If I go to French Guiana what can I see?
One of the main attractions is the spaceport. Guided tours are available when a launch is not in progress but the tour must be booked in advance and is not available for children under eight years old. The tours take place from Monday to Thursday at 7.45 and 12.45 and on Fridays at 7.45. The visit commences with a film showing the history of the spaceport and is followed by a tour of most of the important sites at the spaceport.
The spaceport also contains a space museum full of interesting exhibits. This is open to the public from eight in the morning to six in the evening from Monday to Friday from two until six on Saturday afternoons. Amongst the exhibits are displays on the universe, the conquest of space, European launchers, human spaceflight and the future in space.
If you are lucky enough to visit at the time of a launch, some of the best views of liftoff can be obtained from Mount Carapa,and the nearby beaches. These offer an excellent view of this never-to-be-forgotten experience.
The second main attraction is Devil’s Island, the home of the famous penal colony closed in 1947. After the closure, the buildings fell into ruins and were quickly taken over by the natural vegetation. Now, however, the islands have become national heritage sites, the vegetation has been cleared, ferries regularly visit the islands and tourists can visit the old penal colony.
French Guiana’s geographical situation near to the equator makes it an excellent site for a spaceport and also an excellent place to see wild life and enjoy the varied and lush environment. Marine turtles nest close to the spaceport and the scarlet ibis has made the grounds of the spaceport its home.
Much of the interior is virgin forest, accessible only by river, and in many areas mangrove swamps extend to the sea. There are rapids, waterfalls, forest trails, creeks and marshland as well as remote villages that can be visited by more intrepid tourists. It is a nature lover’s paradise; more than 6000 plant species, 700 bird species and 160 species of mammals have been identified to date.
French Guiana has something to offer everyone, from nature lovers to sports enthusiasts, from beach fanatics to space buffs.
Contacts:
Visits to space centre: tel. 0594 326123
Visits to space museum: tel. 0594 334347
Viewing launches: tel. 0594 334200
