Felix Eboue Airport

Overview

Cayenne – Félix Eboué Airport is the main large airport serving Matoury and the wider Cayenne area in French Guiana, making it the principal air gateway for most visitors arriving by plane. Identified by IATA code CAY and ICAO code SOCA, it is a practical starting point for business trips, rainforest travel, and stays along the coast, with the advantage of being close enough to the capital area to keep onward journeys fairly manageable after landing.

What travellers should know

• The airport operates in the America/Cayenne time zone, so it is worth adjusting devices and meeting times as soon as you arrive.
• Its elevation is just 26 feet, or 8 metres, above sea level, which reflects the low-lying coastal setting around Cayenne and Matoury.
• There is one runway, 08/26, measuring 10,486 feet, giving the airport the length needed to handle regular commercial traffic comfortably.
• The runway surface is asphalt and it is lighted, which supports operations in a range of conditions and at different times of day.

Why it matters for your trip

For travellers, the airport’s role is less about size on a map and more about convenience: it is the key aviation link into French Guiana and the point where international arrivals, regional connections, and local ground transport come together. Knowing the airport codes, time zone, and basic airfield layout can make booking, tracking flights, and coordinating pickups much easier, especially if you are heading onward to Matoury, Cayenne, or other destinations in the territory.