Archaeology handicrafts and science and technology sites to visit French Guiana

This CNES space launch facility, based in Kourou, covers an area of 69,000 hectares. Visitors can either take a guided tour, or attend a launch.

Visit the Guiana Space Center.The CSG authorities organize guided tours which are free of charge and open all year round, Monday to Friday, to anyone over the age of 8. Valid identification is required. Visits are suspended the day before, the day of and the day after a launch. Access to the facilities remains subject to operations: tours may therefore be modified to ensure visitor safety. Visits take place twice a day from Monday to Thursday and on Friday mornings (average duration: 3h30 to 4h). Meet at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. for check-in, then depart by bus for a 3-hour tour of all the launch zones and the Ariane launch center. Finally, visit the Jupiter room until around 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. or 4:30 p.m.-5 p.m.

Watch a launch. By 2023, the number of launches has dropped to just under 10 a year, all launchers combined. If your stay coincides with a launch, try to attend the show. Requests for invitations to a launch are free of charge. Invitations are limited to the number of places available, and sites are activated according to personal protection constraints.book in advance and reserve online: cnes-csg.fr - ✆ 05 94 33 44 53 - Mail: [email protected]. To be admitted to the Agami site (7.5 km from the launcher), you must be over 16. For Ibis, Venus and the Jupiter VIP room, the age limit is 14. However, the Carapa site (12.5 km from the launch zone) remains open to the public without invitation or age restriction. It is located on the mountain of the same name, just outside Kourou. The site can accommodate around 1,450 people. Although access is free, once this number has been reached, it will no longer be possible to enter. We therefore advise you to arrive well in advance, bearing in mind that the site opens 2 hours before the launch. Bring a pair of binoculars and a camera. Other popular sites in Kourou on launch days are the beach and the summit of Monkey Mountain. In Cayenne, head for Place des Amandiers, where you'll find plenty of entertainment (and sometimes a giant screen)!

Certainly the most challenging trail around Saül, thanks to its undulating terrain, but also one of the most beautiful. You'll walk along part of the Nouvelle France creek, past the Roche Bateau (a huge rock overlooking the creek). As well as finding a passing carbet, you'll pass by the Kanawa gîte where you can cool off! So pack your picnic for a great day's hiking, your hammock if you want to rest halfway through, and your swimsuit for a refreshing dip... Enjoy the ride!

The Kaw marshes are part of the Kaw-Roura nature reserve, which extends over 94,700 ha between the communes of Régina (on which the village of Kaw depends) and Roura. Management was first entrusted to the Arataï association (ministerial decree of March 13, 1998), then in February 2008 to the Association de gestion des espaces protégés (AGEP). Today, management of the reserve has been entrusted to the Parc Naturel Régional de Guyane (PNRG) since February 27, 2014.

In a grandiose setting, the Kaw River winds its way through magnificent flooded savannahs, amidst moucou-moucou, arums with large heart-shaped leaves. Zebus, a kind of humped oxen, move heavily through the water. In the air or underwater, life is everywhere, teeming and mysterious. As the boat glides gently over the surface of the water, your eyes and ears are alerted to the diversity of the still rich fauna, so protected and yet so threatened... Musk ducks and piprites cast you a sidelong glance, motionless, perched on the grasses, while numerous jacanas delight you with the unexpected yellow that unfolds in their lively, mischievous flight.

Manatees used to accompany the pirogues, but are now rare. Occasionally, the eye catches a hoazin, recognizable by the glorious crest on its head. All in all, a spectacle full of surprises for the attentive and curious visitor.

The Montabo trail is just under 4 km long (3.8 km to be exact), winding its way through the jungle, with multiple ascents and descents, and overlooking the ocean all the way! It's a great way to get in some exercise and enjoy the beautiful scenery, flora and fauna just outside Cayenne, without straying far from the city. Allow around 1? hours round trip for the less athletic. A pleasant trail with no particular difficulties, offering beautiful panoramic views.

The easy "sentier des gros arbres" (big trees trail) takes you deep into the primary forest, offering an adventure to meet its giants. You'll discover some magnificent trees: fromager, ficus, hourglass (on this trail you'll find the largest hourglass in French Guiana, measuring 3 metres in diameter). Here, you'll have to forget your usual landmarks: for a good two hours, you'll be in the heart of vegetation as powerful as it is wild. It's a delightful walk for the whole family (easy level, perfectly accessible to children).

In the penitentiary organization, Devil's Island was a place of deportation, a treatment reserved for political prisoners who were sought to be isolated from the rest of the world. One of the first of these men was Charles Delescluze, a Paris Commune leader convicted of conspiracy in 1849. It was on this 14-hectare rock that Captain Dreyfus landed on April 13, 1895. For four long years, he occupied the island, alone with a few warders who scrupulously ensured his isolation. During his stay, nothing was spared for Dreyfus, who found himself in irons in his hut for several weeks at a time. In deep despair, he would spend hours silently gazing out over the ocean, sitting on a stone bench that can still be seen at the tip of the island, near the tip of the Caribbean.

Without the charisma and courage of his supporters, the most famous of whom was Zola, Dreyfus could have ended his days on Devil's Island, as some of his detractors wanted. After Dreyfus's departure in June 1899, other political prisoners were deported to the island, many of them anarchists. By this time, prison conditions had eased considerably, and these men served their sentences under a regime of semi-liberty without compulsory work. Listed as a historic monument, the Dreyfus house has benefited from a restoration program financed by the CNES.

This young local brewery was founded in 2011 and offers 4 types of beer: Guyanaise blonde, Weïty white (bronze medal at the Salon de l'agriculture 2015 and silver medal 2016), Orpailleuse amber, triple kwak, IPA and Blaka (bronze medal 2018 and silver medal 2020), a brown stout . Every Saturday morning, by reservation (online), you can take a guided tour of the brewery, including a tasting of local products!

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.

This creek is often described as the most beautiful in the country and the closest to Cayenne. Gabriel Creek flows into the Mahury at the Roura bridge in Stoupan. It's best to go during the week, as you'll be almost alone.

After a few hundred meters, you'll reach the landing stage for the village of Dacca. A little further on, the vegetation changes, the cove becomes narrower and the water takes on an amber color. If the time and season are right, many morphos (large metallic blue butterflies, symbols of French Guiana) will come to greet you. A word of advice: make sure you don't make any noise, and keep your eyes peeled for monkeys and lazy sheep.

Further on, after passing under the old wooden bridge of Dégrad-Eskol, the creek leaves the forest for the swampy savannah, where the scenery is superb. Then it becomes narrower and it's time to turn back. The only precaution to take on this lovely pirogue ride is to check the tide. At low tide, the level of the creek won't allow you to go far, making it impossible to cross Dégrad-Eskol.

To reach the banks of Gabriel Creek, you have two options: you can launch your boat just after the Mahury bridge, to the left of the landing stage. This will allow you to sail up the entire creek. Alternatively, continue on to the village of Roura in the direction of Dacca (turn left past the town hall).

The Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales is a public industrial and commercial establishment, created in 1961: it is the French space agency. As such, it is responsible for France's space policy: its main missions are to analyze issues, manage major programs, lead the industry, operate national systems and support research. Its centers are located in Paris, Toulouse and the Centre Spatial Guyanais in French Guiana, which is open to the public.

A magnificent circular trail runs along the crest of the Rorota plateau, overlooking the coast and offering some splendid (and sometimes hidden) viewpoints. If you're quiet and attentive to noise, it's not uncommon to come across a few saimiri monkeys leaping over the path... But the main reason for going here is to see the sloths, generally found in the treetops just after the first ascent, as you come to the loop. At the top, you reach Lac du Rorota, which serves as a freshwater reservoir for the city of Cayenne.

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!

Île Saint-Joseph was chosen as a site for solitary confinement: where strong heads were sent to serve their sentences. The "man-eater" and the "dry guillotine" were among the island's sinister nicknames. Today, tropical vegetation has invaded the stone ruins: roots and creepers intertwine between the bars of the abandoned dungeons. A walk that can be a little chilling, but not without a touch of the dreamlike.

From the landing stage, there are two paths: one circles the island, the other splits it in 2 at its summit, where you'll find the Reclusion camp. Once in the camp, you'll discover thedormitory, then the cells. The cells had openings only in the ceiling, enabling the guards to keep an eye on the prisoners from above. Convicts were subjected to hard labor for 10 hours a day, and were allowed one walk a day within the camp walls. They were not allowed to communicate with each other, hence the nickname "Island of Silence". There were also a number of totally dark cells, where the most difficult convicts were locked up in absolute darkness, sometimes for several years.

As you head for the shore, you'll come to the warden's family quarters, then the staff cemetery, overlooking a small beach of volcanic rock where a swim is in order. A path leads to the pontoon, where you'll find the janitor's quarters, now converted into a rest station for the French Foreign Legion.

The shortest signposted route from Saül, starting from Chez Lulu. At the summit, at an altitude of 312 meters, a wooden deck offers a splendid view of the forest and the village. This short hike is particularly interesting for birdwatching. Before sunrise and sunset (the best times for observation), you can enjoy the flight of the macaws, which have taken up residence in the trees at the top of the hill. The calls of these giant parrots are as impressive as their wingspan.

The commune is bordered for several kilometers by superb beaches shaped by erosion. The forest provides a splendid, mystical backdrop to the beach. At low tide, the peaceful ocean invites you to take a dip without too much risk, while at high tide, surfers are treated to regular and sometimes impressive waves. At weekends, the beaches are crowded without being overcrowded. Beware: there are no lifeguards here, and the current can be very dangerous!

Governor Tardy de Montravel wanted to build the new Governor's residence here. His death put an end to the project, and the hill kept his name. Today, picnic areas and a children's playground have been laid out. To explore the surrounding area, you can choose between the allée des Mombins and the sentier des pêcheurs (from which you can see the islets Le Père, La Mère and L'Enfant-Perdu). The shady Plage des Fromagers is ideal for swimming at high tide, and very popular at weekends. Amerindian polissoirs can be seen in the rocks.

Along the Montjoly beach, you'll find the Salines trail, signposted by illustrated panels providing information on the beach's flora. The trail crosses dune vegetation while skirting coastal marshes, and leads halfway to the sheltered observatory, from where you can contemplate numerous birds and the occasional caiman. The trail then continues into the mangrove swamp, which is generally difficult to access, and is crossed by a footbridge running between the mangroves. A very pleasant 2.5 km semi-shaded walk.

Mont Grand-Matoury : at 234 m, this is the highest hill on the island of Cayenne. The 2,700-hectare forest has been regularly logged since the ^17th century. Wood from the forest fed the boilers of the Mirande distillery (the ruins on the Matoury road), and the slopes, once cleared, were planted with sugar cane, destined for the Mirande factory, then the Rémire factory until 1984.

The Mirande forest: in 1942, it was classified as a forest reserve by a decree issued by the colonial administration at the time. An arrêté de conservation de biotope (biotope conservation order) was signed on April 11, 1994, covering the entire mountain, which is also classified as a Znieff (natural zone of ecological, faunistic and floristic interest).

The Mirande nature trail is probably one of the most beautiful walks you can do around Cayenne in 3 hours. A path winds its way through Mont Grand-Matoury, a nature reserve populated mainly by birds. Encounters with wildlife are frequent, but it's at sunrise and sunset that the chances of spotting macaws, toucans or sloths are greatest. The Paypayo trail (2.5 km loop) takes you through a primary forest rich in biodiversity. The "Cascades" trail (2.8 km loop) follows the small waterfalls of the Mancelière creek. Allow 2 to 3 hours for both trails.

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.