Places to Visit in Mauritius
Rhumerie de Chamarel
Discover the craft behind one of Mauritius' distinctive agricultural rums.
Location
Chamarel, Southwest Mauritius
Recommended Time
Approx. 1 โ 2 Hours
Best For
Culture, craftsmanship & food experiences
Known For
Pure cane rum
Experience
Guided tour & tasting
Opening
Monday โ Saturday
Overview
Discover Rhumerie de Chamarel
Hidden within the green hills of Chamarel, Rhumerie de Chamarel offers travellers a closer look at one of Mauritius' most important traditional products: rum made directly from fresh sugarcane juice.
The estate combines agriculture, craftsmanship and modern distillation within a beautifully designed setting surrounded by sugarcane fields and tropical landscapes.
Unlike industrial experiences hidden behind factory walls, the distillery was designed from the beginning to welcome visitors and allow them to follow the production journey safely and clearly.
During a guided visit, travellers can discover how freshly harvested sugarcane becomes rum through crushing, fermentation, distillation, ageing and bottling.
The experience combines Mauritian agricultural heritage with craftsmanship and makes an excellent addition to a day exploring Chamarel and southwest Mauritius.
From Cane to Bottle
Mauritian craftsmanship in Chamarel
Why Visit
Why Visit the Distillery?
Sugarcane to Rum
Follow the transformation of freshly harvested cane through fermentation and distillation.
Copper Stills
See the traditional equipment used in the rum-making process.
Oak-Barrel Ageing
Discover how selected rums develop character while ageing in oak barrels.
Guided Tasting
Finish the standard adult visitor experience with a guided tasting of different styles produced by the house.
MauTravel Experiences
Add More to Your Southwest Adventure
Already exploring Chamarel? Add one of these unforgettable MauTravel experiences to your day.
Craft & Copper
Inside the Distillery
The guided visit reveals the technical heart of the operation. Visitors can see the equipment used to transform fermented sugarcane juice into rum, including the distillery's copper pot stills and column stills, and learn how careful fermentation and craft production combine modern control with traditional rum-making knowledge.
Guided Tour Experience
What You'll Discover
A single guided visit follows the full journey from field to bottle.
Sugarcane
Learn where the raw ingredient begins.
Fermentation
Discover how fresh cane juice begins its transformation.
Distillation
See the stills and learn how rum is produced.
Ageing
Visit the areas where rum matures in oak.
Bottling
Understand the final stages before the product leaves the distillery.
Tasting
Adult visitors can finish the experience by discovering different rum styles produced by the house.
From Field to Bottle
From Sugarcane to Rum
1
Sugarcane
The estate grows sugarcane specifically for the production of Chamarel rum.
2
Harvest
Sugarcane is harvested and transported quickly to preserve freshness.
3
Pressing
Fresh sugarcane juice is extracted and prepared for fermentation.
4
Fermentation
The juice is fermented in controlled tanks.
5
Distillation
The fermented cane juice is distilled using specialised equipment including copper pot stills and column stills.
6
Ageing
Selected rums mature in oak barrels to develop additional aromas and complexity.
7
Bottling
The final product is bottled and prepared for distribution.
Time Adds Character
Inside the Ageing Cellar
Oak barrels, maturation and aroma.
After distillation, selected rums continue their journey inside oak barrels. Time spent in wood helps develop colour, aroma and flavour, creating profiles that differ significantly from freshly distilled white rum. Visitors on the guided tour can see the cellar and learn how ageing and craftsmanship form part of the production process.
Build a Chamarel Day
Make a Day of Chamarel
๐ Morning
Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth
Start the day among the coloured dunes and volcanic landscapes of the Geopark.
๐ง Late Morning
Chamarel Waterfall
Stop at the elevated viewpoints overlooking one of Mauritius' most spectacular waterfalls.
๐ฅ Midday
Rhumerie de Chamarel
Discover the guided distillery tour, from sugarcane to bottle, with tasting for eligible adults.
๐ฝ๏ธ Afternoon
Lunch / Local Experience
Enjoy a local lunch, such as at L'Alchimiste, before continuing your day.
โฐ๏ธ Late Afternoon
Le Morne or Black River Gorges
Round off the day with the mountain and lagoon of Le Morne or the forest trails of Black River Gorges.
This is an itinerary suggestion only โ it does not imply that one ticket covers all locations. Individual attractions, tours and reservations are arranged separately.
More Than a Factory
Extend Your Visit With Lunch
L'Alchimiste Restaurant
Rhumerie de Chamarel is also home to L'Alchimiste, an upscale restaurant using local products, including ingredients sourced from the estate where possible. The restaurant is currently open for lunch Monday to Saturday, 11:30 AM โ 3:30 PM, with reservation recommended. The official restaurant currently indicates that the standard distillery visit and tasting is included with lunch โ always verify the current arrangement when reserving.
Tasting Experience
Discover the House's Different Styles
At the end of the standard guided visit, eligible adult visitors can taste a selection of the agricultural rums produced by Rhumerie de Chamarel. Taste responsibly.
White Rum
The clear, unaged expression of pure cane spirit.
TastingWood-Aged Rum
A shorter spell in oak brings early colour and character.
TastingAged Rum
Extended barrel ageing for greater depth and complexity.
TastingFlavoured / Arranged Rum
Rum infused with local fruits, spices or botanicals.
TastingRum-Based Liqueurs
Sweeter, lower-strength expressions crafted from the house's rum.
TastingMore Than a Factory
Architecture & Setting
The visitor experience was intentionally integrated into the architecture of the distillery. Designed by Mauritian architect Maurice Giraud, the building combines natural materials such as wood, stone and water with its surrounding tropical landscape โ making the distillery itself part of the experience rather than simply the place where production happens.
Natural Stone
Local stone grounds the buildings within the surrounding landscape.
Warm Timber
Wood detailing runs throughout the estate's architecture.
Water Features
Water is woven into the design, echoing the estate's tropical setting.
Tropical Landscape
Gardens and greenery connect the buildings to the hills of Chamarel.
Prices
Visit & Tasting
Standard Guided Visit
Monday โ Saturday, 9:30 AM โ 4:30 PM. No reservation is currently required for the standard visit. Private visits run 9:30 AM โ 3:30 PM and require advance reservation. Current official information โ prices and opening hours can change.
Check Current Official InformationOpens the official park website (rhumeriedechamarel.com) in a new tab
Travel Tips
Before You Go
- Check current opening hours before travelling
- The distillery is currently closed on Sundays
- Allow approximately 1 โ 2 hours depending on your visit
- Wear comfortable shoes
- Bring a camera for the estate and distillery architecture
- Alcohol tasting is only for eligible visitors
- Designate a non-drinking driver if travelling independently
- Consider arranging private transport if you intend to participate in the tasting
- Private tours require advance reservation
- Standard prices and operating times can change
Where the Story Begins
Grown in Chamarel
One distinctive feature of Rhumerie de Chamarel is that the estate grows the sugarcane used for its own rum production.
The Domaine de l'Exil covers extensive agricultural land around Chamarel, and sugarcane remains at the heart of the estate.
Freshly harvested cane is brought to the distillery shortly after cutting so that its natural aromas and freshness can be preserved before fermentation โ estate-grown, freshly harvested, and rooted in southwest Mauritius.
Getting There
Enjoy the Tasting โ Let MauTravel Handle the Drive
Planning to experience the guided rum tasting? MauTravel can arrange private transportation so you can enjoy your Chamarel visit without worrying about driving afterwards. Combine Rhumerie de Chamarel with other highlights of southwest Mauritius for a comfortable, personalised day.
Continue Exploring
Explore Southwest Mauritius
Continue your journey and discover more of the wild beauty of southwest Mauritius.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rhumerie de Chamarel is an active rum distillery in southwest Mauritius where visitors can learn about the production of agricultural rum made from sugarcane grown on the estate.
Visitors learn about the production process, including sugarcane, fermentation, distillation, ageing and bottling, before eligible adults can participate in a tasting.
Current official information lists the standard visit and tasting at Rs 800 per adult and Rs 400 for visitors aged 16โ17.
Current official information states that the standard visit does not require advance reservation. Private visits require booking.
Current official information states that it is closed on Sundays.
Younger visitors may accompany their group subject to the distillery's visitor conditions, but alcohol tasting is restricted appropriately. Always verify current age policies directly with the distillery.
The standard adult guided experience currently includes a tasting at the end of the visit.
Yes. L'Alchimiste operates at the estate and offers lunch using local ingredients.
Visitors intending to consume alcohol should avoid driving afterwards. MauTravel can arrange private transportation.
Yes. Rhumerie de Chamarel is located close to other attractions in the Chamarel region and works well as part of a southwest Mauritius itinerary.
Ready When You Are
Discover the Craft of Chamarel
From estate-grown sugarcane and copper stills to oak-barrel ageing and guided tasting, experience another side of Mauritius' agricultural heritage.