Kaw-Roura Marshes National Park

Back near the coast, the Réserve Naturelle des Marais de Kaw-Roura is one of French Guiana’s richest ecosystems, a stark contrast to the dense interior rainforest and reachable by road in 2 to 2½ hours southeast of Caynne (including a final stretch over a narrow, winding route that crosses forested hills before descending toward the marshes).

In an area of 366 square miles (about the size of New York City), rivers, flooded savannas, mangroves, savannas, and tropical rainforests create an ideal habitat for wildlife, accessible only by boat. The area is especially known for its population of black caimans, manatees, and giant otters (jaguars have even been spotted), as well as more than 500 species of birds such as herons, ibises, and kingfishers.

Plus right next door there´s a ¨pocket park,¨ you might say, called Trésor, which packs ecosystems including mountain and marsh forests as well as savanna, along with more than 100 species of mammals and 1,100 of plants, into just over 25km², accessible via a 1.75km hiking trail

Tourism infrastructure is minimal. There are no large hotels or visitor centers, and most visits are arranged through guided excursions, typically by boat along the waterways. These trips often take place in the late afternoon or evening, when wildlife is most active and the atmosphere becomes especially evocative.

While it´s possible to visit as a long day trip from Cayenne, many travelers choose to overnight in the small, quiet village of Kaw on the edge of the marsh, in simple lodges and guesthouses with basic rooms and home-cooked meals. Staying overnight allows for early-morning and night excursions, when the wetlands feel most alive.

The experience here is less about structured sightseeing and more about immersion—gliding through still waters, listening to the sounds of birds and insects, and encountering wildlife in one of the most pristine coastal environments in South America.

Jo Carletti

French Guiana

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