French Guiana

Key facts

• Region: The non-sovereign, dependent nations of the Americas
• Sovereignty: Non-sovereign territory administered by France
• Good to know: Overseas department on the South American mainland.
• Capital: Cayenne
• Currency: Euro (EUR)
• Languages: French (official) and French Guianese Creole
• Main airport: CAY — Cayenne-Félix Éboué Airport, about 15 km from Cayenne
• Best time to visit: August to November, the dry season; the rest of the year is very wet and humid

Overview

French Guiana is a French overseas department located on the northeastern coast of South America, bordered by Brazil to the east and south and Suriname to the west. It is part of France and the European Union and uses the euro, but it sits on the South American mainland rather than in the Caribbean. Most of the territory is Amazon rainforest, and its best-known feature is the Guiana Space Centre, one of the world's main satellite launch sites.

Airports

Cayenne – Félix Eboué Airport (CAY) is the main international gateway, located at Matoury just outside Cayenne. It handles flights from mainland France, other French overseas territories and regional South American destinations. Smaller airfields serve the interior and coastal towns, including Maripasoula and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, and are used chiefly for domestic links and access to remote communities. There are few direct flights from North America, so most arrivals connect through the French Caribbean or mainland France.

Main cities

Cayenne is the capital and largest city, with the prefecture, markets and the main services. Kourou, about an hour west, is the town attached to the Guiana Space Centre and is the base for launch viewing. Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni on the Suriname border is a historic town tied to the former penal colony, and Matoury adjoins the airport. Rémire-Montjoly, east of Cayenne, is a residential and beach suburb.

Places to go

The Guiana Space Centre at Kourou is the territory's headline attraction and offers tours and launch viewing when scheduled. Offshore lie the Îles du Salut, including Île Royale and Île Saint-Joseph, the former Devil's Island penal colony, reached by boat from Kourou. The Marais de Kaw and the Réserve naturelle nationale des Nouragues protect large areas of rainforest, mangroves and wetlands. At Awala-Yalimapo on the northwest coast, leatherback turtles nest on the beaches between roughly March and July. Inland, the village of Cacao is known for its Hmong community and market, and the town of Saül is a remote base for rainforest walks.

Getting there

Cheapest cached round-trip fare into French Guiana, refreshed every 6 hours:

Where to stay

Practical information

Frequently asked