French Guiana
Kourou
The only place on earth where you can watch a European rocket launch and then sail to Devil's Island.
A small coastal town on the edge of the Amazon forest that France turned into Europe's spaceport. Ariane and Vega rockets lift off from the Guiana Space Centre just outside town, and a boat ride offshore lie the Iles du Salut, the old penal islands that include Devil's Island. Kourou itself is quiet and practical, a mix of an old fishing village, a 1960s town built for the space centre and a Foreign Legion garrison.
Suggested stay
2–4 days
Language
French
Currency
EUR
Timezone
UTC-3
Why you'll love Kourou
Launches a rocket climbing out of the jungle on a pillar of light is a sight few towns can offer, and the whole town turns out to watch.
The islands Ile Royale and Saint-Joseph mix forest-swallowed prison ruins with palms, monkeys and sea views.
Penal history the convict colony of Dreyfus and Papillon is told in stone, from cell blocks to a lone signal tower in town.
Rainforest edge forest trails start minutes from the beach, with sloths, monkeys and birdlife close to town.
Best time to visit
Sep-Oct
32-33° days
5.158° N, 52.642° W
UTC-3 · America/Cayenne
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Weather & when to go to Kourou
Month by month: typical highs and lows, rainfall and rain days.
✓ Best Sep-Oct
Watch for Dec-Jul monsoon flooding risk · Jun-Nov cyclones & hurricanes risk
Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions
When to avoid Kourou
December to July is the long wet season, with heavy downpours most days and April to June usually the wettest stretch; boat crossings to the islands get rougher too. Launches run all year, though, so if one is scheduled it is worth coming for whatever the sky does. Mosquitoes are a constant, so cover up at dusk.
Top things to do in Kourou
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Guiana Space Centre - watch a rocket launch
culture arts ⭐ Highly recommendedLaunches of Ariane and Vega rockets are the town's great event. Public viewing sites a safe distance from the pads need an invitation requested from the space centre well ahead, and many people simply watch from the beach in town. Dates slip often, so keep plans flexible.
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Guiana Space Centre - guided tour of the base
culture arts 👍 PopularGuided coach tours take visitors around the launch complexes and control facilities when no launch is under way. Places are limited and must be booked in advance, tours are mostly in French, and you need photo ID on the day.
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Musee de l'Espace - the Space Museum
culture artsThe museum at the entrance to the space centre covers rocketry, satellites and the history of launching from French Guiana, with models and hands-on displays. It pairs well with a base tour and is the easy option when tours are full.
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Ile Royale - the penal colony's island headquarters
history nature wildlife 👍 PopularThe largest of the Iles du Salut held the colony's administration, hospital, chapel and guards' quarters, many still standing. A path loops the island through palms and forest, with agoutis, squirrel monkeys and macaws often close by, and views across to Devil's Island.
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Ile Saint-Joseph - solitary cells in the forest
history ⭐ Highly recommendedThe smallest prison island held the solitary confinement block, whose roofless cells are now overgrown with trees and roots. A short boat hop from Ile Royale, it also has a quieter shore for a swim and a small cemetery for the guards.
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Ile du Diable - Devil's Island from the water
history scenic 👍 PopularThe island where Alfred Dreyfus was held cannot be landed on because of the currents, but it is clearly visible from Ile Royale, and some boats pass close by on the way out. His small hut still stands among the palms.
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Tour Dreyfus and Pointe des Roches - the old signal tower
history scenicOn the rocky point by the river mouth, an old tower was used to exchange signals with the islands in the days of the penal colony. It is a good spot to watch the sunset, and the sea and the islands on the horizon.
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Vieux Bourg - the old village by the river
food culture artsThe original fishing settlement at the mouth of the Kourou river has a church, a small seafront and most of the town's restaurants and bars. It is the place for an evening walk and a plate of fish or Creole cooking.
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Montagne des Singes - rainforest trails on the edge of town
nature wildlifeA forested hill just outside Kourou has marked trails through lowland rainforest, where you may hear howler monkeys and spot birds, insects and the odd sloth. Go early, bring water and repellent, and expect mud after rain.
Best areas to stay in Kourou
$ Budget $$ Mid-range $$$ Premium
Vieux Bourg
First-time visitors $$Old fishing village at the river mouth
Explore hotels in Vieux Bourg →
Kourou town centre
Launch trips $$Planned 1960s space-centre town
Explore hotels in Kourou town centre →
Ile Royale
Overnight on the islands $$Prison island with an inn
Explore hotels in Ile Royale →
Live nightly prices from Booking.com, Agoda and others, centred on Kourou
Getting to & around Kourou
Getting there
Fly into Cayenne (CAY), then drive about an hour west along the coast road to Kourou.
Flight
Cayenne Felix Eboue Airport (CAY)
Most visitors pick up a rental car at the airport and drive the coast road west, about 1 hr. Taxis also make the run, and shared minibus taxis link Cayenne and Kourou. Long-haul flights arrive from Paris, with regional links from the French Antilles.
Drive
The RN1 coast road runs east to Cayenne and west to Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, about 2.5-3 hr, where a river crossing links to Suriname; shared minibus taxis run the same road
Getting around
Rental car
The easiest way to reach the space centre, the trails and launch viewing spots; the town is spread out and public transport is thin
TBC
Walking
Fine within Vieux Bourg and along the seafront to Pointe des Roches, but distances across town are long in the heat
Free
Taxi
Available but not plentiful; book ahead for early boat departures or late returns
TBC
Boat to the Iles du Salut
Catamarans, motor boats and sailing boats leave from the Kourou pontoon in the morning, taking about 1-1.5 hr each way
TBC
Day trips from Kourou
Iles du Salut
Full dayPenal colony islands
The three former prison islands sit offshore: Ile Royale with its colony buildings and wildlife, Saint-Joseph with its overgrown solitary cells, and Devil's Island, seen from the water. Access can be restricted on launch days, as the islands lie under the flight path.
Getting there
ferry | tour
About 1-1.5 hr each way by boat from the Kourou pontoon
Cayenne
Full dayTerritorial capital
French Guiana's small capital has a Creole old town of wooden houses around the Place des Palmistes, a lively central market with Asian soup stalls, and Fort Ceperou looking over the river mouth.
Getting there
car | bus
About 1 hr east by car or shared minibus taxi
Sinnamary and the Pripris de Yiyi
Half dayWetlands and river town
The quiet river town of Sinnamary sits beside the Pripris de Yiyi, coastal marshes with boardwalks and trails that are good for birds, caimans and other wetland wildlife. Go early in the day.
Getting there
car
About 45 min west by car on the RN1
A little history of Kourou
Kourou began as a small settlement at the mouth of its river, and its name is tied to one of France's worst colonial disasters: the Kourou expedition of 1763, when thousands of settlers shipped from France were landed with little preparation and most died of disease. Survivors sheltered on the offshore islands, which gave them the name Iles du Salut, the islands of salvation.
From 1852 the islands became part of the penal colony, holding political prisoners and dangerous convicts, among them Alfred Dreyfus on Devil's Island. The colony was wound down after the Second World War. In 1964 France chose Kourou, close to the equator and open to the ocean, as its launch base, and a new town grew up around the space centre, which became the home of Europe's Ariane rockets. The Foreign Legion also keeps a regiment here.
The Kourou expedition lands thousands of French settlers, most of whom die of disease
The penal colony opens and the Iles du Salut begin receiving convicts
Alfred Dreyfus is sent to Devil's Island, where he is held until 1899
French Guiana becomes an overseas department of France
The last convicts are repatriated as the penal colony closes
France selects Kourou as the site of its space launch base
The first rocket is launched from the Guiana Space Centre
The first Ariane rocket lifts off from Kourou
The James Webb Space Telescope is launched from Kourou on an Ariane 5
Know before you go
Payment
Cards & cash mixed
English
Rare
Wifi
Workable
Power
Type C / E
230 V, 50 Hz
Dialing
+594
Monsoon flooding risk in this window; check current conditions before you go.
Cyclones & hurricanes risk in this window; check current conditions before you go.
The months our climate read flags to avoid: the wettest, lowest-rated weather of the year.
FAQs about Kourou
▸ When is the best time to visit Kourou?
September and October are the best months, in the heart of the dry season, with calmer seas for the island boats. December to July is the long wet season, with heavy rain most days. Launch dates matter more than weather for many visitors, and launches go ahead all year.
▸ Can you watch a rocket launch in Kourou?
Yes. The space centre runs public viewing sites for launches, but places are by invitation and need to be requested well ahead. Many people watch from the beach or the seafront in town instead. Launch dates often slip by days or more, so leave slack in your plans.
▸ Can you visit Devil's Island?
Not on foot. Landing on Ile du Diable is forbidden because of dangerous currents, but you can see it clearly from Ile Royale, and some boats pass close. Ile Royale and Ile Saint-Joseph are both open to visitors.
▸ How many days do you need in Kourou?
Two days covers a full day on the Iles du Salut and a visit to the space centre or Space Museum. Allow three or four if you are waiting on a launch, want to sleep on Ile Royale, or add Cayenne and the wetlands at Sinnamary.
▸ Do I need a car in Kourou?
It helps a lot. The town is spread out, the space centre and the trails are outside the centre, and public transport is limited. Without a car, plan on taxis and book them ahead.
▸ Are there entry or health requirements for French Guiana?
French Guiana is part of France and the EU, but it is outside the Schengen area, so check whether you need a visa for it specifically. Yellow fever vaccination is required for entry, and antimalarial advice applies to some inland areas. Check your own government's current guidance before travelling.