French Guiana is located in Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname.

Land in French Guiana is low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains.

French Guianese land covers an area of 91000 square kilometers which is slightly smaller than Indiana

As for the French Guianese climate; tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation.

First settled by the French in 1604, French Guiana was the site of notorious penal settlements until 1951. The European Space Agency launches its communication satellites from Kourou.

French Guiana Country Profile

The economy is tied closely to the much larger French economy through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou (which accounts for 25% of GDP), fishing and forestry are the most important economic activities. Forest and woodland cover 90% of the country. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry that provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation of crops is limited to the coastal area, where the population is largely concentrated; rice and manioc are the major crops. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly among younger workers.

French Guianese natural resources include bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), petroleum, kaolin, fish, niobium, tantalum, clay

mostly an unsettled wilderness; the only non-independent portion of the South American continent

French Guianese religion is Roman Catholic.

Natural hazards in French Guiana include high frequency of heavy showers and severe thunderstorms; flooding.

Travel Advice on French Guiana

French Guiana

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Health section. The overall level of the advice has not changed.

SUMMARY

French Guiana is a French Overseas Territory. There is no formal British diplomatic or consular representation. The General section of this travel advice gives you more information.
The threat from terrorism is low. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
Although the risk from crime is also low, it does exist and you should take normal common-sense precautions.
You must produce a Yellow Fever certificate on arrival.
Around 50 British nationals visit French Guiana each year. Most visits are trouble-free. We are not aware of any British nationals who have required consular assistance in the last year.
The rainy season in French Guiana, during which tropical storms may occur, takes place between December and July.
We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling to French Guiana. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. Please see: Travel Insurance.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

NATURAL DISASTERS

The rainy season in French Guiana, during which tropical storms may occur, takes place between December and July.

GENERAL

If things go wrong when overseas, please see: What We Can Do To Help.

There is no resident British Diplomatic Mission in French Guiana. Routine consular matters are covered by the British Embassy in Paris.

In case of emergency, contact the Honorary British Consul in French Guiana, 16 avenue President Monnerville, BP 211 97324 Cayenne; (tel: +594 311034; fax +594 304094).

French Guiana

French Guiana Country Profile

Travel Advice on French Guiana

French Guiana