Organize your stay French Guiana
Covid-19 : current situation French Guiana
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, entry and travel restrictions may apply French Guiana. Remember to visit the site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you leave for the latest information
Money French Guiana
In French Guiana, as everywhere else in France, payment is made in euros (€). Most towns have ATMs (banks or post offices) for withdrawals with standard credit cards (Visa and MasterCard). Please note! There aren't many cash dispensers and few retailers accept non-Guyanese cheques. As a precaution, in some establishments (even in major cities), bring cash with you, as credit cards are not always accepted.
For those planning to cross the border, here are the exchange rates with the Brazilian real (R$) and the Surinamese dollar (SRD) in July 2023 (although they fluctuate widely):
1 € = 5.25 R$; 1 R$ = 0.19 €.
1 € = 41 SRD; 10 SRD = 0.24 €.
Budget & Tips French Guiana
In terms of budget, everything depends on the activities planned, in the forest and on the rivers. The cost of living in French Guiana remains high, mainly due to the price of fuel and foodstuffs, most of which are imported from mainland France.
Small budget. 60 € per day per person, provided you sleep in a hammock (between 10 and 20 €) under the carbets or in the homes of local people, eat simply by doing your own shopping at the market and don't move around too much, or at least look for all the local means of locomotion such as freight to go down the rivers, collective cabs or hitchhiking to reach a given town. All this requires time.
Average budget. From €80 to €130 per person per day. This includes gîte accommodation (from €50), car hire (minimum €35 per day), restaurant meals and professionally supervised discovery of the department (river, forest, islands...) for those who have a few days to spare and want to get several glimpses of the department.
Big budget. From €150 to €250 per person per day. For travelers looking for comfort, with accommodation in the most expensive hotels on the coast, air travel and car rental.
Passport and visas French Guiana
French travellers to French Guiana naturally have no administrative formalities to complete (except for the yellow fever vaccine, which can't be stressed enough!), while Belgians, Swiss and Canadians are accepted visa-free on French territory for a maximum of 90 days per six-month period (from the date of arrival).
Visiting neighboring countries: in Brazil, you don't need a visa if you're staying for less than 90 days. For Suriname, however, you need to apply for a visa (available online).
Driver's license French Guiana
Belgian, Swiss and Canadian driving licenses are accepted for a period not exceeding six months; otherwise, you'll need an international license (generally valid for one to three years). If you wish to rent a car in French Guiana, you must be at least 21 years old, with at least one year's driving experience, and in possession of a credit card.
Health French Guiana
There's nothing to worry about in terms of health in Guyana's cities. However, insect bites are common in the forest, and some specimens can transmit skin diseases (leishmaniasis, flea beetle...) which can show up after your return. What's more, minor injuries are more easily infected in tropical environments, so be careful!
As for vaccinations, yellow fever is compulsory, and it's advisable to keep up to date with the DTP vaccine and get vaccinated against hepatitis A. The more adventurous should also take precautions against B and typhoid fever!Malaria is rife on rivers throughout the Amazon region, and a few cases have been reported on the Atlantic coast.
If you're staying in the forest, a mosquito net is essential, even if you're assured that there are no mosquitoes. Dengue fever, a viral disease transmitted by a female mosquito, is also present, and transmission of the virus is essentially urban. Finally, rabies is widespread. As far as hydration is concerned, tap water is safe to drink all along the coast.
Mandatory vaccination French Guiana
A yellow fever vaccination will be required before boarding the plane to Cayenne. Please note! If you are unable to show proof of vaccination (vaccination booklet or copy of yellow fever vaccination certificate), flight attendants will not let you board! Vaccinations must be taken at least 10 days before departure.
Security French Guiana
In town. The welcome in French Guiana is generally warm and pleasant. If you're not from the area, there are a few places to avoid after dark in Cayenne, such as La Crique (also known as Chicago) or Pointe Buzaret. In these neglected neighborhoods, drugs tend to wreak havoc, the current scourge of urban Guyana being crack. The danger is posed by drug users, who engage in muggings and snatchings. Early in the morning, at Cayenne's bus station, you need to be vigilant too.
In the forest. Another potential danger is illegal gold panning. Visiting a gold-panning site in the forest is totally inadvisable. On the other hand, there is little to worry about when it comes to wild animals: although there are many of them, you mustn't forget that the jungle is huge, so you don't come across a predator every four mornings. More people die from snakes in mainland France than in French Guiana - that's saying something! On the other hand, as the Amazonian soil is not very compact, you have to be very careful about falling trees. In fact, falling trees and coconuts are more likely to endanger you than animal attacks.
Time difference French Guiana
GMT-3 for French Guiana, which means 4 hours less in winter and 5 hours less in summer than in Paris (GMT+1). When it's 11 a.m. in Cayenne, it's 4 p.m. (in summer) or 3 p.m. (in winter) in Paris. When in French Guiana, count 1 hour less than in Martinique and Guadeloupe (GMT-4), the same for Quebec in summer, and 2 hours less in winter.
Spoken languages French Guiana
The official and most widely spoken language in French Guiana is French, but it's far from the only one used in the territory. Creole languages, for a start, were for the most part formed in the context of slavery between European populations and slaves torn from their native Africa. A distinction is made between Creole with a French base, such as Kreol Gwiyane, and Creole with an English lexical base from Surinam, such as Taki Taki or Saramaka. As for the Amerindian populations: the Awarak speak Palikur, the Caribs Wayana and the Guarani Wayampi. These languages are found throughout South America. They share a number of common features, but are not mutually incomprehensible. Many other languages are spoken in French Guiana, including Portuguese from neighboring Brazil, Haitian Creole, Hmong, West Indian Creoles and Surinamese Sranan Tongo.
Communication French Guiana
There's no problem communicating by cell phone along almost the entire length of Guyana's coastline, and Internet access via mobile data is even very good in this area. Things get more complicated as soon as you enter the forest: in these remote areas, only satellite phones work... a priori!
If you have a French, Swiss or Belgian cell phone subscription, it should work perfectly well in French Guiana, and at no extra cost. Most cafés, restaurants and hotels have wifi. However, it's a safe bet that once you've arrived in the jungle, you'll want to disconnect your mobile to leave more room for the good vibes of majestic nature!
Electricity and measurements French Guiana
Since 1995, France's largest hydroelectric dam, Petit-Saut in Sinnamary, has been in operation, covering 80% of demand. For remote communities such as Saül, power is generated by generators or solar panels. As far as plugs are concerned, French Guiana has the same configurations as mainland France. The same applies to the metric system: we weigh in grams and measure in meters.
Please note that power (and telephone) cuts can sometimes occur during heavy rains, so don't be surprised.
Luggage French Guiana
The temperature is constant throughout the year, ranging from 26°C to 32°C during the day and 23°C to 27°C at night. Nights in the forest are cooler, with temperatures as low as 18°C. Warm clothing, such as a sweatshirt, is therefore highly recommended, especially for nights in the forest (as are earplugs and a mask, for light sleepers). For the city, choose light, supple clothing in light tones to ward off mosquitoes... You'll find all the equipment you need for the perfect Guyanese hiker, particularly at "les Chinois" (the local grocers): hammock, impregnated mosquito net, rain gear, umbrella... at a much lower price than in mainland France. Don't forget your sun protection. Don't forget your yellow fever vaccination certificate and your passport, as border crossings to Brazil and/or Suriname can be tempting if you have the time.
