France (South America)
French Guiana
Our notebook to help you plan your trip to French Guiana: the right season, where to stay and our ideas to make the most of it.
Amazon rainforest as far as the eye can see, mighty rivers, the Salvation Islands and the rockets of Kourou: French Guiana is France on a grand scale, on the edge of the Amazon.
Best weatherDuring the dry season: less rain and more sunshine, ideal for the rainforest, the rivers and the Salvation Islands. No hurricanes here.
A question?
Wéa answers about this destination: neighbourhoods, seasons, ideas.
When to go
Every season has its charm. Here's how to choose yours, depending on what you want to experience.
The long dry season
Less rain and more sunshine: the best time for the rainforest, dugout canoe trips and the Salvation Islands. In August and September, baby turtles are still heading to the sea on some beaches.
Carnival and the little March summer
From Epiphany to Ash Wednesday, carnival livens up every weekend with parades and the Touloulou balls. Around February and March, the rain eases for a short while: the “little March summer”.
The long rainy season
Heavy showers and a deep green forest. It's also when sea turtles come to nest on the beaches of Awala-Yalimapo and Rémire-Montjoly. Pack rain gear.
Where to stay
The right neighbourhood depends on what you're after. Here are our favourite places to stay.
Cayenne
The capital: Place des Palmistes, the market, Creole houses and the view from Fort Cépérou.
Rémire-Montjoly
Right next to Cayenne: beaches, seaside trails and quieter hotels.
Kourou
Home of the Guiana Space Centre, and where boats leave for the Salvation Islands.
The Salvation Islands
About an hour by boat from Kourou: you can spend the night on Île Royale, at the inn or in a hammock.
Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni
On the Maroni river, facing Suriname: the Camp de la Transportation and dugout canoe trips.
Our favourites
What we love there: its history, its landscapes, its flavours and its festivals. Take your time, it's all there to enjoy.
The Salvation Islands
Off Kourou, Île Royale, Île Saint-Joseph and Devil's Island still hold the remains of the penal colony. On Île Royale, monkeys and agoutis roam among the coconut palms.
Ideal for a first visit
The Guiana Space Centre
In Kourou, you can tour the centre and the Space Museum. With a bit of luck, you can watch a rocket launch from the observation sites open to the public.
Ideal for families
Cacao market
On Sunday mornings, this village founded by Hmong people from Laos holds a colourful market: soups, tropical fruit and embroidery.
Ideal for food lovers
The Kaw marshes
A vast wetland to explore by dugout canoe: hundreds of birds by day and, at night, caimans' eyes glowing in the torchlight.
Ideal for nature lovers
Sea turtles
From April to July, leatherback turtles come to nest on the beaches of Awala-Yalimapo and Rémire-Montjoly. Keep your distance and avoid lights: they are protected.
Ideal for curious minds