Quand voir les tortues Luth à la plage des Hattes ?

Les tortues Luth viennent pondre sur la plage des Hattes de mars à juillet, avec un pic en avril-mai environ. C'est l'une des dernières grandes zones de ponte de cette espèce, protégée par la Réserve naturelle nationale de l'Amana.

Comment se rendre à la plage des Hattes à Awala-Yalimapo ?

Entrez dans le bourg de Mana : un panneau indique la direction vers Awala-Yalimapo. La commune se situe à environ 22 kilomètres de Mana, à l'extrême nord-ouest de la Guyane.

La plage des Hattes est-elle aménagée ?

Oui. La plage est bien aménagée et relativement propre, avec plusieurs tables pour se restaurer et des palmiers à l'ombre desquels accrocher un hamac. Des artisans y proposent leurs produits.

Pourquoi la plage des Hattes est-elle menacée ?

La plage subit l'érosion : une grande partie a disparu en quelques années, sans doute en lien avec la hausse du niveau de la mer. Le braconnage des tortues et la pêche illégale demeurent aussi des dangers pour les tortues marines.

Eau & baignade★ Free accessAwala-Yalimapo

Plage des Hattes, capitale des Luths

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Overview

Awala-Yalimapo is renowned for Plage des Hattes, a 5-kilometre beach. It is one of the last major nesting sites for the leatherback turtle. Nesting runs from March to July, peaking in April and May; hatchlings emerge from July to September, some sixty days after each clutch is laid. The site is protected by the Amana National Nature Reserve. The commune lies at the far north-west tip of French Guiana, between the mouth of the Mana river and the Maroni.

Why Visit

Plage des Hattes is well maintained and relatively clean. Several tables are available for picnicking and hammocks can be hung in the shade of the palm trees. Local artisans sell their crafts — sometimes made on the spot, such as carved calabashes. The beach is suffering from erosion: a large section has disappeared over recent years, likely linked to rising sea levels. Turtle poaching and egg theft, though reduced, continue, and illegal fishing remains a threat to marine turtles.

History and Environment

Plage des Hattes is one of the last major leatherback turtle nesting sites in the world. To protect it, the Amana National Nature Reserve was created: 14,800 hectares listed as a Ramsar site since 1993, home to around 286 bird species and four species of sea turtle - leatherback, green, olive ridley and, more rarely, hawksbill. The commune of Awala-Yalimapo lies about 22 kilometres from Mana, at the far north-west of French Guiana: its territory is bounded to the north by the Atlantic Ocean, to the west by the Maroni, to the south by Crique Canard, and to the east by a line crossing Pointe Isère.

Practical Information

Turtles come ashore around high tide, so it is worth timing your visit with the tide tables. At night, keep lighting to a strict minimum and use no flash, which disorients the females; leave several dozen metres around the nesting site. During emergence, picking up hatchlings is forbidden, even to help them reach the sea.

Getting There

To reach Plage des Hattes, enter the town of Mana: a signpost indicates the direction to Awala-Yalimapo. The commune is about 22 kilometres from Mana.

Wildlife

What you might see

Species most often reported by naturalists around this place. Nothing is guaranteed: wildlife comes and goes.

Reptile
Tortue Luth
Dermochelys coriacea
Pendant les pontes, restez à distance des tortues, sans lumière blanche ni flash.
Photo credit
© Julien Renoult, CC BY · taken in Cayenne · iNaturalist
Bird
Ibis rouge
Eudocimus ruber
Photo credit
© Jan Ebr & Ivana Ebrová, CC BY · taken in Kourou · iNaturalist
Bird
Aigrette neigeuse
Egretta thula
Photo credit
© Imrick B., CC BY · taken in Remire-Montjoly · iNaturalist
Bird
Urubu noir
Coragyps atratus
Photo credit
© Jan Ebr & Ivana Ebrová, CC BY · taken in Saint-Georges · iNaturalist

Observations: GBIF and iNaturalist. Sources and credits

Getting there

Location

Awala-Yalimapo · Guyane

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Frequently asked questions

When can I see leatherback turtles at Plage des Hattes?+

Leatherback turtles come to nest on Plage des Hattes from March to July, peaking in April and May. It is one of the last major nesting sites for this species, protected by the Amana National Nature Reserve.

How do I get to Plage des Hattes in Awala-Yalimapo?+

Enter the town of Mana: a signpost points toward Awala-Yalimapo. The commune is about 22 kilometres from Mana, at the far north-west of French Guiana.

Is Plage des Hattes well equipped?+

Yes. The beach is well maintained and relatively clean, with several picnic tables and palm trees under which to hang a hammock. Local artisans sell their products there.

Why is Plage des Hattes under threat?+

The beach is being eroded: a large section has disappeared in recent years, likely linked to rising sea levels. Turtle poaching and illegal fishing also remain dangers for marine turtles.