When to go · Cayenne
Cayenne in May
Avoid month. Long rainy season; heavy rain and flooded roads.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Avoid
- Temperature
- 30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C) / 23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 22
- Crowds
- Low
- French Guiana overall
- Prices
- Low
- French Guiana overall
Verdict
Long rainy season; heavy rain and flooded roads.
All twelve months in one grid — weather, crowds and prices, with gaps left as unknown.
Is another month better than May?
May is rated avoid. These months rate higher:
Weather in May
- CayenneHighs around 30 °C (86 °F), lows around 23 °C (73 °F), rain on about 22 daysHighs around 86 °F (30 °C), lows around 73 °F (23 °C), rain on about 22 days
- Coast (Cayenne to Saint-Laurent), French Guiana · Cayenne, Kourou, Sinnamary, Saint-Laurent, Awala-Yalimaporainy
Hot and humid, 23–32 °C (73–90 °F). Dry season mid-August–November; the 'petit été de mars' brings a short drier break in March; heaviest rain April–June.Hot and humid, 73–90 °F (23–32 °C). Dry season mid-August–November; the 'petit été de mars' brings a short drier break in March; heaviest rain April–June.
Long rainy season season
Green, humid, with a possible short drier spell in Feb–Mar; Carnival runs through Jan–Feb regardless of rain.
Watch: Frequent showers; flooded low spots after heavy rain.
Sea-turtle nesting season
Leatherback and green turtles nest on beaches near Cayenne; guided night visits are the responsible way to see it.
Watch: Confirm current-year dates and any beach access restrictions locally.
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Victory in Europe Day
8 May · Nationwide
Public holiday; some shops and offices close.
Sea-turtle nesting season check
Roughly April to August, peak varies by species · Beaches near Cayenne and further along the coast
Guided night visits become possible; independent access to nesting beaches may be restricted at night — confirm locally.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · French Guiana overall
- Low
- Prices · French Guiana overall
- Low
French Guiana overall: Wettest weeks; turtles nesting.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Cayenne, side by side.
Verdict
May: Avoid
Aug: Great (better)
Daytime high
May: 30 °C (86 °F)86 °F (30 °C)
Aug: 31 °C (88 °F)88 °F (31 °C)
Night low
May: 23 °C (73 °F)73 °F (23 °C)
Aug: 23 °C (73 °F)73 °F (23 °C)
Rain days
May: 22
Aug: 10 (better)
Crowds
May: Low
Aug: Medium
Prices
May: Low
Aug: High
Festivals listed
May: 2
Aug: 3
May: Long rainy season; heavy rain and flooded roads.
August: Dry season starts; best weather.
Cayenne: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast