What's on in Cayenne (French Guiana), French Guiana through the year

Busy — Carnaval de Guyane, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Carnaval de Guyane

  6 Jan – 18 FebCarnivalCrowded

  Six weeks rather than a weekend: Sunday parades through Cayenne and, on Saturday nights, the touloulou balls where masked women in full costume pick the men to dance and nobody may refuse. It ends with Vaval burned. Source ↗

Busy — Carnaval de Guyane, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Petit été de mars

  15 Feb – 31 Mar · usuallyDry season

  A short break between the two rainy seasons that locals plan around — a few weeks of drier days before the heavy rains return in April. It moves by a fortnight either way and some years barely shows up. Source ↗

Still on: Carnaval de Guyane (6 Jan – 18 Feb)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Nature

  Leatherback nesting

  1 Mar – 31 Aug · usuallyTurtle nesting

  Leatherbacks haul out at night on the beaches at Rémire-Montjoly and, in far greater numbers, on the reserve beaches west towards Awala-Yalimapo. Hatchlings run for the water from around June. Source ↗

Still on: Carnaval de Guyane (6 Jan – 18 Feb), Petit été de mars (15 Feb – 31 Mar (usually))

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Leatherback nesting (1 Mar – 31 Aug (usually))

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Leatherback nesting (1 Mar – 31 Aug (usually))

Busy — Abolition of slavery day, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Abolition of slavery day

  10 JunNational holidayClosures

  A public holiday marking the 1848 proclamation read in Cayenne, with ceremonies at the memorial, marches and talks across the territory. Offices and many shops close. Source ↗

Still on: Leatherback nesting (1 Mar – 31 Aug (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Leatherback nesting (1 Mar – 31 Aug (usually))

Busy — one of its best months for weather

• Season

  The long dry season

  15 Aug – 15 Nov · usually

  The most settled months, when forest trails dry out and the rivers up to Amerindian and Maroon villages are easier going. The best window for the Iles du Salut and inland trips, though turtle nesting is over by then.

Still on: Leatherback nesting (1 Mar – 31 Aug (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: The long dry season (15 Aug – 15 Nov (usually))

Busy — one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: The long dry season (15 Aug – 15 Nov (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: The long dry season (15 Aug – 15 Nov (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in December.