FRENCH GUIANA

(EUR) Currency News >>

French Guiana belongs to the French Overseas Departments and therefore its currency is the Euro.

CURRENCY:

Euro - EUR, Symbol €

DENOMINATIONS:

NOTE: €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5.

COIN: €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5 cents.

US DOLLAR ACCEPTED?

CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS AND ATMS:

Most major credit cards are accepted (including Carte Bleue). There are ATMs in certain areas: Cayenne, Kourou, Ile de Cayenne and Saint Laurent du Maroni.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE:

You can exchange currency during the week and there are bureaux de change in the airport at Rochambeau and Cayenne.

TRAVELLER'S CHEQUES:

These are not strongly recommended as they are only accepted in a few places in Cayenne and Kourou. If necessary, then they are best in US dollars, Euros and Sterling.

BANKING HOURS:

Mon-Fri 0730-1730. Most banks close for 2 hours for lunch from 1200.

CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS:

None

COUNTRY OVERVIEW:

French Guiana is located in the north of South America, and is an overseas department of France. Therefore, it uses the Euro as its currency. It has coastal areas and rainforest. The capital is Cayenne.

POPULATION:

Around 223,000

ECONOMY:

French Guiana relies on France for trade, goods and subsidies. In the 1970s and 1980s, there was increased feeling of a desire to to gain autonomy from France, but this reliance means that they would struggle. Main industries in French Guiana are fishing, timber and gold mining. Tourism is also on the up, and a large proportion of the population works for the Guiana Space Centre. However, unemployment is a large problem in the country - at around 20 to 30%.