French Guiana is a tiny, isolated little area of South America that sees little to no tourism. As a French territory it is included in the EU, and as such you do not need a visa to travel here as a UK citizen, simply your passport.

At first glance there is not a lot to see or do within this tiny South American country. Most of its income is directly funnelled in from France proper to fund the satellite launching station, the Center Spatial Guyanais. If space exploration is your thing, this is a great spot for a bird’s eye view. This is the world’s most active satellite launching centre, and there are guided tours of the facility, as well as a Space Museum.

But there is also the Emerald Jungle Village, which is an amazing eco-tourist destination. This rugged outdoor lodge is run by a biologist and his wife, and is an amazing way to experience the lush, tropical environment.

There are also many old, colonial ruins and run-down prison camps which were used for the penal system within French Guiana back in the day. There are also various animal reserves such as the Reserve Animaliere Macourienne, which includes a 2km nature trail where you can walk among the wild monkeys, or the Tresor and Kaw nature reserves, where you can wander more trails through the rain forest.

You can fly in to Cayenne Rochambeau International Airport and go from here. Accommodation will vary depending your location. As this is not a huge tourist destination, some compromise will likely be necessary.

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