Îles du Salut, French Guiana

Self-Guided Exploration

See the Infamous Former French Penal Colony Discover the penal colony where France sent its most notorious criminals between 1852 and 1953. The three Îles du Salut (Salvation Islands) include Île Royale, Île Saint-Joseph and Île du Diable—the infamous Devil’s Island. Due to the choppy, shark-infested waters surrounding them, the islands were considered escape-proof, but that did not stop the famous prisoner Henri Charrières, also known as Papillon, from making several successful attempts. Another famous prisoner here was Lieutenant Albert Dreyfus, who in 1894 was wrongly convicted of treason and whose case was one of the most scandalous miscarriages of justice in modern French history. You will tender ashore to Île Royale, the onetime administrative center of the colony. The island is now a peaceful retreat where you might spot some macaws, capuchin monkeys and sea turtles. * Moderate - Walking portions may be long and somewhat challenging with occasional step-ups, stairs and inclines. Total time walking or standing normally ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours.