Before you go

Your trip to Caiena.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Caiena – Caiena Destination Caiena, Kourou and the Ilhas da Salvação Capital

How to get there

Aéroport Cayenne-Félix-Éboué (CAY) Matoury · 13 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Check before booking. Félix-Éboué Airport is in Matoury, about 13 km from downtown; taxi and rental car are the most practical options. By land, you can arrive from Oiapoque via the bridge to Saint-Georges and then about 190 km by road, with border control: bring your documents.

How many days

Two days: one for the old center on foot, with the market in the morning and Forte Cépérou in the late afternoon, and another for the beaches of Rémire-Montjoly. Caiena is also the base for day trips to Kourou and the Ilhas da Salvação.

When to go

From July to November it rains less and the sun appears more; October is usually the hottest month. From December to June rains are frequent, with a short break in March. At any time of year, walk around the center early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Carnival runs from early January until Ash Wednesday.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

Not for the old center, which is explored on foot. A car helps for the beaches of Rémire-Montjoly and is almost indispensable to go to Kourou and return the same day with flexibility, since public transport has few schedules.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Caiena

Morning
Market and Place des Palmistes
Start at the central market on market days, with fruits, spices and pho soup from the stalls. Walk to the Place des Palmistes, with its imperial palms and the surrounding creole houses.
Afternoon
Cathedral and Franconie Museum
See the Catedral de Saint-Sauveur and the creole mansion of the Museu Alexandre-Franconie, facing the square. Check beforehand if the museum is open.
Late afternoon
Forte Cépérou
Climb via the Place Léopold-Héder to the Forte Cépérou to see the city, the river mouth and the sea in the soft light.
Evening
Dinner at the Place des Palmistes
At night, the food stalls around the Place des Palmistes and the downtown restaurants are where the action is.

2 days in Caiena

Day 1

Morning
Historic center
Central market, Place des Palmistes and the streets of creole houses in the center.
Afternoon
Museum and cathedral
Museu Alexandre-Franconie and Catedral de Saint-Sauveur, with a lunch break in the center.
Late afternoon
Forte Cépérou
Ascent to the fort via the Place Léopold-Héder, with views of the city and the Atlantic.
Evening
Street food
Food stalls at the Place des Palmistes.

Day 2

Morning
Praia de Montjoly
Go to Rémire-Montjoly and walk along the sand of Praia de Montjoly at low tide.
Afternoon
Anse de Rémire
Head to Anse de Rémire, with the rocks and views of the islets offshore.
Late afternoon
Sunset on the waterfront
Stay on the waterfront of Rémire-Montjoly until late afternoon and return to Caiena.
Evening
Creole dinner
Have dinner at a creole food restaurant in central Caiena.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

How to get from Caiena airport to the city center?

The Aeroporto Félix-Éboué is in Matoury, about 13 km from the center. Taxi and rental car are the most practical options; public transport to the airport is limited. For arrivals at night, arrange a transfer in advance.

Can you explore Caiena on foot?

The old center, yes: the Place des Palmistes, Place Léopold-Héder, the cathedral, the museum, the market and Forte Cépérou are a few minutes from each other. For the beaches of Rémire-Montjoly, use a car or taxi.

Are there beaches in Caiena?

The most popular beaches are in Rémire-Montjoly, about 8 km from the center: Praia de Montjoly and Anse de Rémire. The sea has murky, brown-green water because of sediments the Amazon River carries along the coast.

When is Caiena's carnival?

The Guianese carnival runs from Epiphany (early January) until Ash Wednesday. On Sundays there are street parades, and on Friday and Saturday nights the touloulou balls, where female revellers are costumed from head to toe. Dates change each year; check before you go.

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