The seven-colored earths at Chamarel geopark in Mauritius are an unusual island’s natural attraction, reminiscent of landscapes of the moon. People come here for beautiful photos for social networks: the sands are very picturesque without any filters. Once you get tired from the perfect Mauritian beaches explore this geopark.
Check our ultimate travel guide to Chamarel seven colored earth geopark in Mauritius and get up-to-date information about entrance fees, opening hours, how to get and other details for first time visitors.
General Info
- Location: Southwest Mauritius.
- Entrance fee: 300 Mauritian rupees for adults, 175 rupees for children under 12 years old, children under 3 years old – free of charge.
- Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday from 08:00 to 17:30, Monday is a day off.
- When is the best time to go: all year round at dawn, it is at this time that you can see all the colors of the Chamarel sands.
- Click here to buy ticket to Chamarel 7 colored earths geopark. Entrance fee to Chamarel colored sands park includes Chamarel waterfalls.
- On the map: link.
How did Chamarel sands appear in Mauritius
The sand dunes near the village of Chamarel are naturally colored in seven different colors: green, purple, red, yellow, burgundy, brown, pink.
According to one version, they adopted this color due to chemical processes and climatic conditions that prevailed on the island for a long time. Mauritius has many volcanic rocks. Gradually cooling down, these rocks painted the sands in bizarre colors.
The second version is more exotic – the locals are sure that the sands were brought by aliens many centuries ago. And such an assumption is not without meaning: geologists around the world still cannot give an exact answer about the origin of colored sands in Mauritius.
The main feature of Chamarel colored sands is the clear boundaries between different hues. The sands do not mix with each other despite the strong winds and rains that occur on the island. Why this happens, scientists can not yet answer.
How to get to Chamarel geopark
To get to the 7 colored sands of Chamarel in Mauritius, you need to drive to the southwestern part of the island. From the capital, Port Louis , you can take a bus to the nearest major city to the sands – Chemin Grenier. It is located 25 km from the village of Chamarel, which gave its name to the sands.
You can get from Chemin Grenier by taxi or your own car. By car, you need to leave the city on the B9 highway and follow until the turn onto the B104 road. This road will lead you straight to the Chamarel Seven Colored Earths. Just one hour drive from this geopark there is another interesting place you should visit – La Vanille Nature park.
Another option for getting to the colored sands of Chamarel is a guided tour, click here to make a reservation. You can book an excursion in all major cities of Mauritius and in most hotels on the island. If you would like to join day tour by following the link above, you’ll have a chance to explore the south of the island. Among many places for visiting, there are dormant volcano Trou aux Cerfs, located close to Curepipe city.
Rules for visiting the rainbow sands
There are several rules for visiting the park with sand dunes, which are strictly prohibited to violate:
- You can not walk on the dunes themselves. This can destroy the unique landscape. You can look at the sands from the side.
- It is forbidden to take sand with you. This carries a heavy fine.
- Littering is not allowed in the park.
You can only walk in the park along special hiking trails. But vacationers will definitely not be bored: there are more than 60 routes around the sands.
Things to do in Chamarel colored earths geopark in Mauritius
Chamarel Waterfalls Trek
In addition to Chamarel rainbow sands, there are other interesting things to see and do in the geopark. One of the most popular is Chamarel waterfalls, you can observe it from one of viewpoints or you can join waterfall eco hike tour. The stream of water falls from a height of 100 meters into the pool and this water goes further to the canyon. During the trekking tour you’ll have a chance to go to the base of the waterfalls and enjoy swimming in the clean and fresh water.
Souvenir Shop
Don’t forget to visit souvenir shop before you leave Chamarel 7 colored earths geopark. There you’ll find some authentic goods, produced by locals. You can buy Mauritius rum there or even take some colored sands samples with you as a reminder of your trip to Chamarel geopark. Salts with unusual flavors as well as local spices and honey can also become a great souvenir idea to take with you from Mauritius island.
