Home → Destinations

7 territories,
7 worlds.

From the Creole capital to the depths of the Amazon — each region of French Guiana tells a unique story. Choose yours.

01
Capital
🌡️ 27°C · Atlantic coast · Year-round

Cayenne, the Creole capital.

Cayenne is far more than a transit point — it's a vibrant, multicultural, surprising city. Colourful colonial facades, a bustling central market, a unique gastronomy born from ten different cultures. Cayenne is a destination in its own right and the gateway to all adventures.

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Central market

Creole spices, exotic fruits, crafts — Saturday morning

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Guiana Carnival

One of the longest in the Americas — January to February

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Montjoly beach

Sea turtle nesting site 15 min from the city centre

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Creole gastronomy

Colombo, accras, bouillon d'awara — unique fusion cuisine

✈️ Félix Éboué Airport🚗 Car rental recommended
Plan a trip including Cayenne →
02
Space · Sea
🚀 60 km from Cayenne · Salvation Islands 15 km

Kourou & the Space Centre.

60 km from Cayenne, Kourou is the city of stars. Ariane rockets have launched from here since 1968. Visiting the Guiana Space Centre means getting as close as possible to the history of European space exploration. With luck, you'll witness a live launch — a spectacle that shakes you to the bone.

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Guiana Space Centre

Guided tour, Space Museum, launch pads

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Salvation Islands

Catamaran from Kourou — 45 min each way

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Live launch viewing

Public observation zone 10 km from the launch pad

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Marine wildlife

Dolphins and coastal birds from the harbour

🚗 1h from Cayenne via RN1📅 Check launch calendar
Plan a trip including Kourou →
03
Turtles · Amerindians
🐢 Nesting: Apr–Aug · Galibi village

Awala-Yalimapo, the turtle sanctuary.

An Amerindian village of the Galibi community, Awala-Yalimapo is one of the world's most important leatherback turtle nesting sites. Between April and August, hundreds of giant turtles come ashore at night to lay their eggs. Witnessing this millenary ritual with an Amerindian guide is an experience that touches the very essence of life.

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Leatherback turtle nesting

Guided night outings on the beach — April to August only

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Galibi village

Meeting the community, traditional crafts

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Nature reserve

Ramsar classified site — international wetland importance

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Coastal birdwatching

Scarlet ibis, herons, spoonbills — exceptional wildlife

🚗 3h30 from Cayenne🐢 Season: April–August
Plan a trip including Awala →
04
River · Culture
🛶 Border river · Bushinengué villages

Maroni River & Saint-Laurent.

The Maroni is the border river between French Guiana and Suriname. On its banks live the Bushinengués — descendants of African slaves who rebuilt their cultures in the Amazon rainforest. Travelling up the Maroni by dugout canoe is one of the most profound human experiences French Guiana offers.

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River canoe journey

From Saint-Laurent to Maripasoula — 4 days on the river

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Bushinengué villages

Aluku, Ndjuka, Saramaka — cultures and crafts

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Transportation Camp

Saint-Laurent's former penal colony — bagne history

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Smoked cuisine

Traditional smoked meats — the unforgettable taste of the river

🚗 3h30 from Cayenne🛶 Certified pirogue guides
Plan a Maroni River trip →
05
Hiking · Forest
✈️ Light aircraft only · Dry season recommended

Saül & the Highlands.

A village of 100 people perched at 300 metres altitude, accessible only by light aircraft from Cayenne. Saül is surrounded by the finest hiking trails in French Guiana — intact primary forest, waterfalls, granite inselbergs, star-filled skies with zero light pollution. The accessible end of the world.

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Hiking trails

Belvedere, Léodate, Galbao — accessible to challenging levels

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Stargazing

Zero light pollution — exceptional night skies

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Birdwatching

Cock-of-the-rock — the emblematic species of French Guiana

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Local guesthouses

Authentic accommodation at the heart of the village

✈️ 45 min from Cayenne🎒 Luggage limit 15 kg☀️ Dry season recommended
Plan a trip to Saül →
06
History · Wildlife · Sea
⛵ Catamaran from Kourou · Year-round

Salvation Islands, the former penal colony.

Three islands off the coast of Kourou — Royale, Saint-Joseph, Devil's Island. The former penal colony where Captain Dreyfus was imprisoned. Today, colonial ruins mingle with astonishing wildlife: free-roaming squirrel monkeys, agoutis, pelicans. The turquoise waters contrast starkly with the tragic history of the place.

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Penitentiary ruins

Royal and Saint-Joseph Islands — museum and preserved cells

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Free-roaming monkeys

Squirrel monkeys and agoutis roam freely

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Swimming & snorkelling

Clear waters, coral, tropical fish

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Overnight on the island

Room in the former director's residence

⛵ 45 min catamaran from Kourou💰 ~€45 return
Plan a trip to the Salvation Islands →
07
Border · Brazil
🇧🇷 Oiapoque accessible · Unique inselbergs

East & Brazilian border.

The least known area of French Guiana — and one of the most fascinating. Saint-Georges de l'Oyapock, the Saut Maripa rapids, granite inselbergs emerging from the forest canopy, and Oiapoque on the Brazilian side accessible by pirogue in 5 minutes. A zone completely absent from mainstream tourist offerings.

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Saut Maripa rapids

Mythical Oyapock rapids — rafting and swimming

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Inselbergs

Granite formations emerging above the canopy

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Oiapoque, Brazil

5 min by pirogue — churrascaria and local chocolate

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Approuague river

Pirogue navigation in an isolated area

🚗 3h from Cayenne via RN2🛶 Guyane Brésil Transport
Plan an eastern French Guiana trip →

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