Sports and leisure activities French Guiana

Budget & Tips

Like the locals, you can take advantage of Guiana's natural environment to learn or improve your skills in a wide range of sporting activities. The humid but shady forest is perfect for hiking. The sea and its waves offer windy spots for kitesurfing. With so much space, French Guiana is home to numerous ranches, making horseback riding a pleasure. Last but not least, kayakers will be delighted by a few jumps (rapids).

What's very local

Although it's difficult to generalize, it's not uncommon for Guyanese to set off at weekends on short pirogue cruises along the rivers, spending the night in a carbet with family or friends. Sailing is another leisure activity, as is hiking in the forest. And on the beaches of Rémire-Montjoly, when the trade winds kick in, you can also indulge in the joys of kitesurfing!

To be booked

If you'd like to take part in activities requiring special logistics (pirogue travel, accommodation in the forest, etc.) or even mount your own expedition in conjunction with professionals, you'll need to plan ahead... and accept that plans may change at the last minute, as the weather can sometimes put a few obstacles in the path of the bravest.

Main events

With its passion for cycling, the Tour de Guyane is perhaps the most notable sporting event in French Guiana, attracting a large public and deeply rooted in local planning. Held every August, it attracts both local and international cyclists. The race passes through the region's main towns and villages, providing a great spectacle for fans. A very popular event, it attracts thousands of spectators along the roads and is widely covered by the local media.

There are also pirogue regattas, traditional races held at different times of the year on Guiana's rivers, such as the Maroni and the Oyapock. These competitions are a tribute to the traditional navigation techniques of local communities, particularly the Bushinengués and Amerindians. Very popular, these events also attract visitors curious to discover this unique tradition.

Finally, running enthusiasts might also want to take up the challenge of running the mythical 42.195 kilometers around Kourou: the space marathon, created in February 1991 to mark the 42ᵉ launch of the Ariane rocket, now takes place every third Sunday in March.