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French Guiana

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Pointe Buzaré avec la ville de Cayenne en fond.

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Overview

French Guiana is a remote region of France covered in thick jungle and wilderness, although you'll also find colonial architecture, eerie prison-camp history and some of the world's most diverse plant and animal life here. It's a strange mix of French law and rainforest humidity where only a few destinations along the coast are easily accessed and travel can be frustratingly difficult as well as expensive.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Centre Spatial Guyanais

    Centre Spatial Guyanais

    French Guiana

    Visiting the Centre Spatial Guyanais and (if you're lucky) seeing a rocket launch are two of French Guiana's biggest highlights. Both need to be arranged…

  • Camp de la Transportation

    Camp de la Transportation

    French Guiana

    The eerie Camp de la Transportation, where prisoners arrived for processing, was the largest prison in French Guiana. Convicts arrived exhausted after 20…

  • Central Market

    Central Market

    French Guiana

    Inside Cayenne's market, shoppers will find a vibrant jumble of Amerindian basketry, African-style paintings and carvings, piles of spices at great prices…

  • Plage Les Hattes

    Plage Les Hattes

    French Guiana

    This long stretch of beach is a very important nesting ground for giant leatherback turtles, which can grow up to 600kg. The females come ashore from…

  • Camp de la Relégation

    Camp de la Relégation

    French Guiana

    The Camp de la Relégation, aka St Jean, is another abandoned prison camp 17km from St Laurent. It's accessed via two-hour tours offered by various…

  • Fleuve de Maroni

    Fleuve de Maroni

    French Guiana

    Explore the Amerindian and Maroon cultures that inhabit the shores of this great river. You'll usually also visit the island of an old leper colony …

  • Musée Départemental

    Musée Départemental

    French Guiana

    The Musée Départemental features a frighteningly large stuffed black caiman, as well as other preserved local critters, an ethno-botanical display and an…

  • Trésor & Kaw Nature Reserves

    Trésor & Kaw Nature Reserves

    French Guiana

    The Trésor Nature Reserve is one of French Guiana's most accessible primary rainforest areas, and wandering its 1.75km botanical trail is a great way to…

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