Travel to French Guiana
Rockets lifting off at Kourou, a former penal colony on tiny islands and rainforest in every direction: French Guiana is Europe's foothold in the Amazon, with the euro in your pocket. Here is what to know before you go.
French Guiana in numbers
Capital
Cayenne
Population
~299,000
Area
~84,000 km²
Currency
Euro
Language
French
Status
Overseas department
Continent
South America
Time zone
UTC-3
Airports covered
1
Why visit French Guiana
The only place in South America where you are in the EU
Europe's spaceport
President de Gaulle decided in 1964 to build a launch base at Kourou. Ariane, Vega and Soyuz rockets fly from here, including the flight that carried the James Webb Space Telescope.
Devil's Island and the penal colony
The Salvation Islands lie about 15 km off Kourou. Devil's Island is part of the group where the prison operated from 1852 to 1953, in a system that held about 56,000 transported prisoners.
The EU's largest national park
The Guiana Amazonian Park covers about 41 % of the territory, around 33,900 km². Rivers are the highways, and the dugout canoe the vehicle.
Amazon with EU comfort
Euro, French, an ID card for EU citizens and a direct flight of about nine hours from Paris: you get the jungle without visa or currency exchange.
Highlights
Kourou, Salvation Islands, Kaw marshes and the rivers
French Guiana works well as a hub trip from Cayenne or Kourou, with a few days of river or forest on top. These are the stops worth planning around.
Kourou and the Guiana Space Centre
The guided tour is free but must be booked in advance, and it is described as one of the few places in the world where a civilian can watch a launch. Launch dates are published ahead of time, but a launch during your stay is never guaranteed, so build in a buffer.
The Salvation Islands
Roughly 1.5 hours by catamaran from Kourou, Île Royale is the easiest island to explore, with ruins and a museum about the prisoners' lives. Devil's Island, where Alfred Dreyfus was held in 1895-1899, cannot be landed on because of the currents and is seen from a distance.
The Kaw marshes
The largest wetland in French territory is explored by dugout canoe, often at sunset, to spot black caimans and dozens of bird species.
Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, Saül and the border rivers
Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni sits on the river that forms the border with Suriname and keeps the memory of the penal camps. Saül, a village of about 150 people inside the Amazonian park area, is reached by air. The Oyapock River Bridge to Oiapoque in Brazil has carried cars since March 2017.
Getting around
Hire a car, hop on a pirogue
There is almost no public transport apart from shared taxis, so most visitors rent a car or book transfers. The RN1 and RN2 roads serve the coast, and a newer asphalt road links Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni and Apatou.
Rivers are travelled by pirogue, and remote places such as Saül are reached by air from Cayenne.
Before you go
Wet season, dry season: when to travel
| Period | Climate | What it suits |
|---|---|---|
| December to July | Wet season, heavy rain, usually over 330 mm a month | Lush forest and high rivers, fewer visitors |
| August to November | Dry season in the east, under 100 mm of rain, highs above 30 degrees C in September and October | The best window for the islands, Kaw and hiking |
| January to March | Hot and humid, changeable weather | Cayenne carnival, with dates that change every year |
Daily highs in Cayenne range from about 29 degrees C in January to about 32 degrees C in October.
UK government advice says proof of yellow fever vaccination is required, and the vaccine should be given at least 10 days before arrival. Malaria risk is high in the municipalities that border Brazil and Suriname, so ask a travel clinic about prophylaxis.
Planning a wider trip? Compare with neighbouring Guyana and Brazil.
History and identity
From penal colony to launch pad
French Guiana has been fully integrated into the French Republic since 1946 and became a single territorial collectivity in December 2015. Before that it was a penal colony, whose story is tied to Devil's Island and to the writer Henri Charrière, known as Papillon.
Today the same land hosts Europe's spaceport and, with it, a unique mix of French administration, Creole culture and Amerindian, Maroon and Hmong communities. It is also part of France and of the European Union.
Flying to French Guiana
The French Guiana airport SniperAir covers
Cayenne - Félix Eboué (Cayenne)
The territory's international airport, in Matoury, about 13 to 15 km from central Cayenne. A taxi takes 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic.
FAQ
French Guiana travel questions
Which airport do I fly into for French Guiana?
Cayenne - Félix Eboué (CAY), in Matoury, about 13 to 15 km from Cayenne. Direct flights from Paris take about nine hours.
When is the best time to visit French Guiana?
August to November is the dry season, with September and October the driest months. Carnival is early in the year and its dates change annually.
Can I watch a rocket launch from Kourou?
Sometimes, but a launch is never guaranteed during your stay. Check the launch calendar before booking flights. The Space Centre tour is free but must be reserved in advance.
Is French Guiana expensive?
You pay in euros at French price levels, and the flight is usually the biggest cost. A price alert helps you book at the right moment.
Do I need a visa or vaccines for French Guiana?
EU citizens do not need a visa. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required, with the shot given at least 10 days before arrival. Check current rules with your health authority.
How long should I stay in French Guiana?
Seven to ten days covers Cayenne, Kourou, the Salvation Islands and the Kaw marshes. Add more if you want Saül and the interior.
How do I get alerted when a flight to French Guiana drops under my budget?
Create a SniperAir alert profile with your departure airport and Cayenne as destination. We watch prices for you and notify you as soon as an opportunity matching your criteria is detected.
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