Attractions in 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.

Oyapock River Bridge

An international cable-stayed bridge over the Oyapock River, connecting Saint-Georges in French Guiana to Oiapoque in Brazil.

Dreyfus Tower

An old signal tower in Kourou, once used to communicate with the nearby Devil's Island during the penal colony era.

Stade Georges-Chaumet

The largest multi-purpose stadium in Cayenne, regularly used for major football matches and athletics events.

Victor Schœlcher Statue

A significant monument to Victor Schœlcher, who played a crucial role in abolishing slavery in the French colonies.

Prefecture of French Guiana

The official seat of the prefect and an outstanding example of French colonial administration in the Caribbean and South America.

Petit-Saut Dam

A massive hydroelectric dam on the Sinnamary River that supplies a significant portion of electricity for French Guiana.

Saint Anthony of Padua Church

A charming wooden church in the middle of the Amazon rainforest in the remote community of Saül, an ecotourism hub.

Saint-Jean-du-Maroni Camp

The abandoned remains of the relegation camp, which formerly housed repeat offenders from the French justice system.

Saint-Joseph Church of Iracoubo

A colorful and elaborately decorated wooden church in Iracoubo, painted entirely on the inside by a former convict.

Cayenne Lighthouse

A historic lighthouse at Fort Cépérou that served as another vital landmark for coastal shipping.

Cayenne Central Market

The bustling central market of Cayenne, housed in an iconic steel structure and famous for its local spices.

Saint-Sauveur Cathedral

The main church of Cayenne, built in colonial style, is a notable historical monument in the center of the capital.

Félix Éboué House

The historical birthplace of famous politician Félix Éboué, which today is a small museum about Guiana's history.

Cacao Bridge

A distinctive bridge that provides access to the community of Cacao, where many Hmong refugees found a new home.

Nature

Monkey Mountain

Monkey Mountain near Kourou offers hiking trails and a great view of the space center.

Sommet Tabulaire

The Sommet Tabulaire is a prominent tabletop mountain in central French Guiana.

Pic Coudreau

A 711-meter-high mountain peak, named after explorer Henri Coudreau.

Mont Galbao

A mountain formation about 700 meters high with a unique ecosystem.

Monts d'Arawa

A mountain formation in the west-central part of the overseas department.

Trinité Mountains

An isolated mountain massif in the center of the French Guiana rainforest.

Sommet Émeric

A remote elevation in the deep forest of French Guiana.

river

Maroni River

The Maroni is the longest river in French Guiana, forming the border with Suriname.

More highlights

Regina Vanilla Plantation

A sustainable plantation near Regina that cultivates natural vanilla deep in the forest, one of the region's most valuable crops.

kid-landmark

Matoury Educational Farm

A farm designed specifically for schoolchildren in Matoury, where they can learn about livestock and vegetable gardening.

Toucan Rum Distillery

A local agricultural business in Saint-Laurent that grows sugarcane and traditionally processes it into quality rum.

Macouria Bee Farm

A tropical apiary producing unique rainforest honey and teaching children about the importance of pollination.

Chapelle de l'Île Royale

A small restored chapel on Île Royale used by the prison administration and sometimes prisoners.

Camp de la Transportation

The main penal colony facility where prisoners arrived in French Guiana before being distributed.

Vestiges de Guisanbourg

The abandoned remains of a 19th-century agricultural town that once thrived on sugar cane.

animal-habitat

Îlet la Mère Monkey Island

A small offshore island known for its free-roaming squirrel monkeys that often greet visitors.

Sinnamary Zebu Farm

An expansive cattle farm in the savannas of Sinnamary specializing in heat-resistant Zebu cattle.

Gisement archéologique de l'Inini

An inland archaeological site revealing artifacts from pre-Columbian indigenous populations.

Île Saint-Joseph

The southernmost island of the group, known as the 'silent island' where solitary confinement was enforced.

Îles du Salut

A group of small islands known for their infamous penal colonies, including Devil's Island.

Camp Crique Anguille

A penal camp located in Tonnegrande, known for its harsh working conditions in the jungle.

Poudrière de Cayenne

A 19th-century gunpowder magazine used by the French military to store explosives.

Église de Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni

A prominent church in the border city, built in the early 20th century by convicts.

Place des Palmistes

The main square in Cayenne, surrounded by historic colonial buildings and towering palm trees.

Fort Diamant

A 19th-century coastal battery built to protect the entrance to the Mahury River.

Île du Diable

Famous penal colony island where political prisoners like Alfred Dreyfus were held.

relief

Inini Chain

A mountainous zone in the heart of French Guiana, historically significant for gold miners.

Bagne des Annamites

Ruins of a former penal colony built specifically to hold Indochinese prisoners.

Cimetière des Relégués

A somber cemetery in Saint-Jean-du-Maroni where many exiled prisoners were buried.

Ancienne Mairie de Cayenne

The old city hall of Cayenne, showcasing classical colonial administration architecture.

Bagne de Saint-Jean-du-Maroni

Also known as Camp de la Relégation, it was a penal colony for repeat offenders.

Monument aux Morts de Cayenne

A memorial monument dedicated to the soldiers from French Guiana who fell in the World Wars.

Roches Gravées de la Carapa

An archaeological site featuring ancient pre-Columbian petroglyphs carved into rocks.

Phare de l'Enfant Perdu

A historic lighthouse located on a small rocky islet off the coast of Macouria.

relief

Montagne d'Argent

A historic and prominent elevation near the coast that was once populated.