By air
SSR International (MRU), ~1 h by road
Indian Ocean Islands · Mauritius
Chamarel, Mauritius
Seven-coloured earth and waterfalls
Getting there
Best time to visit
May to December — cooler and drier
Don't miss
The Seven Coloured Earths
Chamarel Waterfall
The Black River Gorges viewpoint
Things to do
The Seven Coloured Earths
Chamarel Waterfall
A rum-tasting stop
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: dronepicr · CC BY 2.0
What to pack
Walking shoes
A quieter corner
Alexandra Falls viewpoint, on the way up
Questions travellers ask
What are Chamarel's main sights?
The Seven Coloured Earths, Chamarel Waterfall and the Black River Gorges viewpoint. Add a rum-tasting stop, and Creole dishes in the hilltop restaurants.
Is there a viewpoint on the way up to Chamarel?
Yes: Alexandra Falls viewpoint, on the way up.
When should I go to Chamarel?
May to December, when it's cooler and drier. Wear walking shoes.
How long does it take to get to Chamarel?
About 1 hour by road from SSR International (MRU).
About Chamarel
- Hills
- Forest
Where it is
Chamarel is a village on a plateau in the hills of south-western Mauritius, in the Black River district, above the coast at Le Morne and on the edge of the Black River Gorges National Park.
History
Chamarel takes its name from Charles Antoine de Chazal de Chamarel, a French colonist who lived in the area around 1800. The plateau was later planted with coffee and sugar cane, and its patch of eroded volcanic ground, the Seven Coloured Earths, became one of the island's best-known sights.
People
Chamarel's villagers speak Mauritian Creole and French, and many work in farming, at the rum distillery or in tourism. The plateau's coffee and sugar cane shape local life, and village restaurants serve Creole dishes such as rougaille and curries.
Known for
- The Seven Coloured Earths
- Chamarel Waterfall
- The Rhumerie de Chamarel
- Coffee grown on the plateau
- Views over the south-west coast
Did you know?
The dunes of the Seven Coloured Earths are volcanic rock weathered into clay, and their colours, from red to purple and blue, tend to settle back into separate bands rather than mixing.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.