Cayenne, French Guiana

Cayenne is the capital of French Guiana. French Guiana is a French department in the Amazonia region of South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname.

Visitors to French Guiana can experience Amazonia, its animals, plants, and rivers-including the Maroni, Oyapock, Mana, and Approuague-and the people who live there (Amerindians and Maroons), and enjoy hiking, boat trips, and other adventure activities.

Cayenne's museums and its market are worth a visit. The Guiana Space Centre in Kourou (watch an Ariane rocket launch), and the remains of the prisons on Îles du Salut and in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni are also popular tourist attractions.

Things to see and do

• Cayenne
• Guiana Space Centre - Kourou
• Devil's Island penal settlement ruins
• Museums & markets
• Visit the Amerindian villages in Haut-Maroni and Haut-Oyapoc

General Information

Cruise Season

Jan - Dec

Currency

Euro (€)

Language

French

Land Area

24 square kilometers

Population

65,000 approx

Electricity

2 perpendicular flat pins USA style

Time

GMT minus 3 hours

International Country Telephone Code

+55

Port Location - The main ports in French Guiana are Cayenne, Kourou and St Laurent du Maroni.

Transport Links - The Cayenne-Rochambeu airport, located in Cayenne offers services from France and most south American countries. The national airline is Air Guyane but it only offers internal services. Air France operates flights to Cayenne from Paris. Other airlines serving the country include Air Canada and Surinam Airways.

French Guiana is also accessible boat. There are ferries across the Maroni River from St Laurent du Moroni to Albina (Surinam), from where there is a road to Paramaribo. Services also operate from St Georges to Oiapoque (Brazil) across the Oyapock River.