| Cacao | |
| Settlement Type: | Village |
| Pushpin Map: | French Guiana |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in French Guiana |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | France |
| Subdivision Type1: | Overseas region |
| Subdivision Name1: | French Guiana |
| Subdivision Type2: | Arrondissement |
| Subdivision Name2: | Cayenne |
| Subdivision Type3: | Commune |
| Subdivision Name3: | Roura |
| Population As Of: | 2007 |
| Population Total: | 750 |
| Coordinates: | 4.5694°N -52.4692°W |
Cacao is a village in French Guiana, lying on the to the south of Cayenne. Most of the population are Hmong farmers, refugees from Laos who were resettled in French Guiana in[1] 1977.[2] The reasoning was that living, and working conditions were similar to their native land.[3] As of 2007, the village had a population of 750 people.[3]
The village is four blocks in size, with narrow streets. Local commercial outlets include restaurants, grocery and bread stores. There are two primary schools, but no secondary education facilities.[3] Public buildings include an insect museum,[4] a library, a church, and gendarmerie. There is also a Sunday morning market at which Hmong weaving, embroidery and food can be purchased.[2] The main hotel in Cacao is L'Auberge des Orpailleurs.[5] Tourist activities include jungle tours, canoeing and kayaking. During December the village hosts a Hmong New Year's festival that lasts about 3 - 4 days.[6]
The economy is based on agriculture. The villagers have 1,375 hectares of land. A freshwater prawn farm has been setup and is exporting 1 to 1.2 tons to the United States and Puerto Rico every month. A sawmill employs 70 people.[3]
Cacao has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen climate classification Af). The average annual temperature in Cacao is . The average annual rainfall is with May as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in October, at around, and lowest in January, at around . The highest temperature ever recorded in Cacao was on 31 October 1999; the coldest temperature ever recorded was on 25 February 1980.