Travel in French Guiana – Hotels, French Guiana Vacations, Lodging, Trips, Attractions and Travel Guide



A Fascinating Vacation In French Guiana

Vacation and Travel to French Guiana
St Joseph island has been a penal colony in French Guiana.

The overseas department of French Guiana is located off of the coast of South America. The country is one of the 26 regions of France and its currency is the euro. French Guiana is one of two main geographical regions; coastal area and a rainforest. Though French Guiana does share a cultural affinity with the Caribbean, it is not actually part of that geographical region.

The jungles of French Guiana are pristine and very dense, which makes it a good idea for a tourist to take a local guide along on the excursion. The Emerald Jungle Village is located in the Cayenne region is a great location for eco-tourism. The structure is built upon the grounds of an abandoned French Foreign Legion post and is run by the director of the Suriname Zoo. There are private cottages and villas available for guests who wish to stay on the grounds during their vacation. The building also has a library and botanical gardens, the staff also has bike and moped rentals to assist visitors who would like to tour the trails surrounding the establishment.

There are many sights and activities for visitors to take advantage of when visiting French Guiana. The Camp de la Transportation is the place where prisoners used to be taken on the island. The location is available for touring only with the assistance of a guide and will take visitors to see small cells, leg shackles and dorm-style restroom facilities. The death chamber and execution areas have been restored just enough to retain an essence of eeriness. Convicts would arrive by the boatload in groups of 500-600 in size after taking 20 days to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Visiting the camp will leave tourists with a complete understanding of how justice in French Guiana was administered back in the 1900's.

The town of Saul is only accessible via air transport from Cayenne. This town is a popular haven for having been the center of the gold mining and now offers tourists a chance to explore and witness some of the vast species of wildlife that thrive in French Guiana. The area is now a popular location for being an untamed paradise and haven for exploration by professional biologists.

In the village of Kourou is the Centre Spatial Guyanais, in 1964 this structure was built as the French space center. The site was chosen because of its convenient location near the equator and large ocean frontage, it is away from hurricane and earthquake zones and low population. The launch site is the only one in the world this close to the equator and the earth spins more quickly at this location. This provides the site with a “slingshot” effect, which makes space craft propulsion about 17% faster than anywhere else on earth. Since the 1980's a vast majority of the worlds commercial satellites have been launched from French Guiana. There is a free three-hour tour available for tourists who will take allow them to view the actual launch pad.

Besides staying on the grounds in the Emerald Jungle Village, French Guiana also offers many other types of locations suitable for travelers. The Best Western Hotel Amazonia in Cayenne, is located conveniently downtown in the heart of the business district. It is a short distance to shopping, restaurants, nightclubs and museums. The hotel has a restaurant, bar and large apartment complex all on its grounds. French Guiana has a wonderful equatorial climate that experiences two seasons; dry and rainy. Although French Guiana is the largest region in the territory of France, because it has a small population density the landscape remains pristine and unspoiled. Tourists who visit the islands are surprised by the remarkable warmth and unpretentious nature of the islands; people are always welcomed in the most inviting fashion which is typical of the hospitality extended by the inhabitants.

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