French Guiana – also known as Guyane in French, not to be confused with neighboring English-speaking Guyana, is popular for its beaches, forests/reserves & hiking trails.
It is an overseas department of France, meaning it is part of the French Republic (France).
If the locals love or hate this construction – I do not know.
What I do know is that French Guiana has a lot to offer – up north, at least.
From various islands, like Devil's Island and Salvation's Island, to the (French) Guiana Space Center.
The (French) Guiana Amazonian Park is a hiking trail for the adventurous among us.
And, of course, the many luxurious resorts the department has to offer.
What may not be wonderful is the cost of travel in French Guiana. It is not the cheapest travel destination (in South America).
What is even more expensive are international roaming rates – roaming can be expensive.
That is why I always recommend local SIM cards so that you can take advantage of local rates, which are almost always cheaper than roaming rates.
As luck would have it, SIM cards are not crazy expensive in French Guiana.
You can get a French Guianese SIM card for 10 EUR (10.70 USD) from Digicel and La Poste Caraïbe Mobile or 15 EUR (16 USD) from Orange and SRF in their stores and from resellers. SIM cards are not sold at Cayenne – Félix Eboubé Airport (CAY).
Those SIM card prices are expensive for South American standards – that is for sure.
But hey, your mobile operator may charge you much more for roaming.
So it is a good compromise, I would say.
In this guide, I will tell you everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in French Guiana. Let's do this.
Original publication: 3rd of March 2020. Last updated: 1st of March 2024.
Table of Contents
What is the Best SIM Card in French Guiana?
So, who are all these mobile operators and what options are available for you?
French Guiana has three mobile operators and one Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) offering prepaid services that are easily accessible to travelers:
- Digicel French Guiana/Guyane
- Orange French Guiana/Guyane (Orange Caraïbe)
- SFR French Guiana/Guyane (SFR Caraïbe)
- La Poste Caraïbe Mobile (French Guiana/Guyane)
Anyone living in or visiting French Guiana can buy a French Guianese SIM card without restrictions.
- Find out which countries have SIM card registration regulations and what is required from you (lookup tool)
Where Can You Buy a French Guianese SIM Card (+Prices)?
You can get a French Guianese SIM card in the official stores of Digicel, Orange, SFR & La Poste post offices and from select resellers, like electronic stores.
You can expect to pay the following for French Guianese SIM cards:
- Digicel French Guiana/Guyane: 10 EUR
- Orange French Guiana/Guyane (Orange Caraïbe): 15 EUR
- SFR Guiana/Guyane (Orange Caraïbe): 15 EUR
- La Poste Caraïbe Mobile (French Guiana/Guyane): 9.90 EUR
Use the Wise Currency Converter tool (free) for up-to-date EUR (Euro) to your currency (let's say USD – US Dollar) exchange rates.
For your convenience, below are some exchange rates between EUR and USD (US Dollars):
- 1 EUR = 1.05 USD
- 10 EUR = 10.70 USD
- 100 EUR = 106.75 USD
But for any other currency, the Wise Currency Converter tool.
(Travel) eSIMs for French Guiana
In recent years, (travel) eSIMs have become extremely popular.
Especially after Apple made iPhones (14- & 15 series) sold in the United States eSIM-only, forcing its users to use eSIMs – even when abroad.
As a result, the adoption of eSIM technology by mobile operators worldwide rose impressively quickly.
Currently, no French Guianese mobile operator offers eSIMs to prepaid customers.
In my French Guiana eSIM buying guide, I analyze various eSIM options of eSIM providers I have tested extensively worldwide.
Surprisingly, travel eSIMs can be cheaper than a French Guianese SIM card or eSIM in specific scenarios.
Moreover, Latin (Central- and South) America-wide and global eSIM options are also available at competitive prices (without having to deal with expensive international roaming rates).
In this French Guiana SIM card buying guide (the one you are reading), I will stick to the local SIM cards and eSIM, but you can read my French Guiana eSIM buying guide for more information about travel eSIMs covering the country.
But here is a quick overview already + applicable discount codes if you are interested in purchasing a travel eSIM for French Guiana:
- Airalo: KAWCOM (French Guiana only) & Latamlink (19 countries in Latin (Central- and South) America)
- Holafly: French Guiana
- Nomad: Global (109 or 139 countries, depending on the variant)
Here are some discount codes to sweeten the deal:
- Airalo: APR15 for 15% off (if you have never bought an Airalo eSIM before). Otherwise, APR10 for 10% off (for existing users) – only the first 3000 users can redeem either discount code)
- Holafly: PHONETRAVELWIZ for 5% off (as many times as you wish for as many eSIMs as you want)
- Nomad: ADU123 for 3 USD off (on your first-ever Nomad order only)
Once again, check out my French Guiana eSIM buying guide to learn more about these eSIM options.
The eSIM guide is as comprehensive as this SIM card buying guide, but it solely focuses on travel eSIMs (while the guide you are reading focuses on local SIM cards and eSIMs for prepaid users (where applicable).
French Guiana Prepaid SIM Cards Explored
Below, I will guide you through Digicel French Guiana/Guyane, Orange French Guiana/Guyane (Orange Caraïbe), SFR French Guiana/Guyane (SFR Caraïbe) & La Post Mobile Caraïbe (French Guiana/Guyane), and go through:
- Background information
- Mobile coverage
- SIM card types, prices & availability
- Recharge/top-up information
- Combo plans, data plans & special packs (such as social media packs)
With that said, let's see what French Guiana offers us.
Digicel French Guiana/Guyane
Digicel French Guiana, just Digicel but officially Digicel Guyane, is one of the mobile operators in French Guiana.
Digicel, as a company, is active in many Caribbean nations, Central America & Oceania.
Digicel uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20)
This is what you will learn about Digicel:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Digicel SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Digicel French Guiana/Guyane
Digicel has extensive coverage in populated areas of French Guiana.
You should not expect any coverage in the dense rainforests – like neighboring Guyana and Suriname.
Below is Digicel's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
However, click here to see Digicel's official coverage map.
SIM Card Price – Digicel French Guiana/Guyane
You can get a Digicel SIM card, called Pack Carte Premium, for 10 EUR with 5 EUR credit in Digicel stores (Boutiques) and from resellers. They are not sold at Cayenne – Félix Eboubé Airport (CAY).
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Digicel has no eSIMs.
Digicel has no eSIMs.
You can consider getting a travel eSIM for French Guiana, which can, in specific scenarios, be cheaper than getting a SIM card from Orange Mobile.
Especially if you get a Latin (Central- and South) America-wide eSIM (for when you visit at least two or more supported Latin American countries) or a global eSIM (for frequent travelers visiting multiple continents).
In my French Guiana eSIM buying guide, I analyze various eSIM options of eSIM providers I have tested extensively worldwide.
But I will introduce them here quickly:
- Airalo: KAWCOM (French Guiana only), Latamlink (19 countries in Latin America) – use code APR15 (15% off – first-time users only) or APR10 (10% off)
- Alosim: French Guiana – use code PTW (5% off – no limits)
- Holafly: French Guiana – all variants in both options include unlimited data – use code PHONETRAVELWIZ (5% off – no limits)
- Nomad: French Guiana – use code ADU123 (3 USD off – first-time users only)
Once again, check out my French Guiana eSIM buying guide to learn more about these eSIM options.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Digicel French Guiana/Guyane
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Digicel French Guiana/Guyane
Digicel has two data-featured prepaid plans: Offres Carte-Recharge Premium/Card Offers (combo) & Pass Extra Data (data add-on).
I will list all the prices in EUR (Euro).
To convert EUR to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
The Offres Carte (Card Offers), also referred to Recharge Premium, are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
The following Offres Carte/Recharge Premium are available:
Price | Plan | Data | Local Minutes | Local SMS | Validity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 EUR | Recharge Premium €2 | 500 MB | 30 minutes | Unlimited | 1 day |
5 EUR | Recharge Premium €5 | 1 GB | 60 minutes | Unlimited | 5 days |
10 EUR | Recharge Premium €10 | 3 GB | 120 minutes | Unlimited | 10 days |
25 EUR | Recharge Premium €25 | 10 GB | 180 minutes | Unlimited | 30 days |
Pass Extra Data – Digicel French Guiana/Guyane
The Pass Extra Data is a data add-on (without 5G NR access). It cannot be purchased as a standalone plan.
For 5 EUR, you get 2 GB until your Offres Carte/Recharge Premium plan expires.
Price | Data | Validity |
---|---|---|
5 EUR | 2 GB | Until plan expires |
APN/Internet Settings – Digicel French Guiana/Guyane
- Name: Digicel
- APN: webdigicelfr.com
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Orange French Guiana/Guyane (Orange Caraïbe)
Orange French Guiana, just Orange but officially Orange Caraïbe, is one of the mobile operators in French Guiana.
It is run by the same Orange from France.
In the Caribbean, it operates as a single network in the French West Indies (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy & Saint Martin), allowing for free roaming in these territories (Zone Locale).
Orange, as a company, is active in other countries in Africa, the Caribbean, Europe & the Middle East.
Orange uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz
- 3G: 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 1800 MHz (Band 3) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
This is what you will learn about Orange:
* Coverage
* How to Get an Orange SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Orange French Guiana/Guyane (Orange Caraïbe)
Orange has extensive coverage in populated areas of French Guiana.
You should not expect any coverage in the dense rainforests – like neighboring Guyana and Suriname.
Below is Orange's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
However, click here to see Orange's official coverage map.
SIM Card Price – Orange French Guiana/Guyane (Orange Caraïbe)
You can get an Orange SIM card for 15 EUR in Orange stores (Boutiques). They are not sold at Cayenne – Félix Eboubé Airport (CAY).
You can also get the Welcome Pack for 25 EUR.
In addition to paying 15 EUR for the Orange SIM card, you need to recharge 10 EUR.
Then you get 15 EUR credit and 100 MB for 30 days.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Orange has no eSIMs.
Orange has no eSIMs.
You can consider getting a travel eSIM for French Guiana, which can, in specific scenarios, be cheaper than getting a SIM card from Orange Mobile.
Especially if you get a Latin (Central- and South) America-wide eSIM (for when you visit at least two or more supported Latin American countries) or a global eSIM (for frequent travelers visiting multiple continents).
In my French Guiana eSIM buying guide, I analyze various eSIM options of eSIM providers I have tested extensively worldwide.
But I will introduce them here quickly:
- Airalo: KAWCOM (French Guiana only), Latamlink (19 countries in Latin America) – use code APR15 (15% off – first-time users only) or APR10 (10% off)
- Alosim: French Guiana – use code PTW (5% off – no limits)
- Holafly: French Guiana – all variants in both options include unlimited data – use code PHONETRAVELWIZ (5% off – no limits)
- Nomad: French Guiana – use code ADU123 (3 USD off – first-time users only)
Once again, check out my French Guiana eSIM buying guide to learn more about these eSIM options.
Note that Orange offers VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G)) if your phone supports it and you have enabled it in the settings.
Oh, you can also use VoWiFI (Voice over WiFi).
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Orange French Guiana/Guyane (Orange Caraïbe)
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Orange French Guiana/Guyane (Orange Caraïbe)
Orange has three data-featured prepaid top-ups that act as plans:
- Les Recharges Max/Max Refills (combo)
- Les Recharges Classiques/Classic Refills (credit and data)
- Les Recharges Internet/Internet Refills (data)
I will list all the prices in EUR (Euro).
To convert EUR to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.
Les Recharges Max (Max Refills) – Orange French Guiana (Orange Caraïbe)
The Les Recharges Max (Max Refills) are combo plans/top-ups with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
The following Les Recharges Max are available:
Price | Data | Local Minutes | Local SMS | Validity |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 EUR | 500 MB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 5 days |
15 EUR | 1 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 7 days |
20 EUR | 2 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 10 days |
Les Recharges Classiques – Orange French Guiana/Guyane (Orange Caraïbe)
The Les Recharges Classiques (Max Refills) are data plans/top-ups (without 5G NR access).
The following Les Recharges Classiques are available:
Price | Data | Validity |
---|---|---|
3 EUR | 500 MB | 10 days |
5 EUR | 1 GB | 10 days |
15 EUR | 3 GB | 30 days |
50 EUR | 30 GB | 60 days |
Les Recharges Internet – Orange French Guiana/Guyane (Orange Caraïbe)
The Les Recharges Internet (Internet Refills) are top-ups with bonus data allowances, meaning you keep the money you spent as credit.
The following Les Recharges Internet are available:
Price | Credit | (Bonus) Data | Validity |
---|---|---|---|
5 EUR | 5 EUR | 50 MB | 6 days |
10 EUR | 10 EUR | 200 MB | 15 days |
20 EUR | 20 EUR | 500 MB | 45 days |
30 EUR | 30 EUR | 1 GB | 50 days |
50 EUR | 50 EUR | 2 GB | 90 days |
APN/Internet Settings – Orange French Guiana/Guyane (Orange Caraïbe)
- Name: Orange Caraïbe
- APN: orangeweb
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
SFR French Guiana/Guyane (SFR Caraïbe)
SFR French Guiana, just SFR but officially SFR Caraïbe, is one of the mobile operators in French Guiana.
It is run by the same SFR, Société française du radiotéléphone, from France that is also active in Belgium, Luxembourg & Réunion.
In the Caribbean, it operates as a single network in the French West Indies (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy & Saint Martin), allowing for free roaming in these territories (Zone Locale).
SFR uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20), 1800 MHz (Band 3) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
This is what you will learn about SFR:
* Coverage
* How to Get an SFR SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – SFR French Guiana/Guyane (SFR Caraïbe)
SFR has extensive coverage in populated areas of French Guiana.
You should not expect any coverage in the dense rainforests – like neighboring Guyana and Suriname.
Below is SFR's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
However, click here to see SFR's official coverage map.
SIM Card Price – SFR French Guiana/Guyane (SFR Caraïbe)
You can get an SFR SIM card, called SFR La Carte Smile, for 15 EUR with 10 EUR credit in SFR stores. They are not sold at Cayenne – Félix Eboubé Airport (CAY).
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
SFR has no eSIMs.
You can consider getting a travel eSIM for French Guiana, which can, in specific scenarios, be cheaper than getting a SIM card from SFR.
Especially if you get a Latin (Central- and South) America-wide eSIM (for when you visit at least two or more supported Latin American countries) or a global eSIM (for frequent travelers visiting multiple continents).
In my French Guiana eSIM buying guide, I analyze various eSIM options of eSIM providers I have tested extensively worldwide.
But I will introduce them here quickly:
- Airalo: KAWCOM (French Guiana only), Latamlink (19 countries in Latin America) – use code APR15 (15% off – first-time users only) or APR10 (10% off)
- Alosim: French Guiana – use code PTW (5% off – no limits)
- Holafly: French Guiana – all variants in both options include unlimited data – use code PHONETRAVELWIZ (5% off – no limits)
- Nomad: French Guiana – use code ADU123 (3 USD off – first-time users only)
Once again, check out my French Guiana eSIM buying guide to learn more about these eSIM options.
For now, I will continue with SFR.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – SFR French Guiana/Guyane (SFR Caraïbe)
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – SFR French Guiana/Guyane (SFR Caraïbe)
SFR has one data-featured prepaid plan: Square Package (combo). It includes data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
I will list all the prices in EUR (Euro).
To convert EUR to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
The following Square Package are available, which can be activated by calling 224:
Price | Plan | Data 1,2 | Local/EU Minutes | International Minutes | Local/EU SMS | Validity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 EUR | Square 10 GB | 10 GB | 120 minutes | N/A | Unlimited | 30 days |
14.99 EUR | Square 30 GB | 30 GB | 360 minutes | N/A | Unlimited | 30 days |
24.99 EUR | Square 150 GB | 150 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited 3 | Unlimited | 30 days |
34.99 EUR | Square 200 GB | 200 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited 4 | Unlimited | 30 days |
1 for Giga sharing
2 for SFR-TV
3 for unlimited call and texts + 10 GB to Canada & the United States
4 for unlimited call and texts + 20 GB to Canada & the United States
APN/Internet Settings – SFR French Guiana/Guyane (SFR Caraïbe)
- Name: internet.sfr
- APN: internet.sfr
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
La Poste Caraïbes Mobile (French Guiana/Guyane)
La Poste Caraïbe Mobile (French Guiana) is an SFR Caraïbe MVNO.
It is the mobile brand by the French post office La Poste.
It used to be an Orange Caraïbe MVNO, but this changed at an unspecified time.
Surprisingly, La Poste Mobile Caraïbe's data allowances are far more generous than SFR Caraïbe's.
So, if you were considering going with SFR Caraïbe – you should not. Go with La Poste Caraïbe Mobile instead. Your wallet will thank you.
Just like the mobile operators, La Poste Caraïbe Mobile allows for free roaming in the French West Indies (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy & Saint Martin – Zone Locale)
To learn about La Poste Caraïbe's frequencies, jump back to SFR French Guiana’s frequencies.
This is what you will learn about La Poste Caraïbe Mobile:
* Coverage
* How to Get a La Poste Caraïbe Mobile SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – La Poste Caraïbes Mobile (French Guiana/Guyane)
La Poste Caraïbe Mobile is an SFR French Guiana MVNO, meaning La Poste Caraïbe uses the SFR French Guiana network and does not have its own mobile infrastructure.
To find out what to expect in terms of coverage with La Poste Caraïbe Mobile, jump to the SFR French Guiana Coverage section.
SIM Card Price – La Poste Caraïbes Mobile (French Guiana/Guyane)
You can get a La Poste Caraïbes Mobile SIM card for 9.90 EUR in La Poste offices. They are not sold at Cayenne – Félix Eboubé Airport (CAY).
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
La Poste Caraïbes Mobile has no eSIMs.
You can consider getting a travel eSIM for French Guiana, which can, in specific scenarios, be cheaper than getting a SIM card from La Poste Caraïbes Mobile.
Especially if you get a Latin (Central- and South) America-wide eSIM (for when you visit at least two or more supported Latin American countries) or a global eSIM (for frequent travelers visiting multiple continents).
In my French Guiana eSIM buying guide, I analyze various eSIM options of eSIM providers I have tested extensively worldwide.
But I will introduce them here quickly:
- Airalo: KAWCOM (French Guiana only), Latamlink (19 countries in Latin America) – use code APR15 (15% off – first-time users only) or APR10 (10% off)
- Alosim: French Guiana – use code PTW (5% off – no limits)
- Holafly: French Guiana – all variants in both options include unlimited data – use code PHONETRAVELWIZ (5% off – no limits)
- Nomad: French Guiana – use code ADU123 (3 USD off – first-time users only)
Once again, check out my French Guiana eSIM buying guide to learn more about these eSIM options.
For now, I will continue with La Poste Caraïbes Mobile.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – La Poste Caraïbes Mobile (French Guiana/Guyane)
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – La Poste Caraïbes Mobile (French Guiana/Guyane)
La Post Caraïbe Mobile has one data-featured prepaid plan: Les Forfaits SIM (combo). It includes data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
I will list all the prices in EUR (Euro).
To convert EUR to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
The following Les Forfaits SIM are available:
Price | Data | Data Roaming | Local/EU Minutes | Local/EU SMS | Validity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
9.99 EUR | 10 GB | 10 GB | 120 minutes | Unlimited | 30 days |
14.99 EUR | 30 GB | 20 GB | 180 minutes | Unlimited | 30 days |
19.99 EUR | 80 GB | 30 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 30 days |
22.99 EUR | 1000 GB | 40 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 30 days |
APN/Internet Settings – La Poste Caraïbes Mobile (French Guiana/Guyane)
- Name: internet.sfr
- APN: internet.sfr
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in French Guiana
Getting a SIM card from Orange would do you well when considering a French Guianese SIM card.
Going to other places around the world? You should also check out my SIM card buying guides for other destinations worldwide.