Chamarel, Mauritius: travel guide
Highland village of coloured earths, waterfalls and local rum
Mountain village in southwest Mauritius famed for the Seven Coloured Earths, Chamarel Waterfall, rum distillery and Black River Gorges National Park.
About Chamarel
Chamarel is a village high in the hills of southwest Mauritius, surrounded by sugar cane, forest and the edge of Black River Gorges National Park. Its best-known stop is the Seven Coloured Earths, a small patch of dunes that shows bands of red, brown, violet and green, close to a tall waterfall that drops into the forest.
The Rhumerie de Chamarel offers a distillery visit and tasting of local rum, and viewpoints over the Black River Gorges and at Alexandra Falls look across wooded valleys to the sea. Ganga Talao, or Grand Bassin, a crater lake that is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage site, is within the same day circuit.
Chamarel suits travellers who want a break from the beaches, as a day trip or an overnight stay. The hills are cooler than the coast, and May to November is the drier season.
- Country
- Mauritius
- Currency
- MUR
- Time zone
- Indian/Mauritius
- Nearest airport
- MRU
Last updated
Top places to visit in Chamarel
Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark
geological-site · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
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
single-drop-waterfall · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
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
distillery · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
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
national-park-viewpoint · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
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
viewpoint-waterfall · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
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)
sacred-lake · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
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
forest-reserve · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
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 to Chamarel
Nearest airport: Port Louis (MRU), about 31 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
Getting around
- Walking
More in Mauritius
Frequently asked questions about Chamarel
- What are the main places to visit in Chamarel?
- Places covered in our Chamarel guide include Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark, Chamarel Waterfall, Rhumerie de Chamarel, Black River Gorges Viewpoint, Alexandra Falls Viewpoint.
- Where should I stay in Chamarel?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Chamarel: Chamarel Village.
- How do I get around Chamarel?
- Ways to get around Chamarel covered in our guide: Walking.
- Which airport is nearest to Chamarel?
- The nearest airport to Chamarel has the code MRU.