French Guiana

Probably South America's least trumpeted land, Guyane is an integral part of France, best known for launching Euro space missions. But it also offers some amazing eco/adventure, history (Devil's Island, anyone?), and cultures from Creole to indigenous tribal to - believe it or not - Cambodian.

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French Guiana is an undersung historical, cultural, and eco-gem – with a side of space

Didwin972 Did you know that there’s a little bit of France in South America? Most people don’t – except perhaps the occasional aerospace geeks following rocket launches by the European Space Agency. They take place is Guyane, a tropical-forested territory in the Amazon, on the north coast just east of Suriname and bordered on the west and south by Brazil. With around 300,000 inhabitants in an area around the size of South Carolina and slightly larger than England and Wales combined, French…

French Guiana's top tourism draws

As you might expect, the notorious Devil's Island penal colony tops the list, but this video also shows 26 others in one of the world's least visited territories. Check it out!

Comments

José Balido April 2, 2026 at 12:28pm

It looks like tourism here is making some amount of progress. According to this, arrivals last year numbered more than 167,000, up from 142,000 in 2024: https://richeskarayib.com/french-guiana-167035-tourists-by-2025/

French Guiana: 167,036 tourists by 2025, growth that will reposition the territory
Ed Wetschler April 1, 2026 at 5:17pm

Some interesting insights from French Guiana´s tourism minister at the last Seatrade in Florida, which I attended https://en.travel2latam.com/news-96603-french-guiana-as-the-gateway...

French Guiana as the gateway to Europe in South America

Interview with Jean-Luc Le West, Vice President of Economic Development and Tourism for the Territorial Authority of French Guiana, as part of Seatra…
Jorge Carlos Tejada Sobrino March 27, 2026 at 10:04am

It´s not often that French Guiana makes the news, but several months ago the Guardian ran this eye-opening piece https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2025/dec/04/europe...

Rockets, gold and the Foreign Legion: can Europe defend its frontier in the Amazon? | Alexander Hur…

It borders Brazil, but French Guiana is now a remote outpost of the EU. It is home to Europe’s only spaceport, some of the most biodiverse forest on…
David Paul Appell December 27, 2025 at 8:39am

Yum! It seems Guiane has some tasty morsels in store for you: https://caribbeanfocustravel.com/the-unique-flavors-of-french-guiana/

The Unique Flavors of French Guiana: A Culinary Exploration - Caribbean Focus Travel

Discover the unique flavors of French Guiana: a culinary exploration blending Creole, French, and Amazonian traditions.
Maria de los Angeles December 26, 2025 at 9:51am

A look at travel safety/security in the country https://travellikeaboss.org/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-french-guiana/

Is It Safe to Travel to French Guiana? Essential Safety Tips for a Worry-Free Adventure

Wondering if it's safe to travel to French Guiana? This comprehensive guide explores essential safety tips, health precautions, and local customs for…
Dave Acton December 5, 2024 at 12:26pm

Here´s a good overview from the British travel site WanderlustMagazinr.com: https://www.wanderlustmagazine.com/inspiration/things-to-do-french-...
Riccardo R September 6, 2023 at 5:56pm

When visiting Guyane, you´ll start and finish in the capital Cayenne, and the website Tripsavvy.com has the lowdown on what to see/do there: https://www.tripsavvy.com/cayenne-capital-of-french-guiana-1637052
Jordan Simon August 23, 2023 at 1:32pm

Wow, would you believe a Hmong Laoatian cultural experience in French Guiana? Check it out: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g734477-d447520-r725513...
Helen Brown February 4, 2023 at 11:27am

International Carnival season is upon us again! And here the website BestCarnivals.org takes a look at the exuberant one in French Guiana's capital Cayenne: https://bestcarnivals.org/south-america/cayenne-carnival-french-gui...
Max Pesling March 21, 2022 at 8:44am

Last summer, the Quebec-based, English-language website TheTravel.com published a pretty good encapsulation of what French Guiana has to offer and what it's like to visit there - highly recommendable: https://www.thetravel.com/can-you-visit-guiana-rainforests/