Chalets Chamarel

In the highlands village of Chamarel — perhaps the most photographed inland destination in Mauritius — a collection of handsome wooden chalets clusters around a promontory with arguably the most dramatic view on the island: the famous seven-coloured earth dunes, the Chamarel waterfall, and a sweeping panorama south to the distant ocean. Chalets Chamarel is a small, owner-run property that has operated for decades with a loyalty among guests that large resorts envy. The chalets themselves are simple in a good way — local hardwood floors, four-poster beds dressed in local batik, and front terraces from which you can watch the mist pour through the Black River valley at dawn. The restaurant, La Vanille, is frequently cited by Mauritians themselves as one of the best places to eat on the island: the venison in black pepper sauce, the palm heart salad, and the rum-soaked chocolate fondant are worth the winding mountain drive up from the coast. Being in Chamarel means the Black River Gorges National Park is walkable; the Rhumerie de Chamarel distillery, where sugarcane varieties produce agricole-style rums, is five minutes away; and the famous coloured earths viewpoint is across the road. This is not a beach resort and makes no pretence of being one. It is the best base in Mauritius for those who want mountains, forests, extraordinary local food, and the sensation that they have found the island rather than a resort built on top of it.