Best time to go to French Guyana for a perfect weather and where to go?
Julie Parment and Tony Samson last update: 27/05/2024When is the best time to go to French Guyana?
The best time to visit French Guiana is undoubtedly during the dry season, between August and November. However, the "little summer of March," which marks a lull in the heart of the rainy season, is also a very good option.
Visiting French Guiana offers the extraordinary opportunity to discover abundant nature. The Amazon rainforest covers 97% of the territory and provides a superb playground for hiking and wildlife enthusiasts. Just a few kilometers from Cayenne, for example, you can take the beautiful Rorota trail, while experienced adventurers can embark on multi-day expeditions around Saül.
French Guiana also has a unique culture, blending Creole, Amerindian, Maroon, Hmong, and Brazilian traditions. This multi-ethnicity is one of the main assets of this French overseas department! It can be found everywhere, from the splendid Creole houses in the city center of the capital to the carbets, wooden shelters without walls where you can hang your hammock, found along the rivers, and the village of Cacao, where a Laotian community found refuge in the late 1970s.
Along the coast, incredible golden sandy beaches lined with palm trees offer postcard-perfect landscapes. The Caribbean Sea here carries the sediments of the Amazon River, so the water is not clear, but swimming is still delightful! For crystal-clear waters, head to the Salvation Islands, located about fifteen kilometers off the coast of Kourou. Infamously known for housing the penal colony until 1953, it is now a peaceful place rich in history.
French Guiana also represents modernity with the presence of the CSG, the Guiana Space Centre. Visiting it is fascinating, and with a bit of luck, your stay might coincide with a rocket launch: a spectacle to see at least once in a lifetime!
When is the best time to visit French Guiana for the carnival? It takes place in January and February in the main cities of the department. During this period, the rainy season is less intense, and the weather alternates between clear blue skies and brief showers. Perfect for immersing yourself in this highlight of Guyanese life and relaxing at the beach between parades!
Lastly, a vacation in French Guiana during the rainy season is entirely possible. It is hotter, and showers are frequent, but it rarely rains all day. Moreover, between April and June, it is the perfect time to witness the nesting of leatherback turtles along the coasts, especially around Awala-Yalimapo.
Annual weather in French Guyana
For information about the climate and the weather city by city in French Guyana for a specific month, click on the corresponding line below:
| Month | Our opinion | View Details | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21°C to 30°C | tolerable weather* | |||
| February | 28°C | tolerable weather* | |||
| March | 21°C to 31°C | tolerable weather* | |||
| April | 22°C to 31°C | tolerable weather* | |||
| May | 22°C to 30°C | very bad weather* | |||
| June | 21°C to 31°C | tolerable weather* | |||
| July | 21°C to 32°C | tolerable weather | |||
| August | 21°C to 34°C | good weather | |||
| September | 21°C to 35°C | good weather | |||
| October | 21°C to 36°C | good weather | |||
| November | 31°C | good weather | |||
| December | 29°C | tolerable weather* |
Best time to travel to French Guiana by cities
Climate and Weather in French Guyana
The climate in French Guiana is of equatorial type with abundant rainfall and a constant temperature throughout the year.
The department is located in the northeast of South America, just 4° above the equator, which brings a certain meteorological stability. French Guiana is open to the north on the Atlantic Ocean and shares borders with Suriname to the east and Brazil to the south.
The weather in French Guiana is characterized by four seasons:
- The "small rainy season" which lasts from early December to late February.
- The "little summer of March", a month during which precipitation is slightly lower.
- The "big rainy season" which extends from April to late July, with a peak in humidity in May.
- The "big dry season", between August and late November.
In general, humidity levels are very high in French Guiana: between 80 and 90% depending on the season. The region is actually known to be one of the wettest in the world! It is in Cacao and Saint-Georges-de-l'Oyapock that the highest annual rainfall is recorded. However, French Guiana has a very high overall sunshine duration. Indeed, when it rains, the downpours are very intense, but they quickly give way to bright sunshine.
Temperatures are fairly constant throughout the year, with small variations depending on the months. There is a drop in temperature at night, but the thermometer never drops below 20°C. Furthermore, the feeling of heat is greatly accentuated by humidity and the midday can be stifling. It is worth noting that the thermal amplitude of the sea water is also very low: it fluctuates between 28 and 29°C, regardless of the period.
Climate in French Guiana during the rainy seasons
The rainy seasons occur at two periods in the year: the major one between April and late July, and the minor one from December to February. They present a similar climate: it is hot, very humid, and rainy in the form of regular showers. May is the most unfavorable month for a stay in French Guiana, with up to 25 days of rain. February is the least rainy month, although it is still very relative. In terms of temperatures, it ranges between 30 and 32°C during the day, and around 21°C at night.
Climate in French Guiana during the dry seasons
The major dry season lasts from August to November. The atmosphere is slightly less humid, but it is hotter: between 34 and 36°C. September and October are the hottest and driest months of the year, a perfect time to explore French Guiana. However, expect some short showers, which usually occur in the late afternoon or at night.
There is also a minor dry season, also known as “little summer of March”, a period of 2 to 3 weeks during the peak of the rainy season when the downpours are less frequent and the sun is shining.
Temperatures and rainfall in French Guyana
On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of French Guiana and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Cayenne, Kourou, Mana, Maripasoula and Apatou, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in French Guyana
Find out when French Guiana has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons in French Guyana
The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, February, March, April, May, June, July and September. The number of visitors to French Guiana is high in: August, October, November and December.
- Very low season in French Guyana: January, February, March and May.
- Low season in French Guyana: April, June, July and September.
- High season in French Guyana: August and October.
- Peak season in French Guyana: November and December.
Figure: Visitor index for French Guiana month by month
Average price for flights to French Guyana
A return flight between London and Cayenne is generally cheaper if you go in november ($ 905 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 468 more for your airline ticket to Cayenne if you go in august.
Find the best price for your flight Flight prices to French Guyana
Where to go in French Guyana?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Cayenne | 28°C | 28°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 30°C | 31°C | 32°C | 32°C | 31°C | 29°C |
| Kourou | 28°C | 28°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 30°C | 31°C | 31°C | 31°C | 31°C | 29°C |
| Mana | 30°C | 29°C | 30°C | 30°C | 30°C | 30°C | 31°C | 33°C | 34°C | 34°C | 33°C | 31°C |
| Maripasoula | 30°C | 30°C | 31°C | 31°C | 30°C | 31°C | 32°C | 34°C | 35°C | 36°C | 35°C | 32°C |
| Apatou | 30°C | 29°C | 30°C | 30°C | 30°C | 30°C | 31°C | 33°C | 34°C | 34°C | 33°C | 31°C |
| Awala-Yalimapo | 30°C | 29°C | 30°C | 30°C | 30°C | 30°C | 31°C | 33°C | 34°C | 34°C | 33°C | 31°C |
| Cacao | 28°C | 28°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 30°C | 31°C | 32°C | 32°C | 31°C | 29°C |
| Camopi | 29°C | 28°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 30°C | 31°C | 33°C | 35°C | 35°C | 33°C | 30°C |
| Îles du Salut | 28°C | 28°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 30°C | 31°C | 31°C | 31°C | 31°C | 29°C |
| Iracoubo | 28°C | 28°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 30°C | 31°C | 31°C | 31°C | 31°C | 29°C |
| Macouria | 28°C | 28°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 30°C | 31°C | 32°C | 32°C | 31°C | 29°C |
| Montagne des Singes | 28°C | 28°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 30°C | 31°C | 31°C | 31°C | 31°C | 29°C |
| Ouanary | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 30°C | 31°C | 33°C | 35°C | 35°C | 33°C | 31°C |
| Régina | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 30°C | 31°C | 33°C | 35°C | 35°C | 33°C | 31°C |
| Rémire-Montjoly | 28°C | 28°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 30°C | 31°C | 32°C | 32°C | 31°C | 29°C |
| Roura | 28°C | 28°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 30°C | 31°C | 32°C | 32°C | 31°C | 29°C |
| Saint George de l’Oyapock | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 30°C | 31°C | 33°C | 35°C | 35°C | 33°C | 31°C |
| Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni | 30°C | 29°C | 30°C | 30°C | 30°C | 30°C | 31°C | 33°C | 34°C | 34°C | 33°C | 31°C |
| Saül | 30°C | 30°C | 31°C | 31°C | 30°C | 31°C | 32°C | 34°C | 35°C | 36°C | 35°C | 32°C |
| Sinnamary | 28°C | 28°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 30°C | 31°C | 31°C | 31°C | 31°C | 29°C |
Legend:
good weather
tolerable weather
bad weather
very bad weather
About French Guiana
What can I do in French Guyana?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for French Guiana reliable?
Climate data for French Guiana has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for French Guiana allows us to determine the average for each month in Cayenne, Kourou, Mana, Maripasoula, Apatou, Awala-Yalimapo, Cacao, Camopi, and 12 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.