Cayenne is one of South America's most pleasant capitals. It has a relaxed tropical ambiance and its French-colonial buildings lend it the atmosphere of the French Quarter of New Orleans. Cayenne is the administrative and commercial center of French Guiana and is home to 40,000 inhabitants. As well as interesting architecture, the city offers
shopping, small museums, a 17th C fort and a traditional market full of exotic aromas.
Cayenne is located at the western end of a small, hilly peninsula between the Cayenne and Mahury rivers on the Atlantic coast. The French established their first settlement here after acquiring land from the Amerindian Chief Cépérou in 1643. The city is named Cayenne after another chief of the period. Cayenne's harbor is too shallow for large ships. Larger ships dock at nearby Degrad des Cannes. Cayenne is served by the Rochambeau airport.