The Guianas - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 668

COMMUNICATIONS
The efficient postal system is integrated
with that of metropolitan France, which
makes deliveries to Europe quick and
cheap. Public telephone booths that
accept France Telecom cards for local calls
are almost obsolete, replaced by mobile
phones. To use your mobile phone , get it
unlocked, then purchase a local SIM card
from operators such as Digicel and
Orange. When calling French Guiana
from abroad you must dial 594 (country
code) followed by a nine-digit number
also beginning 594 (or 694 for mobiles).
For international calls it's better to
buy phone cards that work with PINs
( libre service ), available from convenience
stores, or else opt for Skype. Most hotels
offer wi-fi and there are internet cafés in
both Cayenne and St Laurent.

FRENCH GUIANA ON THE NET
W tourisme-guyane.com O cial site
providing information on
accommodation, transport, tour agencies
and life in French Guiana.
W cg973.fr Culture, sport and a general
overview of French Guianese life.
W terresdeguyane.fr/guyane News,
politics, history, nature and some helpful
links.

you're arriving from certain South
American countries. There have also
been recent outbreaks of dengue fever
and Q fever, so mosquito repellent
is essential.
Tap water is drinkable throughout the
coastal area but avoid drinking creek or
river water. European-standard medical
care is available in Cayenne, Kourou and
St Laurent du Maroni. The European
Health Insurance Card ( W www.ehic.org
.uk) that allows travellers to receive free
medical treatment in participating
member states works in French Guiana.

7

CRIME AND SAFETY
There are certain areas of Cayenne that
are best avoided after dark, such as the
area immediately south of Avenue de
Liberté and the smaller, poorly lit side
streets in the centre. The area around
Canal Laussat and the market can be
sketchy and it's best to stick to well-lit
main streets such as Avenue du Général
de Gaulle and Rue Lalouette as much
as possible. Drug addicts and beggars
can be a nuisance both in Cayenne and
in St Laurent. If sleeping in a carbet on
a deserted beach, mind your valuables.

INFORMATION AND MAPS
Printed information (mostly in French)
is readily available in tourist offices in
Cayenne and St Laurent, where you
will also find good city maps. Ask for
a copy of Le Guide , a handy, annual,
easy-to-carry guide, which lists hotels,
restaurants, bars and clubs throughout
French Guiana in French and English.
The internationally available Guyana,
Suriname & French Guiana by
International Travel Maps is useful for
a general overview of the country but
contains errors. If you can read French,
it's well worth buying the Guide Guyane
by Philippe Boré - a labour of love and
a detailed and entertaining guidebook to
French Guiana.

HEALTH
Malaria prophylactics are recommended
for all areas, though the risk is thought
to be low along the coast. A number of
vaccinations, including hepatitis A,
hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever,
tetanus-diphtheria and rabies, are also
strongly recommended. Vaccination
against yellow fever is compulsory if

MONEY AND BANKS
The currency of French Guiana is the
euro (€), and credit/debit cards are widely
accepted in the urban centres. ATMs
generally accept Visa, MasterCard and
Eurocard (and occasionally American

EMERGENCY NUMBERS
Ambulance T 15
Police T 17
Fire service T 18