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French Guiana✨ 9 best things to do in French Guiana

Things to do in French Guiana

1. Watch a rocket launchSee a launch from Europe's spaceport at Kourou from one of the public viewing sites.
2. Visit the Îles du SalutTake a boat to the former penal islands, where monkeys and peacocks roam among prison ruins.
3. Tour the Saint-Laurent prison campWalk through the Camp de la Transportation where convicts were processed on arrival.
4. See leatherback turtlesWatch giant sea turtles lay eggs on the beaches of Awala-Yalimapo or Rémire-Montjoly in season.
5. Paddle into the rainforestTake a pirogue up rivers like the Approuague or Maroni and sleep in a hammock camp.
6. Browse Cayenne marketTaste spices, tropical fruit juices and Vietnamese soup at the busy central market.
7. Spot caimans in the marshesTake a boat into the Kaw marshes at dusk to look for black caimans and scarlet ibis.
8. Explore the space centreJoin a guided tour of the Guiana Space Centre and visit its space museum.
9. Join CarnivalExperience months of weekend parades and masked balls during the long Guianese carnival season.

French Guiana🗺️ Where to visit in French Guiana

Where to go in French Guiana

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  CayenneCoast · capitalA colourful Creole capital with markets, a lively square and Fort Cépérou views.
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  KourouCoast · space centreHome of the Guiana Space Centre and the boat departure point for the Îles du Salut.
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  Îles du SalutOffshore · penal historyThree palm-covered islands including Devil's Island, once a notorious prison colony.
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  Saint-Laurent-du-MaroniWest · river townA historic town on the Maroni River with the main penal camp and boats to Maroon villages.
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  Kaw MarshesEast · wetlandsA vast wetland reserve with caimans, waterbirds and floating lodges.
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  Awala-YalimapoNorth-west · beaches & turtlesA Kali'na village area with beaches important for nesting leatherback turtles.
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  CacaoInterior · Hmong villageA village founded by Hmong refugees, known for its Sunday market and soup.
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  Guiana Amazonian ParkSouth · rainforestFrance's largest national park, covering a huge area of pristine Amazon rainforest.

French Guiana🌦️ Weather & best time to visit French Guiana

Best time to visit French Guiana

French Guiana has an equatorial climate that is hot and humid all year with little temperature variation. Rainfall is heavy for much of the year, peaking in May, with a main dry season from August to November.

Typical daytime highs and rain in Cayenne (approximate averages).

French Guiana🎉 Festivals & events in French Guiana

• January-February/March
  Guianese CarnivalOne of the longest carnivals in the world, with weekend parades and masked Touloulou balls.
• June 10
  Abolition of Slavery DayA public holiday commemorating the end of slavery in French Guiana.
• July 14
  Bastille DayFrance's national day, celebrated with parades and fireworks.
• Late in the year
  Hmong New YearHmong communities in Cacao and Javouhey celebrate with traditional dress, games and food.

French Guiana🧭 French Guiana itinerary ideas

How many days in French Guiana?

French Guiana🎒 Backpacking French Guiana – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $70–100 a day

• French Guiana is expensive by South American standards, since prices are similar to or higher than mainland France.
• Public transport is limited; shared taxis run between towns, but renting a car is the easiest way to get around.
• Carbets (open-sided hammock shelters) are a cheap and traditional way to sleep in rural areas - bring your own hammock and mosquito net.
• Market food stalls and Asian snack bars are the cheapest places to eat.
• Overlanders often combine it with Suriname via the Maroni River crossing or Brazil via the Oyapock bridge.

French Guiana🛡️ Safety & money in French Guiana

Emergency: 112 · 17 police · 15 ambulance · 18 fire

French Guiana🛬 Getting to French Guiana

Cayenne's Félix Eboué Airport has flights from Paris and the French Caribbean. Land crossings connect with Brazil over the Oyapock River bridge and with Suriname by boat across the Maroni.

✈️ Cheap flights to French Guiana: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

French Guiana💡 Did you know? 5 facts about French Guiana

• French Guiana is part of the European Union, making it the EU's largest territory outside Europe.
• Rockets launch from Kourou because its position near the equator gives them an extra boost.
• Around 90% of the territory is covered by rainforest.
• The memoir 'Papillon' made the penal colony at Devil's Island world famous.
• Its Carnival can last two months, running from Epiphany to Ash Wednesday.

French Guiana❓ French Guiana travel FAQ

French Guiana travel questions