French Guiana holidays
French Guiana holidays at a glance
Our French Guiana holidays take you to an overseas department of France on the northeast coast of South America, sitting between Suriname and Brazil yet feeling like neither. It’s a place where Creole, Amerindian, Maroon and metropolitan French cultures meet, the euro is the currency and a baguette is never far away. Over 90% of the territory is dense, largely untouched rainforest, crossed by rivers that serve as the main routes inland.
French Guiana is best known for the penal colony immortalised in the film Papillon. The abandoned prisons on the Îles du Salut are now monuments, and you can still walk the cells on Île Royale where prisoners once served their time. Nearby at Kourou, the Guiana Space Centre launches Europe’s rockets into orbit just kilometres from the jungle, its equatorial position giving them an extra push from the earth’s spin.
Away from the coast, the interior is all rainforest and water. The Kaw wetlands are among the most reachable wildlife areas, home to black caiman, herons and, with luck, giant river otters. The Maroni River forms the border with Suriname and carries you to Amerindian and Maroon communities upstream. This isn’t a place you explore alone, as infrastructure is thin and travel slow, but that’s part of the appeal, and why we suggest visiting as part of a guided tour of the three Guianas.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to French Guiana
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
If you can, stay a night on Îles du Salut. Do the Kaw marshes after dark. Picking out caiman by torchlight is one of those things you won’t forget.
When to visit French Guiana
French Guiana is hot and humid all year, averaging around 27°C, so the main thing to plan around is the rain. Even in the wet season, downpours tend to be short and intense, with clear spells in between.
With a tropical climate downpours can occur at any time throughout the year but these months tend to be wetter. With high temperatures and humidity it can feel very hot and oppressive. January through February is carnival season with plenty of festivities, parades and parties. March usually has a short dry season and then from April to June there is heavy rain and suffocating humidity.
By August temperatures are climbing and September and October are the hottest and driest months of the year. If you don’t mind the heat then this is the best time to visit French Guiana.
Top Things to do in French Guiana
French Guiana’s appeal is its remoteness and the unusual mix of history, nature and culture packed into a small coastal strip. Here’s what we recommend.
Visit a notorious penal colony spread over a trio of tropical islands, most famous as the setting for the novel and film, ‘Papillon’.
Accommodation in French Guiana
We hand-pick every property for character, location and quality. Accommodation here is limited but full of character. In Cayenne we book small hotels in the centre, within walking distance of the market and waterfront. In Kourou, properties are modern and functional, reflecting the town’s ties to the space centre. On the Îles du Salut, Île Royale has a simple but atmospheric auberge where you can stay after the day visitors have left, and the islands at night are an experience in themselves.
Hotel Atlantis is a cheery modern hotel with good facilities well positioned for viists to the Kourou Space Centre and former penal colonies.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Holidays to French Guiana
From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Escorted Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays to French Guiana.
Group French Guiana Tours
Our group tours follow expertly designed, well-planned routes with an experienced local guide throughout. Prefer to keep it to your own party? Book the same trips privately for four or more.
Coq of the Rock: Trailblazing the Guianas
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro
16 days from £5,917
Makonaima: Discover the Three Guianas
Places visited: Georgetown and Kaieteur Falls
13 days from £7,359
Tailor-Made French Guiana Tours
Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.
Discovering The Hidden Guianas
Places visited: Georgetown and Kaieteur Falls · The Interior
15 days from £8,140
FAQs about visiting French Guiana
French Guiana is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- When is the best time to visit French Guiana?
Temperatures are tropical and consistent, averaging 27°C throughout the year, although it can be cooler at night in the highlands than on the coast. The rainy season is Nov-Jul with substantial rainfall beginning in May.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- What's the official language of French Guiana?
The official language of French Guiana is French.
- What is the official currency in French Guiana?
The official currency in French Guiana is Euro. Rates are better if you buy the currency in the UK but € notes can be withdrawn from ATMs in Cayenne using a UK credit or debit card. Some banks will offer advances on credit cards, which are widely accepted. ATMs outside Cayenne are intermittently out of action.
- Do I need a visa for French Guiana?
Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate.
If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application. - What vaccinations do I need for French Guiana?
Please check Travel Health Pro for information on health recommendations and vaccinations for the destinations you are visiting. Please note that many Latin American countries require proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever if you have recently travelled to another country where Yellow Fever is present.
- What is the time difference between French Guiana and the UK?
The time difference between the UK and French Guiana is GMT-4 hours.
- What places combine well with French Guiana?
A visit to the two other Guianas, which sit west of Guyane alongthe coast: Suriname, colonised by the Dutch; and Guyana, the former British Guiana. It’s not easy to do independently: we recommend you join our annual small group guided tour, named Coq of the Rock.
- What are the festivals and cultural events in French Guiana?
Carnival, Cayenne, Feb/Mar. This is very animated and involves Caribbean-influenced parades and parties. Each day has its own theme and costumes are elaborate. Originally a creole festival, it now welcomes participants from Brazil and Haiti.
Abolition of Slavery Day, Guyane, 10 Jun.
National holidays are the same as in France.
Ready to start planning?
Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll take it from there. No obligation, no sales pitch – just a conversation with someone who knows the region inside out.