Things to see and do Saint-Georges-De-L’oyapock

The Oyapock is the second longest river in French Guiana after the Maroni, covering 370 km. The adventure begins with a hundred or so jumps, the most formidable of which is the Maripa jump: 2 km of rapids and a 14 m drop! On this stretch, the Oyapock River rushes through rapids in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. Lovers of pre-Columbian vestiges will be able to find polissoirs on rocks washed by the waters of the river and its tributaries, while others will enjoy the calm of the area and the wealth of wildlife in this little paradise.

Saut Maripa lies in the bed of the Oyapock River. Once an impassable barrier for merchant pirogues, the Saut was bypassed by the construction of a railroad track on the bank. Now transformed into a somewhat dilapidated hiking trail, the site is open to the public free of charge. A botanical trail of around 4 km also loops around the river to discover the lush vegetation that feeds it.

Saut Maripa rightly has the reputation of being the most beautiful jump in French Guiana, but also the most dangerous. Many a pirogue has run aground here, and you may notice the stele erected in honor of the 3 gendarmes who lost their lives here in 1995. In the rainy season, the river is wide and fairly silent. Its impressive flow is revealed in the dry season, thanks to the rocks protruding from the surface. Many locals take advantage of the site on weekends to bring the whole family, staying in carbets (for a fee or not, depending on the level of comfort required), and enjoying water sports such as kayaking.

To reach Saut Maripa by car, a 4x4 is virtually indispensable, especially in the rainy season. It takes an average of 40 minutes to cover the 20 km of track (check on site to find out how practicable it is). Pirogues stop at Pied-Saut, upstream from Saut Maripa. From here, you'll have to walk about 2 km along an old railway track.

For those who prefer terra firma, there are 3 discovery trails: the botanical trail: a 4 km loop that takes around 1 hour to complete. Accessible to all levels, you'll need to ask if it's been recently maintained. The Layon Coumouri (2 km round trip, approx. 1 hour's walk) and the Layon Saut Maripa (30-minute round trip, 1.5 km) both start from the botanical trail. They offer different views of the Saut.