[2] The park has been built on territories belonging to the communes of Camopi, Maripasoula, Papaïchton, Saint-Élie, and Saül.

In the framework of the Earth summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the project of a national park in French Guiana was initiated on June 4, 1992, with the impetus provided by François Mitterrand.

On June 21, 1998, the Twenké agreement led to the recognition of the rights of the native Amerindians and of the Businengue (Maroons) living within the future park's boundaries.

On March 6, 2006, the decree relating to the project of the national park being taken into account was published in the Official Journal of the French Republic.

[4] Within the 20,300 square kilometres (7,840 sq mi) central area, maximal protection is enforced and gold mining is strictly forbidden.

However, the lands of the Aluku, Wayana, Wayampi and Teko tribes in Camopi, Maripasoula and Papaïchton do not belong to this core area.

The park includes several new world primates including the Guyanan red howler (Alouatta macconnelli), wedge-capped capuchin (Cebus olivaceus), tufted capuchin (Sapajus apella), white-faced saki (Pithecia pithecia), golden-handed tamarin (Saguinus midas), and red-faced spider monkey (Ateles paniscus).

[9]Mustelids include the tayra (Eira barbara), greater grison (Galictis vittata), and neotropical river otter (Lontra longicaudis).

Other mammals in the park include collared peccary (Dicotyles tajacu), red brocket (Mazama americana), Amazonian brown brocket (Mazama nemorivaga), Guianan squirrel (Sciurus aestuans), Neotropical pygmy squirrel (Sciurillus pusillus), capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), red-rumped agouti (Dasyprocta leporina), red acouchi (Myoprocta acouchy), lowland paca (Cuniculus paca), three-toed sloth (Bradypus tridactylus), two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus), and several species of rodents.

[14] A single hectare of forest frequently contains more different species of trees than the entire flora of Metropolitan France.

[16] Other hiking and tourist opportunities exist including trails leading up to Mont Galbao, the inselberg Susu Bella, or Gobaya Soula falls.