Devil's Island

Devil's Island

Standing on Isle Royale in the Salvation Islands, you can see how the tropical jungle has overgrown the abandoned prison walls on Devil's Island. Long ago a leper colony, then a French prison, now Devil's Island is a tourist attraction and station for rocket scientists. The base at Kourou is responsible for launching nearly half the world's commercial satellites. Devil's Island is rich in history. This location was the subject of the book Papillon, and movie of the same name, about the colorful thief known as Henri Charriere, who claimed to be the only man to escape from Devil's Island. Now it's a place that people escape to.

Attractions

Exploring Ile Royale - Walking on the island is on hilly and uneven paths; the road circling the island is mostly on flat ground. After tendering ashore, the tour staff will be on hand to direct you towards the walking paths that lead uphill, where the majority of the buildings, including the museum and the small hotel are located.On nearby Devil’s Island are the ruins of the facility used for housing political prisoners. Here the inmates were often left without guards, since strong currents and sharks made a getaway virtually impossible. To this day there are no proper facilities to land on Devil’s Island. All penal facilities in French Guiana were finally shut down in the 1940s.

Shopping

T-shirts, postcards, guidebooks and a variety of souvenirs are available at the Auberge’s gift shop, but be aware that everything is fairly expensive.

Food

Snacks and drinks are available at the Auberge Iles du Salut.

Currency

The local currency is the euro.

Weather Forecast

Sailing Calendar

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