Waterfalls in Mauritius You Cannot Miss

Chamarel is the tallest waterfall in Mauritius at around 100 metres, formed where the Saint-Denis, La Crete and Cascade Chamarel rivers meet. It sits inside the Seven Coloured Earth reserve, so most people see it on the same visit, from the viewing deck rather than at the base. That makes it the easiest of the island's big falls to reach, with parking at the entrance.

Tamarind Falls is a chain of seven cascades in the south-west, near Henrietta, and the reason to come is the guided hike down into the canyon rather than a viewpoint. Half-day and full-day routes both start at the canyon base, with pools deep enough to jump into along the way. A guide is strongly recommended: this is the most demanding waterfall here.

Alexandra Falls drops about 30 metres inside Black River Gorges National Park, and the viewpoint above it is one of the busiest stops in the park. There are picnic tables, toilets, changing rooms and plenty of parking at the top, which makes it the most family-friendly waterfall on this list. You look down on it rather than walking to its base.

Rochester Falls in the Savanne district is the widest in Mauritius, dropping about 10 metres over squared-off rock columns that look almost cut by hand. The pool below is a popular picnic and swimming spot in the dry season. The last stretch of track is rough and often muddy, so wear shoes you can walk in.

The Grand River South East falls are usually seen from the water, on the boat or kayak trip that runs out towards Ile aux Cerfs. That approach is the appeal: you come up the river between wooded banks and the falls appear at the end of it. Some operators let you swim or jump from the rocks. Flow is heaviest in the wet months, roughly January to April.

Eureka Falls sits behind the colonial Eureka House at Moka, on a marked path signed for waterfalls one, two and three. The first two are small; the third is the one worth the walk, a pair of drops into a pool deep enough to swim in. It works best combined with a visit to the house rather than as a trip of its own.

Exil Falls is on the edge of the Combo forest in the far south, where the Savannah River drops into a canyon. This is the adventure entry on the list: operators run abseiling and canyoning here rather than sightseeing. Two more falls sit in the same canyon, Leon at about 20 metres and Cascade Cecile at about 45. Levels rise sharply in the monsoon.

This one is not actually a waterfall. Off the coast of Le Morne Brabant, sand and silt running off an underwater shelf create the impression of water pouring downwards, and from above it looks as though the island is draining away. You cannot see it from the shore: it only reads as a waterfall from a helicopter or seaplane, which is how every photograph of it is taken.