Chamarel FAQ, short answers to what visitors ask
Chamarel is a hill village of about 755 people at about 260 m in Rivière Noire district, south-west Mauritius, and its two main sights, the Seven Coloured Earth and Chamarel Waterfall, share one geopark ticket of Rs 800 for non-resident adults (checked on 29 October 2026). This Chamarel FAQ gives short answers, each complete on its own and dated wherever it gives a price or an opening time. The pages linked at the end go into each subject in depth.
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Chamarel FAQ, where it is and why people go
Chamarel is a village in the hills of south-west Mauritius, mainly in Rivière Noire district with its eastern part in Savanne, about 260 m above the sea on a plateau above Case Noyale and La Gaulette. It takes its name from Charles-Antoine de Chazal de Chamarel, who held the estate around 1800, and 755 people lived there at the 2022 census.
People come for the Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark, where weathered basalt has left banded soils of reddish, brown, purple and grey, for Chamarel Waterfall, a single drop of about 95 to 100 m, and for the Rhumerie de Chamarel, Ebony Forest and the viewpoints over Le Morne and the Black River Gorges. UN Tourism named Chamarel one of its 52 Best Tourism Villages on 17 October 2025. The first answers below cover the location, the district and whether the trip is worth it.
What the sights cost and when they open
The Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark costs Rs 800 for non-resident adults and opens daily from 08:30, the Rhumerie de Chamarel charges Rs 800 for its visit and tasting from Monday to Saturday, and Ebony Forest charges Rs 600 for its trails, all checked on 29 October 2026.
The geopark ticket includes both waterfall viewpoints and the giant tortoises, and the geopark closes at 17:30 from October to May and at 17:00 from June to September (checked on 29 October 2026). The base of the waterfall is reached only on a guided hike that the ticket does not cover. Curious Mauritius charges Rs 650 for non-resident adults and Rs 550 for children aged 3 to 12 (checked on 30 October 2026). The viewpoints over Le Morne, the Black River Gorges and Alexandra Falls are free, and the roadside one over Le Morne is open at all hours. The prices and hours page keeps every figure with its check date.
Getting there, food and practical matters
Chamarel is best reached by car or taxi up the B104 hairpins from Case Noyale, about 43 km and 40 to 45 minutes from the airport and about 14 km from Le Morne, because buses run only on infrequent country routes with no published timetable.
The village has no fuel station or cash machine, so fill up and carry rupees from the coast. Lunch is easy to find, at L’Alchimiste in the rum distillery from Monday to Saturday, at Le Chamarel Restaurant, at the geopark’s Viewpoint Café or at the village tables d’hôte, which serve game. Allow half a day for the main sights and a full day with the plateau and the forest, and start at the geopark’s 08:30 opening, checked on 29 October 2026, to stay ahead of the coaches.
Safety, weather and the rules
The main risks for visitors to Chamarel are the hairpin roads, which are slippery when wet, the cloud and rain that can settle on the plateau, and the macaques that raid bags at the viewpoints.
The hill is cooler and wetter than the coast and has no weather station of its own. Cyclone season runs roughly from November to April, with warnings possible until mid-May, and the geopark closes during cyclone warnings and very heavy rain. Going down to the waterfall’s base alone is forbidden, and drones are not allowed in the geopark. In an emergency, call the police on 999 or 112, the SAMU ambulance on 114 or the fire service on 115. Mauritius keeps UTC+4 all year, with no daylight saving.
Questions people ask
Where is Chamarel in Mauritius?
Chamarel is in the south-west of Mauritius, a hill village about 260 m above sea level on a plateau above Case Noyale and La Gaulette on the west coast. Le Morne Brabant lies about 7 km to the south-west, Le Morne is about 14 km away by road, and the airport about 43 km. The village centre is at -20.4253, 57.3913.
In which district is Chamarel located?
Chamarel lies mainly in Rivière Noire district, also called Black River district, in the south-west of Mauritius, and its eastern part falls in Savanne district. The Chamarel Village Council comes under the Rivière Noire District Council. Chamarel Waterfall itself lies in Savanne, which is why the village and its sights appear under either district.
Is Chamarel worth visiting?
Chamarel is worth half a day or a full day for most visitors, as long as expectations are realistic. The coloured earth is a small fenced area of about 7,500 m² that looks less vivid than the photographs, but the waterfall, the views over Le Morne, the rum distillery and the forest make the trip. UN Tourism listed Chamarel among its 52 Best Tourism Villages in October 2025.
How much does a ticket to Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth cost?
A ticket to the Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark costs Rs 800 for non-resident adults and Rs 400 for non-resident children aged 5 to 11, Mauritian residents pay Rs 400 and Rs 200 with ID, and children under 5 enter free (checked on 29 October 2026). The ticket covers the coloured earth, both waterfall viewpoints and the giant tortoises, and is paid in rupees by cash or card.
What are the opening hours of Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth?
The Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark opens every day, including Sundays and public holidays, from 08:30 to 17:30 between October and May, with the last ticket sold at 17:00, and from 08:30 to 17:00 between June and September (checked on 29 October 2026). The geopark closes during cyclone warnings and very heavy rain, and its café and shop open from 09:30 to 17:00.
How much does it cost to visit Chamarel Waterfall?
Visiting Chamarel Waterfall costs nothing extra, because its two viewpoints are inside the Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark and included in the geopark ticket, Rs 800 for non-resident adults and Rs 400 for children aged 5 to 11 (checked on 29 October 2026). There is no separate waterfall ticket. Only the guided hike to the base of the fall costs extra, and no official price is published for it.
Do you have to hike to see Chamarel Waterfall?
No hike is needed to see Chamarel Waterfall. The lower viewpoint is a few steps from its car park inside the geopark, 1.5 km from the entrance by car, and a short paved path of about 0.2 km with stairs leads to an upper platform with a slightly better view. Both have railings. Only reaching the base of the fall involves a real hike, and that must be guided.
Can you walk to the bottom of Chamarel Waterfall?
Not on your own. The Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark strictly prohibits going down to the waterfall alone, and its ticket covers only the two viewpoints. Guided hikes to the base, sold separately and lasting about three hours, start from the geopark car park. Some include a swim in the pool; the currents and sudden floods are a reason not to.
Is Chamarel Waterfall flowing in October?
Chamarel Waterfall flows all year, but October falls in the driest part of the year, when the fall can thin to two separate streams. The flow is strongest from December to April after the summer rains. The live Today in Chamarel page estimates the current flow from recent rainfall over the catchment above the fall.
How much is the Rhumerie de Chamarel visit?
The Rhumerie de Chamarel visit and tasting costs Rs 800 per person, 16 and 17 year olds pay Rs 400 for the visit, and a private visit costs Rs 1,500 per person by booking (checked on 29 October 2026). The standard visit needs no booking, runs Monday to Saturday from 09:30 to 16:30 and is included in the price of lunch at the L’Alchimiste restaurant. The distillery asks visitors to confirm they are 18 or over.
Is the Rhumerie de Chamarel open on Sundays?
No. The Rhumerie de Chamarel is closed on Sundays, opening for visits Monday to Saturday from 09:30 to 16:30, and its L’Alchimiste restaurant serves lunch Monday to Saturday from 11:30 to 15:30 (checked on 29 October 2026). On a Sunday the Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark and its waterfall viewpoints open as usual from 08:30, and the roadside viewpoint over Le Morne is open at all hours.
How much does it cost to visit Curious Mauritius?
The Discovery Pass costs Rs 650 for non-resident adults aged 13 and over and Rs 550 for children aged 3 to 12. Mauritian and resident rates are Rs 550 and Rs 450 respectively. Ask about admission for children under 3 before booking.
How long do you need in Chamarel?
Most visitors need half a day in Chamarel, about three to four hours on the hill, for the Seven Coloured Earth, the waterfall viewpoints, the Chamarel viewpoint and the Rhumerie de Chamarel. A full day adds Ebony Forest and the Black River Gorges viewpoints or a hike on the plateau. The geopark itself allows 45 minutes to 2 hours.
How do you get to Chamarel?
The practical way to reach Chamarel is by car or taxi, up the B104 hairpin road from Case Noyale on the west coast, a climb of about 4 km and 300 m. Chamarel is about 43 km and 40 to 45 minutes from the airport, 14 km and about 18 minutes from Le Morne and 27 km and about 30 minutes from Flic en Flac. Taxis have no official tariff, so agree the fare first.
Is there a bus to Chamarel?
Buses do reach Chamarel, but not often. Route 5A runs from Baie du Cap to the Sainte-Anne church and route 243 from Quatre Bornes follows the same line, but no official timetable or last departure is published, so check times locally. Rural buses run roughly from 06:30 to 18:30. From the village it is about 1.5 km to the geopark gate and a further 3 km to the dunes.
Is Chamarel good for children?
Chamarel suits children well. The giant tortoises and the railed waterfall viewpoints are on the geopark ticket, free under 5 and Rs 400 for non-resident children aged 5 to 11 (checked on 29 October 2026), and Curious Mauritius’s illusions appeal to families. Ebony Forest charges Rs 370 for ages 5 to 17. The rhumerie charges 16 and 17 year olds a lower visit price and asks visitors to confirm they are 18 or over, and the geopark’s rocky paths can be hard with a pushchair.
What is the weather like in Chamarel?
Chamarel is a little cooler than the coast, and the plateau road above it, which climbs to about 740 m, is markedly cooler and more often in cloud. Across Mauritius the wettest months are February and March and the driest is October, and cyclone season runs roughly from November to April. No weather station records Chamarel itself, so the live Today in Chamarel page uses forecast models.
Can you fly a drone at Chamarel?
Drones are not allowed at the Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark unless the management has authorised them in advance, and no-drone signs stand at both the dunes and the waterfall. Under the Department of Civil Aviation’s guidance for leisure drones, flights are allowed only by day, over private property with the owner’s permission, below 400 ft and never over areas the public can reach, which rules out the public viewpoints.
Where can you eat in Chamarel?
Chamarel has several places to eat. L’Alchimiste at the Rhumerie serves lunch Monday to Saturday from 11:30 to 15:30. Le Chamarel Restaurant publishes lunch from 12:00 to 15:00, breakfast from 09:00 to 11:00 and an afternoon pastry service from 14:30 to 16:00. The geopark coffee shop opens from 09:30 to 17:00 and requires a geopark ticket.
What is the difference between the 7 coloured earth and the 23 coloured earth?
The Seven Coloured Earth is at the Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark in Chamarel, while the so-called 23 coloured earth is at VALLÉ Advenature Park, formerly La Vallée des Couleurs, at Chamouny in Savanne district, about 21 km away by road. VALLÉ adds waterfalls, ziplines and quad rides, and its entry costs Rs 550 for non-residents aged 12 and over (checked on 29 October 2026), with activities extra.
See every price and opening time
The prices and hours page lists every ticket and timetable in Chamarel with the date each one was checked.