Îles du Salut Adventure Tours

The Salvation Islands (Îles du Salut) off the coast of French Guiana are a place of stark contrasts—tropical beauty wrapped in a dark and haunting past. Comprised of Île Royale, Île Saint-Joseph, and the infamous Devil’s Island, this small archipelago once formed one of the most feared penal colonies in the world. From the mid-19th century until 1953, thousands of prisoners—both common criminals and political exiles—endured brutal conditions in exile, surrounded by shark-infested waters and impenetrable jungle. Today, the islands are a hauntingly beautiful destination. Île Royale, the main island, invites visitors to explore weathered prison buildings, colonial homes, and sweeping ocean views. Île Saint-Joseph, with its crumbling solitary confinement cells overtaken by jungle, offers a powerful, reflective walk through history. Devil’s Island, closed to the public but visible from the others, looms as a chilling reminder of the cruelty once imposed here. The Salvation Islands are now a sanctuary for wildlife and a vivid open-air museum—a place where history, nature, and human resilience converge.