Natural Crafts Coastline

The history of this penitentiary is relatively poorly described in Guyanese literature, with frequent contradictions. The establishment was set up in 1931 to deport Indochinese nationals guilty of crimes or who had been too vocal in their pro-independence intentions. The majority of these prisoners came from the Annam region in central Vietnam, which explains the camp's name.

The prison operated until 1938, but for most of the deportees, the journey to French Guiana was a one-way trip. Constantly on the lookout for workers, the colonial authorities hoped that the released prisoners would stay on to develop the land. When this became a compulsory rule, the prisoners revolted violently, but their insurrection was crushed without mercy. Detention conditions were extremely harsh at the Annamite camp. Austere dungeons, hard labor and iron discipline combined with a climate conducive to the development of numerous diseases, including malaria, which wreaked havoc in the area.

Scattered here and there, the remains of the penal colony are now abandoned. Rust-ridden and overgrown, they make for a surprisingly gloomy sight. At the entrance to the trail, a veritable forest tunnel, a sign provides a few historical landmarks about the penitentiary. The visit is divided into two successive itineraries. The first section takes around 40 minutes. After this pleasant walk, you come to a clearing where most of the remains of the penal colony are grouped together. You'll discover wagons, cells... You can also take the second part of the trail, which for a while follows an old railroad installed by the convicts (approx. 30-40 minutes' walk). The trail ends at the small Anguille creek, where you can swim and picnic. If you're tempted to take a dip, be careful, as stingrays and eels can lurk beneath the sandbanks! Although the path is not very well signposted, it's hard to get lost if you stick to the wooden slats on the ground, which show you the way. It's an easy stroll, but as with any walk, you'll need comfortable footwear, as the whole circuit is 7 km long.

The site, located on the grounds of the Centre Spatial (CSG) and maintained by the ONF, is magnificent. You can choose between the botanical trail, a loop of around 650 m, or the more challenging 3.3 km trail over the summit of Montagne des Singes: the sentier de la Montagne. From here, you have a magnificent viewpoint, not to mention the diversity of the environments traversed. There's a carbet under which you can picnic and stretch out your hammock. The paths are easy to follow, but it's best to stay on them. Stay safe and enjoy!

The Amana nature reserve lies between the villages of Awala and Yalimapo, covering an area of around 14,800 hectares, from the Maroni to the mouth of the Organabo. Beaches, mangroves, lagoons, marshes and mudflats make up this wetland area, the management of which has been entrusted by the state to the Syndicat intercommunal à vocation unique (SIVU) de l'Amana since 1998. The aim is to learn more about the biology and behavior of sea turtles, and to protect one of the world's most important leatherback nesting sites. Visitor reception, public information, compliance with regulations and scientific monitoring are the SIVU's missions. A sea turtle museum completes the picture.

If you're in French Guiana between July and September, you can witness the hatching of the eggs: tiny turtles emerge from the earth into the ocean. You can save them by warding off predators, such as birds and dogs, who see this spectacle as an opportunity to feast. Today, Hattes beach is a victim of its own success: as far as possible, avoid coming to watch the turtles lay their eggs at weekends, as the crowds, unscrupulous about the intimacy of egg-laying, disturb the turtles.

The mangroves are also home to herons and egrets, while iguanas gather along the coast every year during the egg-laying season. Further south lies the Coswine River marsh, home to Guyana's only sphagnum bog.

Not far from Creeque Canceler is Creeque Toussaint, 3 km from the town of Sinnamary. Its sandy shores and the large carbet set up on the banks of the waterway invite you to take a restorative break or even a picnic stop (tables and benches are available). Fishermen and swimmers alike will be delighted by the creek's fish-filled waters: the shallow riverbed is quite wide, and a little deeper near the bridge.

At the edge of the forest, opposite the Montsinéry zoo, you'll have to leave your vehicle behind and walk the 400 m to reach Creeque Patate (just take a white sand track to get there). The rainy season often makes this an impassable spot, unless you're a daredevil! Otherwise, it's an ideal place to enjoy a sunny afternoon, swim and picnic. Creeque Patate is very popular with the local population, so the site tends to be very busy at weekends.

These two rivers are not often explored by visitors. Yet it is possible to fish for black piranha, of which there is no shortage in Grand-Laussat creek! Here, a Saramaca village, which lives to the rhythm of the sun and the forest, offers a genuine journey back in time, thanks to its simplicity and authenticity. You can take a guided excursion into the forest to discover its riches, canoe up the creek and discover Saramaca handicrafts.

The Mana River, Guyana's wildest river, cannot be tamed. It has to be earned, and discovering it is undoubtedly a singular experience, requiring good physical condition, a certain spirit of adventure and excluding amateurism. Fortunately, there are a number of easy and inexpensive ways to enjoy the mysterious atmosphere of this region for a day or a weekend. Alas, the river is increasingly damaged by gold-panning, and fewer and fewer service providers are offering it as part of their program.

With its source in the Yiji Pripris, Canceler Creek is a calm stream where you can splash around to cool off in the hottest hours of the day. In an exceptionally verdant setting, people come here to relax, sheltered from the rain and the sun under the two carbets (which are perhaps a little lacking in maintenance), sitting on the rocks that line the creek, or in the calm of the hammock you've stretched out in the shade between two trees. A little corner of paradise, which often gets very crowded at weekends.