Travel to French Guiana — everything you need to know
When to go to French Guiana?
- August – November — Main dry season : Best time to go: dry weather, passable trails and abundant wildlife along the rivers
- February – April — Short dry season : A relative lull — a good time for the Salvation Islands and the coast
- December – January & May – July — Rainy seasons : Torrential rain, washed-out roads and difficult access to the deep rainforest
Weather in French Guiana
Check the weather city by city, starting with Cayenne.
- Cayenne: daytime highs from 28 to 31 °C depending on the season, 291 mm of rain per month on average.
What to do in French Guiana?
French Guiana is a French overseas department and region on the north-eastern coast of South America, close to the Equator. Covered by more than 90% Amazon rainforest, it is home to one of the richest biodiversities on the planet, with jaguars, tapirs, harpy eagles and caimans. It is also home to the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, where Ariane rockets are launched — a unique juxtaposition of high technology and unspoiled wilderness.
Guiana Space Centre — Kourou
The Guiana Space Centre (CSG) in Kourou is the European Space Agency's launch base and the world's most widely used site for commercial satellite launches. Its ideal location near the Equator provides the best possible mechanical advantage for geostationary launches. Free guided tours are organised outside launch windows, allowing visitors to explore the Ariane 5 and 6 facilities and, from dedicated public areas, watch launches in person.
Highlights : Jupiter — Ariane rocket preparation area (guided tour), Space Museum — the history of launches from Kourou, Public launch viewpoint — watch an Ariane rocket lift off, Plage des Roches — public viewing spot for launches.
Salvation Islands
The Salvation Islands archipelago, made up of Royale Island, Saint-Joseph Island and Devil's Island, is one of the most striking historical sites in South America. A former French penal colony (1852–1953), it made the Guianese prison camps famous through Henri Charrière's book Papillon. Devil's Island, where Alfred Dreyfus was unjustly imprisoned from 1895 to 1899, cannot be visited, but it can be seen from Royale Island, where the prison buildings are remarkably well preserved amid the tropical vegetation.
Highlights : Royale Island — colonial prison camp preserved in the jungle, Devil's Island — Alfred Dreyfus's prison (seen from Royale Island), Saint-Joseph Island — ruined solitary confinement cells, Diving around the islands — clear waters, rays and sea turtles.
Maroni River & Amerindian and Maroon villages
The Maroni, the border river between French Guiana and Suriname, is the lifeline of the Guianese interior, home to Wayana, Teko, Aluku and Saramaka communities. Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, a former prison town, is the starting point for dugout canoe trips to the remote villages inland. The cultural diversity of these forest peoples — languages, craftsmanship and traditional medicine — is a unique living heritage.
Highlights : Camp de la Transportation (Saint-Laurent) — historic prison camp on the Maroni, Dugout canoe trip on the Maroni — a living border, Saint-Laurent market — a Creole, Brazilian and Surinamese crossroads.
Guiana Amazonian Park
The Guiana Amazonian Park is France's largest national park and one of the biggest protected areas in the Amazon, spanning 3.4 million hectares of untouched primary rainforest. It is home to jaguars, tapirs, harpy eagles, giant otters and more than 700 bird species in one of the best-preserved ecosystems in the world. Access is only possible with park-approved guides, by dugout canoe from border villages — a demanding but unforgettable adventure.
Highlights : Spotting jaguars and tapirs in primary rainforest, Harpy eagle — the world's most powerful eagle, Saül — remote village and main gateway to the park, Sentier des Eaux Claires — guided hike through untouched rainforest.
Travel budget for French Guiana
French Guiana is a French department: everyday prices are broadly in line with mainland France, and can even be slightly higher for imported goods. The currency is the euro, and there are frequent direct flights to Paris.
- Backpacker : 60–90 €/j — Guesthouse or homestay room, Creole eateries and public transport
- Comfort : 120–200 €/j — Comfortable hotel, varied restaurants, forest lodges, guides and excursions
Practical tips for travelling to French Guiana
- Flight from Paris : 8h30 direct from Paris-Orly (Air France, Corsair, Air Caraïbes) — the shortest flight to the Amazon
- Visa : No visa required — it is a French department, and a French ID card is enough
- Currency : Euro (EUR) — no exchange needed, and bank cards are accepted everywhere
- Language : French (official) — with Guianese Creole, Amerindian and Maroon languages inland
- Electricity : Type E (230V, 50Hz) — the same as in mainland France, so no adapter is needed
- Health : Yellow fever vaccination is MANDATORY. Malaria is present in some forested areas — prophylaxis is essential. Dengue and chikungunya are also present.
- Space launch : Check the ESA/Arianespace calendar before your trip — witnessing an Ariane launch is an unforgettable experience
- Interior rainforest : Access to the Amazonian Park is only possible with an approved guide — book at least 2 months ahead
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