A la découverte des Îles du Salut

By boat only, from the port of Kourou. The crossing takes about 1 hour 30 minutes depending on sea conditions.

Île Royale, the largest at 28 hectares, which holds the remains of the penal colony; Île Saint-Joseph with its ruined penitentiary; and Devil's Island, where Alfred Dreyfus was held, closed to visitors.

The 1854 chapel, whose decoration was painted between 1938 and 1940 by the convict Francis Lagrange, known as Flag; the 1934 lighthouse; and the former director's house, now an inn and a museum devoted to the penal colony.

Yes, it is advisable, especially in high season: places are limited and schedules depend on operators and the weather.