Îles du Salut
Three islands off Kourou that held convicts until 1953, now owned by CNES and an hour away by boat.
- Arrival
- Cayenne Félix Eboué · CAY
- To the islands
- About an hour by boat from Kourou marina
- Private jets
- Land at Cayenne (CAY)
- Best time
- August to October
The city
The old penal islands.
Île Royale, Île Saint-Joseph and Île du Diable all held prisoners until 1953. Captain Dreyfus spent four years on Île du Diable, where visitors cannot land today. Saint-Joseph was kept for the most defiant convicts, in tiny cells, some of them without a window, and monkeys now climb through its ruins.
Boats put in at Île Royale. A marked path goes round it in an hour or so, past the prison museum in the former director’s house, the natural saltwater pool once used by the convicts, where you can still swim, and the cove of Anse Le Goff. Lunch is on the inn’s terrace above the ocean. Anyone staying the night sleeps in the old guards’ houses or in a hammock under the coconut palms.
- Île Royale The landing island, with the prison museum, coconut palms and a loop path of an hour to an hour and a half.
- The bagnards’ pool A natural saltwater pool on Île Royale, named after the convicts, where swimming is allowed.
- Île Saint-Joseph Cells built for the most defiant prisoners, some with no window, under the trees.
Arriving
Plane, road, then boat.
The islands have no airstrip. Fly into Cayenne Félix Eboué, drive to Kourou and cross from the marina by catamaran, sailing boat or shuttle. Boats go out from 8 a.m. and come back from 4 p.m., and the timetable bends to the weather and to rocket launches.
- Barbados 1 h 50
- Antigua 2 h 30
- Palm Beach 5 h 10
- Dakar 5 h 30
- Paris 9 h 25 long-range jet
When to go
August to October.
Figures for Cayenne, on the coast opposite. The tourism board advises the dry season from July to November; on these averages August to October are the months under 100 mm, with days of 32 °C.
- 29° J 366 27°
- 29° F 305 27°
- 29° M 373 27°
- 30° A 439 27°
- 29° M 544 27°
- 30° J 411 28°
- 31° J 201 28°
- 32° A 97 28°
- 32° S 41 28°
- 32° O 46 28°
- 31° N 124 28°
- 30° D 295 27°
Where to stay
Back on the mainland, at Kourou.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
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Hôtel des Roches Directly opposite the islands on the Kourou seafront, its pool facing out to sea.
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Mercure Kourou Ariatel Suites of at least 40 m² with kitchen corners, by the Lac Bois Diable and a short drive from the marina.
Flying to Îles du Salut?
Choose how you arrive.
A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.