Regina | French Guiana

Régina is a riverine commune in French Guiana located approximately 115 km southeast of Cayenne. Despite its small population, it is the second-largest commune in France by land area ($12,130\text{ km}^2$), covering a vast expanse of nearly untouched Amazonian rainforest.

Historical Timeline

Régina was named after the first merchant to settle in the area in the 19th century.

1830s: The administrative center was initially established at Guisanbourg, which focused on sugar and cocoa production using enslaved labor.

1870s: A gold rush in the Approuague basin shifted the regional center to Régina, which grew to several thousand residents.

1936: Régina officially replaced the declining Guisanbourg (now a ghost town) as the capital of the commune.

2003: The completion of the Approuague Bridge integrated Régina into the main road network, finally connecting Cayenne to the Brazilian border.

Demographics & Population

The population is approximately 900 residents. Due to its immense size, the population density is one of the lowest in the world at roughly $0.07\text{ inhabitants/km}^2$. The community is a mix of Creoles, Maroons, and European expatriates involved in conservation and scientific research.

Urban Layout & Key Districts

The commune is characterized by its isolation and lack of traditional urban density.

Régina Village: The main settlement, situated on the banks of the Approuague River.

Kaw: A remote village accessible primarily by water, serving as the gateway to the Kaw-Roura Marshes.

Guisanbourg: A historical "ghost town" accessible by boat, featuring overgrown ruins of the former colonial capital.

Top Landmarks & Nature Reserves

Approuague River: A major waterway known for its powerful rapids (sauts) further inland, historically used for gold transport.

Kaw-Roura Marshland Nature Reserve: Known as the "Everglades of Guyana," this $94,700\text{-hectare}$ reserve is a sanctuary for black caimans and diverse avian species.

Nouragues Nature Reserve: A strictly protected $76,000\text{-hectare}$ primary forest used for international scientific research on tropical ecosystems.

Écomusée d'Approuague-Kaw: A local museum documenting the history of gold mining, slavery, and the indigenous cultures of the region.

Transportation Network

Road: The RN2 highway connects Régina to Cayenne (approx. 1 hour 45 mins) and Saint-Georges de l'Oyapock on the Brazilian border (approx. 1 hour).

Bus: The Transport Interurbain Guyanais (TIG) operates scheduled coaches between Cayenne and Régina.

River: Motorized pirogues are the essential mode of transport for reaching the village of Kaw and the interior rainforest camps.

Safety & Health

Disease: Régina is a high-risk zone for Malaria. Prophylaxis and mosquito protection are mandatory for visitors. Yellow Fever vaccination is a legal requirement for entry to French Guiana.

River Navigation: The Approuague has dangerous rapids; navigating the upper river requires a licensed local guide.

Wildlife: The area is home to jaguars, venomous snakes, and black caimans. Deep forest excursions should never be attempted without professional logistics.

Digital & Financial Infrastructure

4G coverage is available in the main village but disappears quickly once entering the river systems or the forest. There are no banks or ATMs in Régina; travelers must carry sufficient Euros (€) from Cayenne.

Climate & Ecology

Climate: Equatorial (Köppen $Af$). It is one of the wettest regions in French Guiana, with heavy rainfall year-round and nearly 100% humidity.

Biodiversity: The commune hosts the Petite Montagnes Tortue, a quartz mountain range home to rare endemic plants and one of the highest concentrations of biomass in South America.

Local Cost Index

1 Espresso: ~€2.50

1 Pirogue Rental (Full day with guide): ~€150–€250

1 Night in a traditional Carbet (Hammock shelter): ~€15–€30

Facts & Legends

A verified geographical fact is that Régina contains the most remote scientific station in France (Nouragues), accessible only by helicopter or several days of river travel. Local legend speaks of the "Dilo de l'Or," a phantom gold that glitters in the Approuague during the full moon, said to lead greedy prospectors to drown in the river's deep whirlpools.