French Guiana, South America travel resource.

French Guiana,South America.

We can't say that French Guiana, site of one of the world's most notorious prisons for more than a century, has been rehabilitated into a top destination for travelers. It's still hot, steamy and insect-ridden -- and it's quite expensive, without the quality of restaurants and hotels to justify the high prices. But it has certainly undergone some major transformations. Devil's Island, where many famous prisoners were held in solitary confinement, has become a coconut-palmed getaway for rocket scientists who work at the French aerospace complex on the mainland. And Hmong villagers, exiled from Laos, have established villages and farms in the country's thick interior jungle.
For intrepid travelers interested in exploring jungle rivers in motorized canoes and staying in South American tribal villages, this may be just the destination. We would stress, however, that this is not mainstream ecotourism: This is adventure, and only those who are willing to put up with a lot of inconvenience and the most basic conditions imaginable need apply.