French Guiana
Europe in the Amazon, with rockets and rainforest.
About French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas department of France and a fully integrated part of the European Union, using the euro, French law and French infrastructure on a South American coastline. Cayenne, the capital, runs on French rhythms beside Creole markets. Kourou, an hour's drive west, hosts the Guiana Space Centre, from which Ariane rockets launch to take advantage of the equatorial position. Offshore, the Salvation Islands include Devil's Island, where Alfred Dreyfus was held, part of the penal colony later made infamous by Henri Charrière's memoir Papillon. Inland, the territory is more than 90 percent primary rainforest.
Highlights
- Guiana Space Centre at Kourou
- Salvation Islands, Île Royale, Île Saint-Joseph and Devil's Island
- Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni penal colony architecture
- Cayenne French Creole culture and cuisine
Tours in French Guiana
Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni Day Trip
Day trip from Suriname to French Guiana's border town of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, with the preserved penal colony complex (Camp de la Transportation) and the lively Marowijne riverfront and market.
Three-Day French Guiana Highlights from Suriname
Three-day, two-night overland trip from Paramaribo into French Guiana for its three headline sights, the Saint-Laurent penal colony, the Salvation Islands by catamaran and the Guiana Space Centre at Kourou, with the border crossing and formalities handled. A natural add-on for travelers already in Suriname.
Guiana Space Centre Tour
Half-day visit to Europe's primary spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Active launch facility for Ariane 6 and Vega-C. Three-hour guided tour of mission control, rocket assembly buildings and launch pads. Advance passport submission required.
Îles du Salut: Devil's Island Day Tour
Full-day catamaran voyage from Kourou to the offshore Salvation Islands, the historic site of France's most notorious penal colony. The tour visits Île Royale and Île Saint-Joseph, with Devil's Island seen from the water, since visitors do not land there.
Looking for something beyond the tours above? Tell us what you want to see in French Guiana and we will see what we can arrange around your dates.
Plan a tailor-made tripPackages that include French Guiana
Seven-Day Three Guianas Explorer
A seven-day journey through Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. Kaieteur Falls, Paramaribo's UNESCO district, French Guiana's penal colony islands and the Guiana Space Centre, all logistics handled.
Nine-Day Three Guianas Immersion
Nine days through the three Guianas with two added nights on the Upper Suriname River for cultural immersion in a Maroon village setting accessible only by motorized pirogue.
Fourteen-Day Guianas Expedition
The full three-country circuit plus four days at the remote Wildlife and Nature Resort, a fly-in wilderness lodge in primary rainforest with no road access, capped with a final day at Jodensavanne and a contemporary Amerindian village.
Ten-Day Four-Country Explorer
Ten days, four countries: from French Guiana's spaceport and penal colony islands, through Suriname's UNESCO district and plantation country, to Guyana's Kaieteur Falls and finally a Caribbean wrap in Trinidad with cocoa heritage.
Getting here and around
Most international visitors fly into Cayenne Félix Eboué Airport, 15 to 20 minutes from Cayenne, with direct flights from France, Guadeloupe and Martinique. There are no direct flights from Suriname, so the usual route is overland from Paramaribo: 2.5 to 3 hours to Albina, a short crossing of the Marowijne River by ferry or pirogue to Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, then the coast road east to Kourou and Cayenne.
Kourou is an hour west of Cayenne and is the base for both the Guiana Space Centre and the catamaran to the Salvation Islands, which lie 15 kilometers offshore. The Space Centre needs your passport details in advance for security clearance and this cannot be arranged on arrival, so we need them from you well before your visit.
Cayenne Airport Transfer
Professional driver, clean air-conditioned vehicle, direct transfer to your accommodation. Available for arrivals and departures, flexible scheduling to match your flight times. Larger vehicles available for groups.
Suriname ↔ French Guiana (Overland)
There are no direct flights between Suriname and French Guiana, so overland is the standard route, and we run it daily in both directions on our own company buses. The Marowijne River crossing is by ferry or pirogue, and we handle the border formalities and immigration stamping at Albina on the Suriname side and Saint-Laurent on the French Guiana side. The USD 450 rate covers up to 3 people in your party, one way, on the shared daily departure. If you would rather have the bus to yourselves on a time that suits you, add the private upgrade for USD 115.
Cayenne ↔ Kourou Transfer
Private ground transfer between Cayenne and Kourou with English-speaking driver. The standard cross-territory route in French Guiana, useful for travelers staying in Cayenne but visiting the Guiana Space Centre or boarding the Salvation Islands catamaran from Kourou. Operates in both directions.
Kourou ↔ Cayenne Félix Eboué Airport Transfer
Private airport transfer between Kourou and Cayenne Félix Eboué Airport with English-speaking driver. Distinct from the Cayenne ↔ Kourou standard transfer: this is the airport-direct route operated through a partner serving the Kourou run, with higher fees reflecting the longer leg and partner pricing. Available for arrivals and departures.
French Guiana: common questions
01Can I visit French Guiana with a Schengen visa?
Can I visit French Guiana with a Schengen visa?
02Do I need a yellow fever vaccination?
Do I need a yellow fever vaccination?
03How do I get to French Guiana from Suriname?
How do I get to French Guiana from Suriname?
04Can I visit the Guiana Space Centre?
Can I visit the Guiana Space Centre?
05Is French Guiana safe to visit?
Is French Guiana safe to visit?
06What should I know before arriving?
What should I know before arriving?
Ready to plan your trip?
Tell us what you want to see and how much country you want to cover. We will come back with a tailored itinerary within 48 hours.