Tamarin: Bay, Hiking Trails and Salt Tradition

Tamarin combines life by the bay with a tangible salt-making tradition: nearby, salt pans lie in a landscape of mangroves and salt marshes, while the market, dolphins and hiking trails offer different reasons to stay. If you’re looking for a holiday rental in Tamarin, you can tailor your getaway to your interests, whether water, outdoor activity or local culture.

Market, Bay and Salt-Making

The weekend market in Tamarin sells fresh fruit, spices and handicrafts. It’s a good idea to check the date and current selection before visiting, as both may change. The bay is another defining feature: hundreds of spinner dolphins and bottlenose dolphins regularly visit it and the surrounding waters. Excursions depart from Tamarin Beach, where visitors can watch or swim with dolphins. Check the available excursion options in advance when making specific plans.

Salt production is a traditional economic activity in the vicinity of Tamarin. The Tamarin Salt Pans are considered the last active salt pans in Mauritius. The techniques used have remained unchanged for around 200 years. The salt ponds lie in a landscape of mangroves and salt marshes, and are among the few remaining traces of the once-important salt industry on Mauritius’s west coast. Here, traditional craft meets a distinctive coastal landscape.

Seasonal Wave and Hiking Trails

A left-hand wave forms in Tamarin Bay during the southern winter, from June to September. If surfing is important to your trip, you can use this period as a guide when planning your visit. This makes the wave a distinctive seasonal highlight among Tamarin’s attractions.

Hiking options around Tamarin include Montagne de la Tourelle. Its ascent is described as challenging and offers views of Morne Brabant, the gorges and the lagoon. A clearly visible, well-trodden path leads to the summit of Tourelle du Tamarin; this hike is considered not particularly challenging. From the summit, you can look out over Black River Gorges, Le Morne Brabant and the lagoon. Both descriptions feature views of Morne Brabant and the lagoon, while the stated level of difficulty differs. Trail conditions and difficulty at Tourelle du Tamarin may vary; check them before setting out.

More to Discover in Black River

The wider Black River destination also offers historical and geological points of interest. Following the abolition of slavery in 1835, Trou Chenille is considered the birthplace of settlement in southwest Mauritius and the first village of Le Morne where the descendants of enslaved people lived. A reconstruction project of the former village aims to inform visitors from Mauritius and abroad and raise their awareness of its historical and cultural significance. At Chamarel’s Seven Coloured Earths, the natural formation consists of volcanic sand. A three-kilometre path leads from the main entrance to the dunes and passes two viewpoints overlooking Chamarel Waterfall; check current conditions before visiting. In Black River, historical memory and geological features offer distinct areas to explore.

Choose a Holiday Rental to Suit Your Interests

When searching for a holiday rental, start with your travel dates if the left-hand wave matters to you; hiking enthusiasts can weigh up the ascents, which are described differently. The market and salt-making add culture and landscape to the range of interests to consider. This way, you can focus your search on the experiences you want to shape your stay in Tamarin.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Petite Riviere, Flic En Flac, La Preneuse, Albion, Le Morne, La Gaulette, Black River, Chamarel.

See the main travel overview: Black River.