Home >  Travel Guides >  Central and South America >  French Guiana > The Essentials

French Guiana Country & Tourist Information

 
  • Overview
  • Tours
  • Where to Go
  • Activities
  • Country Info
  • History
  • Weather
  • Travel Tips
  • Food & Dining
  • Shopping
  • Visa & Health
  • Hotels
  •  
    Selected Travel Guide:     Adjust Font Size:
    WTG Travel Guide   +-
    Printable Destination Summary

    iExplore Travel Experts can help you build the perfect itinerary to this destination.
    Contact us to start
    building your tour!
    Name:
    Email:
    Travel Inquiry Details:
       Sign up for our newsletter!
    or call our experts at:
    1-800-iExplore

    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


    Next Page »

       The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
  • Overview
  • Where to Go
  • Activities
  • Country Information
  • History
  • Weather
  • Travel Tips
  • Food
  • Shopping
  • Visa & Health
  • Hotels
  • Related French Guiana Content

       The iExplore Community offers travel guides to thousands of destinations, first-hand travel reviews and vacation pictures from everyday travelers like you.
    All Of French Guiana

    French Guiana Community:

    PlanetWare.com Guides:






    Why iExplore? About Us Advertise Site Map Privacy Policy Travel Agents Contact Us