance, green and untamed, while the water around you glows like liquid glass. You slip overboard for a swim, the ocean is warm, silky, endless. Schools of silver fish dart past. The world above fades away.
Back on deck, the smell of grilled seafood and lime fills the air. Lunch is simple but perfect: fresh catch of the day, rum cocktails, and fruit glistening in the sunlight. Music starts softly, sega beats rolling with the tide. Laughter, clinking glasses, wind in your hair.
As the catamaran turns for home, the afternoon sun lays a trail of fire on the water. You lean against the railing, skin salty, mind quiet, heart full. The dolphins, the laughter, the sea, everything feels lighter, freer, as if Mauritius itself whispered a secret meant just for you.
When the catamaran glides back to the sandbar, the sky has turned molten orange. You step into the shallows again, feet sinking into the soft sand. Behind you, the sails fold down. Ahead, the island hums with life.
And in that fleeting moment, as you walk back to shore, you realize this isn’t just a cruise, it’s the essence of Mauritius.
