Chamarel and Casela Visitor Guide
Safety note, 31 October 2026: After curfews from 12 to 18 October, Mauritius reopened on 19 October with roads and schools running again. The UK says to avoid demonstrations, and the US asks visitors to take increased caution because of crime. Confirm your own government’s guidance before paying for anything.
Chamarel and Casela: questions answered
The two big groups of ticketed sights near Black River are the Chamarel plateau and Casela Nature Parks. Here are the questions visitors ask most, with prices in Mauritian rupees (Rs) for non-residents.
What does the Chamarel geopark ticket include?
One ticket buys entry to the coloured sand dunes, both waterfall viewpoints and the Aldabra tortoise park. The price is Rs 800 for adults and Rs 400 for children from 5 to 11, with younger children free. Gates open at 08:30 every day. They shut at 17:30 between October and May (last ticket 17:00) and at 17:00 between June and September.
Can I walk to the waterfall?
No. The fall drops about 100 m and is admired from the rim. Independent hiking to the bottom is prohibited, and so is swimming in the pool below. The dunes are also fenced, so photographs are taken from the boardwalks.
How do I pay?
Rupee cash, most cards (not Diners) and local mobile pay all work. A cashier will turn away euros and dollars in notes.
What is Ebony Forest?
It is a reserve of native ebony woodland. The Take A Drive jeep tour takes two hours and costs Rs 1,600 for adults and Rs 1,080 for ages 5 to 17, with a 10 percent online discount. Cars set off at 09:30, 11:30, 13:30 and 15:30. Longer guided treks cost Rs 2,500 and Rs 1,650 and need two adults.
Is the rum distillery worth a stop?
La Rhumerie de Chamarel presses sugarcane for its rum and shows visitors round before a tasting. Its published pages give no fixed prices, so ask about costs and the days it opens. The restaurant L’Alchimiste is on site. A designated driver is a must on those switchback roads.
What is Curious Corner?
A walk-through of illusions, a mirror maze and an upside-down house, placed opposite the geopark entrance. Plan an hour or so there.
What does Casela offer?
Casela covers 350 hectares at Cascavelle and is open from 09:00 to 17:00 every day but 25 December and 1 January. Visitors come for the African Safari, the aviary, the 760 m Tulawaka toboggan, zip lines and quad biking. Expect non-resident adult tickets from about Rs 1,300 to 1,600, and verify the price at booking.caselaparks.com. Skip the lion and other big-cat encounters it sells, as welfare groups discourage them.
Can I see the underwater waterfall?
Only from a helicopter or seaplane, because it is sand sliding down the sea floor off the southwest tip of the peninsula. Resellers list shared 15 minute flights from about 190 to 220 EUR or USD per person.
Read more: day trips , sightseeing and the 4 day Mauritius itinerary .
Reserve tours through Viator . Current details sit on the geopark FAQ , the Ebony Forest visit page , the distillery site and Casela .