Chamarel, Mauritius: travel guide
Mountain village in southwest Mauritius famed for the Seven Coloured Earths, Chamarel Waterfall, rum distillery and Black River Gorges National Park.
- Country
- Mauritius
- Currency
- MUR
- Time zone
- Indian/Mauritius
- Nearest airport
- MRU
Top places to visit in Chamarel
Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark
Nature · about 1.5 h
Geological curiosity of undulating dunes in seven distinct hues (red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple, yellow) created by volcanic basalt weathering. The geopark circuit also passes the Chamarel Waterfall viewpoint and a giant-tortoise…
Chamarel Waterfall
Waterfall · about 0.5 h
Tallest single-drop waterfall in Mauritius (~100 m), where the St Denis river plunges off a basalt ledge into a forested gorge. Two viewing platforms sit inside the Seven Coloured Earth Geopark.
Rhumerie de Chamarel
Cultural · about 1.5 h · entry MUR 800
Working agricultural rum distillery set in a sugarcane valley, with guided tours of the production line from cane crushing to copper-still distillation, ending in a free tasting of its white, aged and arranged rums.
Black River Gorges Viewpoint
Viewpoint · about 0.5 h
Roadside panorama over the forested gorges of Black River Gorges National Park — the island's largest protected native forest — with tropicbirds soaring below and views to the west coast.
Alexandra Falls Viewpoint
Waterfall · about 0.5 h
Viewing deck at ~700 m on Plaine Champagne overlooking a tiered waterfall and the whole southern coastline of Mauritius; short paved walk from the road through native heath forest.
Ganga Talao (Grand Bassin)
Temple · about 1.3 h
Sacred crater lake and the most important Hindu pilgrimage site in Mauritius, ringed by temples and watched over by 33-m statues of Shiva and Durga. During Maha Shivaratri hundreds of thousands walk here from across the island.
Ebony Forest Reserve
Nature · about 2 h · entry MUR 510
Private conservation reserve restoring native ebony forest above Chamarel: raised boardwalk through endemic trees, a conservation museum, and lookouts over Le Morne and the west coast. Entry funds the restoration work.
Things to do
- Seven Coloured Earths & Waterfall Guided Tour Sightseeing · 2.5 h · from MUR 900 per person
- Rhumerie de Chamarel Rum Tasting Tour Food Drink · 1.5 h · from MUR 650 per person
- Black River Gorges Hiking Excursion Hiking · 4 h · from MUR 1,500 per person
Day trips and tours
- Chamarel & Black River Gorges Nature Day 7 h · from MUR 2,200
Where to stay in Chamarel
- Chamarel Village about MUR 4,000 per night
A hillside inland village amid tea plantations and the Seven Coloured Earths, popular with travellers wanting a base for the central highland sights and rum distillery rather than the beach.
Hotels
- Lakaz Chamarel Exclusive Lodge
Where to eat
- Restaurant MOKA'Z Chamarel Creole, Mauritian · about MUR 700 per person
- Le Chamarel Restaurant Creole, Mauritian · about MUR 1,100 per person
- L'Alchimiste - Rhumerie de Chamarel Creole, French · about MUR 1,400 per person
Getting around
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.