Sinnamary

Sinnamary is one of the oldest settlements on the Guiana coast, a Creole town on the estuary of the river of the same name, with wooden houses around a church square and a jetty where scarlet ibis fly past at dawn and dusk on their way between roosts and mudflats. Deported priests and politicians were held here during the Revolution, which the town remembers quietly. The Petit-Saut dam is up the river behind it.

Background

Founded in 1664, Sinnamary was the second French settlement in French Guiana, though the first colonists had reached the area in 1624. The discovery of gold later brought a further boom. The commune covers 1340 km2, and the Guianan Soyuz launch site lies within it. Indonesian and Galibi Amerindian communities live in the town, and both make artwork and jewellery that visitors can buy. The climate is hot and wet: the mean temperature is 26.9 °C, from around 26.3 °C in January to around 27.6 °C in October, and the year brings 3020.0 mm of rain, with May the wettest month. The record high is 35.7 °C, set on 6 November 2008.

Source: Wikipedia, "Sinnamary"

Highlights

• The scarlet ibis - flights along the estuary at dawn and dusk.
• The estuary jetty - the viewpoint over the river mouth and mudflats.
• The Creole houses - wooden buildings around the church square.
• The deportation history - the Revolution-era exiles held in the town.

When to go

July to November is the dry season. Ibis flights happen year round at dawn and dusk. The wet season peaks April to June.

Practical notes

The ibis are seen in flight at a distance rather than close up. The town is very quiet and facilities are few. Half a day is enough unless the birds are the whole point.

Nearby

The Marais de Yiyi are east, and Petit-Saut is inland.

Key facts