Archaeology handicrafts and science and technology sites to visit Saint-Jean-Du-Maroni

Upstream from the falls, a trail leads to the Vieux Broussard falls, also known as the second Voltaires falls, which take around 2h30 to complete. The unsecured trail requires good physical condition and the ability to find your way through the forest. The falls are beautiful, rising 41 m above sea level. While the site is magnificent, the pools at Vieux Broussard can be dangerous: stay vigilant and keep an eye on young children when swimming!

The falls Voltaire - with a drop of 45 m spread over a length of 200 m - have a flow that varies according to the season and are a particularly popular site in French Guiana: it's best to enquire in advance at the Auberge about available places.

How to get there. From Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, at the traffic circle, follow the road between the stadium and the cemetery towards Saint-Jean (D11). After about 2.5 km on the Saint-Jean road, turn left at the large bend: you'll come to Lac Bleu. Turn right at the sign. Continue on route Paul-Isnard. You'll pass the rum distillery (on your right). The road will be asphalted for 10 km, before giving way to laterite as the track enters the forest. If you fancy a picnic, you can stop off at PK 27.5 at Tatou Creek. Pass the slaughterhouses that line the first few kilometers, and the sawmill at PK 32. You'll also pass a checkpoint. At around PK 46, you'll come to two tracks. Take the one on the right. At PK 67, you pass the Apatou crossroads, where you cross a camp (straight ahead). At PK 70, you'll come to the parking lot (an open area) of the Auberge Voltaire, where you can leave your car. 300 m further on, you'll find an information panel at the entrance to the ONF-marked trail. The path is on the left after passing the creek, where a bridge has collapsed. The trail to the falls winds for around 3.3 km (approx. 1.5 hrs walk) along Voltaire Creek.

Tatou Cove is a place to relax and swim in the middle of the forest, with three carbets for picnics and board games. In the immediate vicinity of the site, there's a 2.5 km trail for walkers. Those wishing to spend the night should bring a tarpaulin in case of rain, as there are no sleeping carbets. In the rainy season, the trail is inaccessible (if you're not sure about the condition of the trail, check with the Saint-Laurent tourist office). A good stopover before Voltaire Falls!