Chamarel

Ce contenu n’est pas disponible en français

Considering the fact that it is a small village located in the Rivière Noire District, up above the mountains, Chamarel Village offers so many things to do and some of the best attractions on the island, making it a must visit destination.

The Chamarel village is popular for its scenic landscapes and the 7 color earch reserve, which you have probably never seen anywhere else on the planet. The distinct natural attractions have blessed Chamarel making it an unparalleled tourist attraction to behold and discover. The village is known for its "hushed buconic vibe and cool breezes”, parks, attractions and nature reserves.

With pleasant ambience, tons of amazing things to do and beautiful surroundings, a trip to Mauritius will never be complete without a visit to Chamarel.

Brief History of Chamarel

The Chamarel village is named after the Frenchman Charles Antoine de Chazal de Chamarel, who lived in the area around 1800. In the past the entire area of the village belonged to him. Mathew Flinders who was captured in Mauritius during the Napoleonic war was hosted by Chamarel in his estate. However, the local residents of the village call the area the "Valley of Blacks".

Chamarel Location

Chamarel is a small village on the west coast of Mauritius, near Tamarin and le Morne village and is located in Rivière Noire District, the eastern part of the village also lies in the Savanne District.

The drive is about 1 hour from the international airport and around 1 hour from the capital Port-Louis, the most beautiful beaches on the island like the Morne and Baie du Cap can be reached in less than half an hour.

Chamarel can be reached from Vacoas by passing through La Marie, Mare aux Vacoas, Plaine Champagne, and Viewpoint from Case Noyale on the west coast, one can drive through a twisted road, zig zagging at times and serpentine as well. The less tortuous and risky and easily accessible is the road from Bale du Cap. It is less stressful though it runs uphill before reaching Chamarel.

Climate in Chamarel

Average temperatures in Chamarel vary very little. Considering humidity, temperatures feel nice most of the year, excluding some hot weeks in the summer, with a chance of rain throughout most of the year. The warmest time of year is generally early to mid February where highs are regularly around 29°C with temperatures rarely dropping below 22°C at night.

The coolest month of the year is July with an average daily maximum of 25°C and an average low of 20°C

Hotels in Chamarel

Visitors to Chamarel can choose from a selection of exclusive top class luxury lodges and to small family owned bungalows and apartments. It is to be noted that Chamarel is considered as the best place for a mountain and nature holiday and the lodges of Chamarel are the nicest in Mauritius.

Below please find the list of the main hotels found in Chamarel :-

Lakaz Chamarel

Lakaz Chamarel is a small ‘boutique hotel’, managed ‘like a Guesthouse’ but with the full service of a 5* hotel. Unique and refined in the heart of a splendid tropical garden, surrounded by the mountains, Lakaz Chamarel is a pearl among the top hotels of the destination which guarantees exclusivity and serenity to ‘nature and green tourism lovers’ in a warm and harmonious decor, and with a refined local cuisine.

Chalets Chamarel

The first hotel of its kind, Chalets Chamarel is situated uniquely at the top of Natural Forest with unparalleled panoramic views of the West Coast of Mauritius. To the East coast you’ll see 500 acres of forest stretching as far as the horizon. The 11 chalets are built spaciously apart for a perfectly intimate and private setting, immersed in nature. Each chalet has a unique yet equally stunning panoramic view of the ocean and forest.

La Vieille Cheminée

La Vieille Cheminée offers B&B and self-catering stays where you can discover a tropical farm, enjoy walks or horse rides while staying in one of the cosy and well equipped eco-lodges.

Les Jardins de Chamarel Lodge

Nestled in the Piton Valley, this 10 acre organic vegetable farm borders onto the entrance of the seven coloured earth and the Chamarel village. The stay at this business-friendly B&B offers individual lodges, generous in size and is decorated in refined rustic elegance.

Beaches near Chamarel

You can reach the beautiful beaches in the south of Mauritius and the drive takes around 15mins to half an hour

Famous Beaches include :

• Le Morne
• La Prairie
• St Felix
• Pomponette
• Riambel
• La Preneuse
• Tamarin

Places to visit in Chamarel

Seven-Coloured Earth

While Mauritius is mostly globally renowned for its jaw-dropping beaches, the island is home to a vast variety of other geographical phenomena. One such extremely curious natural phenomenon is the Seven-Coloured Earth, a fenced area with multicoloured dunes in seven different colours of violet, green, brown, red, yellow, purple and blue. The Seven-Coloured Earth is one of the most-visited tourist destinations in Mauritius.

Chamarel Waterfall

About halfway between the entrance gate to 7-Coloured Earth and the colourful sands is a scenic viewpoint over the waterfall, which plunges more than 95m in a single drop. With a reservation, you can abseil with Vertical World from the top of Chamarel Waterfall all the way into the pool at its base.

Rhumerie De Chamarel

The Rhumerie De Chamarel is a distillery where you get a good taste of the Rum that is produced in the country. It is not only a favorite for everyone who wants to have a taste of the Rum but also those that want to know how it is made. The distillery makes about nine different types of Rum and these can be tasted after the tour.

Curious Corner of Chamarel

From mind-bending optical illusions and mirror mazes to interactive puzzles and forced-perspective photo ops, the Curious Corner of Chamarel is a museum unlike any other in Mauritius. It’s full of fun exhibitions for the Instagram age that challenge your perceptions and make you smile.

The Alexander waterfalls

The Alexander waterfalls are located within the black gorges National Park and one of the many waterfalls within the country. They are a 500 feet waterfall and the one best way that you can get to them is by trekking to the falls and once you get there, you will have a clear view of the whole Black River Gorges National Park and the unique tree species surrounding the waterfalls.

Ebony Forest Reserve

Dedicated to conserving Mauritius’ indigenous forest and endangered wildlife, the Ebony Forest Reserve is one of the island’s most important ecoreserves. Home to more than 140 native and endemic plant and animal species, it’s a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts, with scenic hiking trails and ocean-view

Highlights in Chamarel Surrounding

The Black River Gorges National Park

The Black River Gorges National Park is found near Chamarel and it is the largest National Park in the country. It has a lot of endemic tree species and a few endemic wildlife that makes it a paradise to visit.

Some of the activities that you can carry out while here include:

• A photo safari, the unique flora that is found in the Park is worth exploring and you do not want to go back without at least taking as many photos as you can as a good memory of your trip.
• Trekking and hiking, this activity will take you to the different parts of the National Park that is the waterfalls and you will also get to see and explore the whole Park from a different angle.
• Go for birding, birding excursions in the park are mostly done in the morning and these are carried out almost every day. You will need to carry your birding equipment as you will get to see some of the rare bird species in the National Park.
• Camping, you will also have a chance to enjoy some camping while exploring the Black River Gorges National Park and you should be ready for a night out in the wild which means that you should prepare appropriately.

Ile aux Bénitiers

Ile aux Bénitiers is as flat as the hill opposite it is high, and it is one of the best kept secrets of the southern coast. In the shape of a clam, this little piece of land is hemmed by splendid beaches sinking deep into transparent water. Nature being very much protected there, the island does not allow water sports, but it offers nonetheless idyllic conditions to relax in the manner of Robinson Crusoe.

Boat trips to Ile aux Bénitiers are among the most popular day trips and among other activities, they generally include a snorkeling stop in the nearby lagoon. You will also visit the Crystal Rock located in the middle of the lagoon and also get the chance to swim with dolphins which are usually observed in this area.

Day tours can be booked on MauritiusAttractions.com