Best things to do in Le Morne

Make friends with some critters among unspoiled surroundings at La Vanille Nature Park, a nature park featuring impressive scenery and a wealth of animals. Take a tour with one of the knowledgeable guides to see the abundance of creatures that make their home here, learning interesting facts about the animals and their natural habitat. Head to the petting zoo, designed to entertain and inform younger visitors about local farm animals through interaction at feeding time. Tortoises bumble around the park in their inimitable way, while crocodiles roam their large enclosures, displaying massive jaws and teeth during feeding time shows.

The rugged, mountainous peninsula of Le Morne Brabant stands as a World Heritage Site and symbol of the abolitionist movement in the country. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, runaway slaves sought shelter here, living in the caves cut from the basalt rock. In 1835, Mauritius abolished slavery, and a police expedition traveled to the peninsula to inform the runaways of their freedom. Tragically, the community misunderstood the intentions of the approaching officers, and many jumped from the cliffs to their deaths. Book a guided tour of this historical site, and along the way explore the peninsula's unique microclimate, interesting plant life, and impressive geological features.

Admire an impressive natural water feature at Chamarel Waterfalls. Plunging 83 m (272 ft) in a single drop, the waterfall spills over a sheer cliff face surrounded by thick vegetation, creating an iconic sight. View the fall from the observation deck located at its top, and descend to the pool at its base to enjoy some swimming in the shallow waters. Prebook to experience rappelling down the waterfall's length, taking in the scenery and the power of the ancient gush of water from a dramatic perspective.

Explore the range of Mauritian plant and animal life at Black River Gorges National Park, a protected area that includes the last of the nation's rainforest. Encompassing around two percent of the country's total space, the area is formally protected from further deforestation after being proclaimed a national park in 1994. Spot rusa deer and wild pigs, along with endemic species like the Mauritian flying fox, Mauritius kestrel, and the pink pigeon. The variety in the wildlife comes with the area's diversity of climate and habitat, with humid upland forest, dry lowland forest, and heathland all here.

Witness an impressive geological formation at Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark. The attractive area of dunes features sand of seven distinct colors: red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple, and yellow settle in separate layers, forming colorful stripes. The decomposition of volcanic rock cooling at different temperatures causes the separation, which, taken as a whole, appears otherworldly. Remember to bring your camera to catch this strange natural sight from behind the fences of the observation deck, and consider taking home a small tube of the sands from one of the many sellers by the entrance.

Have fun at Curious Chamarel, an entertaining place of illusions, tricks, and games. Get lost in the hall of mirrors, and step into interactive illusions themed in a range of different styles and eras. Make sure to bring your camera to capture the mind-bending scenes, and consider getting a professional photo of you and your party to take home. Head to the onsite shop for a selection of curious trinkets, games, and souvenirs, and enjoy a meal at the cafe.

Take a tour of Rhumerie de Chamarel to learn about the history of rum production in the country. Opening in 2008, the distillery harvests its own sugar cane by hand instead of burning the crops; the result is an improved flavor and smaller ecological footprint. Surrounded by attractive plant life, where sugar cane, pineapples, and other tropical fruits grow in abundance, the distillery and agricultural plantation form an eco-friendly estate and offer an introduction to the country's agricultural heritage. Let the experienced guides take you through the process of rum-making, and be sure to enjoy a tipple at the end and pick up a bottle to take home with you.

Adventure across the varied terrain of La Vallee des Couleurs, a reserve rich in nature and geological features. The 23-colored earth--a vibrant patch of volcanic rock and sand--dates back millions of years to the eruption of the Bassin Blanc, its coloration the result of chemicals cooling at different temperatures. Across the extensive reserve you'll find a deer park, native plants such as wild orchids, Trochetia, and bouquet banane, along with pink pigeons, monkeys, and tortoises. Head for the zipline to see the park from above.

A large and well-known natural formation, Crystal Rock rises above the ocean's surface off the shore of Le Morne. See the rock up close by hopping on one of the many boat tours, which will take you out 200 m (656 ft) off the coast. Different tour providers offer various activities to combine with a visit to the famed rock, such as snorkeling and swimming with dolphins. You can even opt for a glass-bottom boat to watch the marine life as you float above.

Enjoy a day by the sea at Le Morne Beach, an attractive stretch of coastline. Take a dip in the clear blue waters and relax and the soft sand. Currents can get pretty strong even close to the beach, so use caution when swimming with young kids. If you do brave the currents, bring snorkeling gear: the clarity of the water makes this a great spot to observe underwater life. The surrounding Casuarina trees offer ample shade along the beach, and you'll find some bare-bones facilities nearby.

Head to Bel Ombre Nature Reserve to survey exceptional landscapes as well as a richly biodiverse selection of protected plant and wildlife. Stretching over 20 km sq (2,000 hectares), the mixture of dry coastal forest and rainforest shelters species as diverse as fruit bats, wild boars, and tropical birds of various types. The reserve offers a wide variety of packages for exploration of the land; if you’re feeling adventurous, take the guided hike or the mountain biking trail.