Balata is a town in the commune of Matoury in French Guiana.

It is located at the junction of RN1 and RN2, and started as a Haitian shanty town.

[4] Starting in 1995, shanty towns like Balata appeared on the outskirts of the urban area.

[6] The favourable position at the junction of two main roads, triggered suburbanisation in the area.

[9] Balata, a neighbourhood of Matoury,[10] is listed as a QPV, a problematic urban area needing attention,[1] because of its crime rate[11]