Le Guiana Amazonian Park, in unexplored lands
With the feel of the ends of the earth, the Guiana Amazonian Park offers the grandiose spectacle of luxuriant nature. That of primary forest filled with ancestral secrets, still inhabited by spectacular fauna and flora for which the list of identified species grows ever longer, as new discoveries are made. A unique sanctuary for explorers and adventurers.
Do you dream of going off the beaten track, of treading still unexplored lands, of finding biodiversity so rich that scientists are still making discoveries there? You are dreaming of the Guiana Amazonian Park. In this land of surprises, you will travel through forests or on great rivers, and each meander will bring you its batch of wonders. Its abundant forest landscapes, fabulous wildlife and long labyrinthine rivers make it an inestimable treasure for the planet and a dream destination for all explorers, in search of strong sensations and a very broad range of activities.
Adventures that exalt the imagination
From your hammock, delight in the sunrise over the forest canopy after a night spent on an inselberg (isolated hill), embrace the clouds on the summits of mythical mountains, stand alongside the “giants” of the forest, trees that can reach 60 metres in height, sail beside Giant Otters on an unspoilt river… All these extraordinary adventures to be experienced off the beaten path and in the wild in southern French Guiana!
Climb mythical Mount Galbao to look out over the canopy
In Saül, take the Galbao layon (non-waymarked trail) to visit the mountain of the same name, one of the highest summits in French Guiana. Part of the journey runs along splendid ridges high above the canopy, under a low-altitude slope forest whose tall trunks, rich flora and pale understory emit a bewitching odour. This layon, with its many ups and downs, requires you to be in good physical condition. Plan to bivouac in the forest with your guide and to take at least three days and two nights.
Observe the Giant Otters of the Mémora Creek
20 kilometres downstream of the little town of Camopi, the Mémora Creek is a sanctuary of biodiversity. This tributary of the Oyapock, the great river running along the border with Brazil, has been spared from illegal gold mining. It is therefore not uncommon to see otters or spider monkeys (kwata). You can reach the foot of the Susu Bella inselberg, a hill emerging from the tropical forest, a real hideout for orchids and rare birds, and an archaeological site containing many Amerindian grinder stones.
Sail through the Abattis Cottica labyrinth
Some fifteen kilometres north of the little town of Papaïchton, innumerable pastel-coloured rocks line the banks of the great Maroni River. The local people take great care sailing their dugout canoes through this immense fluvial labyrinth, where calm and peaceful stretches alternate with turbulent and perilous falls. This is Abattis Cottica, which was added to the national list of natural sites and monuments in 2011. The Cottica mountain (730 metres) dominates the scene, one of the most striking landscapes in French Guiana.
