5 days in Cayenne

Early in the morning, it’s Allée des trois fleuves. My advice: a pause on a terrace at the hour when locals leave work. You understand everything. Getting there: how to get there. To get a feel for it: travellers’ reviews.

Then, head to Salines de Montjoly. Go late in the afternoon: the heat drops, the light softens and the photos take themselves. Travellers give it 4.5 out of 5 (336 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: here is the route by public transport; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise compare on Tiqets.

In the afternoon, meet me at Plage de Montabo. This is the breath of the trip. Even one hour changes the day. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or go through Tiqets.

To start, I make my way to L’Ilet La Mère. It’s the kind of place that makes you go quiet for a moment, even when you thought you knew it all. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or also check Tiqets.

Late morning, meet me at Museum of Guyanese Cultures. Give it a good two hours, and leave before you are full: that is the secret to wanting to come back. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or go through Tiqets.

Later, head to Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur. Take the time to walk all the way around it; the best views are rarely at the entrance. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line book your visit, otherwise go through Tiqets.

In the morning, head to Guiana Zoo. The kids will still be talking about it weeks later. So will the adults, though they admit it less. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or compare on Tiqets.

In the morning, I make my way to Poudrière de Cayenne. Bring water, shoes that hold, and no watch. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, get your tickets in advance or also check Tiqets.

Around noon, it’s Escalier coloré. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. To get organised: the public-transport route; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise also check Tiqets.

After lunch, meet me at Place Léopold Héder. Go late in the afternoon: the heat drops, the light softens and the photos take themselves. Practical: how to get there · travellers’ reviews.

To start, meet me at Musée Alexandre-Franconie de Cayenne 97300. The audio guides are worth it; otherwise, follow a group and steal three anecdotes on the way. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, get your tickets in advance or go through Tiqets.

Late morning, I make my way to Phare de Fort Cépérou. Take the time to walk all the way around it; the best views are rarely at the entrance. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise also check Tiqets.

Later, head to Place des Amandiers. Bring water, shoes that hold, and no watch. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line book your visit, otherwise compare on Tiqets.