Éco-Hôtels à Cayenne
Séjours durables in French Guiana's capital — the launchpad for the Amazon rainforest, the Guiana Space Centre, and Îles du Salut. Best-price guarantee, 1 tonne de CO₂ éliminée par réservation. 5 € de crédit gratuit + 5% cashback in IMPT tokens.
Pourquoi Séjourner à Cayenne
Cayenne is the capital of French Guiana, an overseas department of France tucked between Brazil and Suriname on the north-eastern shoulder of South America. Founded in 1643 by the French on the site of a native settlement at the foot of Fort Cépérou, the city has grown into a remarkable cultural crossroads: a lively Creole town of roughly 57,000 people (over 120,000 in the metropolitan area) spread across a peninsula between the Cayenne and Mahury rivers, facing the Atlantic. Few cities in the Americas pack so much into such a compact, walkable centre.
The heart of town is Place des Palmistes, a grand square lined with towering royal palms that locals treat as their open-air living room. Around it sprawls the old Creole quarter — narrow streets of pastel colonial houses with steep tin roofs, louvred wooden shutters, and wrought-iron balconies that glow in the late-afternoon light. The city's showpiece church, Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur, was built in 1833 and meticulously restored in 2017, its twin towers rising above the rooftops. Market culture is central to Cayenne's identity: the market halls near the river brim with Amazonian fish, spices, exotic fruit, and stalls run by Asian, Brazilian, Creole, and Surinamese vendors — a melting pot of flavours that mirrors the city's history as a port and penal-colony-era supply hub.
Yet Cayenne is above all a gateway. Within a couple of hours you can reach the Guiana Space Centre (65 km away in Kourou, Europe's launchpad), the vast Amazon rainforest that covers more than 90% of French Guiana, the turtle beaches of Rémire-Montjoly, and the legendary Îles du Salut — Devil's Island and its neighbours — offshore. For the eco-conscious traveller, that combination is hard to beat: a genuinely un-touristed South American capital with European infrastructure, surrounded by one of the planet's most important wildernesses. Book through IMPT and every night you stay removes 1 tonne of CO₂ from the atmosphere — at the same price you would pay on Booking.com, with 5 € de crédit gratuit and 5% cashback in IMPT tokens on top.
Cayenne at a Glance
Profiter au Maximum de Your Trip
Cayenne is served by Cayenne–Félix Éboué Airport, about 13 km southwest of the centre in Matoury. The drive into town takes roughly 20 minutes by taxi (around €25–30) or a little longer by the shared shuttle. There are no direct long-haul flights from North America: nearly everyone arrives on Air France or Air Caraïbes from Paris Orly, a flight of about 9 hours that lands you in a different continent without leaving the eurozone. Flights also connect Cayenne with Fort-de-France (Martinique) and Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe), which makes a multi-island Caribbean itinerary easy to build.
Once in town, forget the car for the first day. The historic centre is remarkably walkable — Place des Palmistes to the market halls is a ten-minute stroll, and most hotels, restaurants, and museums sit inside a compact grid. For longer hops, taxis are metered and plentiful during the day, and shared taxi-collectifs fan out along the coast roads to Rémire-Montjoly, Matoury, and beyond at set prices. To really explore, rent a car: the beaches of Rémire-Montjoly are only 8 km east, the Guiana Space Centre and Kourou are 65 km northwest on a good road, and having wheels lets you chase sunsets, markets, and waterfalls on your own schedule. The city is at its best in the early morning, when the heat is gentle, the market is at its liveliest, and the light on the colonial facades is perfect.
Plan at least one full day for a signature excursion. The Zoo de Guyane in Macouria (25 km away) rescues and rehabilitates Amazonian wildlife — jaguars, tapirs, monkeys, and hundreds of bird species — in a forest setting. Further afield, the Marais de Kaw (about 80 km southeast) offers black-caiman and birdwatching boat trips through flooded forest, and the Îles du Salut are reachable by boat from Kourou. After dark, the Place des Palmistes restaurants and the bars of the old quarter take over, serving grilled fish, Creole curries, and rum-based cocktails until late.
Où Séjourner — Neighbourhoods
Hotels in Cayenne
Handpicked stays across Cayenne and the coast — from historic central hotels to waterfront addresses in Rémire-Montjoly. All bookable through IMPT at the same price as Booking.com, with 1 tonne de CO₂ éliminée par réservation.
Cayenne's classic four-star, perched on Montabo hill with sweeping views over the bay and the city. A long-standing favourite for its hillside gardens, outdoor pool, and air-conditioned rooms with balconies. The on-site restaurant serves French-Creole cuisine with a sea view, and the wooded grounds are a haven for birds. A short drive from the centre — the hotel runs a shuttle.
A Cayenne institution on the city's most famous square, housed in a handsome colonial-era building opposite the royal palms. The hotel pairs old-school charm — shuttered windows, a classic bar, and a leafy terrace — with fully renovated, air-conditioned rooms. Unbeatable location: the cathedral, market, and best restaurants are all within a five-minute walk.
The city's most reliable business-and-leisure address, run by the Accor group, right off Place des Palmistes. Expect bright, soundproofed rooms, a rooftop pool with city views, a fitness room, and a solid restaurant. English-speaking staff make it the easiest choice for first-time visitors, and the airport shuttle and tour desk simplify day trips to the space centre.
A friendly, wallet-friendly address in the heart of the old quarter, a few minutes from the market halls and Place des Palmistes. Simple, spotless, air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms — no frills, but you are paying for location and value. The owners know the city inside out and are happy to point you to the best local food stalls.
A relaxed three-star on the waterfront at Rémire-Montjoly, 8 km east of the centre, with sea-view rooms, a small pool, and a restaurant terrace overlooking the Montjoly beach strip. Wake up to Atlantic surf, watch leatherback-turtle season from March to July, and end the day with the famous Montjoly sunset. Ideal for beach-first travellers.
The best-known hotel in Kourou, 65 km from Cayenne on the coast road — the natural base for Guiana Space Centre tours and Îles du Salut boat departures. Set on a headland with ocean views, it offers comfortable rooms, a pool, and a restaurant that fills up when launches are on. Ask at reception about space-centre visit schedules and launch viewing.
Que Faire à Cayenne
Place des Palmistes
Cayenne's glorious main square, shaded by a double avenue of towering royal palms planted in the 19th century. Benches, food stalls, and a lively evening promenade make it the city's natural meeting point. The colonial-era buildings around the square — including the town hall — are the best introduction to Cayenne's architecture. Free, always open; at its liveliest from late afternoon.
Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur
Cayenne's cathedral, built in 1833 and beautifully restored in 2017, dominates the old quarter with its twin towers and pale façade. Inside, the clean neoclassical lines, wooden galleries, and warm tropical light make it a restful stop on a hot day. The square in front hosts the town's most atmospheric evening scene. Free entry; modest dress appreciated.
Marché de Cayenne (Place du Marché)
The beating heart of the city: a covered market and surrounding streets piled high with Amazonian fish, fresh spices, exotic fruit, and Creole snacks. Saturday mornings are the busiest and best — arrive by 7:30 AM for the full spectacle, including the famous grilled-fish and accras stalls. Come hungry and bring cash. Free to wander.
Musée des Cultures Guyanaises
The museum of Guianese cultures dives deep into the region's Creole, Amerindian, and Maroon heritage — traditional dress, crafts, musical instruments, and the story of the different communities that shaped French Guiana. Housed in a restored colonial building, it is small enough to enjoy in an hour and well worth the modest entry fee.
Musée Alexandre-Franconie
A classic natural-history museum in a grand 19th-century mansion, stuffed with taxidermied Amazonian wildlife, Amerindian artefacts, and colonial-era curiosities. The building itself — a colonnaded merchant's house from 1886 — is one of Cayenne's finest. An old-fashioned, charmingly quirky stop that kids love.
Montjoly Beaches
A string of Atlantic beaches 8 km east of town — Plage de Montjoly and Plage des Roches — where surf rolls in and, from March to July, sea turtles nest at night. By day it is all swimming, picnics, and kite-surfing; at sunset, the whole bay turns gold. Free; watch for strong currents when swimming.
Fort Cépérou
The 17th-century hilltop fort where the French first settled in 1643, overlooking the old town and the river mouth. Little remains of the original fortifications, but the viewpoint is superb — the best free panorama over Cayenne's rooftops to the Atlantic. A short, steep climb; combine it with the heritage loop below.
Zoo de Guyane
À propos 25 km southwest of the city in Macouria, this conservation zoo shelters rescued Amazonian animals — jaguars, giant anteaters, tapirs, monkeys, macaws, and caimans — in large forested enclosures. Guided tours explain the rescue work. Count on a half-day; entry is around €15–20. A firm favourite for families.
Cacao Hmong Village
Sixty kilometres from Cayenne, this village founded by Hmong refugees from Laos in the 1970s holds a famous weekend market: embroidered textiles, home-grown produce, and exceptional Southeast Asian street food. Saturdays and Sundays are best. Combined with the Zoo de Guyane en route, it makes a perfect day trip.
Place Victor Schoelcher
A quiet square honouring the French statesman who campaigned to abolish slavery in 1848, marked by his statue. It sits at the edge of the old quarter near the Crique — a pleasant spot to pause on the heritage walk, with the cathedral visible down the avenue.
Randonnées & Day Routes
Centre-Ville Heritage Loop — 2.5 km, 1 hour, easy
Start at Place des Palmistes, stroll down to the Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur, then weave through the colonial streets to the Marché de Cayenne and along the Crique before looping back via Place Victor Schoelcher and Fort Cépérou's viewpoint. Flat, shaded, and packed with photo stops; do it early before the heat peaks.
Sentier du Rorota — 3 km, 1h 15min, easy
A coastal trail at Rémire-Montjoly that threads between ocean and mangrove forest, with monkeys, iguanas, and seabirds along the way. Mostly flat with some roots and mud after rain — wear trainers. The views over the Atlantic and the Mahury estuary are among the best near the city.
Montjoly Beach Sunset Walk — 2 km, 45 min, easy
Follow the shoreline from Plage de Montjoly past the old sugar-mill ruins to Plage des Roches as the sun drops into the Atlantic. Local families do this every evening; join them with a cold drink from a beach stand and watch the sky turn pink over the ocean.
Fort Cépérou Climb — 15 min, easy
A short, steep stair-street up the hill from Rue François Arago rewards you with the best panorama in town: red roofs, the cathedral towers, the river mouth, and the Atlantic. Do it at golden hour and stay for sunset.
Nearby Destinations
