Three islands, three histories
The Salvation Islands archipelago consists of three volcanic islands in the Atlantic, beneath the trajectory of Ariane rockets. They belong to the CNES — the French National Centre for Space Studies — which manages them today. Only two can be visited.
The three islands
The penal colony: understanding before you visit
Between 1852 and 1953, more than 70,000 convicts were sent to the French Guiana penal colony. Fewer than 20,000 survived. The mortality rate was catastrophic — malaria, dysentery, tropical diseases, appalling sanitary conditions.
Three famous prisoners stand out: Alfred Dreyfus — the captain wrongly convicted of espionage, exiled to Devil's Island in 1895; Henri Charrière 'Papillon' — whose famous novel immortalised the penal colony; and Guillaume Seznec — convicted in 1924 in one of France's most controversial criminal cases.
What to see on Île Royale
- The penal museum — in the former Director's house. Dreyfus's letters, period photographs, prisoners' objects. Free.
- The chapel — restored, with modern stained glass depicting Guianese wildlife. A beautiful incongruity.
- The prisoners' swimming pool — natural rock basin, accessible at high tide. Crystal clear water. The most photographed spot on the islands.
- The ara alley — in late afternoon, these large parrots gather in a specific area. The soundscape is unforgettable.
- Squirrel monkeys — free-roaming on the island since the penal colony closed in 1953. Curious and tame, they will climb on you.
Getting to the Salvation Islands
On launch days: access to the islands closes 5 hours before each launch — the islands are under the rocket's flight path. If you plan your visit around a launch, check the schedule at centrespatialguyanais.cnes.fr. Watching a launch from the islands the evening before is an extraordinary experience.
Where to stay on the islands
Auberge des Îles — Île Royale
Why stay overnight: once the day-trippers have left on the last boat, the islands change completely. You have the island to yourself. The sunset over the Atlantic from Île Royale is exceptional. And at night, the stars above the ocean — with zero light pollution — are worth the trip alone.
The Salvation Islands
in your French Guiana trip.
Our Heart of French Guiana package includes a catamaran day trip to the Salvation Islands, combined with the CSG and the Kaw Marshes.