At Chamarel, in the southwest of Mauritius, the main visit is the Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth Geopark: a single ticket (800 rupees for a non-resident adult) gives access to the viewpoints over the Chamarel waterfall, the colored earth dunes and the giant tortoise park. The site opens at 8:30 am and closes at 5:30 pm from October to May, and at 5 pm from June to September. This page explains what the ticket includes, how the visit works, the site rules and sunrise and sunset times month by month.
For the rest of the island, see our guide to traveling to Mauritius and our page on the best time to visit Mauritius.
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Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth: key facts
- Hours: October to May, 8:30 am–5:30 pm (last ticket at 5 pm); June to September, 8:30 am–5 pm — checked on 27 October 2026 on chamarel7colouredearth.com
- Open: every day, Sundays and public holidays included; closed in case of cyclone or heavy rain.
- Non-resident price: adult Rs 800, child aged 5 to 11 Rs 400, free under 5.
- Resident price (ID or residence permit required): adult Rs 400, child Rs 200.
- Payment: Mauritian rupees in cash, bank card (except Diners Club) or local mobile payment; no foreign currency in cash.
- Visit length: 45 minutes to 2 hours according to the official site; no guided tour offered.
- Tickets: on sale at the entrance or online; non-refundable, non-exchangeable, valid for a single entry.
Chamarel: a village and a geopark
Chamarel is a village in the uplands of southwest Mauritius. When people talk about « visiting Chamarel », they mostly mean the private Seven Coloured Earths geopark, which groups several sites under one ticket. According to its official site, the place has been open to visitors since the 1960s and the phenomenon was documented as early as 1879 by the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences of Mauritius.
The geological explanation put forward by the geopark: basaltic lavas cooled at different rates, producing iron and aluminum oxides; erosion and climate then shaped the colored layers visible today, which do not mix.
What the ticket includes
| Site | Included in the ticket? | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Chamarel waterfall (two viewpoints) | Yes | According to the site, Mauritius’s highest single-drop waterfall, close to 100 m (328 ft) |
| 7 Coloured Earth dunes (Geopark) | Yes | Viewed from the edge: walking on the colored earth is prohibited |
| Aldabra tortoise park | Yes | Entering the enclosure or feeding the tortoises is prohibited |
| Endemic garden | Yes | On the geopark route |
| Café and shop | Free access on site | Open 9:30 am–5 pm |
| Ebony Forest and Lavilleon | No | Tickets to be bought on site, at each attraction |
Official ticket or tour?
The ticket is bought at the entrance or online on the official site, at the non-resident price shown above. Many agencies offer full-day excursions in the southwest that include Chamarel, often with other stops. Check whether geopark entry is included in the price and how long is planned on site: the official site recommends between 45 minutes and 2 hours. Resident prices apply only to Mauritians and residents with proof of residence.
How the visit works
The visit is self-guided (no guide). According to the FAQ, 3 km (2 mi) separate the entrance from the geopark proper: you can cover them by car, scooter, motorbike, bicycle or on foot. Two car parks are provided, one near the waterfall viewpoint, the other near the dunes. 60-seat coaches (8 meters / 26 ft) are not admitted because the road is narrow. To get around the island, see our guide to car rental in Mauritius.
- The waterfall viewpoints: the fall is fed by three streams that join the Saint-Denis river; it drops over two lava layers of different ages, according to the geopark.
- The colored dunes: you view them from the landscaped edge.
- The tortoise park: giant tortoises originally from Aldabra (Seychelles).
- The endemic garden, the café and the shop at the end of the route.
For walkers, the geopark suggests covering the 3 km (2 mi) between the entrance and the dunes on foot, passing the waterfall viewpoints, which makes 6 km (4 mi) round trip.
Opening hours and best time of day
The geopark advises coming in the morning or late afternoon, for cooler air, better light and safer walking. The table below sets this recommendation against the sun’s path: it gives sunrise and sunset on the 15th of each month at Chamarel.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5:42 am | 6:56 pm | 13 h 14 |
| February | 6:01 am | 6:47 pm | 12 h 46 |
| March | 6:12 am | 6:26 pm | 12 h 13 |
| April | 6:21 am | 5:59 pm | 11 h 38 |
| May | 6:32 am | 5:41 pm | 11 h 09 |
| June | 6:43 am | 5:37 pm | 10 h 54 |
| July | 6:46 am | 5:46 pm | 11 h 00 |
| August | 6:33 am | 5:57 pm | 11 h 24 |
| September | 6:07 am | 6:04 pm | 11 h 58 |
| October | 5:40 am | 6:12 pm | 12 h 33 |
| November | 5:22 am | 6:27 pm | 13 h 05 |
| December | 5:24 am | 6:46 pm | 13 h 22 |
What the figures show: in June and July the sun sets around 5:37 pm, shortly after the 5 pm closing; late afternoon is therefore short in the southern winter. In December and January, sunset is around 6:56 pm, well after the 5:30 pm closing: end-of-day light is then available right to the end of the visit.
On the weather side, the geopark closes in case of cyclone or heavy rain. The site also recommends a light jacket or umbrella in the rainy season, and comfortable walking shoes.
Site rules
- Stay on the marked paths; walking on the colored earth or taking samples is strictly prohibited.
- Drones prohibited without prior authorization; personal photos and videos allowed, commercial filming subject to agreement.
- Picnics and pets prohibited (except registered assistance animals).
- Tobacco, alcohol and drugs prohibited on the site.
- Children must be supervised by an adult at all times; strollers may be restricted on some terrain.
- Do not feed or disturb the animals, pick nothing and leave no litter.
Getting there, car rental and eSIM
Chamarel lies inland in the southwest of the island. The geopark states that cars, minibuses, taxis, scooters, motorbikes and bicycles may pass through the main entrance; the site does not publish travel times from the tourist areas. Most visitors come by rental car, taxi or organized excursion.
Renting a car or booking a tour
If you rent a car, check the insurance terms and vehicle type when you book, as the access road is narrow and hilly. For mobile data, our travel eSIM guide explains how to choose a plan. See entry requirements for Mauritius on our country page.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Arriving with cash in foreign currency: only Mauritian rupees are accepted in cash (bank cards are accepted, except Diners Club).
- Arriving too late: the last ticket is sold at 5 pm from October to May and the site closes at 5 pm from June to September.
- Assuming Ebony Forest is included: that site has its own ticket office.
- Walking on the colored earth for a photo: it is prohibited.
- Planning a split payment: the ticket must be paid in a single transaction.
What to see nearby
- Mauritius: our complete guide to the country.
- Rodrigues: the quieter sister island.
- When to go to Mauritius: climate and cyclone season.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter Chamarel?
Rs 800 for a non-resident adult and Rs 400 for a child aged 5 to 11; free under 5 (official site, 27 October 2026).
Is the Chamarel waterfall included in the ticket?
Yes, the ticket gives access to both waterfall viewpoints, the dunes and the tortoise park.
What are the opening hours of the Seven Coloured Earths?
8:30 am–5:30 pm from October to May (last ticket at 5 pm) and 8:30 am–5 pm from June to September, every day.
How long does the visit take?
Between 45 minutes and 2 hours according to the official site, with no time limit during opening hours.
Can you pay in foreign currency?
No: no foreign currency in cash is accepted; pay in Mauritian rupees, by card (except Diners Club) or by local mobile payment.
Our sources
- Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth (official site): FAQ, Geopark, Chamarel Waterfall, Tortoise Park, Geopark Entrance Ticket and Rules and Regulations pages, consulted on 27 October 2026
- Site coordinates: Wikipedia, « Chamarel » article
- Sunrise, sunset and day length: Destination de Voyage calculation, NOAA solar algorithm, Indian/Mauritius time zone, coordinates of the Seven Coloured Earths (Wikipedia), on the 15th of each month (year 2027)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices, hours and access rules may change: check the official website before you go.