Where to Stay in Cayenne
A regional guide to accommodation across the country
Find Hotels Across Cayenne
Compare prices from hotels across all regions
Prices via Trip.com. We may earn a commission from bookings.
Regions of Cayenne
Each region offers a distinct character and accommodation scene. Find the one that matches your travel plans.
The capital region encompasses downtown Cayenne around Place des Palmistes and Place Léopold Héder, extending east to the beach suburbs of Rémire-Montjoly and Matoury. This area offers French Guiana's widest accommodation selection, from the central Hôtel des Amandiers and Amazonia Hotel on Avenue de la Liberté to beach properties like Le Cabanon and Ô Gayaké in Rémire-Montjoly. The historic center around Rue François Arago and Rue Lalouette features guesthouses in Creole-style wooden buildings, while modern business hotels cluster near the airport in Matoury. This is the most practical base for exploring the territory, with easy access to the Marché de Cayenne, Fort Cépérou, and restaurants along Avenue du Général de Gaulle. Most properties cater to business travelers and government officials, though beach-area hotels attract weekend leisure visitors from the capital.
Home to the Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou's accommodation primarily serves space industry professionals and launch spectators along Avenue de l'Europe and near the Port de Kourou. Established properties include the Mercure Kourou Ariatel, Atlantis Hôtel on Rue Christophe Colomb, and Hôtel des Roches overlooking the Kourou River. The area offers proximity to launch viewing sites and serves as the departure point for boat trips to the Îles du Salut. Nearby Sinnamary, 30km northwest, has basic options like guesthouses near the Barrage de Petit-Saut. Prices spike dramatically during launch periods when ESA personnel and space enthusiasts fill every available room. The beach at Pointe des Roches and proximity to beaches near Pariacabo make this suitable for combining space tourism with coastal relaxation, though the town itself is functional rather than charming.
Centered on Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni along the Surinamese border, this region offers basic accommodation for those exploring the former Camp de la Transportation penal colony and Maroni River. Options include the Star Hôtel and Amazone Hôtel near Avenue du Général de Gaulle, and simple guesthouses around Place des Cultures. Properties here facilitate river trips to indigenous villages like Maripasoula and Papaichton, and serve as gateways to Suriname via the river crossing to Albina. Further north, Mana and Awala-Yalimapo near the Amana Nature Reserve offer extremely limited lodging, primarily basic chambres d'hôtes for sea turtle nesting season visitors (April-July). This is the least touristy area with minimal infrastructure, where advance confirmation of reservations is essential as properties have unreliable communication.
The vast interior encompasses specialized eco-lodges and expedition camps accessible only by pirogue or small aircraft. Notable properties include Tresor Reserve Nature Lodge in the Trésor Nature Reserve (accessible via Kaw), La Canopée near Saül in the central rainforest, and various jungle camps operated by Cayenne-based tour companies like Takari Tour and JAL Guyane. The village of Saül, accessible only by air, has the Auberge des Orpailleurs and basic carbets. Indigenous village stays in Maripasoula, Camopi, and Papaichton along the Maroni and Oyapock rivers offer authentic hammock accommodation under communal roofs. These experiences require booking through operators like Guyane Evasion or Takari Tour in Cayenne, who handle logistics, permits, and indigenous community protocols. Expect rustic conditions with varying comfort levels—from basic mosquito-netted hammocks to more comfortable lodges with proper beds and generator-powered electricity.
This inland area south of Cayenne offers eco-lodges and rural guesthouses emphasizing natural surroundings and wildlife observation. The Kaw marshes area, renowned for black caiman and bird watching, features specialized lodges like Le Relais de Patawa and properties operated through Kaw Aventures. The Hmong settlement of Cacao, about 75km from Cayenne via Route Nationale 2, offers unique cultural accommodation in family-run guesthouses where visitors experience Hmong agricultural traditions and the famous Sunday market. Properties here are basic but culturally enriching, often including home-cooked Hmong meals. The village of Roura serves as a gateway to both Kaw and interior destinations, with simple chambres d'hôtes along the main road. This region provides a quieter alternative to Cayenne while remaining accessible by rental car, making it ideal for nature photographers and those seeking authentic cultural experiences without venturing deep into the interior.
The former penal colony islands, 15km off Kourou, offer unique overnight stays in converted colonial buildings on Île Royale. The Auberge des Îles du Salut operates the only accommodation, housed in former administrative buildings of the notorious prison that once held Alfred Dreyfus. Capacity is extremely limited with only a handful of basic rooms, requiring advance booking through the operator in Kourou and coordination with boat transfers via Takari Tour or other approved operators. Stays include meals as no other facilities exist on the islands. This is a special-interest destination for history enthusiasts willing to embrace rustic conditions—basic beds, limited electricity, shared facilities—in exchange for the atmospheric experience of sleeping in these historic structures surrounded by coconut palms and tropical birds. Most visitors come as day-trippers from Kourou, making overnight guests rare and the experience particularly exclusive.
Accommodation Landscape
What to expect from accommodation options across Cayenne
International hotel chains have minimal presence in French Guiana, limited to French groups with the Novotel Cayenne Centre on Rue Arago and Mercure Kourou Ariatel near the space center representing the primary branded properties. The market is dominated by independent hotels and small local operations. The Atlantis Hôtel in Kourou and Hôtel des Amandiers in Cayenne represent well-established local properties with consistent standards. Business-oriented properties affiliated with French brands offer the most reliable amenities—functioning air conditioning, hot water, WiFi, breakfast buffets—while most accommodation remains locally owned with varying quality levels. The absence of major international chains reflects the territory's small tourism market and focus on space industry and administrative functions rather than leisure travel.
Independent chambres d'hôtes and small family-run hotels dominate outside the main cities, offering personal service but inconsistent standards. Properties like Chez Madeleine in Cayenne and various guesthouses along Route Nationale 1 are simple concrete structures with basic amenities, reflecting practical building suited to the tropical climate and termite challenges. Some French expatriates operate boutique guesthouses blending European hospitality with tropical settings, particularly in Rémire-Montjoly beach area and around Cayenne's historic center near Place des Palmistes. Creole-style wooden houses converted to guesthouses can be found along Rue Lalouette and in the Rebard neighborhood, offering more character than modern concrete properties. In Kourou, locally-run options like Hôtel des Roches provide alternatives to the Mercure for budget-conscious space enthusiasts.
French Guiana offers several distinctive accommodation types including carbets (traditional open-sided shelters with thatched roofs) used in jungle lodges like those operated by Takari Tour and at La Canopée near Saül. The Auberge des Îles du Salut on Île Royale provides the unique experience of sleeping in converted colonial penal colony buildings where guards once lived. Authentic indigenous village stays in Maripasoula, Camopi, and villages along the Maroni River offer hammock accommodation under communal roofs, arranged through operators like Guyane Evasion. Eco-lodges in the rainforest like Tresor Reserve Nature Lodge and Le Relais de Patawa provide immersive nature experiences with varying comfort levels, from rustic camps with generator electricity to well-appointed jungle retreats with proper beds and en-suite facilities. Some specialized operators offer multi-day pirogue expeditions with overnight camping on river beaches or in temporary carbets along the Maroni and Oyapock rivers.
Booking Tips for Cayenne
Country-specific advice for finding the best accommodation
Accommodation across the entire territory fills rapidly when rocket launches are scheduled at the Centre Spatial Guyanais, sometimes months in advance. Monitor the European Space Agency and Arianespace launch schedules on their official websites and book immediately once dates are confirmed. Hotels in Kourou—particularly the Mercure Kourou Ariatel, Atlantis Hôtel, and Hôtel des Roches—sell out first, followed by Cayenne properties like the Novotel Cayenne and Amazonia Hotel as space enthusiasts overflow from the primary viewing area. Even basic guesthouses in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni become fully booked during major launches.
Many properties quote rates that exclude breakfast, air conditioning charges, or tourist taxes (taxe de séjour), which can significantly increase final costs. Always confirm what's included before booking, particularly for budget and mid-range properties. The Hôtel des Amandiers and similar mid-range hotels often charge separately for breakfast (€8-12), while some budget guesthouses include basic continental breakfast. Jungle lodges like Tresor Reserve and La Canopée typically include meals and guided activities in package rates, while others charge separately for everything beyond basic accommodation. Clarify whether boat transfers to Îles du Salut or interior locations are included in quoted prices.
Given the high cost and limited variety of hotels, furnished apartment rentals through local agencies in Cayenne or international platforms often provide better value for stays longer than a few days. This is particularly true in Cayenne's Rémire-Montjoly beach district and around Place des Palmistes where apartment options are more numerous. Self-catering significantly reduces costs given expensive restaurant meals (€15-25 for basic lunch). Weekly rentals in residential areas near Avenue de la Liberté or Rue François Arago typically range €400-700 for one-bedroom units, comparing favorably to hotel rates of €80-120 per night.
Accommodation in the rainforest interior and indigenous villages cannot typically be booked directly and requires arrangement through specialized tour operators in Cayenne or Kourou. Established operators like Takari Tour, JAL Guyane, Guyane Evasion, and Kaw Aventures handle logistics, pirogue transportation, permits, and communication with remote communities like Maripasoula and Camopi. These operators coordinate stays at properties like La Canopée, Tresor Reserve, and village accommodations, making independent booking nearly impossible for most interior destinations. Book through their Cayenne offices on Rue Lalouette or Avenue du Général de Gaulle at least 6-8 weeks before travel.
While the euro is the official currency and widely accepted in Cayenne and Kourou, some smaller properties in remote areas may have limited card processing capabilities. The Novotel Cayenne and Mercure Kourou accept all major cards, but properties like guesthouses in Cacao, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, or Mana often prefer cash. Confirm payment methods in advance and carry sufficient euros when heading to interior or coastal settlements. ATMs are reliable at banks along Avenue du Général de Gaulle in Cayenne and near Place des Amandiers in Kourou but scarce elsewhere. Bring cash for stays at Îles du Salut, Kaw lodges, and all interior destinations.
When to Book
Timing matters for both price and availability across Cayenne
For dry season travel (July-December) and especially Carnival (February-March), book properties in Cayenne's central district and Rémire-Montjoly at least 2-3 months in advance. For rocket launch periods at the Centre Spatial Guyanais, book immediately upon schedule confirmation—often 3-6 months ahead—as accommodation from Kourou to Cayenne sells out within days of announcement. The Mercure Kourou Ariatel and Atlantis Hôtel fill first, followed by Cayenne properties like Novotel and Amazonia Hotel.
During transitional months (May-June, December-January), booking 3-4 weeks in advance is generally sufficient for Cayenne hotels along Avenue de la Liberté and Kourou properties. However, eco-lodges like Tresor Reserve, La Canopée, and Kaw marsh properties should still be booked 6-8 weeks ahead as capacity is extremely limited regardless of season. The Îles du Salut accommodation requires 8-10 weeks advance booking even in shoulder periods.
The wet season (January-June) sees reduced demand and last-minute bookings are often possible at the Novotel Cayenne, Hôtel Central, and Kourou properties, though overall options remain limited. Even during low season, book jungle lodges like La Canopée, indigenous village stays through Takari Tour, and the Auberge des Îles du Salut at least one month ahead due to operational constraints and limited year-round availability. Some interior properties close entirely during peak rainy season.
Given French Guiana's limited accommodation infrastructure and small tourism market, booking earlier than you would for comparable destinations is advisable. For Cayenne business hotels like Novotel or Amazonia Hotel, 2-4 weeks is typically sufficient outside peak periods, but for anywhere beyond the capital—Kourou, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, Kaw, or interior destinations—aim for 6-8 weeks minimum. Always book Îles du Salut and interior eco-lodges 2-3 months ahead regardless of season.
Good to Know
Local customs and practical information for Cayenne