CAPITAL CAYENNE - POPULATION 199,510 - AREA 91,000 SQ KM - OFFICIAL LANGUAGE FRENCH
It's likely that most people couldn't pinpoint French Guiana – not to be confused with Guyana to its north – on a map. This small and distinctly Francophone nation, tucked between Suriname and Brazil, is a curiosity in the region: it belongs to the EU and you can settle your bill in Euros. With a beautiful, rugged coastline, and ecotourism to its lush rain forested interior in its infancy, it's a challenging though highly rewarding destination to trek and travel across. If exploration slightly further afield is your thing, head to the Centre Spacial Guyanais, from which around two-thirds of the world's satellites have set out for the final frontier. Check its website (www.cnes.fr) to see if something might be hurtling skyward while you're in town.
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