[Author: Laura Kor]
With 92% of French Guiana covered by forest, its main attraction is its incredible diversity of fauna and flora. We loved our time surrounded by tropical forest on the Kaw Mountain. However, in-between light trapping sessions, beetle behaviour studies, and tracking titans, we also tried to explore other Guyanan attractions! Tourist information is hard to find, so here’s a round-up of what we visited. Remember that public transport is sparse, so if you’re looking to go beyond Cayenne, the best option is car hire, especially as taxi prices are high.
Kaw Mountain and Marsh – our expedition was based in Amazone lodge on the Kaw Mountain. This is part of a protected area in the Réserve Naturelle Nationale de Kaw-Roura. The lodge is just off Route D6, 1.5h drive from Cayenne, with nearby points of interest being a lek site for the Guianan cock-of-the-rock bird and the Patawa Waterfall. Route D6 ends at the River Kaw, from where you can take boat trips to see Kaw village and the marshes, including spotting caiman (arrange in advance).
Kourou Space Centre – this French and European spaceport, about 1h drive from Cayenne, is probably the most well-known attraction in Guiana and accounts for 16% of its GDP. If you’re planning a visit, email them in advance to book a tour - a free 3h visit where you are driven around the huge Centre to see their launch-pads and control rooms. There is also a museum on site (€7 entry).
French Guiana Zoo – located between Cayenne and the Space Station. Our visit was a bit rushed, but we loved it! Particular highlights were their two jaguars (one of which is a rare black jaguar) and a patch of forest in the northern end of the zoo with tree-top walkways.
Cayenne Market – in the centre of town and open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays until about 3pm. Lots of fresh fruit and veg and the best place to get souvenirs in Cayenne. There are also a few food stalls for lunch.
Creolle Food – we struggled to find Creole food, with most restaurants in Cayenne being oriental or French. However, we finally hit on a gem with La Montjolyienne. Lunch is self-service and paid by weight – great if you want to try a range of dishes.
Beaches – if you’re visiting French Guiana, don’t expect bright blue oceans and golden beaches. While Cayenne is on the coast, it is fed by rivers which run through the Amazon, so the sea has a brown hue. There is a nice long beach at Montjoly, good for a run or stroll, but in the town centre, the small beaches are unfortunately litter-strewn. Despite this, we still spotted shawls of fish and a little shark from the coast!
Cayenne Botanical Gardens – we visited this on our first day in Guyane; a nice garden with free entry and worth a visit if you’re nearby. There is also a larger Jardin Botanique outside Cayenne, but we didn’t have the chance to visit.
If you're planning a trip to French Guiana and have any questions, let us know in the comments!