Located in northern Brazil on the east coast of South America, French Guiana is one of the least visited countries on the continent. While French Guiana doesn’t have much tourism, it just means you’ll have fewer crowds! The cities that few tourists usually visit are the capital Cayenne and the smaller Kourou, located 60 miles to the north. Saint Laurent is the only other major town located on the northern border of Suriname.

French Guiana is an overseas part of France, and its people are as proud of their French nationality as their compatriots. French Guianese can travel freely in Europe with a French passport, so it’s worth noting that the culture here is closer to Europe than to South America. In fact, French Guiana even uses the Euro, with two daily flights between Paris and Cayenne!

Cayenne

Cayenne is a modest city with a busy city center. The city centre is lively on weekdays, full of people and paved with shop fronts, but on Sundays the whole city has a day off, and it’s hard to find a shop or restaurant open after 3pm. Either avoid coming on Sundays if possible, or be prepared to take care of yourself or you’ll end up eating old cookies for dinner or anything at the bottom of your backpack!

Cayenne attractions

Les Chaines Brisees Monument

This monument was erected in 2011 to honor the victims of slavery and human trafficking. Located on the waterfront on the north side of the city, it is a powerful reminder of the origins of French Guiana.

Palm Square

Place des Palmistes is a park in downtown Cayenne. In the center there is a statue of Felix Eboué. Unless you have activities during your visit, it’s easy to miss this park.

Amandil Point

Pointe des Amandiers has a beautiful park located to the east of Les Chaines Brisees. It’s a great place to sit on a shady bench and watch the day go by while fishermen exercise on nearby rocks. There is a bar at the entrance of the park which is a great place to have a cold drink.

Observe wildlife

Cayenne is full of interesting wildlife, and seeing some of these creatures is one of the best things to do in Cayenne. Step out of the city center and you’ll encounter families of capybaras, baby monkeys, birds, lizards, and insects.

St. Sauveur’s Cathedral

The cathedral is easy to find because its beautiful green bell tower can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. If you walk to the gate, you can see some beautiful artwork on both sides of the front door. If you are interested in art, you will also be impressed by the murals on the streets of the nearby city.

Remiel-Monjoli Beach

There are many beautiful small beaches around Cayenne, but you can’t miss Remire-Montjoly Beach. The long, wide band of yellow sand is surrounded by rainforest, home to monkeys and sloths. Since the tourism industry has not fully discovered the country and there are few people on the beach, you may have half the beach. Please be prepared as there are no shops or bars here, so please bring some snacks and drinks before you go. Then sit back and relax and watch the day pass by as you relax.

One time of year when you might see other visitors is turtle season. Many leatherback turtles around the world come to Guyana to lay their eggs between April and June, and in July/August, the hatchlings swim to sea. It’s an incredible sight, so it’s worth planning your trip.

Cayenne accommodation

Due to the low number of tourists, accommodation is one of the biggest barriers for tourists heading to the Guyana region, while French Guiana is the worst of the three countries. There are no hotels, and the few that are very expensive. On a tight budget, the only way to do that is to live on Airbnb. The old saying is right, you get what you pay for. But if the bed is comfortable and the air conditioning is cold, what more do you need! You should take the time to explore, not sit at home!

How to get around Cayenne

Cayenne is a small city, so it’s easy to cross the city centre on foot, but there are also excellent bus services for those who are far away or tired of walking. There are 5 bus routes covering most of the city and a one-way ticket costs less than €2, which is definitely worth it on a hot day.

What Cayenne eats

Baguettes, snails, pastries and cheese! You are essentially in France, so eat like a Frenchman. Local supermarkets offer delicious fresh bread and imported French cheese, as well as French pastries with lightning puffs, chocolate bread and croissants. Most grocery stores sell field snails, so brave people can try them.

Kuru

Kourou is a small town located 60 km north of Cayenne. Its main attraction is the Guiana Space Center, so it offers more services and is generally favored by tourists, although it can be said that it lacks a bit of character.

Kuru sights

Guyana Space Centre (Guiana Space Centre)

The main reason people come to Kourou is to visit the Guyana Space Centre. The French spaceport was built here because it is very close to the equator, so rockets are launched more efficiently due to the slingshot effect of the Earth’s rotation. Most of the time you can visit the launch pad for free, but contact them in advance to reserve a spot. Tours are usually conducted in French, but sometimes they also do tours in English. There is a museum on site and admission is free most of the time. If you missed this tour, this is a fun option.

For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, head there when the rocket is launched. You can watch rocket launches from near the city at some registered locations. Please refer to the Guiana Space Centre website for launch dates and make sure you have some flexibility in your plans, as they are often postponed.

Also note when planning your trip that the centre is closed for a week in late August each year, so if this is a ‘must attend’ activity on your wish list, then make sure to check your dates before heading in August/September.

Alcatraz (Île Du Diable)

Although strictly not in Kourou, the ship departs from the port there. The islands are located about 70 kilometers from the coast, and it takes a full day to visit the islands. Devil’s Island is home to one of France’s most notorious prisons, which operated until the 1950s. The islands are famous for the movie Papillon, which depicts the escape of criminal Henri Charrière. Although the actual Prison Island is off-limits, you can visit two nearby islands: Royal Island and St. Joseph’s Island, which have some ruins and a small museum.

How to get to Kourou and its surroundings

The best way to get to Kuru and its surroundings is by renting a car. Cayenne has many car rental companies, including Sixt and Europcar. Renting a car can be expensive, but don’t get frustrated by waiting for crowded buses to leave, and once in Kuru, there are no regular buses to the space center. Driving is relatively safe, the road is not congested, and driving is not difficult. Please note that French Guiana drives on the right side of the road and uses a speeding camera, but most importantly, have a nice trip!