Once a reception camp for newly arrived convicts, St Laurent retains some picturesque colonial buildings and a certain backwater charm. The Camp de la Transportation has grim reminders of the harshness of life in the penal colony, including cells and shackles. The fascinating Sunday market held here features Hmong embroidery and weaving and delicious local noodle soups. This is one of French Guiana's most accessible wildlife areas, but it's still well off the beaten track. The abundant marshes in the area are home to a variety of bird life as well as plenty of caimans, a smaller relative of the American alligator.
Basic lodging is available.
Canoe trips on Gabrielle Creek can be arranged at Dacca, a Laotian village near Roura. River trips on the Maroni River can be arranged from St Laurent du Maroni. Kaw is a good place for bird watching , and you can see leatherback turtles near Mana between April and September. There are great ecotourism opportunities in the forested interior, though trips are expensive. The original inhabitants of French Guiana were Carib and Arawak Indians.