French Guiana Country & Tourist Information

Location
South America, northeast coast.

Area
83,534 sq km (32,253 sq miles).

Population
178,000 (2005 estimate).

Population Density
2.1 per sq km.

Capital
Cayenne.
Population: 50,594 (1999).

Government
French Guiana is an Overseas Department of France and, as such, is an integral part of the French Republic.

Language
The official language is French, though most of the population speak a Creole patois. English is also widely spoken.

Religion
Roman Catholic majority, although there are other Christian churches.

Time
GMT - 3.

Electricity
220/127 volts AC, 50Hz.

Head of State
President Jacques Chirac since 1995, represented locally by Prefect Ange Mancini since 2002.

Telephone
Country code: 594.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone operators. Coverage is limited to main towns. Handsets can be hired locally.

Internet
There are Internet cafes in Cayenne, Kourou, Saint Laurent. Libraries also provide access.

Media



Post
Postal services are reliable in Cayenne (where the central post office is located on route Baduel); post takes around seven days to reach western Europe.

Post office hours: (In Cayenne) Mon-Fri 0700-1800.

Press
• The daily newspapers include France-Guyane and La Presse de Guyane.
• There are no English-language newspapers.

Radio
• Radio Guyane is operated by Réseau France Outre-mer.
• Radio Caraïbes International is a commercial station.

Below are listed Public holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period:

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
20 Feb* Mardi Gras.
21 Feb Ash Wednesday.
15 Mar* Mi Carême (mid Lent).
9 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day.
8 May VE Day.
17 May Ascension.
28 May Whit Monday.
10 Jun Abolition of Slavery.
14 Jul Bastille Day.
15 Aug Assumption.
15 Oct* Cayenne Festival.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
2 Nov* All Souls’ Day.
11 Nov Remembrance Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day. 
TBC* Mardi Gras. 
6 Feb Ash Wednesday. 
28 Feb* Mi Carême (mid Lent). 
24 Mar Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day.
8 May VE Day.
1 May Ascension. 
12 May Whit Monday.
10 Jun Abolition of Slavery.
14 Jul Bastille Day.
15 Aug Assumption. 
TBC* Cayenne Festival.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
2 Nov* All Souls’ Day.
11 Nov Remembrance Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Note
* Regional.

Contact Information:

Diplomatic Representation
French Guiana is an Overseas Department of the Republic of France, and is represented abroad by French Embassies – see France section.

Comité du Tourisme de la Guyane (Guiana Tourism Committee) in French Guiana
Street address: 12 rue Lallouette, 97338 Cayenne Cédex, French Guiana Postal address: BP 801, Cayenne, French Guiana
Tel: (594) 296 500.
Website: www.tourisme-guyane.com

French Consulate General in the UK
21 Cromwell Road, London SW7 2EN, UK
Tel: (020) 7073 1200 (consular section) or 09065 508 940 (visa information service; calls cost £1 per minute) or 540 700 (automated appointment booking) or (020) 7073 1295 (visa applications in progress; Mon-Thurs 1500-1700 only) or 09065 266 654 (24-hour visa application form request service; calls cost £1.50 per minute) or (020) 7073 1248 (Long stay visa section).
Visa section: 6A Cromwell Place, London SW7 2EW, UK
Opening hours: Mon-Wed 0845-1500, Thurs-Fri 0845-1200 (general enquiries); Mon-Fri 0845-1130 (visa applications).
Website: www.consulfrance-londres.org

Comité du Tourisme de la Guyane (Guiana Tourism Committee)
1 rue Clapeyron, 75008 Paris, France
Tel: (33) (1) 4294 1516.
Website: www.tourisme-guyane.com


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