We always get the same question when our travellers drop their bags in Cayenne: “So, what is there actually to do in French Guiana beyond the rocket and the penal colony?” Good news: this Amazonian department, the size of Portugal and wedged between Brazil and Suriname, is packed with gems that the guidebooks barely touch. At Hostel Toucan, we host and guide visitors all year round. Here is our selection of 25 must-sees, grouped by mood, with the real on-the-ground info (prices, durations, distances) that we share with our guests over a coffee.
Before you go: what you need to know
French Guiana is a French overseas department: you pay in euros, French is spoken (along with Creole, Bushinenge and Amerindian languages), and the dialling code is +594. Expect a -5h time difference in winter and -6h in summer compared to Paris. You will land at Félix-Éboué airport in Matoury, 15 minutes from Cayenne.
Three things to keep in mind:
- Yellow fever vaccine required (make sure it is up to date before you leave).
- A car is essential: there is almost no public transport for tourism. Book early in the dry season.
- Best time to go: mid-July to mid-November (dry season). Tracks are passable, there is less rain, and turtle-nesting beaches are still active early in the period.
To plan your itinerary day by day, we have gathered our tips in the Hostel Toucan French Guiana guide.
Space and the islands: the grand spectacle
1 to 4. The Guiana Space Centre and Kourou
The CSG in Kourou (1h from Cayenne) remains the signature experience. The guided tour is free (around 3h, by reservation, ID required). If you time your stay around an Ariane 6 or Vega-C launch, book an observation site weeks in advance: watching a rocket tear across the Amazon sky is unforgettable. In Kourou itself, do not miss the Space Museum, Cocoteraie beach and the fishermen’s quarter.
5 to 7. The Salvation Islands
From Kourou, the catamaran shuttle (about 1h crossing, around 50-60 € round trip) takes you to the Salvation Islands (Îles du Salut): Royale, Saint-Joseph and Devil’s Island. Beyond the penal history, it is a landscape of coconut palms, hermit crabs and turquoise waters. Plan for a full day, or better still, a night at the Île Royale inn to catch the sunset once the day visitors have left.
Amazonian nature: the wild heart
8 to 10. The Kaw marshes
A 2-hour drive and track from Cayenne, the Kaw marshes are our absolute favourite. A night canoe trip (around 40-60 € depending on the operator) lets you spot black caimans, scarlet ibises and an incredible aquatic wildlife. Sleep in a floating carbet (open-air hut): waking up in the morning mist is guaranteed. The Kaw mountain also hides the very rare orange cock-of-the-rock.
11 to 13. Reserves and trails near Cayenne
You do not need to go far for the jungle:
- The Trésor nature reserve (Kaw road): educational botanical trail, about 2h walk.
- The Rorota trail in Remire-Montjoly: an easy 4 km loop around a lake, ideal at the end of the day.
- Monkey Mountain (Montagne des Singes) in Kourou: a 1h climb to see free-roaming squirrel monkeys.
14 to 15. Waterfalls and carbets
The Gabrielle creek and the river rapids (sauts) offer natural swimming spots. On a longer stay, an expedition to Saut Maripa or to the villages of the interior plunges you into the real Amazon.
The Maroni and the west: the mixed-heritage soul
16 to 18. Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni and the penal colony
To the west, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni (2h30-3h from Cayenne) is a major stop. The Camp de la Transportation (guided tour around 7-10 €, 1h30) tells the story of the penal colony with subtlety, far from the folklore. Then stroll through the official quarter with its colonial façades and old-world charm.
19 to 21. The Maroni River by canoe
The Maroni, the natural border with Suriname, is best experienced by canoe (pirogue). Heading downstream or upstream to the Bushinenge and Amerindian villages (Apatou, Maripasoula further up) is a rare immersion. Plan at least half a day with a local boatman; we can put you in touch. This is where French Guiana reveals its true blend of cultures: tembe (Bushinenge art), carved canoes, cross-border market.
