Tour Overview
| Duration | 8 Days / 7 Nights |
|---|---|
| Country | French Guiana — Into the Heart of the Amazon |
| Price From | $2,795 per person (twin share) |
| Tour Style | Deep Amazon / Space & Penal History |
| Data Source | Travel The Guianas / SouthAmerica.travel — 2026 |
Itinerary Framework
Days 1-2: Cayenne & Kourou — Space & Salvation
Cayenne orientation: Place des Palmistes, market, museum. Day 2: Guiana Space Centre tour (Ariane 5, Ariane 6, Jupiter Control Centre, Vega pad). Iles du Salut visit — Île Royale and Devil’s Island (view from boat). Overnight in Cayenne (1nt) + Kourou (1nt).
Days 3-4: Maroni River — Into the Deep Amazon
Fly or drive to Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, the gateway to the Maroni River. Board a pirogue for a 2-day river expedition into the territory of the Maroon communities — descendants of escaped African slaves who established independent societies in the rainforest. Visit villages along the river, learn about Maroon culture (tembe wood carving, traditional music, and the fascinating history of resistance), and explore primary rainforest. Swim in jungle creeks and sleep in a riverside carbet (traditional open shelter with hammocks). The biodiversity here is staggering: howler monkeys announcing dawn, toucans flying overhead, morpho butterflies flashing metallic blue, and if you’re very lucky, jaguar tracks on the riverbank. Overnight in riverside carbet (2 nights).
Days 5-6: Saint-Laurent & The Maroon Communities
Return to Saint-Laurent-du-Marron. Visit the Transportation Camp, where convicts arriving from France were processed before being dispatched to the islands or mainland camps. The camp’s restored buildings convey the brutality of the bagne system. Afternoon: visit a Bushinengue (Maroon) village for a tembe wood carving workshop. Day 6: more Amazon exploration — hike to the Voltaire Falls, a series of cascades in pristine rainforest, perfect for swimming. Overnight in Saint-Laurent (2 nights).
Day 7: Return to Cayenne — Cacao & Hmong Heritage
Drive back to Cayenne via the RN1, stopping at Iracoubo to see the remarkable painted church created by a convict in the 1890s. Continue to Cacao village to meet the Hmong community. Farewell dinner in Cayenne. Overnight in Cayenne.
Day 8: Departure
Transfer to airport.
Inclusions
- 7 nights (Cayenne 2nts + Kourou 1nt + riverside carbet 2nts + Saint-Laurent 2nts)
- Daily breakfast + 4 dinners (including jungle camp meals)
- Guiana Space Centre guided tour
- Iles du Salut catamaran excursion
- 2-day Maroni River pirogue expedition (guide, cook, hammocks)
- Transportation Camp entry
- Cacao village visit
- All transfers + river transport
- English-French bilingual guide throughout
