Oiapoque Voyage Tips and guide

Oiapoque is a border town in Amapá in Brazil, across the river from French Guiana.

In Brazilian popular culture, Oiapoque is well known as the northernmost point of the Brazilian coastline, which stretches all the way to Chuí in the south. It serves as a vital gateway, being one of only two road connections between Brazil and South America's Caribbean coast. Additionally, the town is a favored weekend destination for visitors from Cayenne who cross the border to enjoy Brazil's vibrant nightlife and buy the cheap tobacco.

Either by a long bus or 4x4 ride from the state capital Macapá, or across the bridge from the eurozone.

The bridge connection from Saint-Georges-de-l'Oyapock and Oiapoque (Brazil) has been operational since 2017. As of 2025, crossing the river by boat is considered illegal if you intend to travel further into either country. Whilst hopping between the border settlements appears to be tolerated for locals, and may even be legal, it is essential to verify this locally before proceeding.

For foreigners the process is now far more convenient. Standard immigration and customs checkpoints are situated at either end of the bridge, meaning it is no longer necessary to visit the Federal Police station on the Brazilian side for passport stamps. Although the bridge remains closed overnight and during the early hours of the morning, it now operates throughout the day, offering significantly more flexibility than the restricted hours seen during its initial opening.

People are allowed to cross the bridge on foot, though do note that it is quite a long walk between the main parts of the two border towns; you should allow at least two hours. A more common approach is to take a taxi to the first immigration checkpoint, walk across the bridge to the opposite checkpoint (which is still a solid 20-minute walk with very little shade), and then continue your journey by taxi or hitch-hiking. There appears to be no local public transport.

In previous years, some have reported being refused entry when driving certain types of vans. Hire cars are also unlikely to be permitted to cross the border.

The only road connection on the Brazil side is the long, two-lane highway from Macapá on the Amazon River, which passes through both lush Amazon Rainforest and a strikingly different natural Guianan Savanna region. As of December 2025, about 2/3 of it was smoothly paved (with occasional potholes), and another third was hard-packed dirt/gravel with dozens of stream crossings over single-lane temporary wooden bridges. It's probably passable by any kind of car when it good condition in the dry season, but can become notoriously difficult (necessitating 4-wheel-drive) during the wet season.

Buses leave for Oiapoque daily from the Terminal Rodoviária de Macapá in the north of town, and reputedly take 7-12 hours depending on seasonal road conditions. As of December 2025, they cost R$195 and there are several overnight departures in the early evening (from 6pm), while some days of the week there's also a 9am service.

A competitive alternative is a shared Toyota Hilux (four-wheel-drive pick-up), which is generally regarded as faster and more reliable than the bus. These vehicles wait across the dual carriageway from the bus terminal and depart throughout the day once they have a full complement of four passengers. All passengers sit within the cab, while the rear load bed is reserved for luggage and cargo.

In December 2025, the fare was R$300–400 per person, though this may depends on your ability to bargain. It is usually advisable to avoid the touts at the bus and ferry terminals who act as middle-men; dealing with them can lead to misinformation regarding your seat assignment or the actual departure time. In early December 2025, while the road conditions were dry, a typical journey by Hilux took eight hours in total. This consisted of six hours of brisk driving and two hours of various stops, including collecting pre-booked passengers, tyre checks, and breaks for petrol, lunch and coffee.

Downtown is pretty small and can easily covered on foot. There also is a taxi stand right at the port. The border bridge is a bit of a walk.

The waterfront of the Oyapock River, while a bit messy, makes for a nice stroll, with boats moored on the bank and lush rainforest visible nearby on the opposite side in France (the French border town is out of view about 5 km downstream).

The main thing visitors do here, besides crossing the border, is eat, drink, and buy stuff that's expensive or unavailable in French Guiana.

There are lots of restaurants and stalls on the riverside, where the boats from Saint Georges arrive, as well as restaurants and bars on the interior streets, especially the Avenida Barão do Rio Branco, which forms a kind of central boulevard.

There are lots of bars in town, many catering to middle-class tourists.

There is a wealth of accommodation available in the town, though it tends towards the more expensive side by Brazilian standards (albeit quite affordable compared to French Guiana). As of December 2025, most mediocre, budget-orientated establishments charge at least R$200. However, if your budget is slightly more flexible, there are several modest options offering pleasant river views, though these may be full during weekends.

• 3.8469-51.834161 Pousada Fortaleza. For budget travelers, reputedly the cheapest option in the town center. Perfectly acceptable windowless rooms with okay air conditioning. Not on Google Maps, but right next to Pousada São Cristovão. R$150 for a twin room.  (updated Dec 2025)

Saint-Georges in French Guiana is a few kilometers away across the border bridge, and Macapá is the nearest significant city in Brazil (though not actually near). See those articles' "Get in" sections for information on how to get there.

There are some nature reserves and small towns/villages nearer to Oiapoque that might be interesting, but you may need to do some local research to find out more (and see the article for Amapá state).