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French Guiana
travel guide 2026.

Flights, health, budget, transport, gastronomy, seasons — everything you need to know before you go. Updated for 2026.

Getting to
French Guiana.

✈️

Air France

Daily direct flights from Paris-CDG. Economy, premium economy and business class. Flying Blue programme.

🛫

Air Caraïbes

Flights from Paris-Orly. Often competitive fares. Possible stopover in Martinique or Guadeloupe.

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Félix Éboué Airport

Located in Matoury, 15 km from Cayenne. Car rental on site recommended. Taxis available.

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From the Caribbean

Regular flights from Martinique and Guadeloupe — 1h30 flight. Ideal for combining Caribbean + French Guiana.

💡 Tip: Book 3–4 months in advance for the best fares. Avoid French school holidays (prices double). Typical round trip from Europe: €600–900.

Staying healthy
in French Guiana.

💉

Yellow fever vaccine — MANDATORY

Required to enter French Guiana. Must be done at least 10 days before departure. International vaccination certificate required at boarding.

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Malaria

No systematic chemoprophylaxis for coastal areas. Mandatory for the interior (Maroni, Saül, Oyapock). Consult a travel medicine doctor.

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Mosquito protection

Tropical DEET repellent ≥ 30% essential. Long sleeves in the evening. Impregnated mosquito net for jungle nights.

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Medical care

Hospital in Cayenne (CHC). Doctors in Kourou and Saint-Laurent. Repatriation insurance strongly recommended.

How much does
French Guiana cost?

French Guiana has a cost of living approximately 31% higher than mainland France. Plan a realistic budget.

ItemBudgetMid-rangePremium
Accommodation/nightHammock hut €10–303★ hotel €120–150Eco-lodge €200–350
Meals/day€20–30€40–60€80–120
Transport/dayCar rental €55Car + transfers €80Car + internal flights
Activities/dayFree trailsGuides + excursions €60–90Private guides €150–250
Total/day/person€80–120€150–200€300–500
💡 Key activities: Kaw Marshes overnight ecolodge: ~€115 · Maroni 4-day trip (Sabi Aliba): ~€455 · Saül return flight: ~€90 · Salvation Islands catamaran: ~€45

Transport in
French Guiana.

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Car rental

Essential for the coastal zone. €50–70/day. RN1 to Saint-Laurent (3h30). RN2 to Saint-Georges (3h). Good road conditions.

✈️

Internal flights

Air Guyane Express serves Saül (45 min), Maripasoula (50 min). Fares ~€85–90 return. Luggage limited to 15 kg.

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Pirogues & rivers

The ancestral transport for the interior. Certified pirogue guides mandatory for protected areas.

Salvation Islands

Catamaran from Kourou — 45 min, daily departures. €35–50 return. Book ahead in high season.

📍 Key distances: Cayenne → Kourou: 1h · Cayenne → Kaw: 1h15 · Cayenne → Saint-Laurent: 3h30 · Cayenne → Saint-Georges: 3h

When to visit
French Guiana.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr 🐢
May 🐢
Jun 🐢
Jul
Aug ⭐
Sep ⭐
Oct ⭐
Nov
Dec
🌞

August – November (ideal)

Dry season. Best for hiking in Saül, Maroni river trips, Salvation Islands and all forest activities. Trails accessible.

🐢

April – July (turtles)

Rainy season — but THE season to witness leatherback turtle nesting at Awala-Yalimapo. An unmissable experience.

Eating in
French Guiana.

25 communities, 5 major food cultures, a unique fusion found nowhere else on Earth. Every meal is a cultural experience.

🌿 Creole cuisine — the foundation

  • Bouillon d'awara — palm fruit, smoked meats, prawns · Easter speciality
  • Agouti / wild boar fricassee — game in Creole spices
  • Atipa fish from Kaw — prehistoric marsh fish in coconut milk · nowhere else on Earth
  • Couac & cassave — toasted manioc semolina and flatbread

🏘️ Hmong cuisine — Cacao market

  • Calaouangue — green papaya or green mango salad
  • Khao soup — Laotian herb soup
  • Spring rolls & fritters — every Sunday morning at Cacao village (1h from Cayenne)

🛶 Bushinengué cuisine — on the Maroni

  • Smoked meats — traditional smoking, incomparable flavour
  • Spiced beans — universal river accompaniment

🇧🇷 Brazilian side — Oiapoque

  • Churrascaria — charcoal-grilled meats
  • Açaí — Amazon palm fruit granita
  • Artisanal chocolate — local cacao from Oiapoque

Before
you go.

📋

Documents

Valid national ID or passport. No visa required for EU citizens. Passport required to cross to Brazil (Oiapoque).

📱

Connectivity

4G in Cayenne and Kourou. No signal in Saül, Maroni and forest areas. Download offline maps before departure.

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Climate

27°C average year-round. Humidity 80–90%. Pack light clothes + rain jacket + waterproof shoes for the forest.

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Forest permits

Required for certain protected areas (Amazon National Park, Amerindian zones). Apply in advance at the Prefecture.

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