French Guiana Daytrip

You will be picked up at well-known hotels in Paramaribo between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM. From there, we will depart for Albina, a journey that takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours. In Albina, we will board a dugout canoe to cross into the neighboring country of French Guiana, specifically to St. Laurent du Maroni. This town is best known for the book Papillon.

In 1852, the first 6,000 prisoners from France were sent to French Guiana to serve their sentences in the local prison, including the famous Papillon. St. Laurent became widely known due to Papillon, who spent time within the walls of this penal camp. The prison operated until 1946 and is now a museum, offering guided tours daily from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. During this tour, you will learn about the history of the prison and other notable points of interest.

After the tour, we will walk through some shops and visit the market, where various communities sell their products. We will also explore some old buildings known for their architecture. Saint-Laurent is nicknamed “Le Petit Paris” because of its colonial architectural style.

We will then return to “Old St. Laurent” by boat to Albina and head back to Paramaribo. Lunch is included and will be provided at a local restaurant in Suriname.