Plage Les Hattes (Awala-Yalimapo)

Plage Les Hattes ranks among the most ecologically significant beaches in French Guiana and one of the most important leatherback turtle nesting sites in the world. Located near the Amerindian village of Awala-Yalimapo on the far northwest coast of French Guiana, approximately 300 kilometres west of Cayenne, the beach stretches for several kilometres along the Atlantic Ocean with dark grey-brown sand shaped by sediment currents typical of the Guiana coastline. During the annual nesting season from April to August, hundreds of female leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) emerge from the ocean under cover of darkness to deposit their eggs in the sand — a spectacle that draws wildlife enthusiasts from across the world and makes Plage Les Hattes the centrepiece of ecotourism in this part of French Guiana. The water along this stretch is warm but turbid, coloured brown by sediment transported northward from the Amazon Basin, which makes the beach unsuitable for snorkelling or recreational swimming. Atlantic currents are powerful and the beach is fully exposed to the open ocean; visitors come for the natural spectacle rather than for bathing. The beach falls within the protected boundaries of the Réserve Naturelle de l'Amana, a coastal wetland reserve managed in part by the Arawak Indigenous community of Awala-Yalimapo, who organise guided nocturnal observation sessions during nesting season. Unaccompanied nighttime access is not permitted within nesting zones. A small sea turtle information centre in Awala-Yalimapo provides context on leatherback ecology and local conservation work. Basic amenities — a small number of gîtes, a convenience store, and roadside parking — are available in the village, but the area remains deeply rural and far removed from tourist infrastructure. No sun loungers or lifeguard services are present on the beach. From Cayenne, the journey requires a private vehicle and approximately 3.5 hours on the N1 national highway via Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni; no public transport serves this remote corner of French Guiana. Outside turtle season the beach is rarely visited and retains a profound sense of solitude.