french guiana travel blog

10 things I wish I knew before going to French Guiana

Table of contents, 1. guiana is home to the kourou space center.

• 2. In Guiana is the "Devil's Island"

3. The country is home to three cultural communities-Mulattoes, Creoles and the Haitian community

4. the city of cayenne, 5. montjoly beach, 6. best months of the year to visit guiana, 7. plage-les-hattes-a beach, 8. the kau swamps, 10. french guiana is a great place to buy household goods.

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Are you wondering where is French Guiana ? French Guiana on the map is the northeastern part of South America, officially the region belongs to France . Here come the most curious and fearless tourists to see the wild jungle, Devil's Island and the Kourou spaceport, not for nothing Devil's Island French Guiana, or rather it is the unofficial name of one of the islands of the country. By the way, this is very justified and further, we will find out why.

The capital of French Guiana is the city of Cayenne. At first glance, it is difficult to understand that this city is the capital. All because the buildings are very shabby, and shopping centers can not be called modern. The beaches in the capital are dirty and muddy, not suitable for swimming water. And this is despite the fact that money from the French budget is invested in the development of Guiana.

This review contains 10 important facts that you should definitely read before your trip. The list of facts also includes French Guiana attractions that are definitely worth visiting if you are planning a trip to this region.

It was here that the spaceport was built. The territory for such a structure is ideal - it is sparsely populated and has a close location to the equator. Many tourists come to Guiana to come on a tour of the spaceport.

Ego is an area of 1200 sq. km, which is surrounded by forests, where there are no earthquakes and destructive hurricanes . In 1973, the maximum number of rockets per year was launched at the cosmodrome - 75. Today, due to the favorable position of Kuru, they predict a good future, as space exploration is developing at a rapid pace. The military protects this facility to ensure maximum security, the annual maintenance of the Kuru costs 172 million dollars.

For visitors to the cosmodrome, there are special performances when the rocket launch can be viewed while in the jungle. Rocket launches do not occur often, so this point should be clarified before travelling to French Guiana . Tickets to watch the launch are free.

The Kourou Cosmodrome is an old, but still popular European spaceport in South America, one of the main attractions of French Guiana.

2. In Guiana is the "Devil's Island"

Now this prison is closed, but in the last century for 100 years, there was a place for the imprisonment of terrible criminals who were sent here forever. Every year, the Devil's Island territory is visited by more than 50 thousand tourists from all over the world. The existence of the island is shrouded in mystical eerie stories and legends, the prison is compared to hard labor in Siberia and called an even more sophisticated place. In addition to the real criminals, all those who did not recognize Napoleon III as emperor were sent here. Devil's Island became a dumping ground for French Guiana people who refused to put up with the government. Today, you can see unique exhibits and cells where prisoners were held.

Devil's Island French Guiana - today these are two concepts that are closely related to each other. The rocks, the noise of the ocean, and a large number of sharks around the island frighten and attract tourists at the same time.

Also, you can often find other names for this area - the land of hell or the cursed triangle. But anyone who loves mystical stories and legends should visit Devil's Island French Guiana to feel its enveloping eerie atmosphere.

This naturally influenced the cultural traditions of the country. But during the entire period of Guiana's stay under French rule, European culture also had a significant impact on the country.

French Guiana on the map is far from us South America, but here you will find French culture and the Catholic faith. This is especially noticeable on public holidays. So in French Guiana they celebrate Christmas and Bastille Day, and on May 8 they celebrate the victory over Germany. Holidays in the country are very diverse, because they came from different cultures and have become an integral tradition for local residents.

Many tourists come to the capital of French Guiana at the end of February, which is when the colorful carnival begins for about two months. This holiday is considered the brightest and most revered in the territory of French Guiana for many decades. This separate country, which has very close relations with France, can hardly be called a European part. Most likely the opposite. But still, cultural traditions that are intertwined with local rituals remind tourists who exactly owns this land.

The capital of French Guiana is the city of Cayenne, which is where popular tourist attractions are located. For example, the Place de Grenoble, the Museum of Culture, the French fort's ruins and even the Lussauds Canal. People come to the capital of French Guiana for excursions and walks, it is the most populated city in the country, where about 100 thousand French Guiana people live. This is the most civilized city in the country, so if you need supermarkets, cinemas and various service centers, it is better to travel to Cayenne .

Beach holidays in French Guiana are also available. Not far from the capital is the most popular and beautiful beach de Montjoli. +26 degrees is the average annual temperature on the Atlantic coast, there is really golden sand and a pleasant breeze . Tourists and locals come here for surfing, underwater surfing and fishing. If you haven't surfed before, there are local instructors who will teach anyone the basic rules of surfing. In addition, there are often strong winds that attract windsurfers.

In the middle of the summer de Mongole can close to see the turtles. In general, this place is suitable for spending time on the ocean, but you will not swim here, since the water is not very clean and constant waves. Montjoly beach is suitable for photo shoots, because this area is known for beautiful seascapes.

And all because of the fact that it is in January and February that the rainy season falls. Amazonian forests surround French Guiana, so you can never get on the street if you come here in these winter months. Rains in Guiana are torrential, can go for weeks and do not stop. This is a feature of the climate of the region of South America and an amazing feature of nature near the Amazon .

From mid-April to July-the recovery season, a real summer, when you can enjoy the sunshine and warmth. Therefore, it is recommended for tourists to come at this time of year, when you can allocate enough time for excursions around the country and even go to the jungle.

Do you want to see something unusual? Then the beach of Les Hattes will pleasantly surprise you, it attracts not only tourists, but also zoologists from all over the world. This is a place where huge leather turtles nest in the summer. On 3 kilometers of the beach you can see many species of turtles and most importantly the process of their birth from an egg. You can also visit the local turtle museum, where you can learn all about these extraordinary animals.

There are many local settlements near Plage-les-Hattes, where you can go on a tour to get acquainted with this mysterious region's traditions and history. French Guiana attractions - not only a spaceport and an island for criminals, it is also an amazing nature near the Amazon, where a large number of wild animals live and unique flora grows.

Wildlife in Guiana is the main attraction, which attracts thousands of tourists. Kau is a nature reserve, home to relatives of crocodiles-black caimans and many varieties of birds. Kau swamps are a variety of swamp inhabitants, such as yellow or purple frogs, which are also poisonous.

Here they go on day and night extreme excursions, get on special boats, and spend the night in Indian huts. This type of wildlife recreation can be tried in French Guiana , where wildlife is available in all its glory. The reserve can be reached in 2 hours from the capital of French Guiana.

In addition to the reserve, you can also visit the zoo, which is home to more than 450 animals of different species. You can meet anteaters, funny sloths, fearsome jaguars, crocodiles, and a large number of birds at the zoo at the zoo, including colorful parrots of different sizes.

The fauna of French Guiana is very rich and you definitely need to go here to see all the amazing wild animals up close.

Have you ever seen a squirrel monkey? And this species lives in the territory of Guiana. On the deserted wild island of Ile-la-Mer live these beautiful little animals. You can get to them from the capital directly by boat, the road is only half an hour.

Despite the fact that monkeys are very cute, you should be on your guard with them, they can steal things.

Visiting the island is a separate excursion that is offered for tourists. In addition to photos with monkeys, you can have a picnic here, as well as swim on a small but clean beach. The island of Ile-la-Mer is a great place for family holidays and exploring the wildlife of Guiana .

Many people are surprised by the fact that you can go shopping in French Guiana. And it really is. Foreigners buy here primarily appliances and electronics for the home, in second place - jewelry, clothing and shoes from the United States and Europe.

You can also bring very interesting souvenirs from French Guiana, such as hand-painted dishes, wood products, and Indian weapons - bows and arrows. All this can be purchased at local shops, fairs and markets at a low cost. The most popular market in the Cayenne is the Victor Schelcher market (named after the figure who ended the era of slavery in the country). It is here that you can buy unique handmade products.

Here are just 10 facts you need to know before travelling to French Guiana. This country, despite its simplicity, is very interesting and attractive for tourists from all over the world. People travel to French Guiana to watch the launch of rockets, visit Devil's Island, visit the real jungle, meet wild animals and even go shopping. Each traveler has his own reason for choosing a trip to this unusual country. French Guiana attractions are everywhere, you just need to be able to see them, because the country is really unusual.

It is worth noting that the French Guiana language is French, the French Guiana currency is euro, compared to Moscow, the time difference is 7 hours. As such, there are no sea resorts here, but if you like extreme wild holidays and exploring the breathtaking world of nature, then French Guiana is the perfect place for your holiday.

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Crossing borders: Suriname – French Guiana

Here comes a bit of a practical piece. The Guyana’s (the three countries in the north eastern corner of South America) are an absolute off the beaten path destination. I encountered other visitors in here, but they were few. There’s little information about travelling in the area, especially on crossing borders. Even my Suriname and French Guianese Airbnb hosts couldn’t help me out entirely. 

Frustrating as that was, I hope this piece will boost your travels in case you’re planning on visiting these countries.

As Suriname used to be a Dutch colony, in here you’ll mostly find Dutch tourists. The same goes for French Guiana – nothing but French persons. Incredibly enough, this territory is even still a part of France. 

Thus you really have to brush up your French in here (at least I had to, if you want to travel with ease in here. In Suriname the people speak so many languages that I’m pretty sure you’ll get around without a problem).

I just felt my brain squeaking while opening those rusty French layers with dusty vocabulary. 

During my entire trip through the Americas, this country was the most difficult for me communication wise, as my French has slowly been replaced by Spanish and I was therefore struggling to find the proper terms. I just felt my brain squeaking while opening up those dusty French layers with vocabulary. 

Border crossings are always a bit stressful, but I have to say that if you’re prepared, the crossing between Suriname and French Guiana can be very relaxed. No need to be fearful, just keep the prices in mind and stand your ground while stepping into the boat, taxi and buses. 

The process Suriname – French Guiana in short:

• Arrange a taxi to Albina: 100 SRD more or less
• Stamp your tourist card at the immigration center of Albina
• Hop on a boat to the other side of the river: Saint Laurent du Maroni
• In case you’re planning to stay longer than one day: ask if they can drop you at the French Guianese immigration center 
• In case you’re planning to return on the same day: stay seated in the boat and step out when the other passengers are too

The process French Guiana – Suriname in short:

• Get a tourist card at the Surinamese immigration center at Saint Laurent du Maroni (€40,- per card). Note that the center is often closed: during the afternoons and in the weekend. 
• Walk passed the French Guianese immigration center (in case you did on the way in, see previous block). Otherwise walk straight to the same dock you arrived
• Hop on a boat and cross the river
• Arrange a taxi on land to Paramaribo. It’ll only can get difficult to arrange one at the end of the day, as the people know you’ll have to get out of there and will force you to pay a high price. 

And here’s how this trip looks like visually! 

If you want to reach Albina from Paramaribo there are several ways to do so. You can arrange a taxi, go by bus, or perhaps even ask a tourist company if you can join them. I know that Celestial Tours for example arranges day trips to Saint Laurent du Maroni. But expect to pay more on such a tour.

The bus would be cheapest (only a couple of dollars), but it takes forever to get there, plus you have to be at the bus station SUPER early in the morning to make sure you’ve conquered a spot on the bus. We’re talking about 4am in here.

Thus for me, the only real option was to go by shared taxi. We were with five persons in the taxi. In general you shouldn’t pay more than 100 SRD for this ride, but I only found this out afterwards (asking my fellow travellers – locals – what they’d paid). But I did join the taxi last moment. In fact, he had to return for me as he had already left Paramaribo across the bridge and I therefore, perhaps, paid double the price I should have. 

Anyway, 100 SRD it is.

The ride was super relaxed and we even stopped a couple of times to get some food and groceries.

The immigration center

Now obviously whenever you cross a border you have to get pass the immigration center. However, most of the people in Suriname don’t do this – ever. In fact, even tourists don’t do this when they are just visiting Saint Laurent du Maroni. Even the tourist organizations won’t lead there groups passed this check. I was told by a French Guianese doctor that many Surinamese women even try to give birth in Saint Laurent du Maroni, as the hospital over there (supported by France) has a much higher standard compared to the ones in Suriname. 

So basically everyone is just illegally visiting Europe. 

Within Saint Laurent du Maroni the police – most likely – won’t check your visum. But outside there are many checkpoint, so if you’re planning on visiting French Guiana longer than a few hours, you MUST get your pasport checked. 

This is an easy process. Just fill in a form and get out again. At the time of my visit there was no one around. 

The river crossing 

Next our taxi driver dropped us off at the dock. ↓

In here many boatmen try to lure you in. I’d say, just follow the rest of the people you’re travelling with and make sure you pay the same as they do. In my case it was something like €2,50 or €3,- per person.

Hop in and make sure you’re a little in the back. Those chocolate milk streams will splash in your face otherwise. 

Those boats are old by the way, or let’s say “well-used”. Many locals seem to bit fearful by the speed of it too. While looking at their reactions I wondered if it ever went wrong in here. I wasn’t too pleased about the thought of swimming in these waters either. ?

But hey, on the upside, most of the times for sure it’ll be fine! 

Adding to the story that most people visit French Guiana illegally; make sure the captain knows you have to stop at the French Guianese immigration center. Of all twenty persons in the boat, I was the only one getting off in here. 

As I hadn’t been in Europe for quite a while (and I wasn’t really aware that France is still holding on to this former colony) I was quite amazed to see this sign! So familiar, yet so strange. ↓

As a European, this border crossing was very easy. They didn’t even ask me questions. Just stamped my pasport and let me go.

This is how the border looks once you step on French Guianese territory. ↓

Time to explore Saint Laurent du Maroni! 

There are a couple of cool things to do in Saint Laurent du Maroni. Visiting the Transportation Camp for example, where all the former French inmates arrived (think of Papillon), eating a steak tartare or strolling the Wednesday and Saturday market . I’ll create another article on what to do in this little city in a while. 

But don’t stay longer than a day in Saint Laurent du Maroni though! French Guiana has more to offer. 

If you’re planning on travelling a bit further inlands, try to plan your visit during a rocket launch . “A what?!” I hear you thinking. Yes, that’s right. A rocket launch.

French Guiana happens to have the only space center in Latin America and often shoots rockets into space. I experienced one – a Ariane 5 launch – myself and it was insane. Kourou is the place to be for this space center. Again, I’ll soon write another article about this event. 

From Saint Laurent du Maroni I took a minibus for €25,- to Kourou. They are not scheduled or anything; I just waited for the next one to leave. There are many minivans over there and if you come a bit in time, let’s say before the early afternoon, you’ll easily arrange a ride.

There’s basically only one road through French Guiana and it leads along the main hubs. This minibus was eventually heading to Cayenne, the capital of Saint Laurent. So wherever you go, it’ll be pretty straightforward. 

This was the place where the buses gather, located next to the dock. ↓

That’s it!

So how about the return?

The most important thing is to get your entry visum at the Surinamese immigration center in time. Before you’re landing on Surinamese ground again by boat, you have to have a visum, at least as a European. So I’ll be writing this from that perspective, I don’t know how this will be regarding people from the States or as a British person after Brexit, for example.

This visum will get stamped at the Surinamese immigration center at Albina. If you don’t have one, this can be a problem, especially in case the immigration staff doesn’t want to help you in any way. And they seemed to care little. 

In case you’ve arrived in Suriname by plane or are coming from Guyana, you can better arrange (in advance) a multiple-entry visum. This’ll save you money for sure, as otherwise you have to pay €40,- every time you enter Suriname. 

This is the Surinamese immigration center in Saint Laurent du Maroni. ↑ It closes early in the day plus it’s closed during the weekends. So check the opening times beforehand and plan on obtaining your tourist card accordingly. In my case the entire process of receiving my tourist card took something like 30 minutes.

Afterwards, head to the French Guianese immigration center and wait for a boat to pick you up and bring you to Albina. 

So what about safety?

A just question. While travelling during the day, having pre-arranged an Airbnb in both Kourou and Paramaribo, I felt quite safe. Personally I think it would have felt better if I’d travelled with someone in here, just in case. So I’d advise you to find a travel buddy in either Paramaribo, Saint Laurent du Maroni or wherever you’re travelling from. 

Funny enough, people in Suriname warned me for the safety in both the other two Guyanas. But in my opinion, Suriname isn’t exactly safe at night either. So I’d say whatever you do, whatever your gender is, don’t go out alone at night in any of the Guyanas. Only travel by daylight. The nights are dark in the jungle in here.

As soon as the sun went under I stayed either at my airbnb or only got out with a taxi arranged via my Airbnb host. Apart from this I immensely enjoyed my stay in all three of these underrated Latin American destinations!

Here’s where to stop while crossing borders: 

Tags: activities , border , border crossing , crossing , suriname , tiny travelogue , travel , where to go

Comments (5):

December 22, 2019 at 4:51 pm

i like your style of writing and info…it is very helpful….we are in suriname atm

December 24, 2019 at 5:07 am

Thanks Julian, that is very lovely to hear!! Hope you’re enjoying the jungle vibes over there! Cheers, Kristel from TTT

February 18, 2020 at 6:36 am

I must stress a few things that have happened since you wrote this

1) You can no longer apply for a Suriname Tourist Card in any country. You have to do it online from a 3rd party website. I was one of the last people to get a tourist card in November 2019. When I went to the Suriname Embassy in Georgetown, they said its now visas only

2) Being a British passport holder I didn’t need to present myself at the immigration point when I came back. Although I did present myself when leaving St.Laurent as I thought you would need a stamp to show you exited French Guiana. It seems anyone with an EU passport doesn’t require a stamp.

Although there are police checkpoints on the ways from the Suriname and Brazil borders, the police will wave you through if you show an EU passport. When I landed at Cayenne Airport they just waved through people with an EU passport. No stamp given

July 9, 2021 at 6:58 pm

They also wave folks through with an American (USA) passport – know this from multiple personal experiences.

April 6, 2021 at 8:14 am

Hi if you are in suriname, paramaribo You’re welcome at hotel Casablanca at wilhelmina street 28 Watsapp: +597 817 8695 Email: [email protected]

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How to travel around the world for less

French Guiana One-Week Itinerary

The smallest from the Guianas in population and size, the little France in South America has plenty to offer. With high transportation and accommodation prices because of the Euro currency, traveling on a budget might be a bit challenging. Hitchhiking is quite easy for foreigners and the small distances help as well. You can fly into the capital, Cayenne or enter from Suriname or Brazil overland . The space center in Kourou is a highlight of the country.

If you spend a week in the country you can split according to your personal preferences between Cayenne, Kourou and the Amazon Forest. I started my trip in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, since I came from Suriname . Took me 30 minutes to get a free lift to Kourou, where I had a couchsurfing host.

Amazon Rain Forest (2 days)

I spent my first weekend in a carbet (a shelter where you sleep in hammocks inside the jungle), with the friends of my host. We went with 2 boats to a boat ramp 45 minutes away from Kourou. We drove the boat trough Kourou river for 45 minutes and entered in one of the small rivers connected where our carbet was already reserved.

Going trough the river in the Amazon Rain Forest is quite an experience. The dense vegetation, the chance to see small crocodiles, birdlife and jaguars are on the list of possibilites. We arrived around 10 AM in the carbet, attached our hammocks and started to prepare lunch in a barbecue structure available in the shelter.

Meanwhile we went to swim a bit. In the afternoon I went hiking in the jungle and later on we had fun with a buoy attached to the boat with a rope.

The night was great and there were no mosquitoes at all. The next day we did fishing and went for a small trip in the river.

We left by the end of the afternoon back home.

Kourou (2 days)

In 1964 Kourou was chosen to be the site of the Centre Spatial Guyanais (Kourou Space Centre) because it’s close to the equator, is away from tropical storm tracks and earthquake zones, and has a low population density. The 3 hour tour with a guide and bus, must be booked at least 48 hours in advance and is free. The museum has an entry fee of 8 EUR but if you did the tour the same say, the museum entry is half price.

Watching the calendar of the rocket launches before booking your trip is a must. The launches happen every few months and can be seen from the beach or from specific locations in the center (also to be booked). I was there on the 5th of September when a rocket was supposed to be launched but unfortunately there was a failure and abortion of mission . The beach was full of people to watch the launch. I went to the space center that day and the museum was closed. I could only take a picture in the entry with the perfect replica of a rocket.

Another day can be saved to have a look around the broad walk, Plages des Roches and swim on the beach.

Cayenne (3 days)

Cayenne, the capital and biggest city of French Guiana has a historical center, a nice botanical garden, few chinese shops and beaches. There is transport between Cayenne and Kourou but hichhiking is pretty easy. The best place to stay is in the city center, close to the place de palmistes .

You can reserve the first day to wander around the city center, climb the fort cépérou (where you have a great view on the city), have a coffee in front of place de palmistes and admire the St. Saviour’s Cathedral.

Also known as Cayenne Cathedral it is a Roman Catholic Church and seat of the Diocese of Cayenne.

On the second day, you can explore the coast of Cayenne that has a great scenery.

Plenty of beaches are available for swim. They look dirty because of the brown river color but locals told me is fine, I swam there and I’m still alive.

Leave your last day in the capital to learn about nature in the botanical garden and take some cheap chinese shop souvenirs (I bought a pair of nice shoes for only 5 EUR).

The Jardin botanique de Cayenne is a botanical garden located at the end of the Avenue Charles de Gaulle, adjacent to the university.

French Guiana really exceeded my expectations, specially for the forest trip and to see a rocket replica. Totally recommended!

French Guiana

French Guiana is a remote region of France covered in thick jungle and wilderness, although you'll also find colonial architecture, eerie prison-camp history and some of the world's most diverse plant and animal life here. It's a strange mix of French law and rainforest humidity where only a few destinations along the coast are easily accessed and travel can be frustratingly difficult as well as expensive.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Centre Spatial Guyanais

Visiting the Centre Spatial Guyanais and (if you're lucky) seeing a rocket launch are two of French Guiana's biggest highlights. Both need to be arranged…

Camp de la Transportation

The eerie Camp de la Transportation, where prisoners arrived for processing, was the largest prison in French Guiana. Convicts arrived exhausted after 20…

Central Market

Inside Cayenne's market, shoppers will find a vibrant jumble of Amerindian basketry, African-style paintings and carvings, piles of spices at great prices…

Plage Les Hattes

This long stretch of beach is a very important nesting ground for giant leatherback turtles, which can grow up to 600kg. The females come ashore from…

Trésor & Kaw Nature Reserves

The Trésor Nature Reserve is one of French Guiana's most accessible primary rainforest areas, and wandering its 1.75km botanical trail is a great way to…

Once the administrative headquarters of the penal settlement, Île Royale has several restored prison buildings, including a fine prisoner-built chapel and…

Maison de la Reserve Naturelle l'Amana

Amerindian settlements and thick clouds of mosquitoes populate Awala-Yalimopo and Plage Les Hattes, one of the world's most spectacular nesting sites for…

Fort Cépérou

Off the gardened Place Léopold Héder are the remains of Fort Cépérou, perched on land bought in 1643 from the Galibi people by the first French colonists…

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How to Travel French Guiana on a Budget

French Guiana is the most expensive country I have ever traveled. The high costs are even more exaggerated by the fact that it is a small country with a fairly poor infrastructure system. There are no real bus companies that operate along the main highway, there is a public transport system in Cayenne that only passes by about once every two hours and has very limited routes, and there are no backpackers’ hostels. I almost decided to skip visiting French Guiana due to the high prices, until a backpacker I met on the way said something that spurred the competitor in me: “you simply can’t travel French Guiana on a backpacker’s budget.”

It was at this point that I turned my gaze towards the sky and gave my best impression of Barney from “How I Met your Mother” and said “challenge accepted!”

When all was said and done I spent 8 days in French Guiana and spent a grand total of 200 dollars. Yes, you read that right. I only spent an average of 25 dollars a day, which is not only below the average backpacker’s budget, it is well below my usual budget of 35-40 dollars a day. These are the tips for traveling French Guiana on a low budget I accumulated in my stay.

Hitchhiking in French Guiana is Safe and Relatively Easy

In North America, hitchhiking is a thought that terrifies most people. There are countless numbers of stories of people being kidnapped or assaulted in trying to pick up hitchhikers. Also, people are scared to pick up hitchhikers because of, well, the same reasons. In French Guiana hitchhiking is the norm. If you have a tight budget it is impossible to be taking public transport constantly.

For example, the price of a shared taxi from the border of Brazil to Cayenne is about 40-45 Euros, and from Cayenne to the border of Suriname it is another 50 Euros. That alone would mean that backpackers would be looking at about 150US$ just to get across the country. In both of my hitchhiking efforts I was picked up very quickly and the drivers were very friendly and more than happy to help someone out. The section from the Brazilian border to Cayenne is supposed to be much more difficult to hitchhike, but if you wait it out you’ll find a ride.  Give it a shot, it’s not as dangerous as you think.  It’s not like you’re hitchhiking in Iraq like Roni Weiss !

Couch Surf in Cayenne

There really is no way around the expensive price of hotels in French Guiana, and in particular Cayenne.  In my research the cheapest accommodation I found was a hotel for 4O Euros well outside of the downtown.  Luckily for me that place was booked up so I decided to dig a little bit deeper.  After thinking about renting a car to sleep in and get me around the country, I finally came to the realization that this was the time I would give couch surfing a shot.  It was a great financial decision besides the price of accommodation.  I saved on food costs eating group meals, and besides, I met some great people doing it.  I only couch surfed in Cayenne, but I estimate that I saved about 250US$ by doing so.

Ok, The Hotels are That Bad

In my backpacking days, staying at a hotel that was over 50 Euros was a waste a week’s budget. However, looking at the prices these days in the future, the hotel prices aren’t that bad. There are also many more options than there used to be. You can find pretty good deals for Cayenne and the rest of French Guiana here .

Stay out of Cayenne

The capital of Cayenne is worth a day or two of exploration, but the truth is that Cayenne doesn’t truly represent the country, and it is downright expensive.  There are a couple of places outside of the capital that are much cheaper to stay at and will also give you a great feel for the country.

In a group? Rent a Car

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a place where transportation is such an issue as French Guiana.  Cayenne has a poorly operating transit system which makes it very difficult to get anywhere.  Simply getting from the outskirts of Cayenne to the center of town is an absolute nightmare, and a taxi can cost you upwards of 25 Euros for the 10 minute trip.  If you are planning on traveling around and seeing places like Kourou and Devil’s Island, and you are traveling in a group of 2 or 3 it would be well worth it to rent a car.  Most rental car agencies charge about 30 Euros a day.  Split amongst a small group that is a small price to pay for your happiness.

Stick with Chinese Food

Eating out in French Guiana could be a lot of fun if you weren’t worried about your wallet losing its weight.  However, if you’re running a tight budget, like I was, it can be a nightmare.  A meal at a decent French restaurant will likely cost you between 15-40 Euros.  Even a simple breakfast at one of the cafes in the center will cost you about 10-15 Euros.  Most of the time I avoided eating out thanks to my couch surfing, however, when I went out I went for Chinese food.  Just outside of the center there are a number of Chinese restaurants where you can get a very nice feed for about 7 Euros.

Use a Hammock

Basically anywhere outside of Cayenne is hammock country.  Many of the hotels have areas that allow people to throw up their hammocks for about 6 Euros a night which sure beats the price of a room at about 50 Euros.  If you are arriving from Brazil head toon of the local markets and pick up a nice hammock for the 10-15 dollars it costs, it will save you a fortune in rooms all over the Guianas.

The truth about budgets is that you can always make something work no matter where you are or what other people say.  However, sometimes you have to make some compromises, usually in your comfort.  Personally, I don’t think it is worth it to go out of your way to save money in travel just for the heck of it.  Often in budgeting your travels you have to give up on seeing certain things you would have liked to see, and usually that means you aren’t getting the most out of your travels.  That being said, forcing yourself to stick to a low budget teaches you things like self-control, patience and respecting the value of money; and in the end it is these learning experiences in travel that make the experience so powerful.

And for the food, did you ever consider to go to a supermarket and buy food, instead of going to a restaurant?

yeah, I did that. But when there is no hostel with a kitchen to cook at it makes it hard unless you want to eat bread. But yes, I do hit the supermarkets everywhere I go. Actually though, in some places, like Colombia, it is almost more expensive to shop at the grocery store when you can get a set lunch for 2-3$

so true. In Colombia you get a complete lunch with soup, fresh juice and main dish for 5000 to 7000 pesos. If you’d buy the ingredients in the supermarket, you always end up paying more, plus, you won’t get the authentic Colombian taste. I lived for 3 years in Colombia and I’d always eat out for lunch and buy another lunch to take away which would be my dinner and I’d never spend more than 5 us$ per day

Hi, This information is great, how did you get in and out of the country? Did you fly or bus? I am thinking baout working my way up the north coast line of Brazil and then going to French Guiana from there, what is the best way to get in and out fo the country. I will be hoping to go onto Suriname after.

Tarryn, I went in and out of French Guiana on foot. I actually hitch hiked both into the country and out of it to Suriname. It’s not the easiest place to hitch, but buses are so expensive that everyone seems to do it. Good luck!

How much for bottled water?

I cannot say enough just how informative you have been Brendan, thank you. Also the comments. I saw a film that decided me to go to French Guyane but I am on a limited budget too. It is so hard to find anything about this place. I dont speak French for which I apologise. Any further tips from anybody out there would be greatly appreciated. Even links to tour companies, especially guides for bird watching??? Cheers, Pippy Cannon

Thanks for the info, its hard to find much about French Guiana. I am going soon with my hammock and was going to urban camp but a hotel with a hammock area sounds much nicer. Do you know if its easy to walk around and find a hammock hotel in Kourou and St-Laurant?

In St L, avoid being near the port after dark.

How was it for you? Any suggestions or advice?

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If you hate crowds, you need to travel to french guiana this year.

D uring the 2014 World Cup, French Guiana got the geographical equivalent of 15 minutes of fame. A place a good portion of the world didn’t know existed, much less could find on a map, was highlighted in numerous maps of World Cup stadiums around Brazil , as well as the subject of a number of “interesting places to travel around the World Cup” stories in the months leading up to the event.

And that was the last most of the world thought about it.

It’s not the world’s fault, really. Getting to this French overseas department isn’t exactly straightforward. Your options from the US are either flying to Paris and catching a nonstop to the capital city of Cayenne or taking multiple island-hopping flights through the Caribbean, which almost guarantees your bags don’t make it there with you.

You could also fly into neighboring Brazil or Suriname , somehow make your way to a port crossing the bordering rivers, then arrive on the other side in French Guiana. But there’s not exactly an Avis counter on the other side. And with essentially no public transportation, getting around might prove challenging.

But that’s why for the adventurous, this little country that makes up a half-percent of South American landmass might be the best destination in the western hemisphere. It’s rough and rustic, untamed and tropical, but with the safety and stability of the continent’s only outpost of the Eurozone. It’s neither inexpensive nor straightforward, but its challenges have left it for the most part unspoiled.

Here are some of the highlights of what makes French Guiana such a unique place to visit.

The food is as exciting and diverse as the landscape.

Photo: Ramukanji /Shutterstock

As a French overseas department, the food is almost legally required to be good. Yes, the colonial influence is strong, and there’s no shortage of French fine dining both in the capital and the beach cities along the coast.

But French Guiana was also a haven for immigrants from the former French empire, so it’s also teeming with Asian food incorporating South American influence. Vietnamese, Chinese, Laotian and even Hmong cuisine is everywhere, with alluring smells filling the busier parts of Cayenne.

The best place to experience it all is at Place Victor Schoelcher Market, a bustling farmers market that smells of tropical fruits and Indian spices. Here you can grab a fresh juice and stroll the stalls, sampling farm-fresh offerings that are all up to French standards of excellence.

The beaches are totally undisturbed.

Photo: chromoprisme /Shutterstock

Though one might think this warm-weather outpost would have become overrun with wintering French visitors, it has fallen a distant last behind all the French Caribbean islands as a tourism destination. As such, you’ll find one of the best beaches in Cayenne — Remire Montjoly — the odd city beach that looks like a deserted tropical island. The golden sand backs up to thick jungle and palm trees, and though you’ll find a smattering of locals here it still feels highly remote.

Much of the coastline is untamed, and the beaches in towns like Korou feel empty. You can also venture from to the Iles du Salut — or islands of salvation — formal penal colonies that now boast small, isolated beaches.

Perhaps the most famous beach in French Guiana is Plage Les Hattes. The bad news is this is the only beach where you might encounter what passes for “crowds.” The good news is that you’ll only find them at night as the big attraction here is the nesting leatherback sea turtles, which come ashore after dark to bury their eggs. Just be careful not to crush them if you show up during the day.

The wildlife is exotic and abundant.

Photo: STANZI /Shutterstock

Another bonus of minimal development is that animal habitats are relatively undisturbed in French Guiana. That means you can take short excursions into the jungle and encounter the area’s 700 species of birds, 177 species of mammals, and 100 different amphibians.

You’ll see everything from sloths to ocelots, macaws, South American tapirs, monkeys , and even some manatees if you go out onto the water. The jungle isn’t exactly tourist-friendly, though, and if you want to go out wildlife viewing, we highly advise you take an organized tour from one of the cities. Or you can visit the Tresor Nature Reserve in Kaw, about two hours drive from Cayenne.

The prison history is dark but fascinating.

Photo: Josef Stemeseder /Shutterstock

Like a lot of brutally hot and far-flung colonies, French Guiana played a major role as a penal colony for French citizens. The largest remaining relic of the era is the Camp de la Transportation in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni. This crumbling brick fortress was where prisoners arrived to be distributed among the Iles du Salut and for solitary confinement and execution up until the 1940s. You can tour the cells, which bear ominous art and engravings from former inmates, as well as old shackles and guard’s quarters.

Though the main prison is one of the department’s main tourist attractions, you’ll find the spot both Alfred Dreyfus and Papillon were incarcerated out on the Iles du Salut. Though the most infamous — Ile du Diable — is closed to the public, you can tour the other islands and see the wretched conditions of one of the most notorious penal colonies in the world, as well as dine in the old guards’ quarters and stay overnight in converted prison buildings.

You can see a rocket launch.

Photo: Matyas Rehak /Shutterstock

Anyone with gas money can drive to Florida and see a rocket shot up from Cape Canaveral. See one take off from the Centre Spatial Guyanais , and you’ve got a serious leg up on your space-geek competition. The French developed this unexpected locale for interstellar exploration in 1964 precisely because of its remote location. Today, it serves the European and French space agencies, as well as private rocket maker Arianespace, and offers free guided tours of mission control and the launching grounds. Just note that you must make a reservation, and the tours are all in French.

If you’re lucky, you can plan your visit around a rocket launch, no less impressive from the coast of French Guiana than it is around Disneyworld. And you won’t have to fight half of Florida to get a good view.

It’s the most French-feeling (and sometimes Asian-feeling) place in South America.

Photo: Anton_Ivanov /Shutterstock

In much the same way Buenos Aires feels like a little slice of Italy south of the equator, so does Cayenne feel like someone dumped Paris in the jungle. The streets are filled with sidewalk cafes where people sip coffee and leisurely go about the business of the day. The architecture is the royal colonial style people rave about in places like New Orleans and Martinique.

And though the French influence is charming, take a little side trip to the little town of Cacao for a completely different cultural experience. The Hmong refugee community that came from Laos in the 1970s mostly settled here, building churches and wood stilt homes with a distinctly Asian feel. You can tour a Hmong market, picking up embroidered souvenirs to take home, or stop and sample stuff like red-braised pork and spicy Hmong chicken sausage.

Trips down the river are escapades into centuries past.

Photo: Quentin Pelletier /Shutterstock

Traversing the jungles of South America is always best done on a river, and in French Guiana, you’ll feel almost like an old explorer, discovering villages of Amerindians and Maroons living a life much like they did centuries ago. The most popular trip is along the Maroni River, which separates French Guiana from Suriname. This 380-mile-long waterway is the longest in the country, dotted with tiny villages that, though used to visitors, haven’t let technology seep in too much.

You can also take a trip along the Sinnamary River into the heart of the Amazon or take on the rapids of the Approuague. Most trips are done via wooden canoes too, lest you feel like you’re on any type of organized “tour.” Though again, any trip into the wilderness here, on land or water, necessitates a guide.

Photo: evenfh /Shutterstock

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French Guiana Travel Guide

Oyapock and Maroni River straddle the edges of French Guiana, which is a French territory in South America . The entire area is an overload of natural beauty. Dense green forests cover the landscape, while fresh streams wind through the woods.

Things To Do In French Guiana

This tropical delight was not always the beautiful scenic place it is now. Interestingly, French Guiana operated many gruesome prisons in the past. Now you will only see vibrant cities like Cayenne, Saint-Laurent, and Kourou.

The wide range of geographical features makes the nation ideal for adventurous activities. Plus, the gorgeous coastline is the perfect place to find sandy beaches. Whereas, the small rolling hills are worth a hike.

Taking a ride to the Salvation Islands will bring you face to face with the history of long-forgotten prisoners. After an intriguing visit to the prisons, a beach day at Remire-Montjoly is a relaxing and welcome change. The age old turtles come and lay eggs in the beach sands, which is a sight to behold.

Local Cuisine

If you go to a hotel in French Guiana, do not forget to order something less spicy. Traditional dishes here are delicious but usually extra spicey. Try some smoked meat or fish, which is the specialty here.

Getting Around

Cayenne is home to the Cayenne – Rochambeau Airport which has international flights from Miami. An epic way to enter French Guiana is to take the Oyapock Bridge which spans over the Oyapock River. You can walk on it or take a car over the 385 m long bridge. However, boats are an uncommon way of getting to the country.

However, boats (pirogue) are widely used means of transport within French Guiana. Also, minibusses can take you anywhere within towns. Prices of mini-buses are affordable whereas taxis are downright expensive.

Car rental service is available at the airport or in Cayenne, Kourou and St Laurent, from international and local firms. Taxis are available in Cayenne. Also, they can pick you up from the Laussat Canal and from the airport. 

You cannot get around without interacting with the locals in French. Consequently, you ought to have an explicit knowledge of French if you are going to take a trip here. Furthermore, few speak Portuguese here.

Euro is the official currency here. The currency exchange is available at bureaus de change at Rochambeau airport and in Cayenne. Keep in mind that Saturday is a day off for these exchange facilities.

All major international credit cards are widely accepted and ATMs are available in Cayenne, Ile de Cayenne, Kourou, and Saint Laurent du Maroni.

Electricity & Plug Type

Although it is a French territory, here they use electric sockets of type D, so bring an adapter, even if you are coming from Europe . The standard voltage is 220V.

December 10, 2016 11:51 am Published by Staff Writer

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French Guiana Tour Day Trip

I am on a mission to travel to all 193 UN-recognized countries in the world (but not in a race, more like slowly and steadily) and so far have traveled to 86 countries on 7 continents. But while I was in Surinam, I decided to do something different. Visit nearby French Guiana which is not an independent country but a region of France and I am glad I did because even in a day, I learned so much about their history and food. So if you are considering the same, read on as I share how the day trip to French Guiana tour went.

• Suriname To French Guiana Day Trip

Where is French Guiana located? 

Historical significance, attractions and day trips, best french guiana tour on a day trip, day trip to st. laurent du maroni, french guiana, 1. departure from paramaribo, 2. crossing the maroni river, 3. discovering st. laurent du maroni, 4. return to paramaribo, additional notes:, how safe is french guiana.

• Let me know in the comments:

French Guiana is located on the northeastern coast of South America. It shares borders with Brazil to the south and east, Suriname to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the north. As an overseas department of France, French Guiana is an integral part of the French Republic.

As part of France, it offers a unique blend of French and Creole influences, creating a captivating destination for travelers seeking both adventure and cultural immersion.

French Guiana’s history is deeply intertwined with its past as a penal colony. From the mid-19th to the mid-20th century, the infamous Devil’s Island housed political prisoners, including Captain Alfred Dreyfus. Today, remnants of this era can be explored, offering a glimpse into a tumultuous chapter of French Guiana’s past.

Despite its dark history, French Guiana has emerged as a destination teeming with attractions for day-trippers. The capital city of Cayenne boasts a blend of colonial architecture and vibrant markets, offering a taste of local life and history.

For nature enthusiasts, the region is a paradise. The pristine rainforests are home to diverse wildlife, including monkeys, jaguars, and vibrant bird species. The Maroni River, which forms the border with Suriname, offers a glimpse into indigenous cultures and traditions, with opportunities to visit remote villages and experience their way of life.

French Guiana has a lot to offer despite its small size. However, during a day trip, you are limited in terms of what you can see.

If you plan to travel as far as Cayenne which is the capital city of French Guiana, be aware that flights are limited and expensive. There are no longer commercial flights between Suriname and French Guiana, with only one expensive flight per week to Belem, Brazil. The only regular flights are either from Martinique or Paris, both of which are pricey.

Another option is to take a day trip from Paramaribo to Saint Laurent Du Moroni which is a border town in north-west French Guiana.

Option A: Several companies offer day tours for €85-€110. However, if you are traveling solo, you may be expected to pay for two people, making it quite expensive.

Option B: If you have the time and energy you could visit on your own. But note, you will have to stamp out of Surinam, stamp in F.G. then repeat the same when coming back, and deal with the boat, taxi, etc yourself.  Might be doable for €40-50 but probably you will have to wait longer for a boat or shared taxi to fill up so if you have to be at the airport for example, this is probably risky. 

With all that considered, I went on a day trip for ease and convenience it was priced at €103 and this is how it went. 

After researching several French Guiana tours offering day trips, I ultimately chose to go with Impressive Suriname . I wasn’t sure what to expect but meeting two fellow travelers on a tour and our guide who was also an excellent driver made my day. We all spoke English and I have to say our guide filled the day trip with laughter, interesting food, history, and stories. Plus not having to deal with boats, shared taxis, immigration, etc was such a relief. It is worth the money and recommend the tour company because of it. So, If you book the same tour, if it is possible ask for Giovani as a guide.

• – Giovani picked me up from my hotel in Paramaribo around 08:00 am then we went around to pick up the other 2 guests.
• – We then drove to Albina, a journey of approximately 3 hours.
• – On the way we stopped for Salt fish bake (sandwich) which was a first for me and was pretty good
• – We also tried an Acai drink sold by a local on the road (a bag of antioxidants with 0 sugar so that was a first for me too) Check out the “French Guyana” highlight on Instagram for videos.

• – Departed from Albina to St. Laurent du Maroni by dugout canoe.
• – Giovani bought a sim with data to use in case we need it in FG 
• – St. Laurent du Maroni is famous for its association with the book “Papillon.”
• – We learned about the brutal history of the penal colony as the first 6000 prisoners from France were shipped here in 1852, including the well-known Papillon.
• – Explored the former prison, now a museum, with guided tours provided daily from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.
• – French Guiana was situated in an ideal location with fertile soil, but it was plagued by a harsh and unforgiving climate. From 1852 to 1938, more than 56,000 primarily male prisoners were sent to Devil’s Island, or Ile du Diable. Tragically, 90 percent of these prisoners perished on the island due to disease and mistreatment. The inmates, who were often malnourished and clothed only in rags, were frequently compelled to toil in water up to their waists.
• – The tour started sad then went downright depressing. I was shocked hearing all the stories of how these people were treated. At first, I said maybe their crimes were so bad they fit the punishment but then I learned there were also small-time petty pick-pocketing type criminals who also got the same harsh treatment as others. So unfair… but I was pleased to hear Papillon made it out alive in the end and even wrote a book! There’s hope even in the darkest hours.
• – Don’t forget to check out The transportation prison camp (€5 to enter the museum, but can walk around for free – buy tickets at the tourist office 100m to the right of the prison entrance).
• – After the museum tour, we walked past shops and visited the local market where various communities were selling their products. It was lively and busy a good change after the prison scene. 
• – If you want to buy something, there was an ATM nearby for withdrawing Euros.
• – We then stopped for a coffee and some tasty baked goods. It was probably one of the best fish quiches I ever had. The owner of the cafe was so nice, he gifted us 2 extra quiches! 
• – Explored the old buildings in St. Laurent, known for their colonial architectural style.
• – Saint-Laurent is nicknamed “Le Petit Paris” because of its architecture.
• – FYI If you want to see the rocket launch/base in the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana, perhaps plan with the tour company prior as it takes a further 2-3 hours to drive north. This facility is located at 5.239°N 52.768°W and covers an area of 21 km2 (8.1 sq mi)
• – After a day full of exploring . St. Laurent du Maroni in French Guiana it was time to go back to Surinam.

• – We then returned to Albina by boat, crossing the Maroni River. (Ps: If you are reading this Bram, hope your head is ok!)
• – Drove to a restaurant to have our massive big lunch! Giovanni provided some options for us if we wanted to have Chinese, Indonesian, etc. We went with Indo and wow the food was delicious! 
• – Travelled back to Paramaribo, concluding this fun and memorable day trip.
• – The tour provides insights into the history and culture of St. Laurent du Maroni, offering a unique experience for visitors.
• – The trip includes transportation, guided tours, meals, and a boat ride, providing a comprehensive day-trip experience.

French Guiana, like any destination, has its safety considerations. While it offers many attractions and experiences, it’s important to be aware of certain aspects:

• Crime: Petty crime can occur, especially in urban areas and tourist locations. It’s advisable to take precautions such as avoiding displaying valuables and being aware of your surroundings.
• Health: French Guiana is in a tropical region, and there may be risks of diseases like dengue fever or malaria. It’s wise to consult a healthcare provider before traveling and take necessary precautions.
• Natural Hazards: The region is prone to occasional natural disasters like floods and storms, particularly during the rainy season. Staying informed about weather conditions is important.
• Remote Areas: Some areas, especially along the Maroni River and in the interior, are remote and may lack infrastructure and emergency services. It’s essential to plan and prepare accordingly.

Overall, French Guiana can be safe for visitors who take necessary precautions and stay informed. Using common sense, respecting local customs, and staying aware of your surroundings can contribute to a safe and enjoyable visit.

I hope you found this French Guiana tour on a day trip insightful.

Let me know in the comments :

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11 Best Things To Do in Cayenne, French Guiana

• Post last modified: March 3, 2024
• Post author: Fede Supital Terrón
• Post published: January 1, 2021
• Post category: Guides / South America

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Are you looking for the best things to do in Cayenne for when you travel to French Guiana ? Then you've come to the right place. From rainforests to rapids, and cities to islands, this place has it all.

Are you ready for an adventure? Then let's get into it right away! Here are our 11 favorite things to do in Cayenne, and everything to know for when you travel to French Guiana.

*Please note that this blog post may contain some affiliate links, which we make a small profit on, at zero cost to you.  Links are only used on products & services that we've used and believe in, to give you the best buying experience.  Purchasing from these links helps us to continue providing free travel guides for you- so thank you for your support!

Where is French Guiana?

French Guiana is a small country located in the "Guyanas" of South America . It is the southernmost of the Guyanas, located just north of Brazil . Many people don't even realize that these three small countries even exist, no less that they are not Latino!

French Guiana is the most southern of the Guyanas and is located just above Brazil .

Is French Guiana an Official Country?

While we like to recognize French Guiana as its own country, it's not technically an official country. It actually is a French territory.

How Can I Get to French Guiana?

The capital of French Guiana is Cayenne, and there is an International airport. It is particularly expensive to fly here, which is why we decided to travel there overland from Suriname . If you'd like to know exactly how to do so, you can check our full article below.

Flying from the  US , we found that the cheapest of the Guyanas to fly to was the country of Guyana  (the northernmost country of the Guyanas). The cheapest country to fly to French Guiana from is in fact  France , as  French Guiana  is actually still a part of  France . So if you are flying from  Europe , we suggest flying to France first to get here.

Cities that fly direct to Cayenne are only from French territories and include Fort de France in Martinique, Maripasoula and Saul in French Guiana, and Paris in mainland France.

Flight Tip:  Use Skyscanner to put from "your city" to "everywhere". Then  you can see which is the cheapest airport in the area to fly (Guyana, Suriname, or French Guiana). Also, you can check the calendar to see which are the cheapest dates for your destination!

Search for a flight to the Guyanas:

Looking to travel from Suriname to French Guiana ? Well we've mapped out exactly how to do it. Check out our article below to learn more .

How to Travel to French Guiana from Suriname

Are you planning to travel to French Guiana? We did a whole trip through the Guyanas via public transportation, and are here to share our knowledge. In this particular article we will be covering how to travel to French Guiana from Suriname.Traveling through the Guyanas is not the easiest, but

Entry Requirements for Travel to French Guiana

Now that you know how to get to French Guiana, it's important to know if there are any restrictions for entering.

Visa Requirements for Travel to French Guiana

Although French Guiana is considered to be a part of France, it is not actually part of the Schengen Zone. You can visit French Guiana for a period of up to 90 days without needing a visa. We were told that French nationals don't have restrictions for staying in French Guiana, but if you are French we definitely suggest double checking with someone from the embassy.

Covid Requirements for Travel to French Guiana

All restrictions due to Covid have now been lifted in French Guiana.

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One click is all it takes  to make your photos look stunning. Get our latest package of Lightroom presets, Into The Wild .

French Guiana Local Adjustments

Traveling to a new country there is a lot to know. Here are some of the things to keep in mind for when you travel to French Guiana.

What is the Official Language in French Guiana?

While many people assume everyone in South America speaks Spanish, this is actually not the case at all. In French Guiana they speak- you guessed it- French.

What Currency Do They Use in French Guiana?

While the other two Guyanas have their own currency, French Guiana actually uses the euro, since it is technically France ! So if you are traveling from Europe make sure to hold on to those euros. We also found that not many places take credit card, so cash is key.

What Plug Types Do They Use in French Guiana?

The outlets in French Guiana support plug types C, D, and E. Plug type C is the most common European plug, which has two round pins. Plug type D has 3 round pins in a triangle, and Plug type E is the same as C but with thicker pins. French Guiana runs on a standard voltage of 220 V, and 50 Hz.

Can You Drink the Tap Water in French Guiana?

For a long time the tap water was not safe to drink. Now there are many areas close to the coast that have drinkable tap water. We suggest confirming with a local depending on what spot you're in.

Tipping in French Guiana

Tipping in French Guiana isn't common, so it's not something you really need to worry about.

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Travel to French Guiana: Things to Do in Cayenne

Now let's check out all of the fun things waiting for you to do there! Here are 11 things to do in Cayenne during your travel to French Guiana.

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Things to Do in Cayenne #1: Explore the City

The first thing that got our attention was the city's motto: "fert aurum industria", which means "work brings wealth". Cayenne has quite a lot of things do. The residence of the prefect in the Place de Grenoble, the Canal Laussat, and the Botanical Gardens are just some of them.

The Musée Départamental Franconie and the Musée des Cultures Guyanises feature good exhibits on indigenous peoples and the penal settlements on Devil's Island.

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Things to Do in Cayenne #2: Canoe Down the Rapids

Spots like Kourou, Iracabo, Counamana and the lower Sinnamary are great for canoeing through the rapids. The rivers are a mixture of calm water and mor challenging rapids, such as those at Hermina.

This is definitely one of the best things to do in French Guiana.

Things to Do in Cayenne #3: Explore the Infamous Iles Du Salut

The Islands of Salvation ("Îles du Salut" in French) are a group of small islands of volcanic origin just 11 kilometers off the coast of French Guiana (14 km north of Kourou) in the Atlantic Ocean.

There are three islands in here: Île Royale, Île Saint-Joseph and the smallest yet most important one, Île du Diable.

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Things to Do in Cayenne #4: Follow Papillon’s Footsteps on Devil’s Island

From 1852 to 1938, more than 80,000 prisoners arrived, and due to the terrible sanitary conditions of the island, many of them did not return from there. The only way to escape was by boat, and then an impenetrable jungle had to be overcome, so it is not known how many convicts managed to escape. The prison was closed in 1946 and most of the prisoners returned to France, although some decided to stay in French Guiana.

If you haven't read it, "Papillion" (Butterfly in French) is a great novel from 1969 that narrates the tales of a man sentenced to forced labor in French Guiana for a crime he did not commit. You can visit the island and walk through the main character's steps!

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Things to Do in Cayenne #5: Go Birdwatching in the Mouragues Nature Reserve

Nature is all over the place in here. See its wildlife at the Mouragues Nature Reserve, which goes from Roura to Regina and is well known for its diverse scenery and flora. Definitely considered a popular activity amongst things to do in French Guiana.

You can also go south towards Brazil to the Kaw Swamps, which are host to a lot of species of birds, like the toco toucan and the flamingo, as well as caiman.

Things to Do in Cayenne #6: See the Jungle from the Ground or the Air

Much of the interior of the country is covered with huge swathes of primary tropical forest, protected as a national park. You can buzz over the jungle canopy on a microlight plane, or negotiate the winding trails on a mountain bike, with trips organized in Cayenne, Saul, Montsinery-Tonnegrade, St Laurent and St Georges.

Things to Do in Cayenne #7: Shake your Booty at Cayenne Carnival

Want to know the best time to travel to French Guiana? Well, it's during its fabulous carnival each year.

Carnival here is a big event that happens between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday. Every Sunday for over two months, carnival groups in Cayenne, Kourou and St Laurent de Maroni parade to incredible music in unique original costumes.

Mardi Gras is the parade of the red devils. Ash Wednesday sees the crowd dressed in black and white to witness the death throes of King Carnival. If you like carnivals and festivals, this is one of the best things to do in French Guiana.

Things to Do in Cayenne #8: Take off to Kourou

One of the most popular things to do in Cayenne is to take a day trip to Karou. In the incredible city of Kourou you will find things like the Guyana Space Centre. The city is full of super modern buildings, but one of the main reasons why people visit it is because you can get lucky enough to see a rocket launch! Another great spot to visit here is Fourgasier Falls, a set of waterfalls that you can find only an hour away from the city.

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Things to Do in Cayenne #9: Go Turtle Spotting at Remire-Montjoly

Are you a big turtle fan? then you need to come here. You can find leatherback, green and olive ridley turtles that come here to nest. The best part is that these types of turtles lay their eggs at different times of the year. This way, you can see them almost at any time you come. Leatherback turtles lay them from April to July, green turtles from January to May, and olive ridleys from June to August. Out of all the things to do in French Guiana, this was one of our personal favorites.

Things to Do in Cayenne #10: Visit an Amerindian Village

Amerindian people have been getting reduced in population. The good thing is that in the north coast of South America you can still find The Wayana. Many still follow traditional lives. You can visit riverside Amerindian villages in Haut-Maroni and Haut-Oyapic. Visits are restricted, so you need a permit from the Prefecture in Cayenne to be allowed.

Things to Do in Cayenne #11: Get Lost in Nature in Guiana Amazonian Park

The Guiana Amazonian Park is the largest National Park of France . This is part of the Amazonian forest, which happens to cover 41% of the region. It is also one of the largest national parks in the world. The only way to get into here is by airplane or pirogue. It's impossible to access it from the sea-shore.

How to Get Around Cayenne

We actually had a very particular situation when we visited Cayenne. A guy we met at the bus station had offered us a ride, and then we ended up staying with him for a few nights. He brought us around everywhere with his car, so we ended up not taking a single form of other transportation! 

We do know that there is a public bus system in Cayenne, and tickets are around 1 euro. Uber is not available, but there are taxis that can take you around, Just make sure to tell them to put their meter on, and pay attention to Google Maps to make Sur they are taking you in the right direction.

If you'd like to visit areas outside of the city, there are buses that all connect to major cities and landmarks around French Guiana. However, if you'd like to explore more in less time, then it may be worth it to rent a car for the Cayenne airport.

Rent a car in Cayenne:

Where to Stay in Cayenne

We definitely suggest staying in the city center of Cayenne near the main square. This way you can enjoy the great architecture, market, and a lot of different restaurants and bars.

As we ended up staying with a local, we don't have particular hotel suggestions. However, if you'd like to search for a place to stay in the center, we've attached a map below for you.

How Safe is Cayenne, French Guiana?

While many areas of South America can be extremely dangerous, we found Cayenne to feel very safe. Many of the people that live in Cayenne come from the mainland of France for a different lifestyle, and overall the vibe of everyone there is amazing. While the tourism isn't super developed, the people are very welcoming to tourists, and we thoroughly enjoyed all of our encounters in French Guiana.

It's important to note that while we had a very pleasant experience, we also heard about a lot of sketchy tourist scams in French Guiana that happen.

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Other Things to Know For Travel to French Guiana

Now you're almost all ready to travel to French Guiana! But here are a few other things to keep in mind.

What is the Weather Like in French Guiana?

The weather in French Guiana is pretty tropical, so it never gets cold, and is very hot and humid. French Guiana experiences a very large amount of rainfall, especially from the months of May to July.

When is the Best Time to Visit French Guiana?

Definitely the best time to visit French Guiana is in February, so that you can experience their vibrant carnival celebrations.

Packing for a Trip to French Guiana

Here are a few things we suggest you to bring on your trip:

• Reusable Water Bottle (we use this water bottle from Cafago because it holds the temperature)
• Flip Flops (we personally always get Havaiana flip flops , as they are comfy and long lasting)
• Sneakers (for the outdoor activities)
• Zippered Bag or Backpack (to secure your belongings) - take a look at these backpacks for travelers!
• Power Bank (we use Anker power banks , as they are super long lasting and sturdy)
• Bathing Suits
• Light Casual Clothing
• Drone (We use the Mavic Mini Pro 3 because it's super light and doesn't sacrifice quality)
• Action Camera (we use the Insta 360 X3 because it's small & waterproof)
• Travel Adapter (we use Tessan travel adapters as they are affordable and reliable)

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French Guiana may be a small territory, but it definitely has a lot to offer. If you are planning on coming here, we recommend you to get a lot of mosquito repellent, sunscreen and thirst for adventure!

Also, don't forget to check out the rest of our  South American Guides . This way, you can plan a larger trip and get the best out of this beautiful area.

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Travelling the Guianas, and proving good things do come in threes

Featuring in the new BBC Two series Simon Reeve’s South America, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana reveal a side to this continent few ever see…

During two weeks travelling South America’s least-heralded overland adventure, I ate Caribbean ‘bakes’ and saltfish for breakfast, found African ‘voodoo’ alive and kicking and, in a city named after a hot pepper, enjoyed the cosmopolitan sight of an Indian man and a Chinese man playing the extremely French game of boules.

Illustrated map of the Guianas (Scott Jessop)

One thing I didn’t do, however, was utter a single word of Spanish, or even Portuguese for that matter. Blame the European colonialists for the linguistic and cultural idiosyncrasies of the so-called 3Gs – not the mobile-phone signal but Guyana, Suriname (formerly Dutch Guiana) and French Guiana. This trio are some of South America’s smallest nations, carved from the bone-shatteringly hard two-billion-year-old Guiana Shield craton in the far north-eastern Amazon.

From Georgetown to Cayenne via Paramaribo, I oscillated between the rainforest and the coastline, where the British once arrived to grab Guyana; the Dutch took Suriname; and where France, stubborn as ever, refuses to budge from charming French Guiana. As I crossed border after border, I became ever more curious to see just how the Guianas’ disparate histories had shaped its lively, cosmopolitan present. Not least in the capital of my first stop: Guyana.

Travelling in Guyana

“Before your queen visited in 1994, Queen Victoria’s statue had already been blown up once, in the build-up to independence from Britain in 1970,” said my Georgetown guide, Salvador de Caires, his lilting Caribbean accent and rich anecdotes sketching the past as we stood outside the law courts.

“They hastily put her back together again but couldn’t find her nose.”

Guyana’s Georgetown has some very strollable colonial architecture (Mark Stratton)

Guyana may be geologically clamped to South America but its soul belongs to the West Indies.

Despite a doughty British underlay of Anglican churches and 19th-century colonial-style homes with boxed demerara windows, there’s reggae in the air, aromas of fried fish ‘cutters’ along the promenade, and the spirit of El Dorado rum.

Yet, for all Georgetown’s languid allure, I felt the Amazon’s irresistible pull. Covering 75% of its territory, Guyana’s rainforests counts fanciful cock-of-the-rock birds and jaguars among 900 avian species and 225 mammals. A bouncy flight by 12-seater Cessna to Kaieteur Falls offered my first taste of the country’s undiluted primevalness, above a broccoli-topped Amazon canopy nuanced by hues of khaki, pea-green and lime.

After an hour in the air, I relived the same memory of awe that I recalled on first seeing Victoria Falls.

Local guide Kenneth looks down Potaro Valley (Mark Stratton)

Thundering down the River Potaro’s pinched chasm was Kaieteur Falls, cascading in seeming slow motion behind an aurora of shifting rainbows, its rope-like strands of water knitting together to fall 251m into a swirling vapour. The roar was even audible above the twin engines.

Kaieteur careens off a billion-year-old flat-topped tepuis, where its cloud forests are pure Conan-Doyle’s Lost World, albeit sans dinosaurs. Though who knows what might be lurking? Scientists only recently discovered a new species of blue tarantula here.

Most visitors opt for a two-hour fly-in excursion, but consider spending the night. Granted, the current accommodation is terrible – I counted bats ebbing and flowing through a hole in my roof – but it bought more time to explore Kaieteur’s sparkling wildlife.

Bright orange cock-of-the-rocks huddled in the mossy forest, and I saw endemic thumbnail-sized golden frogs, which spend their entire lives inside a giant bromeliad.

At one point I stepped perilously close to Kaieteur’s unnerving vortex; over 130,000 litres per second of water crashed past my face as I watched clouds of swifts returning to their overnight cliff roosts and winced at their audacity.

Imbued with the boldness of those birds, I ventured deeper the next day into the Guyanese wilderness, to an Amerindian eco-lodge between the Rupununi and Burro-Burro rivers, near Brazil. On the Cessna flight, nervous tourists spontaneously broke into applause when we bump-landed on Surama’s ochre-dirt airstrip.

Gary Sway, an Amerindian of the Makushi tribe, greeted me. Dressed in western clothes, he quipped how his people didn’t dart animals with blowpipes these days. “The guests wouldn’t like it and, anyway, we Makushi prefer bows and arrows.”

Open since 1998, Surama’s award-winning eco-lodge has five simple cabanas alongside a circular benab , a traditional Amerindian meeting house.

Read next 7 things you must do in Guyana

Guests stay within a 300-strong community, which also provided the produce for a lunch featuring starfruit juice, curried squash and cassava. Upstairs in the benab , a pink-toed tarantula dozed on its bar. “What’s your poison?” I imagined it asking.

“Paying guests brought us better education and salaries, plus spin-offs for craftsmen and food producers,” explained Gary.

“Missionaries came here 70 years ago and changed our customs. This project has helped us reconnect with our environment. We now have a collective voice to say no to logging and mining, which steals our forest and poisons the water we drink.”

A majestic harpy eagle (Shutterstock)

This benefits not only the native people but the wildlife itself. “Want to see a harpy eagle?” Gary asked me after lunch. Who wouldn’t?

These colossal raptors are almost larger than the aircraft I’d arrived in. So, off we set down the Burro-Burro in a motorised canoe, limboing under fallen trees as I listened to Gary’s father, who was at the helm, instructing his grandson on the ways of nature, passed down through Amerindian oral tradition as it had always been.

Talkative macaws and angular herons were commonplace yet the harpies initially kept their two and a half metre wingspan hidden. Then a piercing banshee-like yelp enabled Gary to pinpoint a hungry chick, a year old and already the size of an emperor penguin, through his binoculars.

“Their talons can break the backs of monkeys and sloths,” he said. “But we’re a little too large for them.”

Exploring Suriname

The 18th-century Frederiksdorp (Mark Stratton

It was still early when I boarded a minibus back in Georgetown for Moleson Creek border post.

We bustled through backwater villages with droll names like Glazier’s Lust and Lovely Lass, before crossing the River Courantyne into Suriname, where we were greeted in Dutch.

Thereafter, we hurtled across the sort of flatlands to make a Dutchman sigh with joy during a 256km collective-taxi to Paramaribo.

Then it all changed. Had I somehow taken a wrong turn, I wondered, as we ventured into Suriname’s Amazon, and ended up in Africa?

Upriver from the coast lay the villages of the Maroons, descendants of slaves who escaped from the Dutch plantations during the 17th and 18th centuries, before slavery was abolished in Suriname in 1863.

Their Saramaka language is identifiably West African, as is their spirit worship, and while the men master the turbulent Suriname River in dugouts, women bear heavy loads on their heads, with infants tucked in their vibrant sarongs.

From Atjoni, it’s three hours by canoe to Danpaati River Lodge, up the Suriname River, a viscous flow with cinnamon-tinted sediment flushing from the Amazon.

The boatman, ‘Sweet Coco’, a self-declared hit with the ladies, skilfully navigated frothing shoals and boulders as I zoned out to the drone of the engines amid riverside forest heaving with monkeys.

The Maroon villages eventually became more numerous. Their entrances are protected by raffia bunting, to ward away evil spirits – something I’d seen before in Africa.

Read next Things you must do in Suriname

The lodge rests on its own mid-river island of 18 stilted chalets and a central bar-restaurant where tamarin monkeys with gargoyle scowls came daily to raid the buffet.

Local guide Clyde Dreischor explained our presence contributed to the economy of 12 local Saramaka villages, funding school facilities, care for the elderly and employment.

“So the more gin and tonics I drink, the more people I help?” quipped a cheerful Dutch guest.

When I could tear myself away from my river-facing balcony’s hammock, watching kingfishers and imagining every floating log to be a caiman, I’d cool down in the natural Jacuzzi of nearby rapids, or walk in forests where iridescent blue morpho butterflies slalomed between leviathan trees.

On the opposite riverbank lay the Maroon village of Dan, its little triangular-roofed huts decorated with ornate doors and frontispieces bearing geometric designs like Swiss chalets.

Surinamese guide Clyde Dreischor leads the way (Mark Stratton)

“Many are empty,” said Clyde. “The parents died and the children are too superstitious to live in them.” Bodies are buried, he said, away from the village to maintain a distance between the realms of the living and the dead. Villagers have sacred forest spots to worship the winti (spirits of nature).

“Like African voodoo?” I ventured, eager to learn more.

“Oh no, that’s bad ju-ju – like the stuff in Haiti. Maroons worship tree and animal spirits to give thanks for good health, food and medicine,” he quietly assured.

The last boats out of Atjoni (Mark Stratton)

The wealth that Dutch Suriname accrued from slave plantations now manifests in Paramaribo’s elegant UNESCO World Heritage listed downtown, called Foto.

It’s anachronistically pretty, with nearly 300 wooden Dutch buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Here, trade and colonialism is etched in the faces of the multi-ethnic Surinamese. “I have Black, Amerindian, Chinese, Jewish and Dutch ancestors – and an English name,” said Anthony Grant while showing me around Paramaribo. “We say we’re all imports.”

Anthony took me to Zeelandia Fort, which the Dutch took from the British in 1667. By night, it’s lovely to sit at the little café-bar inside the fort’s walls and sip Borgoe rum by candlelight.

Nearby is a monument to Baba and Mai, the first Indians who came to work the plantations in 1873, after slavery’s abolition (which took a decade to kick in), superseding the Chinese who, like the Maroons, had fled, fed-up by Dutch imperiousness.

Then a surprise. Amid the Lutheran churches and warehouses, I noticed a synagogue with Corinthian columns, furnished inside with dark polished hardwood and sand floors.

“The sand deadens their footsteps and reminds worshippers of the biblical desert wilderness,” said Anthony, explaining how a Portuguese Jewish community had escaped European persecution in the 1600s and initiated the first plantations here.

Discovering French Guiana

The taxi reached Suriname’s eastern edge at Albina, where the vast Marowijne River takes 30 minutes to cross on a hot open air roro (roll on, roll off) ship. Passportless passengers ducked into the bush upon arrival, having reached the EU.

“ Bienvenue en France,” declared the gendarme checking my documents. But an altogether less cordial greeting once awaited those arriving at border town Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni. France strove to develop this little Amazon backwater in the mid-19th century, and most arrivals faced hard labour and, occasionally, the guillotine.

The Prison in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, the main penal establishment of French Guiana for a century (Shutterstock)

French Guiana is a department of France even today. Swathed in rainforest, this obscure state’s journey into Western consciousness was as a penal colony, made notorious by Henri Charrière’s autobiographic book, Papillon.

It was published exactly 50 years ago and detailed his prison break from Devil’s Island, but is a tale with more holes in it than Saint Laurent’s crumbling penitentiary buildings (used between 1852 and 1953).

At Saint Laurent, local guide Daphne explained that the convicts built this prison from the jungle. “Mortality was almost 30% due to tropical diseases like malaria,” she said, and even when the prisoners had served their time, they were forced to remain and work.

“Really, it was a life sentence; the fare back to France cost a fortune, so they rarely returned.”

The rooftops of the capital of French Guiana, Cayenne (Shutterstock)

Inside the complex were six two-storey stone dormitories. In bright sunshine, the cell blocks’ warm, pinkish stone is now shaded by mango trees, and scarcely captures the living hell endured by inmates.

In solitary confinement, prisoners spent up to five years in cells little more than the size of wardrobes. I shuddered at the thought of the cells’ dark confines, where convicts were manacled by the ankles to a wooden plank for up to 23 hours each day.

“Can you imagine the smell in the tropical heat: the disease, the toilets, no washing?” said Daphne, pulling a face. These cells were occupied by the hardened ‘transported’ criminals, who’d tried to escape previously and awaited offshore transportation to French Guiana’s offshore Îles du Salut.

Into the wall of cell 47 is carved the word Papillon (Butterfly) – the nickname of Henri Charrière. In his book he claimed to have escaped from Devil’s Island (one of Îles du Salut’s three islets), but Daphne disputes this.

“Devil’s Island was only for political prisoners, and he was a common criminal. He definitely escaped, but probably from a mainland work camp, and made it to Venezuela. Much of the book is fiction,” she said.

I shared a taxi thereafter to French Guiana’s bijou capital, Cayenne. A quiet coastal town, it is quite modern and, like the other 3G capitals, ethnically cosmopolitan.

There’s a nod to France: fluttering tricolours, gendarmes wearing hatbox-round caps and locals playing boules by the seafront. In the market, Vietnamese and Hmong serve pho soup; both are now integrated communities, settled by the French after the Vietnam War.

An hour from Cayenne, at Kourou, I joined a catamaran tour to the Îles du Salut with Nathalie, a local tour operator who cannot find English-speaking guides, so usually takes her clients around herself.

“I don’t think Papillon escaped the islands on a sack stuff ed with coconuts,” said Nathalie, poo-pooing Charrière’s narrative. “There’s too many sharks in the water and the currents are dangerous.”

(Mark Stratton)

Yet, after St Laurent’s perceived depravities, my first impression on circling these little islets was of a paradise found: coconut palms topping glistening black lava cliffs and circled by a turquoise apron.

Two of the islands can be visited, and each has picturesque circular walks. Royale Island’s green alleyways wend through forest redolent with scurrying iguanas and macaques.

There’s an old abattoir where guards once let blood run into the sea to attract sharks and deter potential escapees, and the claustrophobic solitary confinement cells had bars for a roof so convicts were subject, for years on end, to all the elements.

“They usually went crazy inside these, with only 30 minutes’ exercise allowed each day,” added Nathalie.

Scarier tales surround neighbouring St Joseph’s Isle – yet another potent manifestation of a tropical idyll – of prisoners thrown to sharks during a rebellion in 1894 and a convict called Roussenq, who spent 3,779 days in solitary confinement in silence.

Yet this was how the French contributed their DNA to the 3Gs’ tumultuous origins, alongside Jewish plantation owners, escaped African maroons and Indian and Chinese labourers, as the Amerindians watched on and retreated deeper into the rainforest’s protective embrace.

During my travels in the north-east Amazon, my stays at eco-lodges that helped to safeguard biodiversity and support local communities felt ever more relevant – especially as Brazil’s rainforest increasingly comes under threat courtesy of its wrecking-ball of a president, Jair Bolsonaro.

Following so many different vivid narratives within the 3Gs, I experienced South America as I’d never seen it before.

The author experienced many of the highlights on KE Adventure Travel’s 15-day Discovering the Hidden Guianas group tour, which travels by light aircraft, dugouts and 4WD.

The itinerary heads deep into the jungle and visits Kaieteur Falls, the Maroon communities at Danpaati in Suriname, and Devil’s Island in French Guiana. The trip includes internal flights, transfers, tours, accommodation, some meals and excursions as per the itinerary.

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Guyana Travel: Our 2 Week Itinerary + Everything You Should Know!

Guyana Travel

If you asked me about some of my favorite places in the world, I’d rattle off, “Paris, London, Shanghai, Copenhagen..”

Notice a pattern? They’re all cities (ha).

I dislike hiking, I avoid the sun like the plague, and shriek at the immediate sight of a bug. So what was I doing, hundreds of miles deep in the jungle of Guyana ?

On our 2 week trip in the country, we had frogs jumping out of our shower drain, a tarantula roommate and a friendly bird who popped on my cot not once, but twice.

And yet, Guyana remains one of the most memorable places that I’ve visited. While I still wouldn’t classify myself as ‘hard core’ or ‘extra adventurous’, I think anyone willing to brave the outdoors should add Guyana to their travel bucket list – especially its jungle interior.

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Guyana is one of the world’s last remote places. Steamier than a sauna and with more critters than humans, this small South American country offers more adventures in one week than most people will experience in a lifetime.

And let’s face it, if I could brave its wilderness… anyone can!

Today I’m sharing our Guyana itinerary – covering everything we saw, did and experienced throughout our time in Georgetown and the jungle. There’s not much info out there about Guyana in travel books so hopefully this will serve as a planning guide for any curious travelers out there craving somewhere new!

Keep reading or pin this article for later ⇟ 

The Guiana Shield

Guyana lies sandwiched between Venezuela, Brazil and French Guiana, in what’s known as the Guiana Shield.

The Guiana Shield was formed more than 2 billion years ago as the last plateau on Pangea, the world’s original supercontinent. Thanks to its ancient history and unique geology, the Guiana Shield is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world.

What does that mean exactly?

Well, expect mammals, fish, birds, plants and reptiles that you’ve never seen anywhere else! Forget roosters waking you up – try howler monkeys. Sharp toothed caiman lurk in the rivers while jaguars roam free at night.

Even animals you think you’re familiar with exist in Guyana…on another level . River otters are gigantic (officially called Giant River Otters) and anteaters are supersized (Giant Anteaters).

With more than 850 species of birds and some of the globe’s most exotic fish, visiting Guyana is a paradise for bird lovers and anglers. Its highlands, sandstone plateaus and thick jungle are also a beacon to hardcore survivalists looking to test their skills.

I’m actually not kidding – Naked and Afraid has filmed in Guyana’s interior more than once! So it’s safe to say that visiting Guyana’s interior requires a bit of planning.

Here’s what to expect.

Guyana Itinerary

Our Guyana itinerary took us to some of the most remote and pristine rain forest left on earth – and it did so sustainably.

One of the great things about visiting Guyana is its sustainable tourism model. All the hotels we stayed at were owned and operated by Amerindian villages and the lodges themselves were eco-friendly. Our guides grew up swimming in the rivers and navigating the forest trails by memory so they were incredible at introducing us to local plants, animals and Amerindian traditions.

I’m not going to lie – the accommodation was an adjustment for me. But I loved seeing how the architecture differed from hotel to hotel and appreciated the low environmental impact.

One thing that is easy?

Guyana is English speaking! No need to brush up on your Spanish; Guyana’s history as a British colony distinguishes it as the only English speaking country in South America.

Highlights of Visiting Guyana

Now that I’ve properly prepared you… here’s what you can look forward to experiencing in Guyana!

• Colorful Georgetown, a lively capital with a Caribbean feel
• Learning to live off the land (piranha fishing, archery, camping & more!)
• Spectacular birds, like the eerie Harpy Eagle and hidden Great Potoo
• Kaieteur Falls, the world’s highest single drop waterfall
• Night safaris to catch a glimpse of black caiman and jaguars 
• Getting to know the indigenous Macushi tribes

2 Weeks in Guyana

Days 1-2: Arrive to Georgetown

From New York, we flew directly into Chedi Jagan International Airport and hopped into a cab. 

The airport is a bit far from the capital, so budget at least an hour to transfer to your Georgetown hotel. On our first day, we settled in to our rooms at the charming Cara Lodge , originally home to the first Lord Mayor of Georgetown. It had beautiful colonial style architecture, a central courtyard and charming wooden beams. 

We sprayed our clothing with Sawyers for mosquito protection, let them air out, and grabbed our first dinner of local Guyanese curries and stir fries before getting some rest.

On day 2, we explored Georgetown!

Where to Stay in Georgetown

Cara Lodge – A great place in town for comfortable, air conditioned rooms. The hotel is located in a Victorian style colonial house, with a gorgeous courtyard and great location convenient to downtown.

Book rooms: Booking.com , Hotels.com | Check rates: TripAdvisor

Days 3-6: Rupununi River

In the morning, we headed to OGL airport.

Our guides had chartered a cessna for our group of 7 and it was the smallest plane I think I’ve ever been on! It’s easiest to visit Guyana with a small group. Sometimes solo or couple travelers find that charters won’t take off unless the flight is full (due to the cost). The cessna seats 13 if I remember correctly.

For the flights, they carefully weighed not only our bags, but us individually and our supplies. It was such a cool experience to fly over the rain forest and see the winding river through all the greenery.

Over the next 4 nights, we stayed at Rewa , an eco lodge on the Rupununi river.

Rewa is pretty isolated, surrounded by unbroken rainforest, small mountains and deep rivers. As a result, the lodge remains virtually unknown and the wildlife opportunities are endless.

Things to Do in the Rupununi

This was our favorite eco-lodge of the entire trip, with two bedroom huts, hammocks for relaxing and lots of activities to try out. Our local guides are Macushi Amerindians, and getting to learn survival skills from them was fun and unforgettable.

We spot spider monkeys and wake up to the call of active howler monkeys . At night we see snakes and glimpses of black caiman . Breakfast in the morning is on a flat viewing balcony overlooking the lake and one morning we get lucky and spot a family of giant river otters !

Another day, we hike Awarmie mountain , a twisty one hour climb up. The pace was heart pumping, especially for someone out of shape like me, but doable. The guides? They could race up in flip flops, carrying coolers of water and reach the peak in 15 minutes (LOL). Some had gone ahead to set up comfortable hammocks for us and organize dinner and supplies. Once we reached the top, the view was incredible. 

We also canoe on a peaceful lake covered with giant water lilies . This is the national flower of Guyana and its impressive surface area can actually hold the weight of a baby! It’s also where the elusive Arapaima fish live, the world’s largest fresh water fish. We only see glimpses of their silvery scales when they come up for air but serious anglers can actually apply for a license to catch and release.

My favorite activity? Hands down it’s our afternoon competitively trying to catch piranha . We enjoyed it so much I wrote about it in depth in a separate post!

Where to Stay on the Rupununi

Rewa Lodge : This quaint lodge is deep in the jungle right on the riverbanks of the Rupununi. Thatched huts were comfortable and clean, with attached outdoor showers out back. The food here was delicious – we especially loved breakfast overlooking the water and the locally made peanut butter! 

Rewa is quite popular for catch and release fishing and arapaima spotting.

Days 7-8: Iwokrama Forest 

On the morning of our 4th day, we’re sad to depart Rewa. Our trusty guides take us down the river one final time, to Kwatamang landing, about 2 hours away by boat.

It’s a 50 mile journey and our butts are sore from the metal canoes by the end of it. Then we hear that sometimes the journey can take up to 4 hours (depending on water levels) and we’re grateful, ha!

From there we hop into rugged jeeps and make our way to Iwokrama.

Things to do in Iwokrama

The Iwokrama Rainforest is incredibly special. Over 1 million acres are protected by conservation and the tropical forest is a living laboratory for researchers. What makes it even more special is that the local Macushi tribe are involved in every aspect of the work.

We check in to Atta Rainforest Lodge , a lush hotel with more traditional style accommodation. The huts are comfortable and airy, and we love these ensuite bathrooms the best (haha).

Even better, the property is a short walk from the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway , where you can climb 750 meters high into the rain forest! There are 4 platforms that allow you to get up close to canopy species like golden winged parakeets and Guianan puffbirds. Unfortunately we didn’t see much as we got caught in a torrential downpour minutes into making it to the top, but we did have a lot of fun. 

Once the sun sets, we go on a night safari looking for jaguars .

Iwokrama forest has a healthy jaguar population due to its vast wilderness and protected status. We do spot one, but it’s a healthy distance away so pack binoculars if you want the best view :)

Days 9-10: Surama

Our third and final stop in the Guiana Shield is to Surama, a small Amerindian community.

The inhabitants here are also from the Macushi tribe and it is actually Surama that pioneered the first entirely community run eco lodge. Accommodation here is in large round huts with airy ceilings. 

Things to do in Surama

We visit the village school and learn more about the Amerindian culture, traditional dress and stories from the tribe at dusk.

The next day, we walk through the dense rainforest to the Burro Burro River and board local canoes on the lookout for more wildlife. Low water levels mean we get stuck on tree roots a couple times, but our trusty local guides navigate the river like experts.

The ride is incredibly peaceful. Parrots and other birds swoop ahead of us, pausing at intervals as if to say, ‘come along now!’ It feels like a scene out of Jurassic Park. 

We even spot a Harpy Eagle nest with a baby eagle in it. Bring along a powerful zoom lens if you want to capture some incredible bird shots.

Day 11: Annai

On our last day in Guyana’s interior, we arrived to Rock View Lodge , the perfect place to relax and unwind.

Lodging is basic, but comfortable and again eco-friendly. The property is very lush, with flowering trees, inquisitive monkeys and a refreshing pool out back. Maybe it’s because of the wet humidity, but we discover a family of tiny frogs living in our bathroom shower drain!

My favorite part of the property is the old ranch house.

A mix of library, art collection, breakfast spot and after hours hangout, it’s the perfect spot to get together for rum-and-lime-juice cocktails and our last group dinner in the jungle.

The lodge is a short drive from Iwokrama and is also handy as a departure point. Just behind the lodge is an open grassy field – the perfect spot to catch a flight :)

After a good nights rest, we pack our bags the next morning to catch our charter flight. Some adorable school children wait with us for a cute send off!

Day 12: Kaieteur Falls

Kaieteur Falls is Guyana’s most iconic and well known attraction. A natural wonder, the waterfall is situated in the heart of the country on the Potaro River, a tributary of the Essequibo.

Kaieteur Waterfall flows over a sandstone base into a deep gorge 741 feet below – that’s 5x the height of Niagara! So if you’ve ever wanted to see the world’s longest free falling waterfall, head to Guyana.

Tips for Visiting Kaieteur Falls

Kaieteur can be visited in a day trip and round trip tour packages are common from the capital.

The best thing about visiting Kaieteur is how isolated the visit is. Since Cessna planes must be chartered, each visit is taken by a small group, who has pretty much the only access for a 2 hour period.

Our guide took us to 3 viewpoints (which I cover in depth in this post ) and explains more about the unique micro environment of Kaieteur. Not only is there the impressive waterfall, there’s also Tank Bromeliad plants, vibrant red Cock of the Rock birds and teeny tiny Golden frogs.

It’s yet another pinch-me moment on our Guyana trip and as our tiny plane departs, all of us have our faces pressed up against the windows for a last look.

Day 13: Back to Georgetown

I definitely recommend a full day in Georgetown at the tail end of your trip. For one thing, it was heaven  to have air conditioning and a hot shower. 

For another, there’s always more to explore! 

Things to do in Georgetown

Our last day was spent visiting some of the local markets. We signed up for a fun day with a local restaurant, Backyard Cafe, where the owner guided us through a fruit and vegetable market, showed us some of the grocery staples and then cooked us a phenomenal meal at his backyard restaurant. 

And of course, if you haven’t yet make sure to take a city tour.

You can explore iconic Stabroek Market , see St George’s Cathedral and sample rum at the El Dorado factory. One reason the rum is so delicious in Guyana? Demerara sugar, which you can learn all about at the rum factory.

Day 14: Departure

With just about 2 weeks in Guyana, we felt like we saw and did so much. But, there’s even more to see! If you have more time, consider:

• Visiting Caiman House to search for caiman
• See Orinduik Falls
• Explore Lethem, famous for local vaqueros (cowboys) and annual rodeo
• Drive ATVs and Camp in the savannahs of the South Rupununi
• Spend time on the Essequibo, Guyana’s longest river and see the old Dutch forts

A Final Caveat

Amenities in Guyana’s jungle interior are limited. Expect clean and comfortable eco lodges made from traditional raw materials. Pack lots of bug spray and shower flip flops, as the bathrooms are open air and there’s definitely no air conditioning. For more packing tips, check out our extensive rain forest packing list .

Getting around requires advanced booking so arrange a tour package to handle everything for you. Since Guyana’s interior is sparsely populated, we took a mixture of small planes, canoes on the river and 4×4 trucks to get around.

If you ditch any expectations of luxury and open yourself up to nature, you’ll have a great time in Guyana!

Visiting Guyana – Trip Planning Checklist

Flight Deals |  Caribbean Airlines offers nonstop flights from New York and Miami to Georgetown. You can set a fare alert here to be notified of discounts.

Getting Around |  Book a driver for Georgetown or a tour to handle transportation in the Amazon basin. Most arrangements must be set up in advance, for minimum parties of 4, due to the high cost of gas and overland vehicles as well as the limited internet communication in the jungle.

Accommodation |  In Guyana’s interior, accommodation is remote and consists of comfortable but simple eco-lodges run by local communities. Many do not have internet access, so it’s best to book a tour package that will handle transportation, activities and accommodation for you. Or, you can call to make reservations online. In Georgetown , there are plenty of boutique and international hotels to choose from. 

Insurance | Lastly, be sure to visit Guyana with  travel insurance . Hospitals and medical assistance are scarce in the jungle interior and yellow fever vaccinations are strongly recommended. Whether you get injured and need to be hospitalized, or your phone gets stolen, travel insurance will help when you need it most. Get a  quote for your trip here .

  You Might Also Enjoy:  

Guyana Vacation Planning Articles

Quick Guide to Guyana

What to Pack for the Amazon Jungle Clothes + Recommended Gear

2 Weeks in the Guiana Shield: Our Guyana Itinerary

Explore All the Best Things to Do in Guyana

Visiting Georgetown: What to See & Do in Guyana's Capital!

Guyana's Interior: The Amazon Basin

Day Trip to Kaieteur, the World's Longest Free Falling Waterfall

Day Tour: Learning How to Fish for Piranha in the Amazon

Guyanese Food : What to Expect, Where to Eat & More!

Guyanese Culture & It's Amerindians

Photos of Guyana from our trip!

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What travel companies or guides did you use for this trip?

Hi Adrieana, We used Leon Moore. He was recommended by the tourism board of Guyana and did a great job! He specializes in birding and wildlife tours. There are a couple great operators, depending on the type of trip you’re going for. Some other ones specialize in more ‘hard’ adventure type itineraries.

Such beautiful views. All I can think off is hiking in Guyana. It looks amazing!

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FRENCH GUIANA TRAVEL BLOG

French Guiana – Kourou to Paramaribo

James Smith 2020-10-31T14:40:43-01:00 November 5th, 2016 | Categories: French Guiana , South America | 3 Comments

French Guiana - A visit to the points of interest of Kourou and Iles du Salut. I photographed the wildlife as well as the prisons and infamous Devil's Island.

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French Guiana - Amazonia Overseas

Ready for take-off? Let's go to Guiana! First stop: the Ariane rocket at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou. Next, sail up the Maroni River in pirogue before heading to Devil’s Island: is it a prison or paradise on earth? Go caiman-spotting in the Kaw swamp... keeping a safe distance !

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French Guiana - Amazonia: what to do, what to see…

French Guiana and its share of Amazonia offer so much to discover. Visitors fascinated by the mysteries of space could be lucky enough to witness a Soyuz or Vega launch. Nature lovers will surely be moved by the sight of leatherback sea turtles laying their eggs on the beach. And all party animals will want to be part of the French Guiana Carnival; it's the longest in the world! And that’s just for starters... 

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Three Guianas Tour

15 Days / 14 Nights

Suriname, Guyana, and French Guiana Travel to the Three Guianas

Travel to the Guianas with Ker & Downey on this special Three Guianas Tour. Over two weeks, explore the three countries that make up the Guiana Shield: Suriname, Guyana, and French Guiana. Located on the top shoulder of South America, all three countries rest along the coast of the Caribbean Sea and boast vast swaths of rainforest. However, the three countries have distinct cultural heritages, as each was colonized by three different European nations.

Travel to the Guianas first begins in Suriname. After a brief overnight in Paramaribo, depart along the Upper Suriname River to your riverside Amazon Rainforest lodge. Upon arrival, set out on a cruise along the river to search for caiman lying on the riverbanks. Over two days here, you will have plenty of opportunities to explore the rainforest or canoe around the island. You will also spend a morning to visit one of the local villages to learn about their traditions and heritage.

Next, return back to the capital city of Paramaribo for two nights in this UNESCO World Heritage honored destination. Enjoy a special sunset dolphin tour from the pier at Nieuw Amsterdam, as well as a visit to a locally owned plantation for some local delicacies. Of course, you will also have an entire day for a full-day privately guided tour of the city by foot and car. Highlights include the former “Fort Zeelandia,” the Presidential Palace, Independence Square, the Fort Nieuw Amsterdam, and the former colonial plantations nearby, including Peperpot. Admire the Dutch influences along the way.

Your Three Guianas Tour then continues next door in French Guiana, technically a member of the EU. The differences are immediate: every car is a Mercedes or Volkswagon, roads are in near-perfect condition, espresso coffee is served almost everywhere, and the Euro is the currency. A quick overnight in Kourou allows you to visit the Guyana Space Center.

Next, enjoy a full-day discovery of the trio of islands that make up Devil’s Islands by private catamaran. Begin first with Île Saint-Joseph, also known as the “silent island.” Next is Île Royale, where you will spend most of your time exploring its buildings, cemeteries, and resident turtles. Before departing onward, enjoy an early morning tour of Cayenne as well as a stop at St. Joseph’s church in Iracoubo and the well-preserved Transportation Center in St. Laurent.

Travel to the Guianas finally concludes in Guyana, a country with both Dutch and English influences. Enjoy two nights in Georgetown, the capital city, upon arrival. Not only will you have a chance to feast on traditional cuisine prepared by a local culinary master; but you will also tour all the key highlights with a private guide. This includes Bouda and Stabroek Markets, as well as St. George’s Cathedral, one of the world’s tallest free standing wooden buildings. Also visit the National Park to feed the endangered West Indian Manatees, and explore the impressive Botanical Gardens.

An entire day has been reserved for a special flight tour over Kaieteur Falls, the world’s highest free-falling waterfall. Land nearby and tour these impressive falls, which plays host to a unique microenvironment of flora and fauna.

Your Three Guianas Tour ends in the rainforest. Stop for an overnight near Iwokrama Canopy Walkway for some birdwatching, wildlife spotting, and hiking. Monkeys, Giant River Otters, Agouti, Tapir, Black Curassow, and even Jaguars are common here. Then follow the Rupununi River to the Amerindian community of Rewa. Over two nights, visit the villagers and experience the activities of their everyday lives. Plus, set aside time to take a boat ride to a magical lake filled with Victoria Amazonica, the world’s largest waterlily and the national flower of Guyana. The hiking, fishing, boating, and wildlife in this region is exceptional. It proves a memorable end to your impressive travels to this corner of South America.

Travel to the Guianas with Ker & Downey

Contact a Ker & Downey destination specialist to customize your own Three Guianas Tour, and read more about the seasonality and pricing in South America. For even more travel inspiration, follow us on Instagram , Facebook , and Twitter .

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