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Île du Diable

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Historical site
—°9
Île du Diable (French Guiana)

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Île du Diable (Devil's Island) is the smallest and most famous of the three Salvation Islands, though it remains strictly off-limits to visitors today. Due to the treacherous currents surrounding the 14-hectare island, it served as the handy location for the incarceration of high-profile political prisoners, from whom escape was deemed virtually impossible. Its most renowned inmate was the French officer Alfred Dreyfus, who was kept in total isolation here under extreme conditions from 1895 to 1899. The island achieved global fame through the novel Papillon, in which Henri Charrière claimed to have escaped its rocky shores using a bag filled with coconuts as a buoy. Despite these literary myths, life on the island was characterized by stifling heat, malnutrition, and absolute loneliness, which drove many inmates to the brink of insanity. Today, the island is under the protection of the CNES and serves as a wildlife sanctuary.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Sep–Nov.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °C272727272727272728282727
Rain mm20117416126037027217088435188201

📋 Practical info

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Visiting
Île du Diable is part of the Salvation Islands and can only be visited as part of a guided boat tour. Access to the island is often regulated for safety reasons; the prison ruins are usually accessible.
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Typical hours
Boat tours to the islands do not have a fixed schedule; they usually depart in the morning and take a full day. Book your tour in advance with a local provider in Cayenne or Kourou.
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Photography
Photography on the island is generally allowed, but drone use is prohibited. Be careful not to step on fragile ruins while looking for photo subjects.
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Time needed
A full-day trip to the Salvation Islands, including Île du Diable, usually takes six to eight hours. The actual visiting time on Île du Diable is about one hour.
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Combine with
Definitely combine the visit to Île du Diable with the other two Salvation Islands, Île Royale and Île Saint-Joseph. Most boat tours include all three islands in one route.
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Getting there
Île du Diable is only accessible by boat. Most tours depart from Kourou or Cayenne; the crossing takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
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Insider tip
Bring plenty of water, sunscreen and insect repellent as there are no facilities on the island. Wear sturdy footwear as the paths are partly uneven and rocky.

Geography

Coordinates
5.28800, -52.57800

Facts

  • Smallest island of the group at 14 hectares.
  • Incarceration site of Alfred Dreyfus (1895–1899).
  • Restricted access due to dangerous maritime currents.
  • Setting of the famous semi-fictional novel Papillon.
  • Used primarily for high-profile political prisoners.
  • Now protected as a nature sanctuary by CNES.

Explore nearby

Notable places around

Chapelle de l'Île RoyaleChapelle de l'Île Royale<1 km · SExplore →
Dreyfus TowerDreyfus Tower10 km · SWExplore →
Roches Gravées de la CarapaRoches Gravées de la Carapa11 km · SWExplore →
Guiana Space CentreGuiana Space Centre12 km · SExplore →
Kourou Biomass Power PlantKourou Biomass Power Plant13 km · SWExplore →
Pariacabo PortPariacabo Port13 km · SWExplore →
Vega Launch Pad (ELV)Vega Launch Pad (ELV)18 km · SExplore →
Air Liquide Plant KourouAir Liquide Plant Kourou20 km · SExplore →

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

Vehicle
Only stops with (optional):

© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService

Sights in the town Île du Diable (9)

Gravures des peuples originaires

Rock carvings by indigenous peoples on the island, evidence of early habitation.

Four à chaux du bagne

Ruins of a lime kiln from the penal colony era, used for lime production.

atelier et forge

Ruins of the workshop and forge of the former penal colony on the island.

Vue sur l'île Royale et l'île du Diable

Viewpoint on the island, overlooking neighboring Île Royale and the coastline.

ancienne porcherie

Ruins of a former pigsty from the penal colony on the island.

Musée du bagne🏛 museum

Museum about the history of the penal colony on the island, displaying artifacts and documents.

Chapelle de l'île Royale

Chapel on Île Royale in French Guiana, served convicts and guards.

Phare de l'île Royale

Lighthouse on Île Royale in French Guiana, marking the coast for shipping.

Jetée des Morts

Monument on the island, commemorating the dead of the penal colony buried here.

Sights nearby

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit Devil's Island?
No, landing on the island is strictly forbidden due to dangerous currents.
Who was the most famous prisoner there?
Alfred Dreyfus spent several years in exile there.
How can you see the island?
You have a very good view of it from the neighboring Île Royale.
What was the function of the island?
It was reserved for political prisoners living under the strictest conditions.
Why is it called Devil's Island?
The name comes from the strong currents that made navigation extremely dangerous there.
Île du Diable: where is it located?
Île du Diable is located in French Guiana.
Île du Diable: what is there to see?
Highlights include Gravures des peuples originaires, Four à chaux du bagne, atelier et forge.
Île du Diable: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Sep, Nov.
Île du Diable: why is it worth visiting?
Île du Diable (Devil's Island) is the smallest and most famous of the three Salvation Islands, though it remains strictly off-limits to visitors today.
View on map → The Top 50 Attractions → OpenStreetMap →
South America
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Nearby cities

Cayenne — Île du Diable (French Guiana)
Cayenne
In Cayenne, the largest administrative center and capital of the region, known for its vibrant Creole culture and historic colonial archi…
Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni — Île du Diable (French Guiana)
Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni
A historic town along the Maroni River, known for its former penal colony and vibrant, multicultural atmosphere.
Awala-Yalimapo — Île du Diable (French Guiana)
Awala-Yalimapo
An indigenous coastal community, world-famous as a nesting site for the massive leatherback sea turtles.

History & landmarks

Dreyfus Tower — Île du Diable (French Guiana)
Dreyfus Tower
An old signal tower in Kourou, once used to communicate with the nearby Devil's Island during the penal colony era.
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Guiana Space Centre
The Guiana Space Centre is the main European spaceport located in Kourou, chosen for its proximity to the equator.
L&#39;Enfant Perdu Lighthouse — Île du Diable (French Guiana)
L'Enfant Perdu Lighthouse
A solitary lighthouse on a small rocky island off the coast, guiding mariners as they approach Cayenne.
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Jean Martial Hospital
An imposing former colonial hospital building in Cayenne, known for its classical Creole architecture.
Cayenne Lighthouse — Île du Diable (French Guiana)
Cayenne Lighthouse
A historic lighthouse at Fort Cépérou that served as another vital landmark for coastal shipping.
Alexandre-Franconie Museum — Île du Diable (French Guiana)
Alexandre-Franconie Museum
The main museum in Cayenne showcasing the history, culture, and natural history of French Guiana within a traditional Creole house.
Thérèse and Léon Blum House — Île du Diable (French Guiana)
Thérèse and Léon Blum House
A historic building in Cayenne connected with important figures of French history.
Cayenne Central Market — Île du Diable (French Guiana)
Cayenne Central Market
The bustling central market of Cayenne, housed in an iconic steel structure and famous for its local spices.

More places

Chapelle de l&#39;Île Royale — Île du Diable (French Guiana)
Chapelle de l'Île Royale
A small restored chapel on Île Royale used by the prison administration and sometimes prisoners.
Île Royale — Île du Diable (French Guiana)
Île Royale
The largest of the Salvation's Islands, serving as the administrative headquarters for the penal colony.
Hôpital de l&#39;Île Royale — Île du Diable (French Guiana)
Hôpital de l'Île Royale
The ruins of the hospital built to serve the penal colony staff and inmates on Île Royale.
Îles du Salut — Île du Diable (French Guiana)
Îles du Salut
A group of small islands known for their infamous penal colonies, including Devil's Island.
Île Saint-Joseph — Île du Diable (French Guiana)
Île Saint-Joseph
The southernmost island of the group, known as the 'silent island' where solitary confinement was enforced.
Roches Gravées de la Carapa — Île du Diable (French Guiana)
Roches Gravées de la Carapa
An archaeological site featuring ancient pre-Columbian petroglyphs carved into rocks.
Pariacabo Industrial Zone — Île du Diable (French Guiana)
Pariacabo Industrial Zone
An important industrial zone in Kourou, housing many suppliers of the nearby space center.
Kourou Biomass Power Plant — Île du Diable (French Guiana)
Kourou Biomass Power Plant
A facility generating electricity from wood waste and biomass, contributing to energy independence and the transition to green energy in …