A slow tourism experience in French Guiana as a couple

When you arrive in Cayenne, drop off your luggage and treat yourselves to two nights of utter bliss at the hotel Ker Alberte, a typical Creole-style house dating from 1912.

To really get the full experience of the local flavours you can find here, head to Cayenne market. Wander around the market stalls overflowing with delicious, exotic fruit, local juices (local cherries, june plums, passion fruit), and exotic spices. Then, go and explore the town centre and admire the architecture of the Creole houses. Cayenne is brimming with buildings that boast a certain traditional charm. To end the day on a romantic note, head to the Old Port to watch the sunset.

Back at the hotel, grab a table at the K Restaurant and enjoy the dishes made using fresh produce from the market.

After a great night’s sleep, put on your walking boots and embark on an adventure along the Lamirande trails through Mont Grand Matoury Nature Reserve. Along these trails, you’ll be able to appreciate the biodiversity of Guiana’s forest, while respecting the wildlife. 

For lunch, head to Ara Bleu to taste some typical dishes of Guiana, and discover the unique flavours that can be found here. 

In the afternoon, explore Montjoly along the Salines trail which will lead you from a sandy beach into the Amazon mangrove. Or you could opt for a more peaceful stroll around a botanical garden that was created in 1879, formerly known as the Jardin du Roi (king’s garden), where you can wander around and admire twenty or so tree species.

Back to the hotel Ker Alberte for your second night. How about a refreshing dip in the tropical swimming pool with your other half?

After an early start, your exploration of French Guiana continues in Kourou. We recommend dropping your bags off directly at the hotel La Marina so you can make the most of the day.

La Cocoteraie beach nearby is a great place with a wide range of water sports on offer. Close to the beach, at the Pointe des Roches, which also happens to be the mouth of the river Kourou, you’ll see the Tour Dreyfus, a tower that bears witness to French Guiana’s penitential past.

A stone’s throw away from the tower, take a seat at the restaurant L'Aigrette Bleue and enjoy some hearty Creole cuisine. 

In the afternoon, go for a 3.9 km walk in the forest of the Montagne des Singes, 15 kilometres away from Kourou. If you’re lucky and it’s the right time of year, you could watch a rocket launch from Mount Carapa.

For the evening, make sure you book a table at the hotel for a romantic evening by the river.

Early in the morning, board a sailing boat to the Salvation Islands, a group of islands that were once part of a penal colony.

Get off the boat on Royale island and choose one of the marked trails to explore the island. Take the time to observe the local wildlife and you’ll catch a glimpse of monkeys, agoutis and sea turtles. There’s a museum on the island where you can learn about what life was like for prisoners. 

For lunch, go to the Auberge des Îles. After lunch, get back on the boat and sail to the island of Saint Joseph to see the famous prison cell from the novel, Papillon.

Head back to Kourou for a romantic evening meal at the hotel La Marina.

Another day, another adventure with your loved one! Hop aboard a traditional pirogue dugout canoe for a trip through the Amazon forest on the river Kourou. Enjoy a unique 48-hour experience at the Canopée Camp.

This place is devoted to eco-tourism and guests are offered the opportunity to explore the different layers of the forest, from the intermediate levels right up to the treetops. Enjoy activities such as canoeing/kayaking, swimming, admiring the canopy up until the sun goes down, and more extreme adventures such as the zip wire and abseiling. On top of that, you can expect a hearty meal and a memorable overnight stay near the tops of the huge trees. Unforgettable!

The pirogue dugout canoe will take you back to Kourou so you can then take to the road towards the village of Awala-Yalimapo, the birthplace of the Native American culture.

In Awala-Yalimapo, learn about the history of the village, traditional craftsmanship, and explore the wildlife of the surrounding area on a guided tour. 

Go for lunch at Yalimalé, a traditional karbay where you can enjoy a local speciality dish, kasilipo. 

Stay here for the night, and in the evening venture over to Hattes beach to watch sea turtles nesting, or even, depending on the season, watch their eggs hatch. 

Make your way to the Auberge des Chutes Voltaire for lunch and then set off on a walk up to a series of small waterfalls that flow into the river Maroni. You can go for a refreshing dip here and have some fun sliding down the natural slides. In the evening, a guide will take you on a walk to explore the natural environment. You can then choose to sleep either in a bed or a hammock at the inn.

You’ll need to get an early start to head to Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni. This multi-cultural town is a border town on the river opposite Suriname. It boasts a booming economy and is well-known for its historic prison.

Explore the prison and find out about the history of the prisoners who were sent here. 

There is plenty to do in this town to really embrace the Surinamese Maroon culture and learn about these descendants of enslaved Africans. 

For lunch, we recommend the traditional awara dish, served non-stop at la Goélette. 

Then board a traditional pirogue dugout canoe and sail along the longest river in French Guiana, the river Maroni. Accompanied by a guide, they will tell you all about the history of this river and show you the exceptional biodiversity around you. 

You’ll moor at the Native American village of Terre Rouge, on the banks of St. Jean cove, for an overnight stay at Kali’na Tapala. They serve Native American specialities such as the delicious “Jamais Goûter” fish, and cassava pancakes and you can choose to sleep in one of the rooms or a hammock.

It’s time to head to France’s third biggest nature reserve, the Kaw Swamp, an area of wetlands that boasts exceptional biodiversity.

When you arrive, make your way to the village of Kaw and climb aboard a pirogue to the Caïman Ecolodge, a lodge floating on the water where you'll be spending the night. After your evening meal, observe the nocturnal inhabitants of the swamp, including caimans, capybara, anacondas and howler monkeys. 

The next day, go on a guided excursion through the swamp and a walk along the Crique Wapou river, with breakfast and lunch included.

You’ll need half a day to leave Kaw Swamp Nature Reserve. 

For lunch, treat yourselves to a meal at Chez Modestine opposite the river Oyapock, on the border of Brazil and French Guiana.

Then, come to NiakRafting near the Saut Maripa, one of the most beautiful rivers in French Guiana. Thrillseekers will have the opportunity to go rafting or hiking and swimming. In the evening, relax and unwind in your hammock at the traditional karbay shack.

Early in the morning, set off for Roura. Drop off your bags at one of the ecolodges at Rour’Attitude, which is a stunning place on the banks of the river Oyack.

Spend the rest of the day walking around Roura or having some fun with a paddleboard, available to hire from Rour’Attitude. 

For your evening meal, head to the restaurant Le Ranch, where you can choose from the selection of unique dishes such as zebu burgers or acoupa ceviche.

Après une bonne nuit de sommeil, direction Cacao, village qui accueille  la communauté Hmong depuis la fin des années 70. Cette population originaire du Laos a importé sa culture et sa gastronomie et vous permet de retrouver les saveurs d’asie au cœur de l’amazonie. Commencez une visite du marché qui se compose en deux parties: Les fruits et légumes et l’artisanat (broderies, spécialités locales…) 

Pour le déjeuner, rendez-vous au restaurant de la BelleVue, offrant d'excellents plats traditionnels asiatiques avec une vue panoramique à couper le souffle. 

Coup de cœur pour le musée de l'association Le Planeur Bleu, exposant des collections impressionnantes d'insectes et d'architecture ethnologique guyanaise. 

Pour la nuit, retour à Roura dans l'écolodge Rour’Attitude.

Enjoy a lie in with your other half in Roura, then head back to Cayenne.

To end your stay in French Guiana on a high note, go for a kitesurfing lesson at Bourda bay. Whether it’s your first time or not, you'll enjoy this sport in a heavenly setting. 

After all that exercise, make your way to the Spot Rooftop and treat yourselves to some local dishes as you admire the sunset on the ocean.

For your last night, stay at the Hotel des Palmistes, a Creole-style building that is listed as a Historic Monument. A spectacular finale to this memorable adventure in French Guiana.

Further reading: 

6 façons de s’immerger dans la biodiversité en Guyane

Que faire en Guyane – Amazonie ?