 French Guiana : Profile
French Guiana (Guyane) is an overseas department of France, sandwiched between Brazil and Suriname. The atmosphere in the country is more Caribbean, akin to Martinique and Guadeloupe than to the rest of Latin America. The coast itself has few ports or anchorages worth exploring, but the offlying Iles du Salut (location of the infamous penal colony of Devils Island) are a popular stop for sailors. These islands should only be visited after having cleared into the country. The best anchorage is on Ile St Joseph, although there are no completely protected anchorages. Also interesting to visit is the Ariane Space Centre at Kourou, west of Cayenne, although an appointment has to be made in advance. River trips, usually by canoe, are another attraction of this small country, which is only visited by a small number of cruising yachts, mainly French. The Oyapok River, which borders Brazil, is navigable far into the interior rain forest. At the other end of the country, bordering Suriname, is the Moroni River, and is also occasionally visited by yachts Provisioning is good, but expensive in Cayenne. There is only a limited range of repair facilities. Good provisioning is available in Kourou, where emergency repairs may be possible if the help of technicians from the French space centre can be enlisted.
The rainy season is from November to July, while August to December are the best months. Rainfall can be heavy in this tropical climate where temperatures average 80°F (27°C).
As well as the two main ports of entry listed below, there are also customs offices at Kourou and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni.
Cayenne
*
, Degrad des Cannes
*
, Kourou
*
, River Marony
*Indicates a port of entry.
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