French Guiana Travel Guide

Full Name

Department of Guiana

Former Name

None

Capital City

N/A

Government Type

overseas department of France

Area Size

83,534 sq km

Time Zone

UTC/GMT -3 hours

Climate

Tropical. Dry season is August to December; rainy season is December and January and April to July. Hot all year round, with cooler nights. Average temperature is 27°C.

Geography

French Guiana is situated on the northeast coast of South America and is bordered by Brazil to the south and the east and by Surinam to the west. The southern Serra Tumucumaque Mountains are part of the eastern frontier, whilst the rest is formed by the River Oyapock. Surinam is to the west along the rivers Maroni-Itani and to the north is the Atlantic coastline. Along the coast runs a belt of flat marshy land behind which the land rises to higher slopes and plains or savannah. The interior is comprised of equatorial jungle. Off the rugged coast lie the Iles du Salut and Devil’s Island. Cayenne, the capital and chief port, is on the island of the same name at the mouth of the Cayenne River.

Languages

French

Culture

A majority of the population has African ancestry and the culture is a rich mixture of African, French and Caribbean traditions. The country has one of the highest standards of living in South America and tourism is quite expensive. The currency is the euro.

History

First settled by the French in 1604, French Guiana was the site of notorious penal settlements until 1951. The European Space Agency launches its communication satellites from Kourou.

Travel Information

The national airline is Air Guyane (GG) 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. Cayenne (CAY) (Rochambeau) is 15km southwest of the city. Taxis are available to the city or hotel (journey time – 25 minutes). Facilities: Air conditioning, bars, banks/bureaux de change,a newsagents and car hire.Main ports: Cayenne, Kourou and St Laurent du Maroni. 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.A road runs along the coast from Guyana through Surinam to French Guiana. There is an all-weather road connecting Cayenne with St Laurent, but it may be impassable in the rainy season. It is possible to drive from Cayenne to Paramaribo (Surinam), but it is safer to leave the car at St Laurent and take public transport (minibus) to Paramaribo. The Cayenne district is served by a good road system.

Accommodation

Since French Guiana was chosen as a site for the European Space Agency, a number of well-appointed air-conditioned hotels have been built. International chains are found mainly along the coast. Prices are the highest on the continent. Cayenne, Kourou, Sinnamary and St Laurent du Maroni all offer excellent accommodation. Most have a ranking with a level of service up to three stars.

Visa Requirements

Visas are not required by all nationals of the EU, Australia, Canada and USA for stays of up to three months except in the following cases: nationals of Canada, the USA and some EU countries do not usually require a visa, but under some circumstances, such as if they are to receive a salary even if their trip is a short stay, they may need a visa. Such circumstances are decided individually. US nationals need a visa if they are crew members, or journalists on assignments, or students enrolled at schools and universities in any of the French Overseas Departments. Nationals of the EU do not need a long-stay visa (trips exceeding three months). Nationals not referred to above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements. Passport valid for at least three months beyond applicant's last day of stay required by all nationals referred to above except the following:nationals of EU who are holders of national identity cards.

Getting Around

Air Guyane serves the interior of the country from Cayenne, including Maripasoula, St Georges de l’Oyapock and Saül et Régina. Helicopters are available from Héli Inter Guyane and Héli Union Guyane at Cayenne airport. There are numerous coastal and river transport services. Contact local authorities for information. Traffic drives on the right. There is a road along the coast from Cayenne to Kourou and beyond. The city of Cayenne and its suburbs have a regular network of regular buses run by SMTC, there is a daily service from Cayenne to St Laurent du Maroni. Faster minibuses follow the same route. Bus services also operate along the coast. There are no bus services on Sundays. Taxis are available in Cayenne. Pick-up is from the Laussat Canal and the airport. Car rental is available at the airport or in Cayenne, Kourou and St Laurent from international and local firms.

Health & Safety

Travellers are adviced to take special precautions for Hepatitis A, Tetanus,Typhoid and yellow fever. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age coming from all countries, except for transit passengers remaining in the airport. Depending on season they may need precautions for Diphtheria, Malaria and Rabies. Hepatitis B and D are highly endemic. American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) occurs. There is a slight risk of rabies if in contact with wild animals. Mains water is normally heavily chlorinated and, whilst relatively safe, may cause mild abdominal upsets. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of the stay. Drinking water outside main cities and towns is likely to be contaminated and sterilisation is considered essential. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat. There are medical facilities in Cayenne, Kourou and St Laurent du Maroni but very few elsewhere. Medical insurance is advisable. Most visits to French Guiana are trouble-free but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate international terrorist attacks.

National Holidays

1 Jan - New Year’s Day. 20 Feb - Mardi Gras. 21 Feb - Ash Wednesday. 15 Mar - Mi Carême (mid Lent). 9 Apr - Easter Monday. 1 May - Labour Day. 8 May - VE Day. 17 May - Ascension. 28 May - Whit Monday. 10 Jun - Abolition of Slavery. 14 Jul - Bastille Day. 15 Aug - Assumption. 15 Oct - Cayenne Festival. 1 Nov - All Saints' Day. 2 Nov - All Souls' Day. 11 Nov - Remembrance Day. 25 Dec - Christmas Day.

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Electricity

220/127v AC, 50Hz.

Working Hours

Office hours are Mon-Fri 7.30pm - 12.30pm, 3.00pm - 6.00pm. Hours are shorter on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Emergency Numbers

112/15(Ambulance) 112/18(Fire) 112/17(Police)