According to pharmacylib, French Guiana (French: Guyane) is an overseas department of France, located in South America. French Guiana borders Suriname and Brazil. The capital of French Guiana is Cayenne. A number of major cities in French Guiana are: Matoury, Kourou and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni.
French Guiana is not touristy. There is poor infrastructure and few facilities. According to payhelpcenter, the country is known for its nature. Much of the country is covered with rainforest. In the south of the country you can still find part of the Amazon rainforest. The coastline of French Guiana consists largely of mangrove forests. The country’s economy largely revolves around exports (including rum, shrimps and timber) and agriculture. French Guiana is also known for the launch site “Centre Spatial Guyanais” of the ESA (European space project) and for the nearby “Île du Diable” (Devil’s Island). This island served as a place of exile for criminals from 1852 to 1946. Traces of this can still be found on the island.
Where is French Guiana located?
Travel information of French Guiana
Official name: Guyana
Continent: South America
Area: 90,000 km²
Capital: Cayenne
Country code: GF, GUF
Population: 296,711 inhabitants (2019)
Form of government: French overseas department
Highest point: 851 m (Bellevue de l’Inini)
Distance (Amsterdam – Cayenne): 7,400 km
Flight time: approximately 10 hours and 30 minutes
Travel advice
Current status: Attention, safety risks.
Current color code: Yellow.
Corona
Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), there may be (temporary) measures in French Guiana that you as a tourist may have to deal with. For the most up-to-date corona travel advice, please refer to our special coronavirus travel advice page. For the number of current corona infections, number of deaths and various corona-related graphs of French Guiana, please visit Countryaah.
Travel offer
On our travel offer page you will find an overview of reliable travel organizations that offer complete trips and holidays to French Guiana. In addition, you will find an overview of separate travel components (car rental, hotels and airline tickets) with which you can compose your ideal trip yourself.
Travel guides and maps
Are you looking for a travel guide, map, walking map, cycling map, book or DVD about French Guiana?
Weather and climate
French Guiana has a tropical climate.
Temperatures are around 25 to 30 degrees all year round.
The current weather (weather forecast) and a weather forecast for French Guiana can be found on our extensive weather page.
Detailed information about the climate of French Guiana can be found at Climate info.
Best time
February, March, September and October are the best months to travel to French Guiana. This avoids the often rainy and humid seasons.
Language
French is the official language in French Guiana. In addition, Creole-French and indigenous languages are spoken by various tribes.
Would you like to translate from or into French for free? Use the Google translator for this.
Travel documents
You must have a valid identity card or passport.
A visa is not necessary if you stay in French Guiana for less than 3 months.
Embassies and consulates
Below is an overview of relevant diplomatic representations, including addresses and contact details.
Netherlands Embassy in Suriname (also for French Guiana):
netherlandsworldwide.nl.
Dutch consulate in French Guiana:
netherlandsworldwide.nl.
French Embassy in the Netherlands (also for French Guiana): ambafrance-nl.org.
For urgent assistance, you can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 24/7 on +31247247247.
Vaccination (inoculation)
Before visiting French Guiana, it is mandatory to get vaccinated against yellow fever.
In addition, there are one or more vaccinations that are recommended.
For extensive vaccination advice and to make a vaccination appointment at home, please visit Thuisvaccinatie.nl. You can also see here whether your health insurance reimburses the vaccination(s).
Malaria Malaria
occurs in French Guiana (with the exception of Cayenne and Devil’s Island). Malaria is an infectious disease transmitted by malaria mosquitoes. This infectious disease can lead to death if not treated in time and/or incorrectly.
For prevention and control of malaria, please visit our malaria page.
Money and Currency
In French Guiana, payment is made with the euro (EUR).
An overview of all ATMs in French Guiana can be found on our ATMs page.
Time difference
During our summer time it is 5 hours earlier in French Guiana.
During our winter time it is 4 hours earlier in French Guiana.
French Guiana has no difference in winter time and summer time.
Find the local time, date and time zone for French Guiana on our time difference page.
Traffic and route
In French Guiana you have to drive on the right.
You do not need an international driver’s license to drive and/or rent a motor vehicle in French Guiana.
With the Google route planner you can compile a route description from, to or within French Guiana.
Electricity
In French Guiana you in some cases need a plug adapter.
More information about common plugs and sockets in French Guiana can be found on our electricity page.
Emergency services
If you need help from the police, fire brigade and/or ambulance in an emergency, you can use the emergency numbers below.
– Police: 112 or 17
– Fire: 112 or 18
– Ambulance: 112 or 15
Tap water
It is not recommended to drink water from the tap.
If you are unable to buy bottled water, use a water purifier to purify the water or boil the water for 5 minutes. After this you can safely use it as drinking water and for things like brushing teeth, cleaning lenses and washing vegetables and / or fruit. More information about drinking water and/or the purchase of water purification products can be found on our drinking water page.
News and newspapers
The latest news related to French Guiana can be found on Google news.
An overview of the newspapers from French Guiana can be found on Abyznewslinks.
Internet
Websites from French Guiana end in.gf.
Official website of French Guiana: france.fr.
Telephony
The country code (international access code) to call someone in French Guiana is 00594 or +594.
Do you want to call the Netherlands from French Guiana? Then use the Dutch country code 0031 or +31.
(If using a country code, omit the leading 0 of the number to be called.)
Telephone numbers can be found in the French Guiana Telephone Directory .
Company details can be found in the Yellow Pages of French Guiana.
Photos and videos
On Flickr you will find a nice collection of photos from French Guiana.
On Youtube you will find a nice collection of videos from French Guiana.
Holidays
An overview of all public holidays in French Guiana can be found on Beleven.org.
Reviews and travel experiences
On Zoover and TripAdvisor you will find reviews from travelers about accommodations (eg hotels and holiday homes), restaurants and destinations in French Guiana, supplemented with photos, videos and places of interest.
Travelogues
Are you looking for a travelogue about French Guiana?
Here you will find travel reports and experiences of travelers who have previously visited French Guiana. It is also possible to keep a free diary of your trip for family and/or friends.
Nature and world heritage
An overview of the protected nature areas (including national parks, reserves and wildlife parks) in French Guiana can be found on Protected Planet.
French Guiana is not on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Customs rules
Do you want to know how much you are allowed to import and export when traveling to French Guiana? On the IATA website you will find an overview of the maximum quantities of cigarettes, alcohol, medicines and money, among other things. If you stick to these quantities, you don’t have to declare anything to customs. You will also find the laws and regulations regarding the entry of pets on this website.
Relevant legislation
Below you will find relevant legislation and regulations that you may encounter during your visit to French Guiana.
– Alcohol: Buying and/or drinking from the age of 18.
– Alcohol and traffic: The maximum permitted alcohol content is 0.5.
– Tobacco: Buy from the age of 18, smoking at all ages.
– Smoking ban: In public places.
– Homosexuality: Allowed
Did you know that…
…French Guiana is the largest area of the European Union outside Europe?
…There is a space center in French Guiana?
… About 100,000 tourists come to French Guiana every year?
…French Guiana is the only country in mainland America with the euro?
