region
Cayenne and surroundings
Sleep in Cayenne, do Rémire-Montjoly beach as a half day, and go on to Kourou or Saint-Laurent as separate stays; the Kaw marshes are a full-day boat trip with an operator.
Rules in force · 3
- French Guiana ↗French Guiana is part of France and the EU but not the Schengen area: a Schengen visa may not be valid here. Check French government entry rules for overseas departments for your passport.
- French Guiana ↗A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for entry for most travellers; check the current rule and get vaccinated at least 10 days before travel.
- French Guiana ↗Around launches from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, access to some areas (including the Îles du Salut) is restricted; check launch dates before planning.
The Cayenne area is one base and a few trips: the town, the beaches of Rémire-Montjoly, and the Kaw marshes. Cars and taxis are needed for anything beyond the centre, and the heat makes a midday break part of every day. Keep the Cayenne room and go light on the trips.
Where to sleep
The capital: market, Place des Palmistes, Fort Cépérou and the old port. The airport is 16 km away in Matoury.
Beaches and a coastal trail about 10 km from the centre.
Boat trip with an operator; a full day with a road and river leg.
Night sequences
- 3 nights
- Cayenne 3 with a Rémire-Montjoly beach half day
- 5 nights
- Cayenne 3 + Kourou 2 by rental car
- Cayenne, Kourou and Saint-Laurent in three days is mostly time on the coast road.
- Without a car, the coast beyond Cayenne is hard to reach: rent one or book an operator.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rémire-Montjoly | Cayenne | 25 min | unknown | Taxi or car; buses are infrequent. |
| Kaw marshes | Cayenne | 120 min | unknown | Book an operator; the boat leg depends on tides and rain. |
Bags between cities
No luggage-forwarding culture: leave the big bag at the Cayenne hotel and take a day pack.