How to Find Cheap Hotels in Cayenne, French Guiana

Politically and economically, French Guiana is an extension of France. Its citizens enjoy one of the highest standards of living in South America. Travel in the capital city of Cayenne is fairly expensive; lower end accommodations run in the range of 20 to 40 Euros, and the pickings are slim for hostels and rental apartments. On the positive side, travelers are safer here than in some other Latin American countries, and among the rainforests, the beautiful waters, Devil's Island and the ESA spaceport, every visitor will find attractions to explore.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access for planning and booking your reservations.
• Map of Cayenne and French Guiana.
• Passport and either a visa or return-flight ticket dated within 90 days.

Know Your Destination

1. Visit the Cayenne market, held each Wednesday, Friday and Saturday for fresh vegetables, fish and juices. You can also find local art and crafts for sale.
2. Visit the European Space Agency spaceport in Kourou, just a few miles up the coast from Cayenne. Tours are free, and you may get the opportunity to attend a space launch.
3. Discover the notorious Devil's Island, a collection of three islands about fifteen miles off the coast in the Atlantic. Half-day guided tours depart each morning from Kourou, but a cheaper alternative is to start from the Navy yard in Kourou and take a military boat.

Accommodations in Cayenne, French Guiana

4. Sling a hammock for the night in the barracks of Devil's Island. Stay overnight after your tour of the Îles du Salut during your visit to Cayenne and secure cheap accommodations that cater to backpackers. To book accommodations, contact Federation des Offices de Tourisme et Syndicats d'Initiative de la Guyane at 011 ([phone].
5. Find a friend, or prepare to pay more. The usual Internet resources for finding cheap travel accommodations are not as plentiful when applied to French Guiana. If you can connect with a helpful person who has direct experience with Cayenne, you're likely to find cheap lodging--otherwise allocate a bit more in your budget for lodging.
6. Work with a travel agent. Since many Cayenne motels or hotels won't have online booking capabilities, you're better off going through an agent. Ask him or her to place you in a converted French Colonial mansion for extra charm.

Tips & Warnings

• Save some cab fare while traveling from Cayenne to Rochambeau Airport. Taxis to the airport cost around $20 U.S.--the taxi collectif costs about $2.50 U.S. Catch one at the Gare Routière.
• Apply your insect repellent. Mosquitoes are plentiful in many parts of Cayenne, and mosquito-borne diseases are a concern.
• All phone numbers include the international prefix "011." When calling internationally but not from the United States or Canada, substitute that "011" with "00." All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.
• Ask for advice from your hotelier about areas and activities to avoid so that you have a safe, crime-free visit in Cayenne.

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