Kourou is the main place that most international visitors come to because it is where the Space Center is located. It also has the most popular tourist attraction of the territory, Iles du Salut. Below is a breakdown of these two things to do in Kourou.
Things to do in Kourou: Guiana Space Center
The Guiana Space Center is the crown jewel of French Guiana and a remarkable place to visit, especially for those who are interested in space and the future of space travel. There are a few things that you can do on the land owned by the space center.
The Guiana Space Centre is the official space center for all of Europe and is an important facility to maintain space independence by the countries of Europe. This location was chosen after France lost their territory of Algeria, where the prior space center was located. It is an ideal space center location because it is located near the ocean, away from large population centers, and in a seismic and hurricane free zone.
Guiana Space Centre Guided Visit
The most unique aspect of this space center is that you can actually take a free guided tour through different facilities around the site. This tour often includes two different command centers and a location where the rockets are assembled. The tour will vary based on the activity that is happening on the space center at any given time, maintaining distance from rockets that are filled with fuel and avoiding command centers that are getting ready for a launch. This is one of the best things to do in Kourou and in French Guiana overall. It is the only place in the world where you will have such access to launch pads and command centers. You will not be able to do the guided visit on the day prior, the day of, and the day after a rocket launch.
To get approval to go on a guided visit, you need to email the space center at least 3 days prior to your desired tour date (or earlier if possible because there are limited spots on each tour.) You will need to provide your name and passport information to be approved and you will get an email confirmation for your visit.
Guiana Space Centre Guided Visit
If a launch is occurring at the space center, you may be able to see the launch itself. Check out the website for scheduled launches. These are often only scheduled a few weeks in advance to make sure to look as your trip to French Guiana is approaching. Launches are never guaranteed and are dependent on a number of incredibly complex factors, one of which includes weather (which can be challenging in the tropical environment.) However, getting the opportunity to see a launch can be incredibly powerful and special.
Guiana Space Centre Museum
At the space center, you will find a museum that comprehensively goes over the history of the development of the center, the different important buildings and functions throughout the space center, and the rockets that get launched from this location. You will learn about the purpose of the rockets and the future possibilities and purposes of space exploration. Purchase tickets in advance here.
Things to Do in Kourou: Iles du Salut
The other popular tourist destination in French Guiana is the Iles du Salut, the most notorious penal colony in French Guiana. Located on three tropical islands 1.5 hours away from Kourou, this prison held the worst criminals of France from 1852 to 1953 when there were no prisoners left on the islands.
The Iles du Salut (also known as the Salvation Islands) are made up of three islands and each of which had a different purpose for the penal colony. One island held the political prisoners that were deemed intellectually dangerous and treasonous for France. You cannot visit this island today because it is unsafe to land on. Another held the most dangerous criminals in the harshest of conditions. Today, you can still walk through the ruins of the prison cells, although the forest on this island has definitely taken back over the buildings of the island.
The final island is where the guards and their families lived along with the working convicts. The buildings here have been maintained and restored and you can read about their history and functions on plaques around the island, written in English and French. There is also a hotel on this island where you can choose to stay if you want to experience more of the island life, including swimming in a little protected bay.
Tour Options
There are a few group tours that take you to the islands. The tours with catamarans allow you to visit two different islands and swim in the waters around the island. Through these tours, you will first visit the island with the maintained buildings and get to walk around the whole island, swim in the protected bay, and read about the different buildings on the island. After this, you will have the opportunity to eat a lunch that you have brought and swim in the protected waters of the second island.
Finally, you will get to visit the second island with the ruins of the prison cells. We recommend touring with Tropic Alizes because their catamaran has tables on board and allows you to eat lunch on the boat. (If you choose to eat lunch on the islands, you may be bothered by the monkeys that now inhabit the islands.) The tour, while in French, is comprehensive and the guides are kind and helpful, even for those who don’t understand French.
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