Want to visit Guyana? Between a Equatorial Forest populated with amazing animals, a rich history influenced by colonization and rocket launches from the Kourou Space Centre, here are the 8 things to do in Guyana!
In the North-East of South America, nestled between Brazil, Suriname and the Atlantic Ocean, French Guiana is both a region and a French overseas department. Recovered at 98% of a dense equatorial forest – one of the least ecologically fragmented in the world – Guyana has a rich and diverse fauna and flora. On this luxuriant land rich in paradoxes, the centenary indigenous villages co-lead the Ariane rockets regularly launched from the Guyana Space Centre, one of the bases of French and European aerospace.
With an area of 83,846 km2 for a population of only 259,865 inhabitants (2015), Guyana is the second least populated area of France after Mayotte. To visit Guyana, it is to rub shoulders with a breathtaking nature, a cosmopolitan culture especially in Cayenne, the capital, and a rich history marked by colonization and the famous bags of which some prisoners entered the legend. So what do you do in Guyana? Here are the 10 things to do in Guyana.
1. The Guyane Zoo
Photo credit: Flickr – gillyan9
As an introduction to the incredible endemic fauna of Guyane, who says better than a visit to the Guyane Zoo? This zoological park is home to nearly 450 animals including jaguars, lazy lazys, agoutis, crocodiles, screaming monkeys, ants and many birds, such as toucans and aras.
The zoo is home to a tropical greenhouse of 1,000 m2 with a landscaped path that allows visitors of all ages to discover almost the iconic species of Guyana, such as the Red Ibis, as well as a myriad of amazing and sometimes rare species. The zoo also offers thematic areas such as the Cayman ponds, the island of the atees, the antle of the feline... One of the best things to do in Guyana.
2. The islands of Hiking
Photo credit: Flickr – Nicolas GARNIER
Located fourteen kilometers off Kourou, the islands of Salvation form an archipelago consisting of three islands of volcanic origin. Only the Royal and St. Joseph islands are accessible, the island of the Devil, the most north, being strictly prohibited from access, especially because of the strong currents.
It was here that, in the past, more than 2,000 convicted prisoners were imprisoned in terrible and humiliating conditions of detention. Closed in the middle of the 20th century, the bags are now open to visitors. Royal Island, the largest of the three islands and the former administrative headquarters of the colony, is the most frequented.
Explore the restored penitentiary buildings or walk on an island covered with plants and populated with arabes, monkeys and agoutis. To get to the islands of Salvation, you have to board a catamaran on the fishermen’s dock at the end of General De Gaulle Avenue. The journey takes about 90 minutes.
3. Cayenne
Photo credit: Flickr – rustinpc
Located on the Atlantic coast of Guyana, Cayenne is the most populous of French Guiana. Despite poorly maintained historical buildings, Cayenne deserves the detour. The city is overlooked by several mountains, and the tips along the shore offer pretty views.
If you are going to visit French Guiana for its beaches, it is not in Cayenne that you have to go, since they are invaded by the mangrove.
4. Guyaese Space Center
Photo credit: Flickr – Alexander Stirn
Unable to visit Guyana without a tour at the Guyana Space Centre, one of the flagship attractions of this overseas territory. The Centre organizes about twelve rocket launches a year, offering tourists the opportunity to reserve their place to live for an unforgettable time: the launch of an Ariane rocket!
Also discover the Museum of Space, retracing the epic of Man in Space, the conquest of the moon and European space programmes. The opportunity to make a real journey in space and time through 7 thematic modules, including the Universe, manned flights, satellites and the future.
5. Natural reserves of the Treasury and Kaw
Photo credit: Flickr – Bernard DUPONT
Located on the south-west side of Kaw Mountain, and extending over a relatively limited area of 2,500 hectares, the Treasure Regional Natural Reserve provides an environment with a breathtaking biodiversity. The particular topographical and geographic location of the reserve promotes a rich ecosystem of animal and plant species, a large part of which are endemic. Much wider in comparison, but less easy access than the Treasure, the nearby Kaw Roura marsh reserve extends over a territory of more than 90,000 hectares.
Only accessible by river, it is mainly made up of marshs sheltering mangrove ecosystems, flooding savanna and wet tropical forest. Visitable with pirogues or floating carbets, the reserve is home to an exceptional fauna of rare species such as black Cayman, the same family as the American Alligator, as well as a rich diversity of birds including the splendid red ibis.
6. A boat ride
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Erik Klietsch
Navigation is one of the best means of transport to discover the beauties of Guyana. And it is not necessarily a matter of sailing on the ocean, but of sailing to the discovery of the sumptuous Amazonian forest. The rivers are the main roads of the territory.
It would be a shame not to rent a boat in Guyana , and thus fail to discover this magnificent setting!
Find a boat for rent in Guyana
7. The beach of Hattes
Photo credit: Flickr – Bernard DUPONT
Located in Awala-Yalimapo, on the edges of the northwest of French Guiana, the Hattes beach is known to be the most important giant lute turtles in the world. During the high season, from April to July, hundreds of lute turtles follow on the beach to lay their eggs that hatch between July and September.
Long five kilometers, this beach is also an important bridge site for green turtles and occasionally olive-treated turtles and turtles. The beach offers a relaxing setting, tables to restore and you can even hang your hammock between two palm trees. One of the most pleasant beaches to see in Guyana.
8. The Carnival of Guyane
Photo credit: Wikimedia - Grimreaper9
One of the major events that punctuate Guyana’s life, the Carnival of Guyane takes place in Cayenne between the Epiphany around the end of January and Wednesday of the Cendres in February or March. It also takes place in Kourou and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, but Cayenne remains the best place to celebrate the carnival.
As a result of the Creole culture of Guyana, the carnival originates in the practices of the settlers of a carnival in the European that was forbidden to slaves. However, it was practiced clandestinely by the latter who saw a way to regain some freedom and to turn settlers into derision.
Today, the metropolitan, Brazilian and Chinese communities take part in it, offering spectators a superb show of costumes as burlesque and colorful. One of the essential things to see in Guyana if you have the opportunity to visit Guyana during this period.
9. The bagne de Saint-Laurent-Du-Maroni
Photo credit: Flickr – Jean-Marie
Located in the border town of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, the Transportation camp was once a bag to temporarily take care of prisoners upon their arrival in Guyana, before they were transferred to prison colonies throughout the territory.
In his time, the bagna was home to famous former detainees such as Alfred Dreyfus and Henri Charrière, known as “Papillon”. If the lush nature seems to soothe the place today, the hints of its dark and brutal history continue to haunt the site. Self-guided tours are free of charge, and you can rent the French-speaking guidebooks with more detailed visits. Search for the name of Papillon engraved in one of the cells.
10. The beaches of Remire-Montjoly
Photo credit: Flickr – Antoine Hubert
If you are tempted by a sunbath on a sandy beach, look no further than the beaches of Remire-Montjoly. Sprinkled with coconut trees and lined with a lush nature, these beaches offer a wild and pleasant setting to relax on the sand.
Certainly, lemony waters are not ideal for swimming, but are sufficient to refresh after a hike around, for example on the beautiful Trail of Rorota. You can even, if you are lucky, see sea turtles during the deck season.
How to go to French Guiana?
Guyane is located on the American continent. During your stay in French Guiana, you will land at Félix Éboué (CAY), the only airport in the territory. You can go to Guyana with a flight Paris – Cayenne with Air Caribbean . The flights depart from Paris Orly (ORY), and Air France also offers flights to French Guiana. Daily connections exist. You can quite start from Bordeaux, Lyon or Marseille, with a stopover in Paris Orly before flying to the beaches of French Guiana.
When do you leave in French Guiana? The best time to leave in French Guiana is that of the dry season, between August and November.
Where to stay in French Guiana?
Staying in French Guiana will not be as simple as when you book accommodation for Rome or Paris. There is no example of youth hostels or even camping. The ideal is to stay in guest carbets, which corresponds to a traditional habitat (palm-leaf roof, wooden frame with natural fiber...) located in the middle of nature. They are found in the forest (usually on the riverside and accessible only by the river), in an Amerindian village, in the savanna or on the beach. They are usually individuals who manage the host carbets.
Accommodation rentals are also available at the home, via Airbnb, generally in large cities such as Cayenne, Kourou, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni and all coastal cities. Classic hotels also exist in these destinations.
Main photo credit: Flickr – Alexander Stirn
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