Things to see and do Rémire-Montjoly

The Amazonian Park of French Guiana is the largest national park in France and the European Union. Created in 2007, it covers an area of 3.4 million hectares in southern French Guiana, covering 40% of the territory. Located in the south-east of the Guyana Plateau and bordering Parque Nacional Montanhas do Tumucumaque in Brazil (3.9 million hectares - Amapa State), it also contributes to forming one of the largest protected areas in the world. Its highly original landscapes are complemented by a palette of rare environments: inselbergs (imposing rocky massifs) and forested mountains at altitudes of over 800 metres.

The national park is home to one of the planet's richest areas in terms of biodiversity, as well as a diversity and cultural originality that position these Amazonian territories as exceptional places to discover. The heart of the national park covers 2 million hectares. The "zone de libre adhésion" (1.4 million hectares) covers the catchment areas around its natural borders, the Oyapock River to the east and the Maroni River to the west. Five communes are included in the national park: Camopi, Maripasoula, Papaïchton, Saint-Élie and Saül, with a total population of over 15,000. It is home to the Amerindian populations (Apalaï, Tïlïo, Wayana, Wayãpi and Téko-Emérillon), the Black Maroons (Aluku/Boni) and the Creoles, as well as metropolitan populations and a few Hmong, Brazilians and Surinamese.

The Park's missions are to preserve the natural heritage, promote traditional cultures and support sustainable local development projects in consultation with local communities. The Etablissement public du parc amazonien de Guyane supports the emergence of an ecotourism industry.

Protecting the natural environment. Guiana's forests are a beacon of biodiversity on a global scale. Over 5,800 plant species have been recorded to date, including more than 1,500 tree species. The fauna includes 192 species of mammals, 260 species of reptiles and amphibians, 720 species of birds, 400 species of freshwater fish and hundreds of thousands of insects. This forest heritage is highly natural and in a good state of conservation, making it an ideal setting for knowledge and further scientific research into Amazonian ecosystems. The national park is home to some remarkable environments: rock savannas, inselbergs and forest mounts.

Preservation of cultural heritage and sustainable development. The aim is to preserve and promote the tangible and intangible cultures of the region's populations. Southern French Guiana has been home to nomadic Amerindians for several centuries, as well as to Black Maroons and Creoles since the second half of the ^19th century. These traditional communities, with their rich cultural heritage, live to the rhythm of the rivers and rainforests, in close contact with nature. Their knowledge and know-how constitute a unique heritage, and intergenerational transmission is a key challenge.

Ecotourism. The Amazonian Park of French Guiana is committed to developing local, sustainable economic activities in consultation with the local population, and supports the emergence of an ecotourism industry through training, communication, development and equipment initiatives, with technical and financial support for project leaders.

Heli-cojyp offers you a breathtaking flight through the diverse landscapes of French Guiana. The 15-minute flight takes in the main points of interest in and around Cayenne, while the 30-minute flight takes in the Kaw marshes and the wildlife of Mont Gabriel. Our friendly pilots will take good care of you, whether you're coming with family, friends or on your own. Heli-Cojyp provides all types of air transport, even a drop-off at îlet La Mère! Don't forget your camera or binoculars: red ibises are often on the way...

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 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.

Habitation Vidal: after around 45 minutes on a fitness trail, in the heart of a lush forest, you come to a clearing where the remains of Guyana's largest ^19th-century farming operation remain: the Habitation Vidal, formerly known as Mondélice. The sight of rusting, overgrown implements and machinery makes it hard to imagine that the site was once occupied by an extremely profitable operation. In the middle, however, a large stone-walled mule mill and a few English steam engines bear witness to the economic dynamism of yesteryear.

Although the plantation was home to a variety of crops, it was sugarcane that essentially made the fortune of its owner, Vidal de Lingendes. The surrounding marshes were dried out, providing an enormous space for growing cane, which was processed on site to produce syrup, rum and molasses. Although it seemed invulnerable, the operation quickly collapsed, suffering the successive effects of falling sugar prices and the abolition of slavery. Isolated and unsupervised, the site was left unprotected against looters. Excavations, which continue to this day, are gradually revealing the secrets of this little-known era.

During your visit, facing the path, you'll discover another, much narrower path on your right, which winds its way through a tunnel of vegetation. Don't hesitate to take it and then retrace your steps. Although it looks wild, this little path is in fact marked by trees and joins the main route after winding through the forest. Your steps will take you back in time, from the apogee to the decadence of the sugar mill, in this place that has considerably marked the history of Guyana and its families.

An orientation course was set up on this trail in June 2015. To make the most of these strolls, an information panel and 70 information leaflets are available to the public. The orienteering trail is divided into three circuits: the easy 1.5 km circuit (45 minutes), the difficult 3 km circuit (an hour and a half), and the very difficult 7.5 km circuit (three to four hours). The proximity of the marshes makes the site very popular with mosquitoes, especially in wet weather. It's advisable to bring a repellent spray with you on this walk.

From Rémire-Montjoly, continue for a few kilometers along the Route des Plages. On your left, you'll see Fort Diamant, a military structure built in the ^18th century to guard the entrance to the Mahury estuary. In fact, the presence of this fort did nothing to prevent Dutch, English and Portuguese invasions. The site's main interest lies in its panorama, which extends as far as the Kaw marshes, where the mangrove forest is now under attack from the sea.

A few brochures and a warm welcome.

This temporary exhibition hall for Guyanese artists offers a wide range of events relating to the history and culture of the people of Rémire-Montjoly and its immediate surroundings, including Cayenne. It occupies the walls of Rémire-Montjoly's first school, built in 1908 to accommodate those affected by the eruption of Mount Pelée, which unleashed fiery clouds on the island of Martinique in 1902.

Founded in 1668, Loyola Dwelling was one of the most important European colonial farms of its time. It functioned as a multi-ethnic society, with the Jesuit fathers, site administrators, European workers, a large number of slaves from Africa and a handful of natives living side by side. Covering almost 1,000 hectares at its peak, the Loyola settlement established itself as one of Guyana's main production centers for cocoa, coffee and sugar, as well as, to a lesser extent, pottery and blacksmithing. In 1740, the Jesuits even introduced indigo cultivation.

Soon impoverished by falling cocoa and coffee prices, but also by a slowdown in soil production, the dwelling turned to molasses production and tafia distillation, before abandoning for good the sugar business, like indigo, and turning to cotton production. In 1763, King Louis XV ordered the expulsion of the Jesuits from the Kingdom of France. Declared bankrupt, the Society of Jesus left the dwelling, which was later requisitioned by the French army and played its part in the Kourou expedition.

During your visit, you'll follow a 4.6 km loop trail that leads to the remains of the dwelling: the master's house, the chapel, the sugar mill and the windmill. Gutted or low walls bear witness to a bygone prosperity.