This full-day tour explores Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, French Guiana's western border town and the former administrative center of France's penal colony system from 1852 to 1953. The town, across the Marowijne River from Albina, Suriname, can be visited as a day trip with full border crossing logistics handled.
The tour focuses on the Camp de la Transportation, the central penal colony processing facility where approximately 70,000 prisoners were received during the colony's century of operation, alongside the town's contemporary character as a multicultural border community.
What to expect
7:30 AM pickup from Paramaribo accommodation. Drive to Albina (Suriname's border town), approximately 2.5 to 3 hours. Cross the Marowijne River by ferry or pirogue to Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni in French Guiana. Border formalities (passport stamps) handled by guide.
First stop: Camp de la Transportation, the former penal colony transit facility opened in 1858. This was the central processing point for convicts arriving from France. Tour includes the main building (administrative offices and barracks), punishment block (isolation cells), and the chapel. Guide provides historical context.
Walk through Saint-Laurent's town center, visiting the local market (active until midday), the Marowijne waterfront with views of Albina across the river, and the colonial-era town hall. Lunch (not included) at a local Saint-Laurent restaurant offering French-Caribbean cuisine.
Afternoon free time for additional market browsing or independent exploration. Return to Suriname by ferry/pirogue, drive back to Paramaribo, arrival by approximately 6:30 PM.
Bookings and payments are handled securely through WeTravel, our booking partner.
- Round-trip transportation from Paramaribo to Saint-Laurent
- Border crossing logistics and assistance
- English-speaking guide throughout
- Entry fee to Camp de la Transportation
- Ferry/pirogue river crossing both ways
- Bottled water
- Lunch in Saint-Laurent
- Personal purchases
- Gratuities for guide
- Travel insurance
Can be combined with longer multi-day French Guiana programs (Cayenne, Kourou, space center). Single-day visits cannot include the space center or Salvation Islands due to time constraints.
What makes this tour
Camp de la Transportation, main penal colony transit facility, original cell blocks, punishment quarters and isolation cells preserved as historic site
Border town character, crossing the Marowijne by ferry or pirogue from Suriname into France's overseas department
Local market, vibrant market with French Guianese, Surinamese, Brazilian and Haitian vendors, opportunity to observe cross-border commerce
Marowijne River setting, view of Surinamese villages across the river, traditional Maroon pirogues transporting goods and passengers
Penal colony history, context on the approximately 70,000 prisoners sent here between 1852 and 1953, including political prisoners and common convicts
Practical information
- Duration: Approximately 11 hours total
- Border hours: Crossing operates during daylight hours, no night crossings. Border may have limited weekend afternoon hours.
- Currency: Saint-Laurent uses Euro (EUR). USD is not widely accepted. Bring euros for purchases, lunch, etc.
- What to bring: Comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, light rain jacket, camera, euros for lunch and purchases, valid passport with yellow fever vaccination proof.
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