Îles du Salut - Salvation Islands Cruise Shuttles

A series of French islands off the coast of South America’s French-owned property of Guiana, the famed Îles du Salut are home to an exceptional backdrop for cruise goers looking to reach a surreal paradise known for its walkable rock shores and palm-lined core. From a larger cruise ship, one could make out every intricacy of the island from afar. Ships are likely to dock somewhere between the islands as well as the nearby city of Kourou, located ten miles southwest near the mainland’s Roches Beach. Smaller ships can tender passengers to the main dock along Royale Island, the main three islands home to a small community with a few resorts, a church and several scenic lookouts. With one main road available on the main island, vehicle transfers are mostly handled by a few local agencies beside the dock. Water taxis and local fisherman can also make aquatic transfers much easier for cross-island adventures.

Composed of three main islands, the beauty of Salvation’s Islands are its many diverse ecosystems that call for preparedness by both land and sea. The central Royale Island is home to quiet lawn lookouts from Cinétélescope K400, an idyllic observation deck home to open-air lawns, stony beaches and close access to historic monuments such as the Lighthouse of Li’le Royale, among other ruins and buildings shrouded with island vegetation. Along the south side of the island is Royal Island Chapel, an especially interesting place home to cobblestone flooring and colonial-style accents. For further exploration, the slightly less populated Saint-Joseph Island offers a small collection of buildings on its south side as well as an abandoned prison, while the uninhabited Devil’s Island offers rough terrain and difficult access points north of Royale Island. All in all, rich lessons of history on the main island as well as Kourou on the mainland offer plenty to fill the day.