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Mauritius🇲🇺 | villagesChamarelLayered dunes, 100-meter waterfall, estate rum, cool uplands | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Chamarel
🏆 Top pickvillage ranked #1
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

The Seven Coloured Earths sit in a fenced patch of dunes at the edge of Chamarel, and the sand really does lie in separate bands of red, brown, violet and green that never blend, even after rain. Chamarel is a small village in the southwest uplands of Mauritius, reached by a switchback road above the Black River Gorges. Travelers stop for the earths, the waterfall viewpoint, a rum distillery and cool air that feels a few degrees kinder than the coast. It works as a half-day detour between the beaches of Le Morne and the west coast, not a place to chase nightlife. Evenings are quiet: a few guesthouses, early dinners, and you will meet other travelers mostly over breakfast. The tour buses arrive late morning, so go early, when the light is softer and parking is easy. Public buses reach the village only infrequently, which is why most people rent a car or hire a driver, and a driver is the better call on those steep, wet bends. Bring cash for the park gate, since small entrances often skip cards.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #1 village in MauritiusReasons people choose to visit here

Chamarel works best as a one-night pause between the beaches of the west coast and the wilder south, and the reason is the cooler hillside air. After days on the sand, sleeping at altitude with a breeze and the sound of roosters feels like a reset. Hikers get the most from it. Trails run toward the Black River Gorges National Park edges, and the surrounding forest holds endemic birds and the occasional macaque. Couples and solo travelers who like calm will find the village easy: a handful of guesthouses, a church, and a short main road you can cover on foot in minutes. Most people stay one night. Linger two if you want to walk in the park or tour the rum distillery and the Chamarel waterfall at your own pace, rather than squeezing them into a rushed half day from the coast. If you need nightlife … read more 👉
Chamarel works best as a one-night pause between the beaches of the west coast and the wilder south, and the reason is the cooler hillside air. After days on the sand, sleeping at altitude with a breeze and the sound of roosters feels like a reset. Hikers get the most from it. Trails run toward the Black River Gorges National Park edges, and the surrounding forest holds endemic birds and the occasional macaque. Couples and solo travelers who like calm will find the village easy: a handful of guesthouses, a church, and a short main road you can cover on foot in minutes. Most people stay one night. Linger two if you want to walk in the park or tour the rum distillery and the Chamarel waterfall at your own pace, rather than squeezing them into a rushed half day from the coast. If you need nightlife or a dense hostel scene, this is a short stop, not a destination. The hills reward early starts, and the afternoons often bring mist or a brief shower.

💡 HighlightsThe experiences that define the visit

  1. Seven Colored Earths: The village’s signature sight is a small area of rolling dunes whose bands of red, brown, violet, blue and green come from weathered volcanic rock. Walk the railed paths and look for the Aldabra giant tortoises in the enclosure at the entrance. Go right at opening in the morning, before tour groups arrive, when the colors are clearest. Entry is about US$10 to 11 and you need 45 to 60 minutes.
  2. Chamarel Waterfall: Close to the dunes, a viewing platform looks across a gorge to a stream dropping roughly 100 meters over a basalt cliff into dense forest. It is best after rain and in the morning, when mist is lighter. It is usually included in the Seven Colored Earths ticket, and a stop of 20 to 30 minutes is plenty.
  3. Rhumerie de Chamarel: This estate distillery sits among cane
… read more 👉
  1. Seven Colored Earths: The village’s signature sight is a small area of rolling dunes whose bands of red, brown, violet, blue and green come from weathered volcanic rock. Walk the railed paths and look for the Aldabra giant tortoises in the enclosure at the entrance. Go right at opening in the morning, before tour groups arrive, when the colors are clearest. Entry is about US$10 to 11 and you need 45 to 60 minutes.
  2. Chamarel Waterfall: Close to the dunes, a viewing platform looks across a gorge to a stream dropping roughly 100 meters over a basalt cliff into dense forest. It is best after rain and in the morning, when mist is lighter. It is usually included in the Seven Colored Earths ticket, and a stop of 20 to 30 minutes is plenty.
  3. Rhumerie de Chamarel: This estate distillery sits among cane fields and offers a tour of the production, followed by a tasting of its rums and a lunch at the on-site restaurant. Visit late morning or around lunch. A tour with tasting costs about US$15 to 20, and you should allow 1.5 to 2 hours, longer with a meal.
Around Chamarel, good day trips include the viewpoints and trails of Black River Gorges National Park, the Le Morne Brabant peninsula with its famed mountain and beaches, and the Tamarin area for dolphin trips and salt pans. The Seven Colored Earths and the waterfall pair easily in one morning, since they sit minutes apart on the same road.
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Things to do around Chamarel

Full-Day Catamaran Cruise to Île aux Cerfs with BBQ Lunch

Full-Day Catamaran Cruise to Île aux Cerfs with BBQ Lunch

4.6(511) 7h
From €60
per personViator
Mauritius full day tour : Private south west with lunch

Mauritius full day tour : Private south west with lunch

4.8(257)
From €103
per personViator
Mauritius Full day tour of the South west

Mauritius Full day tour of the South west

4.9(245)
From €113
per personViator
Mauritius Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth Private Holiday Tours

Mauritius Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth Private Holiday Tours

4.8(195) 8h
From €77
per personViator
Ebony Forest Reserve Chamarel - Take a Hike Tour

Ebony Forest Reserve Chamarel - Take a Hike Tour

4.8(140)
From €13
per personViator
Entrance Ticket To Curious Mauritius

Entrance Ticket To Curious Mauritius

4.8(140)
From €15.68
per personViator
Discovery Tour 35km

Discovery Tour 35km

4.8(87) 5h
From €230
per personViator
Trou-aux-Cerfs - Grand Bassin - 7 Coloured Earth - Wild South Guided Tour

Trou-aux-Cerfs - Grand Bassin - 7 Coloured Earth - Wild South Guided Tour

4.7(86) 8h
From €139
per personViator
Wild South Tour Mauritius | Hidden Gems, Rockpool & Waterfalls

Wild South Tour Mauritius | Hidden Gems, Rockpool & Waterfalls

5.0(60)
From €154
per personViator
Car Hire for a Day with Driver - 8 Hours

Car Hire for a Day with Driver - 8 Hours

4.6(66) 8h
From €205
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Choosing the right time of year

Chamarel is best from September to December, when days are dry and sunny and the highland air stays comfortable. Here is how the year breaks down.
  • Cool Dry Season (May to November): Days run 20 to 26°C (68 to 79°F), and nights in the uplands drop to 14 to 17°C (57 to 63°F). Walking the Black River Gorges trails is easiest now, with clear views over the Seven Colored Earths.
  • Hot Wet Season (December to April): Expect 25 to 31°C (77 to 88°F), heavy humidity and sudden downpours that keep the waterfall roaring. Cyclone risk peaks January to March, and roads can be slick. Daylight lasts about 13.5 hours in January.
  • Crowds and Prices: Tour buses arrive between 10 am and 3 pm year-round. Guesthouse rates rise around Christmas, New Year and July to August school holidays, by roughly 20 to 40 percent.
… read more 👉
Chamarel is best from September to December, when days are dry and sunny and the highland air stays comfortable. Here is how the year breaks down.
  • Cool Dry Season (May to November): Days run 20 to 26°C (68 to 79°F), and nights in the uplands drop to 14 to 17°C (57 to 63°F). Walking the Black River Gorges trails is easiest now, with clear views over the Seven Colored Earths.
  • Hot Wet Season (December to April): Expect 25 to 31°C (77 to 88°F), heavy humidity and sudden downpours that keep the waterfall roaring. Cyclone risk peaks January to March, and roads can be slick. Daylight lasts about 13.5 hours in January.
  • Crowds and Prices: Tour buses arrive between 10 am and 3 pm year-round. Guesthouse rates rise around Christmas, New Year and July to August school holidays, by roughly 20 to 40 percent.
  • Winter Daylight: June and July give about 10.5 hours of light, so start hikes early.
Arrive before 9 am for the waterfall and coffee estate to beat the tour groups.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: good for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: highly recommended for travelingAUGAugust: highly recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: excellent for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas and accommodation options

Chamarel has a small handful of guesthouses and self-catering rooms, and for backpackers a private room at a family-run guesthouse is the best value, usually US$45 to 90 a night. There are no true hostels with dorm beds in the village itself, so budget a little above coastal norms.
Most stays sit along the main road climbing toward the church and the Seven Colored Earths. Small B&B-style places with four to eight rooms dominate, often with a balcony facing the forested ridge and the sea far below. Breakfast with tropical fruit and fresh bread is commonly included, and hosts will sometimes cook … read more 👉
Chamarel has a small handful of guesthouses and self-catering rooms, and for backpackers a private room at a family-run guesthouse is the best value, usually US$45 to 90 a night. There are no true hostels with dorm beds in the village itself, so budget a little above coastal norms.
Most stays sit along the main road climbing toward the church and the Seven Colored Earths. Small B&B-style places with four to eight rooms dominate, often with a balcony facing the forested ridge and the sea far below. Breakfast with tropical fruit and fresh bread is commonly included, and hosts will sometimes cook a Creole dinner for around US$12 to 20 if you ask in the morning.
Self-catering studios and bungalows suit longer stays and run US$50 to 100. There is a small shop for basics, but stock up in Case Noyale or Souillac for a bigger cook-in.
Nights are cooler than on the coast, so a light layer helps, and mosquito nets are worth checking for. Book ahead for December to January and July to August, because supply is thin. If the village is full, the beach town of Le Morne, about 30 to 40 minutes away by car, has cheaper hostels with dorm beds from roughly US$15 to 25.
Best hostels in Mauritius


Best quality hotels in Mauritius

🚌 Day tripsBest day trips from Chamarel

Chamarel works well as a base for day trips if you have a rental car or a taxi budget, since buses are infrequent and the best sights sit within 30 to 60 minutes of each other.
Black River Gorges National Park:
The park is the island's largest stretch of native forest, with trails to waterfall viewpoints and a chance of spotting the Mauritius kestrel and pink pigeon. Allow a full day, including 20 to 40 minutes of driving from the village to the Plaine Champagne or Gorges viewpoint trailheads. Entry is free and hiking costs only fuel or a taxi. Go between September and December for drier trails. First-timers often pick a long loop and run out of light by mid-afternoon.
👉 Explore Black River Gorges National Park
Le Morne Brabant:
This basalt monolith on the southwest peninsula is a UNESCO World … read more 👉
Chamarel works well as a base for day trips if you have a rental car or a taxi budget, since buses are infrequent and the best sights sit within 30 to 60 minutes of each other.
Black River Gorges National Park:
The park is the island's largest stretch of native forest, with trails to waterfall viewpoints and a chance of spotting the Mauritius kestrel and pink pigeon. Allow a full day, including 20 to 40 minutes of driving from the village to the Plaine Champagne or Gorges viewpoint trailheads. Entry is free and hiking costs only fuel or a taxi. Go between September and December for drier trails. First-timers often pick a long loop and run out of light by mid-afternoon.
👉 Explore Black River Gorges National Park
Le Morne Brabant:
This basalt monolith on the southwest peninsula is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the best sunrise-style hike in the region, though you must go with a registered guide for the summit (about US$25 to 45 per person). The climb takes three to four hours up and two down, and the drive from Chamarel is around 35 to 45 minutes. Start by 6:30 am in the cooler months of May to October. Many people underestimate the final scramble and arrive in sandals.
👉 Explore Le Morne Brabant
Grand Bassin:
Grand Bassin is a crater lake and Hindu pilgrimage site where giant statues of Shiva and Durga rise beside the water. It takes roughly 40 to 60 minutes to drive from Chamarel, and a visit lasts one to two hours. Entry is free, and a car or taxi costs US$40 to 60 round trip. Visit during the Maha Shivaratri festival in February or March to see thousands of pilgrims walking from across the island. Cover your shoulders and knees, and take off your shoes where signs ask.
👉 Explore Grand Bassin
Tamarin Bay:
This surf and dolphin-watching bay on the west coast is about 40 minutes by road from the village. Dolphin boat trips leave early morning and cost around US$40 to 70, while the bay's salt pans can be seen for a few dollars. The best window is May to October, with calm morning seas. Book a morning departure, since dolphins move offshore later in the day.
👉 Explore Tamarin Bay

FAQFrequently asked questions about Chamarel

Reaching Chamarel from the airport at Plaisance takes about 1.5 to 2 hours by road, roughly 60 km, and a taxi costs US$70 to 100. By bus, take a service to Quatre Bornes or Curepipe, then connect toward Case Noyale or Souillac, and finish with a taxi, since direct buses to the village are scarce. Renting a small car from about US$30 to 45 a day makes the winding highland road far easier.
Chamarel is worth the trip for the Seven Colored Earths dunes, the 100-meter Chamarel Waterfall and rum or coffee tastings in the surrounding hills. Most visitors need half a day, while a night in the village lets you hike Black River Gorges at dawn. Combined entry to the main sights is about US$10 to 15 per person, though pricier tasting tours add up.
Chamarel can easily be done as a day trip from the west coast resorts, Port Louis or Flic en Flac, with 45 minutes to 1.5 hours of driving each way. A taxi or driver for the day costs roughly US$60 to 100, and a rental car is cheaper if you share. Arrive before 10 am to see the waterfall and colored earths before tour groups, then add lunch at a Creole restaurant.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Mauritian villages near Chamarel

Explore more nearby:

  • Pamplemousses—botanical gardens, colonial estate, shaded avenues, historic church| 40 km away
  • Rivière du Rempart—sugar estates, river crossings, rural landscapes, scattered hamlets| 49 km away

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We 💚 feedbackWhat to keep in mind

Chamarel pairs best with the Le Morne peninsula and the Tamarin coast, so sleep in the hills one night, then drop to the beach for the rest of your west-coast days. I would eat lunch at the distillery or a village restaurant and skip dinner plans elsewhere, since the lanes empty early. Bring a light rain jacket for afternoon mist.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Mauritius. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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