Why go à Guyane?
The good reasons to go à Guyane
95% of Amazonian forest
With a territory almost entirely covered by jungle, there is no shortage of green!
An incredible fauna and flora
While animals - the country's main inhabitants - are shy, plants are everywhere.
A cultural mosaic
Over the centuries, the peoples of French Guiana have come from the four corners of the globe.
South American France
Although located in South America, French Guiana is French. No language problem!
Towns from another era
Cayenne, Saint-Georges, Sinnamary and Saint-Laurent are all towns of enchanting charm.
An original carnival
For sometimes two months, Carnival is the main event: joy, rum and traditions.
Adventure at the end of the road
Pirogue in the rapids, rock-climbing or mountain-biking in the forest, sleeping in a hammock: adventure is here!
A prison heritage
For a century, France imprisoned its prisoners here. A history that leaves its mark.
Spicy gastronomy
Varied influences, with manioc and smoked meats as the basis for Creole dishes!
The omnipresence of water
with 80% humidity, rivers and rain, we're well hydrated in French Guiana.
Good to know when visiting la Guyane
Timetable
Museums and cultural institutes are generally open from 8.30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and some open again from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. To be on the safe side, it's best to plan your visits in the morning and then make a phone call to check the opening times for that day.
To be booked
The vast majority of activities in French Guiana take place in the wilderness, and often involve travel by pirogue. As a result, it is often necessary to book in advance any excursions you may wish to join: outings in the Kaw marshes, river trips (to Maripasoula, Saut Maripas, etc.), canopy tours, island visits... Throughout the book, you'll find recommendations from official guides and other organizations dedicated to visiting Guyana's natural wonders.
As for museums and other establishments in town, a simple phone call to check that the place is open will do the trick.
For guided tours of the Guiana Space Center, reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance. And if your visit coincides with a launch, (free) invitations are limited to the number of places available. So plan ahead and book online: cnes-csg.fr - ✆ 05 94 33 44 53 - Mail: [email protected]. Please note age restrictions.
Budget & Tips
It's best to have an adventurous spirit if you want to take advantage of the best deals in French Guiana. While a night in a communal carbet may only cost you around ten euros, rates can quickly climb for accommodation more comfortable than a hammock. When dining out, expect to pay a little more than you would in mainland France. Generally speaking, the price of food will always be around 15% higher in supermarkets.
For sightseeing, it will cost you around 50 euros for a boat trip (îles du Salut, îlet la Mère...). On the other hand, a pirogue trip with an overnight stay in the Kaw marshes can quickly cost well over a hundred euros... But if you're on a budget, it's well worth it!
Main events
While there are a few festivals in Cayenne, Saint-Laurent and Kourou, the main focus of cultural life in French Guiana is on the carnival festivities. Indeed, Guyana's carnival is the longest in the world: it generally begins in January and ends with Ash Wednesday, which falls between mid-February and early March, depending on the year. For almost two months, parades and balls punctuate the passing weeks. There are also patron saint festivals, which are joyously celebrated in Guyana's towns and villages throughout the year.
Guided tours
Guided tours in French Guiana don't take place in museums! It's in the forest that you'll need a guide. Throughout this book, you'll find recommendations from official guides and other organizations dedicated to visiting Guyana's natural wonders.
Smokers
Smoking is not permitted in museums. As for open-air areas, it is the responsibility of smokers not to disturb non-smokers and to leave the areas clean. While smoking is not prohibited in forests, cigarette butts can easily start fires. It is therefore everyone's responsibility to smoke with caution and in areas where the risk of fire is limited.
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Discover la Guyane
Green hell... Under this terrible nickname, French Guiana has always had the reputation, borne out by the testimonies of convicts, of a land where life is not easy. Then came the image of an El Dorado surveyed by thousands of gold miners. Finally, that of a department under stress, in the aftermath of the great strike of 2017... From one extreme to the other, nothing is worth more than your own opinion!
While there's an undeniable element of truth to these clichés, everyday life in French Guiana is far richer, far more nuanced and, above all, far more pleasant. Here, you'll find a mixed population with a history rich in both glorious and tormented episodes (such as the picaresque tales of escape from the penal colony), breathtaking flora and fauna, Creole gastronomy with rare spices, a carnival that's unique in the world and ultra-codified, a huge space center and much, much more!
