Mauritius / Southern Highlands / ChamarelChamarel
Seven Coloured Earth and the Island's Tallest Waterfall
A hill village above the west coast, reached by a winding road from Case Noyale: the Seven Coloured Earth Geopark, dunes of red, brown, violet and yellow volcanic soil in a forest clearing, with the Chamarel Falls dropping about 100 m into a gorge (MUR 600 a non-resident on the park's own booking page), the Rhumerie de Chamarel distillery, and a couple of restaurants with views to the sea. Most visitors come for half a day from the west coast; a few lodges let you stay in the quiet.
Highlights
- Seven Coloured Earth dunes
- Chamarel Falls
- Rum distillery tour
- Giant tortoises in the Geopark
- Lunch with a view to the sea
Things to do
- Seven Coloured Earth Geopark and Chamarel FallsMorning · 2h 30m
- Rhumerie de Chamarel tour and lunchAfternoon · 2h
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: All year (falls fullest January – April)
Worth knowing
Cyclone Season: Watch the Class Warnings
January to March is the height of the cyclone season. Most weeks pass with heat, humidity and short downpours, but when a cyclone nears, Mauritius Meteorological Services issue warnings from Class I to IV: from Class III everyone stays indoors, buses stop, shops and sights close and flights are often cancelled for a day or two. Keep a spare day before your flight home, take travel insurance that covers weather delays, and follow your hotel's advice.
Heads up
Cyclone Season
The cyclone season runs from November to April, with most storms from January to March. Early and late in the season a cyclone is less likely, but watch the forecast in the week before you fly.
Heads up
Maha Shivaratri: Pilgrims on the Plateau Roads
In the days before Maha Shivaratri (February or March) the roads to Grand Bassin across the plateau are full of pilgrims on foot and some are closed to traffic: allow extra time, drive slowly, or visit the highlands from the west coast another day.
- Maha Shivaratri at Grand Bassin — The biggest Hindu pilgrimage outside India: for three or four days before the night of Shiva, hundreds of thousands of Mauritians walk to Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao), many carrying kanwars, decorated arches of flowers and mirrors, to bring lake water home to their temples. Volunteers line the roads with free food and drink. The roads round the lake close to cars, and the plateau roads are full of walkers day and night; visit the lake another day unless you mean to join the pilgrimage, and drive with care across the island. A public holiday.
- Thaipoosam Cavadee — The Tamil festival of Murugan: after days of fasting, devotees carry the cavadee, a wooden arch with flowers and pots of milk, to the kovils (temples), many with their cheeks and tongues pierced. Processions in Port Louis and the towns from early morning. A public holiday.
- Ganesh Chaturthi — Ganesh's festival, kept mostly by Marathi-speaking Mauritians: home and temple prayers, then processions carrying the idols to the sea or rivers for immersion the next day. A public holiday.
- Divali — The festival of lights: houses and temples lit with clay lamps and fairy lights, sweets (gateaux) shared with neighbours, and fireworks after dark. A public holiday, and one of the busiest weeks for flights from India.