Known throughout the island for its hushed, bucolic vibe, cool breezes and world-class rum, Chamarel is a wonderful mountain hamlet and an alternative to coastal Mauritius and all those beaches. The town has an excellent culinary scene that's worth crossing the island for, it's home to the famous Terres de 7 Couleurs and Rhumerie de Chamarel, and it's the western gateway to Black River Gorges National Park and the precipitous Chamarel Waterfall.
History of Chamarel in Mauritius
Attention was first drawn to the existence of coloured earth in Chamarel by a member of the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences of Mauritius at its 26 November 1879 session. This historical village in the southwestern uplands of Mauritius is named after Toussaint and Charles de Chazal de Chamarel – the sons of François de Chazal de la Genesté, once a member of the Superior Council of the island –, who were granted a 625-arpent concession in the region in 1786.
A curious and unusual phenomenon, the Seven Coloured Earth site became a major attraction from the early days of tourism on the island in the 1960s. The dunes can reach up to 15 metres thick and contain traces of ancient geoclimatic activity.
Mauritius is part of the fascinating story of continental drifts and collisions, volcanic eruptions and other breathtaking events that led to the formation of tropical reefs and oceans, lagoons, mountain ranges and basalt cliffs. Weathered by hot and humid conditions, basalt formed from outpourings of lava that occurred during the intermediate period from 3 to 1.7 million years ago turned into gullied clay.
This profound and ultimate decomposition has left on-site iron and aluminium oxides. The ferric oxide has coloured the sands with shades ranging from red to brown while the aluminium oxide has produced shades ranging from blue to violet-blue.
The consistent separation of the different strips of coloured sand may be explained by the fact that iron and aluminium particles have a natural repellent effect on one another. The swirling patterns of the dunes have been carved out by rain over thousands of years.
Rooted in the history of Chamarel, the Seven Coloured Earth Geopark is a culturally relevant experience that provides visitors with an extraordinary glimpse into millions of years of natural history, geology and evolution.
Best Time To Visit Chamarel in Mauritius
Chamarel is located on the west coast of Mauritius and experiences the hottest weather in the country.
Winters are dry and are typically between May to September. June, July and August are the coolest months of the year.
October is the driest month of the year with moderate climate.
Summers are hot, wet and humid falling between the months of November and May. December to February is the hottest period of the year.
There are periodic cyclones throughout the year. The best time to visit Chamarel is: winter (May to September) and October.
Things to do at Chamarel in Mauritius
Chamarel is a beautiful place to take your friends and family and engage in some memorable leisure activities. Whether it is sightseeing or adventure, you’ll remain occupied with so much to do at this beautiful village in Mauritius.
Here’s a rundown on the best things to do in Chamarel-
- Visit the Chamarel Coloured Earths
- Take a cool plunge in Chamarel waterfall
- Differentiate some illusions at Curious Corner of Chamarel
- Sample some rum at Rhumerie de Chamarel
- Have a delicious meal at Palais de Barbizon
- Go to Black River Gorge National Park
Best Trekking Places in Chamarel in Mauritius
Spend a scenic day away from the beach crowds in Chamarel to marvel at the stunning views of the natural surroundings. The views and the scenery are absolutely fantastic: Coconut Island and the lagoon on the West, the world known Morne Brabant on the South together with Fourneaux Island, on the other side of the famous mountain, as well as the entire valley of Chamarel on the East.
Some of the places and trails best for trekking in Chamarel are:
- Maccabée trail through Black River
- Alexandra Falls through the Gorges National Park Black River
- Black River Peak
How To Reach For Chamarel in Mauritius
Probably known as the most beautiful creation of mother-nature, the Chamarel in Mauritius is extravagantly famous worldwide. The seven colored soil at the face of earth undoubtedly seems like a reflection of the gorgeous rainbows above.
By Train
Mauritius is not facilitated with any kind of railway network which chops out the option of metros and trains on how to reach Chamarel.
By Road
A number of buses; either undertaken by the government or run by private travel agencies, are available for assisting the tourists on how to reach Chamarel in Mauritius.
People traveling from Port Louis need to get into the Bus 120 which ceases the journey at Baie du Cap. From there, Bus 5A takes the borders to Saint Anne Church, which is the nearest to Chamarel. Bus 119 transports tourists from Brabant Street up to Tamarin-Salt Pan. From there, one can board onto Bus 5 to reach Maconde. Henceforth, Bus 5A follows the route from village Choisy on how to reach Chamarel.
To enter the seven colored earth in Mauritius Chamarel, the entry ticket for each foreigner costs around 125 MRU, however, the amount is half for locals residing there.
By Waterway
The main port available for people traveling via ships or cruises is at Port Louis in Mauritius. Henceforth which, the visitors can either book a taxi or follow up the bus routes stated above on how to reach Chamarel.
