French Guiana sits on the north-eastern shoulder of South America, between Brazil and Suriname. It is a French department and an outermost region of the European Union, which explains almost everything about getting there: you land at a French airport and pay in euros, yet you are a short drive from the Amazon rainforest and two international land borders.
Here is the practical side of arriving: who flies to Cayenne and from where, how to reach Cayenne and Rémire-Montjoly from the terminal, what the land crossings involve, the entry rule that catches people out — French Guiana is not in the Schengen area — and where to sleep on your first night.
Flying in: who flies, and from where
Nearly every visitor arrives at Cayenne Félix-Éboué airport (CAY), in the commune of Matoury, between Cayenne and Rémire-Montjoly. It is the department’s only international airport.
From Europe the route is simple. Air France and Air Caraïbes both operate non-stop services between Paris and Cayenne, Air Caraïbes flying from Paris-Orly. It is a single long-haul transatlantic leg. From elsewhere in Europe the usual shape of the journey is a short hop to Paris, then the ocean crossing.
Within the region, Cayenne connects to the French Antilles and northern Brazil: Air Caraïbes serves Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe), Air France serves Fort-de-France (Martinique), Belém and Fortaleza. Services to Paramaribo and to North American hubs such as Miami have come and gone over the years, so check with the airlines rather than assuming a route still exists. Small regional carriers fly from the same airport to Maripasoula, Grand-Santi, Saül and Camopi, in the roadless interior. Frequencies and fares change constantly, so we quote none here.
From the terminal to Cayenne and Rémire-Montjoly
Félix-Éboué is compact and the formalities are French. Once outside, you have three options.
- Taxi. A syndicate of drivers is based at the airport, and this is what most arriving visitors use.
- Car hire. Close to essential if you plan to see Kourou, Roura, the Kaw marshes or Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni. Book before you fly.
- Bus. A local line serves the airport. Workable if you travel light and in daylight, less so after a night flight.
Rémire-Montjoly is the closest built-up commune, roughly 15 minutes from the airport, with Cayenne a little further on. That short transfer is the strongest argument for spending your first night on the Rémire-Montjoly side.
Crossing by land from Brazil
The Brazilian border follows the Oyapock river. Since March 2017 it has been spanned by the Franco-Brazilian Binational Bridge, linking Oiapoque in Amapá state with Saint-Georges-de-l’Oyapock. The bridge is toll-free.
Two things trip people up. The French checkpoint keeps fixed weekday hours and closes at weekends and on Brazilian public holidays. And Brazilian formalities are handled at federal offices in Oiapoque town, not at the bridge — you must be stamped on both sides. From Saint-Georges the RN2 runs on towards Cayenne. Confirm opening hours locally before fixing a crossing day.
Crossing by land from Suriname
There is no bridge over the Maroni. The crossing between Albina in Suriname and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni is made by boat, with pirogues and small shuttles running the short river passage in daylight.
Get the stamps in the right order: clear Surinamese immigration in Albina before boarding, then present yourself to the French border police on the riverbank at Saint-Laurent; in the other direction, take your French exit stamp first. Services thin out in the evening and the river may close after dark, so cross well before nightfall. Saint-Laurent is about 250 km from Cayenne, roughly three hours by road.
Entry and visa basics: the non-Schengen trap
This is worth reading twice. French Guiana is a French department and an outermost region of the EU, but it is not part of the Schengen area. The French Ministry of the Interior is explicit: Schengen rules apply only to the European territory of France, a Schengen visa does not permit entry to the overseas departments, and an overseas visa does not permit entry to Schengen. Non-EU nationals who need a visa generally require a specific short-stay visa for the French overseas departments, applied for separately.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens travel with a valid passport or national identity card, and several other nationalities are exempt. We will not tell you which case applies to you: entitlements differ by nationality, purpose and length of stay, and the rules change. Check your own situation on the official French visa portal, france-visas.gouv.fr, and with your nearest French embassy or consulate. The overseas rules are set out by the Direction générale des étrangers en France and on service-public.gouv.fr.
One health rule applies to everyone: the Agence Régionale de Santé de Guyane states that yellow fever vaccination is compulsory in French Guiana for residents and tourists over one year of age, under the French Public Health Code. See a travel clinic well ahead of departure.
Requirements change. Always confirm current entry, visa and health rules with the official French authorities before travelling.
Route comparison
| Route | How it works | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Paris to Cayenne | Non-stop with Air France or Air Caraïbes | Simplest option from Europe; connect via Paris from other cities |
| Guadeloupe or Martinique | Air Caraïbes from Pointe-à-Pitre, Air France from Fort-de-France | Useful for combining Caribbean and Amazonian travel |
| Belém or Fortaleza | Air France regional services to northern Brazil | Limited frequency; check live schedules |
| Brazil overland | Oyapock bridge, Oiapoque to Saint-Georges, then RN2 | Fixed weekday checkpoint hours; Brazilian formalities in Oiapoque town |
| Suriname overland | Boat across the Maroni, Albina to Saint-Laurent | Daylight only; stamps on both banks; about 3 h from Cayenne by road |
What to sort before you leave
- Passport and visa. Check the overseas-department rules, not the Schengen ones, and allow time for a consulate appointment.
- Yellow fever certificate. Compulsory, and not something you can arrange on arrival.
- Insurance. Confirm your cover names French Guiana, not simply « France ».
- Car hire. Reserve early; the local fleet is finite.
- Your first night. Book close to the airport — a 15-minute transfer beats an hour of navigation after a long flight.
Where to stay on your first night
If you land late or arrive with children, choose Rémire-Montjoly: it is the commune nearest Félix-Éboué, it has the beaches, and it is around 15 minutes from the terminal.
Kaz’Alizés is a renovated air-conditioned apartment for two in a quiet residence with a pool, the beach 100 m away, linen provided, and both Cayenne and the airport about 15 minutes off. Book on Airbnb or Booking.
The Studio Jacuzzi Privatif, also in Rémire-Montjoly, is an air-conditioned studio for two with a private outdoor jacuzzi, free parking and self check-in by key box — which matters when you land outside normal hours. Book it on Airbnb.
For a sea view on the first morning, Kaz Mboa looks out over the water in Rémire-Montjoly, on Airbnb or Booking.
Prefer to wake up in town? L’écrin tropical is a modernised creole house in central Cayenne for up to six, walking distance from the Place des Palmistes, the covered market, Fort Cépérou and Saint-Sauveur cathedral — on Airbnb or Booking. At Montabo, Cocon Montabo is a compact studio for two near the beach, on Booking. The whole selection is on our properties page, and our English guide to where to stay in French Guiana compares the neighbourhoods.
Frequently asked questions
Is my Schengen visa valid for French Guiana?
No. French Guiana sits outside the Schengen area, and the French authorities state that a Schengen visa does not permit entry to the overseas departments. A separate short-stay overseas visa may be required depending on your nationality — check france-visas.gouv.fr and your nearest French consulate.
Which airport should I fly into?
Cayenne Félix-Éboué (CAY), in Matoury — the department’s only international airport, between Cayenne and Rémire-Montjoly.
Can I drive in from Brazil or Suriname?
From Brazil, yes: the Oyapock bridge carries passenger vehicles between Oiapoque and Saint-Georges, within the checkpoint’s opening hours. From Suriname there is no bridge — you cross the Maroni by boat, in daylight, then continue by road.
Do I need a car?
For a short stay in Cayenne and Rémire-Montjoly, taxis will do. For Roura, the Kaw marshes, Kourou or Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, a car is the practical choice.
Plan your arrival with us
Amazon Conciergerie manages holiday rentals in Cayenne, Rémire-Montjoly and Roura, with direct booking and no commission, verified properties, a personal welcome and a video walk-through before you commit. We speak French, English, Spanish and Portuguese, and we answer quickly on WhatsApp — useful when a flight slips.
Tell us your landing time and we will match you with somewhere close to the airport. Message us on WhatsApp, email contact@amazon-conciergerie-guyane.com, or use our contact page. Ready to fix dates? Go to our booking page. Moving rather than visiting? Our relocation service and wider range of services are built for that.