Private escape to discover Cannes & Lerins islands from the sea

The best part of this private Cannes boat trip is the change of pace. You leave the Croisette and its grand hotels behind, then spend time on the clear water around the Lérins Islands, with a paddleboard, snorkeling gear, and wine waiting on board. Fort Royal and the former prison of the Man in the Iron Mask add a bit of history to what is mainly a relaxed sea day.

I like the private format for groups of up to 11, since you are not sharing the boat with strangers or following a rigid crowd schedule. I also like the mix of activities: swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, a possible island visit, and a slow cruise back along Cannes. The main thing to keep in mind is the extra captain and service charge of €300 per booking, which changes the true cost of the outing.

Key points to know

• Fort Royal from the sea: See Sainte-Marguerite Island and its old prison from a viewpoint that most land-based sightseeing misses.
• One hour for water play: The Lérins Islands stop includes paddleboarding, swimming, an onboard aperitif, and time to relax.
• Snorkeling near Cannes’ underwater museum: The boat anchors between the islands for clear-water swimming and snorkeling.
• Saint-Honorat is optional: Use the 30-minute stop to visit the monastery or have lunch, or keep your time on the water.
• A captain-led private boat: Rapha, Paolo, or Paulo may captain the trip, with a clean, spacious, well-kept boat noted in the supplied feedback.
• Bring your group, not a crowd: The boat holds up to 11 people, making the price more sensible when divided among a full group.

Leaving Port Canto for the Lérins Islands

Your meeting point is Leo Boat at Port Pierre Canto, at the eastern end of the Croisette. This is a useful starting place because the trip begins with a view of Cannes from the water, including the large yachts gathered near the port.

The first half-hour is a cruise through the bay. You get a different view of the famous Croisette palaces, the long waterfront, and the city’s polished seaside frontage. From land, Cannes can feel very focused on hotels, shops, and events. From the boat, the city becomes a backdrop rather than the whole show.

The boat is private, so your group can settle into its own rhythm. If you want a quiet ride, you can simply watch the coast go by. If you want more time in the water, the captain can guide the outing toward the swimming and paddleboarding portions of the trip.

The experience lasts about four hours, which is long enough to reach the islands and include several stops without turning the day into a full charter. Still, you should watch the clock if you want both a proper island visit and plenty of water time. The schedule includes several short sections, and Saint-Honorat is optional.

Seeing Sainte-Marguerite and Fort Royal from the boat

Sainte-Marguerite is the largest of the Lérins Islands. The boat passes Fort Royal, the old prison connected with the Man in the Iron Mask, giving you a look at one of the area’s most recognizable historic sites.

This is not presented as a long guided fort tour. You see the fort from the sea, so the value is in the setting and the story rather than a detailed visit inside the prison. If you want a full historical tour, this boat trip will not replace one. If you enjoy adding a little history to a swimming day, the view gives the outing more character.

The fort also helps you understand the islands’ position just offshore from Cannes. They are close enough for an easy half-day trip, yet the boat ride creates a clear break from the city. That contrast is one reason this route works well for a first visit to the area.

An hour of paddleboarding and relaxation

The main Lérins Islands stop gives you about an hour for water activities. A paddleboard is included, and the boat also carries snorkeling equipment. The pace is deliberately easy: you can try the board, swim, have an aperitif, or stay on board and enjoy the setting.

I like this part because it does not force everyone into the same activity. One person can paddle while another swims, and someone else can sit with a glass of wine. Bottled water and a bottle of wine are included, so you do not need to plan a separate drink stop during the boat portion.

The supplied details also note alcoholic beverages and an aperitif on board. That makes this feel more like a private coastal escape than a transport service between islands. You should still think about what suits your group, especially if children or anyone who does not drink is joining. Water is provided, but any other food or special drinks are not listed as included.

The paddleboard is useful for a short, casual session rather than a serious watersports outing. The boat also has snorkeling equipment, but exact details about sizes and quantities are not provided. If equipment fit matters to you, ask Leo Boat before departure.

Snorkeling beside Cannes’ underwater museum

The next stop places the boat between the Lérins Islands near Cannes’ underwater museum. You anchor in clear water for about an hour, with time to swim and snorkel.

This is a good use of the private boat. You are not just passing the islands for photographs. You get a proper pause in the water, and the underwater museum gives the stop a distinct purpose beyond ordinary swimming.

The experience is best suited to people who want a gentle sea outing rather than a formal snorkeling excursion. The supplied details promise snorkeling equipment and clear water, but they do not describe guided underwater interpretation, marine life, or a certified snorkeling lesson. Plan on exploring at your own pace with the captain managing the boat.

Water conditions matter here. The trip requires good weather, and poor weather can lead to a new date or a full refund. Even with good weather, the feel of the stop can vary with wind and sea conditions. A private outing gives you more flexibility, but it cannot guarantee perfect visibility.

Choosing Saint-Honorat: monastery or lunch

Saint-Honorat is an optional stop of about 30 minutes. You can go ashore to visit the monks’ island and see the monastery, or use the time for lunch at the restaurant.

This choice is important because the island visit competes with time on the water. If your group is more interested in history and a change of scene, Saint-Honorat adds a quiet land stop. If swimming and paddleboarding are the main reason you booked, you may prefer to remain on the boat.

The 30-minute slot is short, so keep your expectations in check. It is enough for a brief look, but not a long island walk or a slow meal. The details do not specify restaurant reservations or lunch costs, so any meal should be treated as an extra.

One useful tip comes from the experience feedback: a pizza delivery boat was used for lunch and was described as fun and delicious. That option is not listed as an included service, so you should ask the operator in advance if you want to arrange something similar. The supplied details also note that some people brought their own lunch.

Returning along the Croisette

The final 30 minutes are spent cruising back through Cannes Bay. This gives you another view of the city, this time from farther offshore and with the water between you and the Croisette.

I would save a little energy for this return ride. The outbound route is about reaching the islands, while the return is about seeing Cannes itself. The palaces along the waterfront look different from the boat, and the yacht-filled port makes a fitting end to the trip.

The boat returns to the same meeting point at Port Pierre Canto. Since the activity is private, your group can enjoy the last part together instead of being dropped at different locations or moved onto another vessel.

What the boat and captains add

The strongest practical feature is the captain-led format. Names associated with the experience include Rapha, Paolo, and Paulo. The supplied feedback describes Rapha as attentive, accommodating, friendly, and careful with the route, while Paolo and Paulo are also described as welcoming and committed to making sure the group enjoys the day.

The boat itself is repeatedly described as spacious, comfortable, clean, gorgeous, and well maintained. Those details matter on a four-hour outing. You will spend a lot of time aboard between swims, and a cramped or poorly kept boat would quickly spoil the appeal.

The equipment is another plus. A paddleboard and snorkeling equipment are included, and the boat is described as having good gear. A SeaBob is not included, but several people specifically recommended renting one and asking for it ahead of time. You should treat that as an optional add-on that needs advance planning, not as part of the standard package.

The captain is also the person who helps shape the day. The supplied comments describe captains choosing relaxing swimming spots and helping people use the equipment. Exact route changes are not guaranteed, but the private setup should give your group more say than a fixed group cruise.

Is the $901.14 price good value?

The listed price is $901.14 per group of up to 11 people, but the captain and service charge of €300 per booking is not included. That means you need to calculate the full amount before deciding. The group size is the key to the value.

For 10 or 11 people, the base price works out to roughly $82 to $90 per person before the €300 charge. For a smaller group, the per-person cost rises quickly. A couple or a small family may find a shared boat tour cheaper, while a large family or group of friends can make better use of the private charter.

The price includes fuel for the Lérins Islands, bottled water, a bottle of wine, snorkeling equipment, and a paddleboard. You are also paying for a private boat and a captain-led route, not simply a seat on a ferry. That makes the cost easier to justify if privacy, flexibility, and time in the water matter to you.

Lunch, a SeaBob, and the captain and service charge are outside the listed base price. Ask for the complete total and any optional equipment costs before you finalize the booking. This is a pleasant outing, but it is not a low-cost way to reach the islands.

Who will enjoy this private Cannes cruise?

I would choose this for a group that wants several types of experience in one half-day: city views, island scenery, swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, wine, and a possible monastery visit.

It suits families and friends who prefer their own boat and want room to make the day social or relaxed. It also works well for people celebrating a special occasion, since the onboard wine and private setting give the trip a more personal feel without requiring a full-day charter.

You should think twice if your main goal is a long visit to Fort Royal or Saint-Honorat. The fort is viewed from the sea, and the Saint-Honorat stop lasts about 30 minutes. This is primarily a water-based outing with short cultural stops, not a detailed history tour.

The trip requires good weather. Most people can participate, but the supplied information does not give detailed accessibility notes. If anyone in your group has mobility or equipment needs, contact the provider before booking.

Practical details before you book

The activity is offered in English and includes a mobile ticket. Confirmation is received at booking, and the meeting point is near public transportation at Port Pierre Canto, 100 Boulevard de la Croisette.

The tour ends back where it starts. Plan around four hours, though the exact flow may depend on the sea and the choices your group makes at Saint-Honorat.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather cancels the trip, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Should you book this Lérins Islands boat trip?

Book it if you have a group large enough to share the cost and want a private day on the water rather than a formal sightseeing cruise. The clean boat, attentive captains such as Rapha, the included paddleboard and snorkeling gear, and the choice between swimming, Saint-Honorat, and lunch make the four-hour route pleasantly flexible.

Skip it if you want the cheapest way to reach the islands, a long fort visit, or a detailed monastery tour. Before paying, confirm the €300 captain and service charge, ask about SeaBob rental if you want it, and decide whether your group prefers island time or more time swimming. For a full group seeking sea views and easygoing water time close to Cannes, this is a strong choice.

FAQ

Where does the boat trip start?

It starts at Leo Boat, Port Pierre Canto, 100 Boulevard de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes, France.

Where does the activity end?

The trip ends back at the meeting point in Cannes.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately four hours.

How many people can join the private boat?

The private booking is for a group of up to 11 people.

Is the captain included in the listed price?

No. The captain and service charge cost €300 per booking and are not included in the listed price.

What is included on board?

The package includes bottled water, a bottle of wine, snorkeling equipment, fuel for the Lérins Islands, and a paddleboard.

Can I visit Saint-Honorat Island?

Yes. Visiting Saint-Honorat is optional. The stop lasts about 30 minutes and can be used to visit the monastery or have lunch at the restaurant.

Is swimming and snorkeling part of the trip?

Yes. The boat anchors between the Lérins Islands for about one hour of swimming and snorkeling in clear water.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts.