Maripasoula

Maripasoula covers more ground than any other commune in France, a territory of forest the size of a small country with a river town at its edge, and no road reaches it: you fly from Cayenne or spend two days coming up the Maroni by pirogue. The town is the gateway to the Parc amazonien and the Wayana villages further upstream, and it is the base for anything in the far interior.

Highlights

• The upper Maroni - the river that is the town's road, market and border.
• The largest commune - forest territory on the scale of a small country.
• The park gateway - the base for the Parc amazonien and the far interior.
• The pirogue port - the boats that connect everything upstream and down.

When to go

July to November is the dry season. Flights run year round and book out. Upstream travel to Wayana country requires permits arranged well ahead.

Before you go

Access to the Wayana villages upstream is restricted and permits are required, not a formality. The town itself is functional rather than pretty. Everything is expensive because everything arrives by air or river.

Nearby

Papaïchton is downstream, and Saül is east across the forest.

Key facts