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After 3 days in Cayenne it's time to move on to Kourou famous for the rocket-launching base used by the European Space Agency where we are hoping to see the maiden launch of the new Ariane 6 rocket. To get there we hire a car for the next 5 days.
When we booked our trip in October 2024 there was no information available on when the next Ariane 6 will be launched but a few weeks before we our trip the start of the second Ariane 6 flight was scheduled for the 28th of February, rights smack-bang at the time we are here. We couldn't believe our luck!
Unfortunately the flight got delayed due to a problem with the French military reconnaissance satellite on board. The personal at the Space Center could not give us a new date at this time for the first commercial launch of Ariane 6. There are hopes for the 3rd of March - one day after we are flying to Martinique. Should we wait and rebook the rest of our trip?
From Kourou we also take a boat trip to Îles du Salut - a group of 3 islands including Devil's Island - the most notorious penal colony famously known by Papillon - a novel written by Henri Charrière - one of only two successful prisoners who escaped the island.
Our rental car gives us the option to explore more of French Guiana. On the excellent paved main highway N1 we drive west towards Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni.
Highway N1 - 360° Panorama
(move mouse over panorama and click on the arrows)
On the way we take a look at the Petit-Saut dam and reservoir, at the old church in Iracoubo, at one of the many fresh water creeks and at the mouth of the Maroni River before we arrive in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni just before sunset. It's a long driving day with almost 500kms and we end up driving the last 65 km in the dark, something we normally try to avoid.
Petit-Saut dam and reservoir - 360° Panorama
(move mouse over panorama and click on the arrows)
The next day we visit the Bagne des Annamites - another prison camp which was built by the Vietnamese prisoners in the interior of French Guiana right into the middle of the thick jungle.
