Archaeology handicrafts and science and technology sites to visit Rémire-Montjoly

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.