From the Suriname border, travel to Kourou by mini bus took about 2.5 hours. We made a short stop in Iracoubo for snacks and water. Then we went straight to the Centre spatial Guyanais (Guiana Space Centre). Although there is a small airport in Kourou, most of us needed to fly from Cayenne to our next destination. Besides the Space Centre, the other highlight is visiting the Salvation Islands off the coast. Boats depart from the Kourou river and take about an hour to reach the islands through muddy water. The town of Kourou is quite small, but the walk from Dreyfus tower along the beach boardwalk to the hotel was scenic. We also found some nice restaurants along the way.
Highlights
- Centre spatial Guyanais a part of the European Space Agency and site of most launches for Europe. Jupiter control room and many launch sites nearby
- Engraved Rocks of Carapa
- Plage de la Cocoteraie (Beach)
- Pointe des Roches and Dreyfus Tower, which was used for communications with the Salvation Islands
- Rond-point des Toucans
- Kourou river and departure point for the Salvation Islands
Before you go
- Most places take credit cards and the currency is Euros
- Book ahead for the Guiana Space Centre tours and keep an eye on launch dates
- According to our Space centre guide, the best place to watch launches is from the beach!
- Hot, humid weather with rainy season from December to June
- Walking during the day is safe but use caution at night
- Restaurants often close between lunch and dinner (similar to mainland France) so check times. Also, GoogleMaps opening times were inaccurate
Transport
- Kourou has its own small airport, but not for international flights
- Taxis are available, but we mostly had a mini bus or taxi vans to take us around for further distances like between Kourou and Cayenne
- Walking along the beach and through town is possible
Accommodation
- We stayed at Hôtel Atlantis Kourou, which was well-located near the Space Centre and main town. It had air conditioning, comfortable rooms, and very good breakfast!
- As usual I recommend checking reviews on Google Reviews or using AirBnB
Food
Copacabana bar at Plage de la Cocoteraie was a fun find on our walk from Dreyfus tower. It’s a stall with cocktails and other drinks right at the beach. The music and vibe were great, and families were enjoying the swings and the sea. We even spotted some flying fish! I can recommend their passion fruit mojito.
We tried to go to Mundo Loco but it was not open when we passed by. So we went next door to the Maison Péruvienne. It’s in a lovely location with a view of the beach. Service was very friendly and efficient. And the menu selection was very diverse. Delicious fish, seafood, steak and dessert!
Our only other meal was the tasty breakfast buffet at Hôtel Atlantis Kourou. I really enjoyed the selection fresh tropical fruits!
FAQs
Q: Do I need a tour guide?
A: No, you don’t need a tour guide to visit and get around Kourou. However, you do need to join a tour to visit the Space Agency
Q: Do people speak English?
A: Some people do, but it is useful to know French or have a translation app such as GoogleTranslate.
Q: Is it a walkable city?
A: No, you probably need a car or taxi to see the main attractions. For example, the space centre is not near to the town. You can walk between the beach and some hotels. However, at night there were very dark streets and some shady people around so I was glad we were in a group!
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