Travelling

Visa and passport

As a rule, unless you are exempt, visitors are required to have a visa to enter in French Guiana. It must be applied for from the relevant French embassy or consulate in the applicant’s country of residence. As regards French overseas territories like French Guiana, the rules applicable may differ from those applying to the territory of metropolitan France. Non-European citizens must obtain not a “Schengen visa”, but a specific visa for overseas territories. As regards this visa, the period of validity may be issued for visits not exceeding three months. EU citizens and French people don't need visas, but an ID is required. This is best arranged in advance. To read more information about entry and exit formalities, check it here. The neighbouring countries of Suriname and Brazil require visas as well. If no visa is required, a tourist card is issued upon arrival. Visitors can get both countries by air or by land. According to your nationality, before you leave, check to see if a tourist visa or tourist card is required for entry into your destination country. See individual countries for more details.

Customs might vary, but you can generally bring in personal belongings, camera gear, laptops, hand-held devices and other travel-related gear. French Guiana prohibit the export of archaeological items and goods made from rare or endangered animals. Avoid carrying plants, seeds, fruits and fresh meat products across borders.

Vaccines

Visitors ought to arrange necessary vaccinations before coming to French Guiana. You shouldn’t leave this until the last minute. Many vaccines don't take effect until two weeks after you've been immunised, so visit a doctor four to eight weeks before departure. Ask your doctor for an International Certificate of Vaccination (otherwise known as the yellow booklet), which will list all the vaccinations you've received.

The only required vaccine is yellow fever for all travellers. The yellow fever is valid for 10 years. This is mandatory for French Guiana that requires proof of yellow fever vaccination upon entry. Moreover, visitors should be up to date on routine vaccinations. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, polio vaccine. However, a number of vaccines are recommended:

Hepatitis A Centers for Disease Control recommend this vaccine because you can get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water in French Guiana, regardless of where you are eating or staying.
Typhoid You can get typhoid through contaminated food or water in French Guiana. Centers for Disease Control recommend this vaccine for most travellers, especially if you are staying with friends or relatives, visiting smaller cities or rural areas, or if you are an adventurous eater.

Some travellers prefer to get even more vaccines

Hepatitis B You can get hepatitis B. It is transmitted by contact with contaminated blood, blood products, and other body fluids. So Centers for Disease Control recommends this vaccine if you might have sex with a new partner, get a tattoo or piercing, or have any medical procedures.
Rabies

Rabies can be found in dogs, bats, and other mammals in French Guiana, so Centers for Disease Control recommends this vaccine for the following groups:

  • Travellers involved in outdoor and other activities (such as camping, hiking, biking, adventure travel, and caving) that put them at risk for animal bites.
  •  People who will be working with or around animals (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, and researchers).
  •  People who are taking long trips or moving to French Guiana

Children, because they tend to play with animals, might not report bites, and are more likely to have animal bites on their head and neck.

Coming to Paracou station

Various airlines companies serve in Cayenne from Paris with an average of 3 to 6 flights per week. In addition, there are schedules flights from the French West Indies (Guadeloupe and Martinique Islands). Also, flight connections are available from the United States (Miami) and from Brazil (Bélèm). The company “Air Guyane” offers flights within French Guiana.The main airport is “Félix Eboué International Airport “about 16km south west of Cayenne.

To Cayenne

From the airport, consider sharing a taxi (€35 to €40, 20 minutes) to join the city. To the airport, it's cheaper to take a sharing taxi (minibus).

To Kourou and Paracou

There is no bus between the airport and Kourou/Paracou. The best option is to rent a car. Visitors will find several car hire companies at the airport. In order to have a better overview of the station location, see on location.