An easy-to-reach island and three enchanting sights not to be missed: the waterfall, the seven-color trail and Ebony Forest.
For lovers of nature and landscapes, Chamarel it's the best place you can find at Mauritius.
The world famous park is also known as land of seven colorsdue to a geological phenomenon of volcanic origin in which lands of seven different colors are intertwined giving life to fantastic shades.
Where is Chamarel located
Chamarel is located in the western part of the island and is easy to reach as it is well signposted.
The road to get to the park is in itself already a sight of rare beauty as it is very scenic and cuts through a lush tropical forest.
When you arrive at your destination, you have two options: visit the park on foot or by car. In any case, an entrance ticket must be paid.
I chose the first option to enjoy the scents and sounds of nature that surrounds the entire area considering that within Chamarel, a short distance from each other, there are three areas to visit: the waterfall, the land of seven colors and Ebony forest.
1. The waterfall
The first wonder you meet in Chamarel is the waterfall set between rocks and tropical forest with a jump of 100 meters (in the information sign it is compared to the height of the Statue of Liberty)
It takes your breath away when, step by step, you approach the fence that offers this grandiose spectacle.
From the waterfall continue on foot for about ten minutes on an asphalted road admiring the numerous species of plants present in the park until you reach the land of seven colors.
2. The land of seven colors
The area is not large and is quite touristy and therefore crowded most of the time.
It winds in a circular path that includes a quick tour to see these formations of iron and aluminum that form waves and particular designs but nothing hilarious, an area reserved for the numerous species of Mauritian plants and another that hosts some giant tortoises.
In my opinion it is the least interesting part of the park but luckily, less than a kilometer away, there is another treasure to discover: Ebony Forest.
3. Ebony Forest
It is a large area within the rich forest nature trails and breathtaking panoramic views.
Here, too, to enter you must have a ticket and you can choose to continue on foot or be taken by the ranger with the jeep directly to the various "point views".
As always, I preferred to walk to discover the three main paths: Rase Way, Sublime View and Piton Canton for a total of six kilometers.
The first path - Rase way - is 1,5 km long and includes a walkway that cuts through the forest in which there are signs scattered everywhere describing the fauna and flora of the place: this shows how rich this island is in biodiversity .
The second - Sublime View - winds for 2,4 km and as the name implies, sublime view, leads through a few climbs to one of the most beautiful viewpoints of Mauritius: the Point View from which you can admire the high green mountains that contrast with the thousand shades of turquoise sea.
But for the most surprising view, at three hundred and sixty degrees on the great beauty that surrounds the area, then you have to walk the 500 meters strictly uphill of Piton Canot.
The trail arrives at the peak (and I mean peak) of the mountain, at the highest point ever at almost 800 meters: a circle of grass surrounded by bushes of four meters in diameter that offers a breathtaking view of Le Morne, its turquoise sea and the lush mountains around it.
A trip to Mauritius cannot be defined as complete without having passed through the charm of Chamarel.
