Cayenne Overview

V!VA User‘s Description

Sitting on an island at the mouth of the Cayenne River, the city of Cayenne is the capital and main port of Guyane (French Guiana). It’s about 645 kilometers from Georgetown and 420 kilometers from Paramaribo. The city was established in 1664, after the French invaded Guyane, though it would change hands between the Dutch, British and Brazilians before becoming a French penal colony from 1854 to 1938. Due to its history of occupation, Cayenne is culturally and ethnically diverse, and is heavily influence by Creoles, Brazilians, Europeans, Haitians, and Asians.

Today Cayenne is most famous for its annual carnival, which begins on the first Sunday after New Years, and involves all-night costume balls and parades until Mardi Gras. The city is also an important hub of industrial activity, chief of which is the shrimp industry. Popular visitor sites include the Musée Départemental Franconie, L’Orstom, La Crique, the Place de Amandiers, the Rorota and Habitation Vidal walking trails, and Montsinéry zoo (43 kilometers southwest of Cayenne). The city is served by the Cayenne-Rochambeau Aiport.