Devil's Island

Island Former French penal colony island off French Guiana

Devil’s Island (Île du Diable), part of French Guiana’s Îles du Salut off Kourou, holds remains of a 19th-20th‑century penal colony; boat excursions visit ruins and nearby beaches.

Devil’s Island (Île du Diable) is the smallest and most notorious of the Îles du Salut group off the coast of French Guiana, near the town of Kourou. It formed part of the French penal colony system from the 19th century until the penal institutions were closed in the 1950s.

The island is visited for the ruins of the former prison infrastructure and its historical association with political prisoners, most famously Alfred Dreyfus. Visits are by boat and are typically short guided landings rather than overnight stays.

Following the closure of the penal colony the islands have remained uninhabited and are protected for their historical ruins and natural environment. Management of visitor access is controlled from the mainland departure point in Kourou.

Devil’s Island lies off the Atlantic coast of French Guiana, a short sea crossing from Kourou and visible as part of the small archipelago known collectively as the Salvation Islands.

Access: Part of the Îles du Salut (Salvation Islands) off the coast of French Guiana and accessible by boat from Kourou on scheduled tourist trips.
Penal colony history: Best known as the site of the island penal colony used by France from the 19th century until the mid-20th century, including the imprisonment of Alfred Dreyfus.

How to Get to Devil's Island #

Devil’s Island (Île du Diable) is accessed by boat from the town and port of Kourou in French Guiana. Visitors normally take organised boat tours or charters that depart from Kourou’s harbour; Kourou itself lies on RN1 about 50-70 km west of Cayenne by road (driving distance from Cayenne to Kourou is typically around an hour). There are no regular public road links directly to the island-access is only by sea.

Tips for Visiting Devil's Island #

Book a boat trip from Kourou and choose a morning departure - the Salvation Islands (including Devil's Island) are served by scheduled operators from Kourou and early crossings are less exposed to choppy coastal conditions.
Combine a visit to Devil's Island with Île Royale and Île Saint-Joseph on the same trip: tour operators in Kourou commonly run multi-island trips and the better-preserved visitor facilities (museum, walkways) are on Île Royale.
Check access restrictions before you go: landing and movement on Devil's Island can be limited for safety or conservation reasons, so confirm with your tour operator which islands and sites are open on the day of your visit.