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Papaichton (; unofficial spelling Papaïchton with a trema; ) is a commune in the overseas region and department of French Guiana. The village lies on the shores of the Lawa River. Papaichton is served by the Maripasoula Airport.
The village which is the seat of the commune was named Papaichton-Pompidouville in honour of the president Georges Pompidou who invited Granman Tolinga to the Élysée in 1971. The commune is located on the border with Suriname.
Papaichton is home to some of the Aluku people and the seat of their granman (paramount chief).
In 1895, the village was founded by Granman Ochi. At the time, Boniville was the capital of Aluku tribe. In 1930, the territory of Inini was founded, with Papaichton as one of the administrative divisions. The territory of Inini allowed for an autonomous and self sufficient tribe system for the Maroons without clear borders. In 1946, French Guiana departmentalised, and the territory of Inini became an arrondissement.
In 1965, Granman Tolinga moved the capital of the tribe from Boniville to Papaichton. In 1968, the municipal circle of Grand-Santi-Papaichton was created, and a year later became a commune. Along with the commune, came a government structure, and francisation. Most importantly, it led to the concentration in bigger villages and the near abandonment of smaller settlements. In 1976 the communes separated in Apatou and Grand-Santi-Papaichton, and finally in 1993, Papaichton became an independent commune.
The Lawa River narrows when it passes through the mountainous area around Cottica, and wild streams with waterfalls descend from the mountains through dense rainforest. The river widens to the north and splits in many streams with large river islands. The nature area around river is called .
The commune is also home to several small hamlets which have a historic significance to the Aluku people. Between 1793 and 1837, the Aluku settled in Gaan Day (also: Gaa Daï; ).
In 1860, a peace treaty was signed with the Ndyuka people, and the Aluku were allowed to settle in the village of Abouna Sounga (also: Abunasunga; ). The rapids of Abouna Sounga form the northern border of the Aluku area. The southern border is the Litani River.
L'Enfant Perdu () is a village on a river island across Cottica, Suriname. The Cottica mountain is located on the French side.
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