Cannes: Lérins Islands Private Boat Tour

The best part of this Cannes outing is the quick change of scene. One minute you are looking back at the Croisette from a speedboat, and soon you are floating in clear water beside the Lérins Islands. It feels less like a sightseeing circuit and more like borrowing a small private boat for the afternoon.

I like the private format, since you can spend more time swimming, paddling, or sitting in a quiet cove instead of following a large group. I also like the easygoing food and drink setup: wine, water, soda, and a cheese-and-snack board turn a swim stop into a proper Riviera break. The main catch is the extra €200 skipper fee, which is paid on the boat and changes the real cost.

Key points to know before booking

• Four hours on a Beneteau Flyer 7.7 SunDeck: A compact speedboat gives you a fast ride from Cannes and a sunny deck for relaxing.
• Two different island experiences: Sainte-Marguerite is suited to swimming and snorkeling, while Saint-Honorat offers time to walk around.
• Private group up to five people: The price is for the boat, not each passenger, so the value improves when your group is close to the limit.
• Water activities are included: You get snorkeling equipment and a stand-up paddleboard, with fuel included as well.
• Micka and Michael are named skippers: The guides speak French and English, and their friendly, helpful approach is a major part of the experience.
• Budget for the real total: The advertised price is $672 per group, plus a €200 skipper fee. Port Canto pickup may add another €50.

A half-day on the water instead of another beach afternoon

Cannes is famous for its hotels, film festival glamour, and long sweep of La Croisette. Yet the most refreshing way to see the area may be from offshore, where the city becomes a backdrop and the Lérins Islands take over the view.

This is a four-hour private cruise aboard a Beneteau Flyer 7.7 SunDeck. The boat is small enough to feel personal but large enough for a deck, snorkeling gear, and a stand-up paddleboard. You are not signing up for a packed ferry ride with a fixed script. You get a skipper, a route around the islands, and room to set the pace within the time available.

The mood is deliberately relaxed. You can sit in the sun, swim, snorkel, paddle to a cove, or enjoy a glass of rosé and a board of cheese and crackers. That mix makes the trip work well for a family, a couple, or a small group of friends who want several ways to enjoy the sea.

Leaving Cannes from the marina

The meeting point is at Port de Cannes Marina Copropriété, near the harbor master’s office. The directions are worth reading carefully: just before arriving at the harbor master’s office, look for a staircase on your left. The boat returns to this same meeting point at the end.

The standard departure is from the Cannes marina. A departure from Port Canto on Boulevard de la Croisette is possible for an additional €50, so check the pickup point before you commit. That small detail matters if you are staying near the Croisette and have built your day around walking rather than reaching the marina.

Once aboard, the first ride takes you along Cannes and out toward the islands. The listed Cannes cruise lasts about 30 minutes. This is not dead time. You get a fresh view of the bay, the waterfront, and the curve of La Croisette, with the boat ride itself providing much of the excitement.

A speedboat also makes the island trip efficient. You spend less of your four-hour booking simply getting there and more time in the water or ashore.

Sainte-Marguerite Island: the main swimming stop

Sainte-Marguerite is scheduled for about an hour of cruising, snorkeling, and water time. This is likely to be the most active part of the outing, especially if you want to use the mask and snorkel or try the paddleboard.

The water around the islands is the star. You can swim in clear turquoise water, look for marine life below the surface, and paddle toward small coves. The boat lets you reach places that are more difficult to visit as a casual beachgoer, though the skipper decides where conditions and timing make the best stop.

The snorkeling equipment is included, which saves you from bringing your own mask and fins. Still, pack your swimsuit and arrive ready to get wet. Sunglasses, a sun hat, and sunscreen are specifically recommended, and you should apply sunscreen before boarding if possible. There is little point in spending your afternoon in beautiful water while worrying about a sunburn.

The stand-up paddleboard adds variety. You can lie back on the boat, swim for a while, then paddle along the edge of a cove. If some people in your group want quiet time and others want activity, the private boat handles that mix better than a public excursion.

One practical limit is time. An hour at Sainte-Marguerite can pass quickly once you have changed, snorkeled, and tried the paddleboard. If swimming is your top priority, tell the skipper early. The private format gives you flexibility, but it does not create extra hours.

Saint-Honorat Island: a quieter change of pace

The next scheduled stop is Saint-Honorat, with about an hour to visit the island. This gives the trip a useful second act. You are not spending all four hours bobbing beside one swimming area.

Saint-Honorat offers a chance to step ashore and see a different side of the Lérins Islands. The boat trip is about water, but this stop adds land, walking, and a little breathing room after the active swimming period. Wear footwear that you can manage comfortably on shore, since the supplied information does not specify the exact walking surface.

The island is also part of the experience’s cultural appeal. You can enjoy the natural setting without treating the day as a formal guided history tour. The emphasis remains on a pleasant visit, not on a long lecture or a schedule packed with monuments.

The listed highlights also include the underwater museums. Ask the skipper how these fit the day’s conditions and route, since the precise viewing plan is not spelled out. If this is a must-see for you, raise it when you meet the skipper rather than assuming it will take up a large part of the excursion.

Wine, snacks, and the Riviera pause

A private boat trip can become tiring if it is all sun and salt water. The included drinks and snacks help break up the afternoon. You get wine, water, soda, and snacks, with the food described as an aperitif board. Past groups have enjoyed cheese, crackers, and rosé, and some outings included several bottles of wine.

That does not turn the trip into a full meal. Think of it as a French-style pre-dinner spread, useful between swims and particularly welcome when you want to sit in the shade or on the deck. If you have dietary needs or want a substantial lunch, arrange your own plan rather than relying on the included board.

The drink service also suits the private setting. You can chat with the skipper, take in the view, and avoid the rushed feeling that comes with a large group stopping for a fixed snack break. Skippers named Micka and Michael receive especially warm praise for being communicative, hospitable, and willing to give the group room to choose how to spend the day.

Alcohol and swimming require common sense. If you plan to snorkel or paddle, enjoy the wine after your main water activities and follow the skipper’s instructions.

What the skipper adds to the day

The skipper is not just the person steering the boat. On a small private outing, that person shapes the whole experience. A good skipper chooses sensible swimming spots, explains how to use the equipment, watches the conditions, and gives you enough freedom without leaving you wondering what happens next.

Micka is described as an excellent captain who connected well with families and older children. Michael is praised for clear communication before the trip, punctual pickup, local knowledge, and a calm manner on the water. Those details matter because a private boat day can feel awkward if directions are poor or the schedule is unclear.

The listed languages are French and English. If you have a question about snorkeling, the paddleboard, the islands, or the route back to Cannes, you should be able to ask in one of those languages.

You should also remember that this is an active boat outing, not a formal yacht charter with a crew serving every need. You will be near sun, wind, salt water, and a moving boat. That is part of its appeal, but it means you should bring the basics and remain comfortable with getting in and out of the water.

The price: good value for a full small group

The price is $672 per group of up to five people. That works out to about $134 per person before the skipper fee if five people share the boat. Add the €200 skipper fee, and the final amount becomes meaningfully higher. A Port Canto departure may add €50 more.

For two people, the cost per person is much less attractive. For four or five people, the private setup becomes easier to justify, especially when you compare it with paying separate fares for a public boat trip and losing the ability to shape your own swimming time.

Fuel, snorkeling equipment, the paddleboard, drinks, and snacks are included. You are paying for more than transport to the islands: the boat, the captain, equipment, and a private half-day on the bay are all part of the package.

Before booking, calculate the total in the currency you will use. The $672 price and €200 skipper charge are listed in different currencies, and the fee is paid on the boat. That is the one cost detail most likely to surprise you if you focus only on the headline price.

Who will enjoy this most

This outing suits a small group that wants a flexible day on the sea. It is a good match for couples, families with older children, and friends who are happy to share one boat and alternate between swimming and relaxing.

Children under three are not permitted. The experience is also not suitable for people with mobility impairments, which is important given the marina access, boat boarding, island visit, and water activities.

Older children and teenagers have plenty to do. Swimming and paddleboarding appeal to active youngsters, while adults can sit with a drink and enjoy the bay. Families should still be comfortable supervising children around open water and on a small boat.

You will get the most from this trip if you enjoy choosing your own rhythm. If you want a tightly narrated tour with major monuments explained in detail, this is not the right format. If you want clear water, a private boat, and a relaxed afternoon with several options, it fits much better.

Timing, flexibility, and small practical details

The activity lasts four hours, but starting times depend on availability. Check the departure options before planning a restaurant reservation or another timed attraction in Cannes.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Riviera schedule is still shifting.

Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, and sunscreen. Add a swimsuit, and consider a dry bag for phones or other small items. The supplied information does not promise towels or a full meal, so pack accordingly.

The boat returns to the original meeting point. That makes the end of the day simple, but you still need to allow time to find the staircase near the harbor master’s office at the start. Take a screenshot of the meeting instructions before heading to the marina.

Should you book the Lérins Islands boat tour?

I would book this if you have three to five people, want a private day on the water, and value swimming and easy conversation over a formal sightseeing program. The combination of Sainte-Marguerite, Saint-Honorat, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and a simple aperitif gives the four hours a good balance.

I would hesitate if you are traveling alone or as a pair and the total price feels steep after adding the €200 skipper fee. I would also look elsewhere if you need step-free access, dislike boat transfers, or want a full historical tour of the islands.

For the right group, this is one of the more personal ways to see Cannes. Just confirm the pickup point, calculate the skipper fee, and tell Micka or Michael what matters most to you: swimming, snorkeling, paddling, visiting Saint-Honorat, or simply sitting back with a glass of wine and the bay in view.

FAQ

How long is the private boat tour?

The experience lasts four hours. Starting times depend on availability when you book.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Port de Cannes Marina Copropriété, at the Capitainerie. Just before you reach the harbor master’s office, look for a staircase on your left.

Where does the tour finish?

The boat returns to the same meeting point at Port de Cannes Marina Copropriété.

Can I depart from Port Canto?

A departure from Port Canto on Boulevard de la Croisette may be possible for an additional €50. Confirm this option when booking.

What islands does the boat visit?

The route includes the Lérins Islands, Sainte-Marguerite Island, and Saint-Honorat Island. The schedule includes cruising and snorkeling near the islands, plus a visit to Saint-Honorat.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, along with use of a stand-up paddleboard.

Are food and drinks included?

Yes. The tour includes wine, water, soda, and snacks. The aperitif may include a cheese and cracker board.

Is the skipper fee included in the advertised price?

No. A €200 skipper fee must be paid on the boat. Fuel is included.

Is the tour suitable for young children or people with mobility impairments?

Children under three are not permitted. The experience is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

What languages does the skipper speak?

The live guide service is available in French and English.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.