Is Travel To French Guiana Permitted?

French Guiana, an overseas department of France and part of the EU, is open to most visitors from the United States, regardless of vaccination status. The country can be visited without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes. To stay longer, work, study, for business travel, or for other reasons, check the visa application process and timeline on the French visa website.

To stay safe during your trip, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. French Guiana is not part of the Schengen area, and your passport or ID-card is checked upon arrival, even if you’re arriving from mainland or Caribbean France. The remote region is covered in thick jungle and wilderness, but offers colonial architecture, eerie prison-camp history, and diverse plant and animal life.

Travel to French Guiana is severely restricted until further notice, and travelers must prove that entry is for essential reasons. The government of French Guiana requires all non-citizens aged 12 and over entering the country to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

French Guiana is a complex and fascinating country, an outpost of France ruled from Paris but firmly in South America. The Federal Foreign Office has extended its warning against non-essential, tourist travel to French Guiana, valid from Sunday, 23 May. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is not issuing a specific travel advisory for French Guiana at this time.

Can you enter French Guiana?

A visa is not required for a 90-day stay in this destination; however, travelers must possess a valid passport for a minimum of six months, proof of onward and return flights, all necessary documentation for the subsequent destination, proof of the intended purpose of travel, and sufficient funds to cover the duration of their planned stay. It is advisable to ascertain from the airline whether boarding will be permitted in the absence of a visa.

Can EU citizens travel to French Guiana?

French Guiana mandates the acquisition of a short-stay national visa for entry, as opposed to a short-stay visa issued by France or Schengen countries. Visa requirements for long-term stays are limited to those holding passports from the European Union, Andorra, Monaco, and Switzerland. For further information, please refer to the official website of the French government. Should you have any feedback or information regarding the businesses mentioned, you are kindly requested to contact the editor at editor@noonsite. com.

Is French Guiana good for tourists?

French Guiana, a region with little tourism infrastructure, few good roads, and a wild interior, is not an easy place to travel independently due to its rainforest-like environment and heavy rainfall. The tropical climate is hot and humid, with heavy rains and suffocating humidity from April to June. The main dry season is from July to November, with September and October being the driest months but also the hottest with highs of around 32°C. The best time to visit French Guiana is during August, when temperatures are climbing, with September and October being the driest months with highs of around 32°C.

Is Guyana good for tourists?

Crime levels in Georgetown are high, with low police capacity. Frequent armed robberies, hold-ups, and carjackings occur, often involving multiple attackers. Passers-by can get caught in gunfire, as police are armed and shoot back. Muggers can attack in broad daylight, often holding victims at gunpoint or knifepoint. Tourists, particularly those with wealth, may be targeted. Key areas for robberies include Tiger Bay, Albouystown, Sophia, Buxton, Agricola, and Stabroek Market.

How many tourists visit French Guiana?

French Guiana, also known as Guyane, is the only francophone part of South America and the smallest on the South American cone. It is legally part of the European Union and is administered from the French motherland, which is also heavily dependent on it. Despite its geographical distance, Guyane sees only about 10, 000 visitors annually who come for leisure, not science, business, or administrative postings. Most tourists come from France or French-speaking Belgium.

French Guiana has a dark history, as it was used as a penal colony by France from the mid-1800s until just after WWII. The brutality of the penal colony regime was highlighted through the book and movie “Papillon”, with Devil’s Island becoming known through the Dreyfus affair. Today, two main sites remain and have partly been commodified for tourism.

Is French Guiana expensive to visit?

The author advises travelers to consider crossing French Guiana quickly to avoid financial difficulties. The total cost to cross all three Guianas is $538. 96 CAD, including land travel and a flight with Suriname Airways. This equates to $790. 69 CAD or $87. 86 CAD per day for 9 days. While hitchhiking through French Guiana and couchsurfing can be cheaper, the cost of accommodation is a good measure. The author respects the effort required to cross these three countries, as it is an expensive endeavor.

Is English widely spoken in French Guiana?

French Guiana, an overseas region of France and a South American department, has two official languages: French and Creole. The majority of the population speaks Creole, a mix of African, European, and Asian languages. French Guiana is home to other Caribbean territories, including Portuguese, Spanish, and other languages. France still owns a significant portion of the South American country due to a treaty signed in 1814 between the French government and Brazil.

Is Guyana cheap or expensive?

Guyana is relatively affordable for food and accommodation, with hotels in Georgetown costing around USD$180 per night and mid-range restaurants costing around USD$50. However, for exploring the interior, traveling between villages, and taking guided tours, prices increase significantly. Wilderness Explorers offer tours ranging from short city tours for USD$80 to two-week expeditions with wildlife and various excursions. For a short trip to Kaieteur Falls from Georgetown, the cost is around USD$340.

To ensure a comfortable stay, pack bug spray, bite relief, and light rain gear year-round, as heavy rain can delay plans and cause roads to become impassable. Additionally, consider considering trips to Kaieteur Falls from Georgetown for a more extensive exploration experience.

Is it safe to travel to Guyana now?

The US State Department has issued a travel advisory for US citizens, urging them to reconsider travel to Guyana due to the prevalence of criminal activity. The CDC and WHO recommend that individuals consider receiving vaccinations for Guyana, including hepatitis A, B, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap, chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia, influenza, and the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). It is also recommended that travelers who identify as LGBTQIA+ take the aforementioned precautions.

Is Suriname safe for tourists?

Crimes such as burglary, armed robbery, and violent incidents are increasing in Paramaribo and surrounding areas. Pickpocketing and robbery are prevalent in major business and shopping areas. To protect yourself and your belongings, keep valuables secure, such as passports, travel documents, and credit cards, and keep photocopies separate. Avoid wearing expensive jewelry or displaying large amounts of money in public, remote areas, quiet streets, parks, and walking around Paramaribo at night.

Is French Guiana part of Schengen?

France’s overseas departments, including Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion Island, and Mayotte, are not part of its European territory and thus not subject to the provisions of the Schengen Agreement. Consequently, it is not possible to gain entry to the Schengen Area on the basis of a visa issued for one of these departments.