Guyana_Kaieteur_Falls

Uncovering the Guianas

An enthralling 16-day adventure taking in historic capitals, endless Amazonian rainforest, phenomenal natural wonders and an abundance of exotic wildlife.

Suriname_Indigenous_House_River

Suriname River

Guyana_Georgetown_Bridge

Georgetown

Discover Latin America's Best-Kept Secrets

Embark on an exploration of three of Latin America’s least travelled destinations on an enthralling 16-day adventure taking in historic capitals, endless Amazonian rainforest, phenomenal natural wonders and an abundance of exotic wildlife. Whilst undeniably influenced by colonial rule, each has a firm stamp of individuality and Caribbean flair waiting to be discovered.

Beginning in Suriname, venture from the UNESCO World Heritage Site listed capital Paramaribo down the Suriname River and deep into the Amazonian jungle. Discover French Guiana’s eerie, deserted penal colonies of the Îles du Salut before finishing in Guyana engaging with Amerindian communities and observing natural wonders. All three have incredibly rich biodiversity and wildlife-spotting opportunities will be plentiful throughout this encompassing adventure.

Route
Multi-stop Tour

Visit several regions

Bed
14 Nights

Accommodation detailed in itinerary

Compass
15 Excursions

See details in itinerary below

Dining
29 Meals

14 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 5 dinners

Plane
Flights & Transfers

International and Domestic Flights

Shield
ATOL Protected

Our holidays are ATOL Protected

Map
Travel Specialists

We will help you plan your holiday

Message
Rated Excellent

Customers rate us highly on Trustpilot

Highlights
  • Stay with Amerindian communities deep in the Amazonian Rainforest
  • Observe wildlife in their natural habitat on boat trips, canopy walks and short hikes
  • Explore colourful, colonial Caribbean capitals
  • Witness the sheer power of the world's largest single-drop waterfall
What's Included
  • International flights
  • 14 nights’ accommodation
  • 29 meals; 14 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 5 dinners
  • City tours of Paramaribo, Georgetown and Cayenne
  • Full-day tour of Kaieteur Falls
  • Catamaran tour of Îles du Salut
  • All wildlife excursions as per itinerary
  • All domestic flights & transfers including boat transfers

Prices from £8,699 pp

Excludes:

  • Meals not indicated in your itinerary
  • Local departure taxes payable locally
  • Items of a personal nature such as laundry and drinks etc
  • Tips for guides and drivers (discretionary)
  • Camera or video fees at any sites

Quick Itinerary

Uncovering the Guianas
Day Description
Day 1 UK - Paramaribo View
Day 2-3 Danpatti View
Day 4-5 Paramaribo View
Day 6 Cayenne View
Day 7 Kourou & Salvation Islands View
Day 8 Paramaribo View
Day 9 Georgetown View
Day 10 Kaieteur Falls View
Day 11-12 Iwokrama Rainforest View
Day 13 Burro Burro River & Surama View
Day 14 Georgetown View
Day 15-16 Georgetown - UK View

Uncovering the Guianas 16-day Itinerary

Day 1 UK - Paramaribo, Suriname

Arrive in Paramaribo, Suriname’s historic capital on the banks of the Suriname River. Transfer to your downtown hotel, which is ideally situated to spend the rest of the day familiarising yourself with the heart of the city.

Plane2white
Flight
International Flight
Aerial view Paramaribo, SurinameSt Alphonsus Church, Paramaribo
Days 2-3 Danpatti, Suriname

A vast proportion of Suriname is made up of vast dense jungle terrain with communities and villages connected by the sprawling Suriname River. On Day 2, you'll board a motorised canoe and travel through remarkable scenery on the Upper Suriname River to Danpatti. Spend two nights in a wonderful River Lodge, a tranquil oasis and a fantastic base to explore the Amazonian rainforest and observe colourful wildlife. Take a gentle cruise on the river, spotting caiman on the river banks and the fathomless array of exotic birdlife.

The next day provides the opportunity to learn about the rural communities that flourish far away from modern-day development. Meet welcoming villagers and see how African influence has impacted daily life in the untamed jungle before paying a visit to the cultural heritage museum dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Saramak Maroon population.

After a traditional lunch, be led deep into the jungle by expert naturalists on a wildlife experience before partaking in an evening cultural dance performance with dinner.

Compass white (1)
Excursion
Evening River Cruise
Compass white (1)
Excursion
Village Visit and afternoon Rainforest Walk
Guyana_Hoatzin_National_BirdSuriname_Indigenous_House_River
Days 4-5 Paramaribo, Suriname

Head back to the capital to spend a further two nights in Paramaribo and to embrace the rhythm of the city. Immerse yourself in the beating heart of Suriname on a guided tour, observing colonial architecture, Dutch forts, Presidential Palaces and - of course - the vibrancy of its population and its rich culinary traditions.

Compass white (1)
Excursion
Paramaribo City Tour
Suriname_Fort_Nieuw_Amsterdam_MarienburgPresidential Palace of Suriname
Day 6 Cayenne, French Guiana

After a beautiful journey along Suriname's coastal road, reach the border station before a ride across the Maroni River to St. Laurent du Maroni in French Guiana. As part of France, the region has a European atmosphere, well-maintained roads, and use of the Euro.

St. Laurent offers a glimpse into its history. Take a tour of the Transportation Centre, a former arrival station for convicts bound for penal colonies. Then continue to Cayenne, the creole town and administrative hub, exploring its cultural landmarks.

Compass white (1)
Excursion
St Laurent du Maroni & Transportation Centre
Compass white (1)
Excursion
Cayenne City Tour
French_Guiana_Cayenne_Alexandre Franconie MuseumTraditional houses, Cayenne
Day 7 Kourou & Salvation Islands, French Guiana

A short distance of just 15km from Kourou is the trio of volcanic islands of Îles du Salut, better known in English as the Salvation Islands. The islands have a sad but fascinating history and played a central role in French history as the imprisonment point for slaves and political prisoners. Hop between the islands on a catamaran to develop an understanding of the conditions that the inmates endured. After the tour, spend the night in Kourou.

Compass white (1)
Excursion
Salvation Islands Catamaran Tour
French_Guiana_Kourou_Dreyfus TowerIguana, Salvation Islands
Day 8 Paramaribo, Suriname

Today, visit the Guiana Space Centre on a motor coach tour of its vast facilities, including assembly buildings, launch pads, and control centres. Then head back to Suriname, crossing the border town of St. Laurent du Maroni. Spend one final night in Paramaribo before your morning flight to Guyana.

Compass white (1)
Excursion
Guiana Space Centre
Buildings of Guiana Space Centre, KourouLounchers inside Guiana Space Centre, Kourou
Day 9 Georgetown, Guyana

Land in Guyana’s Caribbean capital Georgetown in the morning and embark immediately on an exploration through its vibrant streets. Accompanied by culinary master Chef Delven Adams, your host for the guided tour, the best place to start is in the bustling markets where you will pick up fresh ingredients from friendly vendors for your lunch later in the day.

Georgetown has a laid-back ambience, and the rest of the morning is spent strolling through the colourful alleyways taking in the bright if not somewhat dilapidated colonial buildings.

After an expertly prepared lunch by Chef Adams continues to the tropical Botanical Gardens before embarking on an immersive ferry experience on the Demerara River. Disembark at a mangrove forest to reflect on the day whilst the sun sets idyllically to the calls of the birds who roost in their roots.

Plane2white
Flight
International Flight
Compass white (1)
Excursion
Georgetown Market Tour with Chef and Lunch at Backyard Cafe
Compass white (1)
Excursion
Sunset Demerara River Cruise
Guyana_Georgetown_BridgeGuyana_georgetown_wooden_cathedral
Day 10 Kaieteur Falls, Guyana

Whilst beginning and ending in Georgetown, the day is spent at the utterly beautiful Kaieteur Falls, reached by a short scenic flight. At over five times the height of Niagara Falls, Kaieteur is the world’s highest free-falling waterfall and the surrounding tropical rainforest only adds to its tranquillity.

Compass white (1)
Flight
Flight
Compass white (1)
Excursion
Kaieteur Falls
Guyana_Kaieteur_FallsToco Toucan, Guyana
Days 11-12 Iwokrama Rainforest, Guyana

Travel to the heart of Guyana’s Amazonian interior. After settling into the lodge, take the short climb through the well-preserved paths to the peak of Turtle Mountain, offering breathtaking views of above the forest canopies.

After lunch, experience the rainforest in a different way, reaching the higher levels of the canopies by way of a maze of suspended platforms. The Iwokrama Canopy Walkways are set some 30 metres above ground and bring you truly closer to nature, multiplying your chances of spotting Curassows, Aracaris, Fruitcrows and hummingbirds.

Compass white (1)
Excursion
Turtle Mountain and Iwokrama Canopy Walkways
Compass white (1)
Excursion
Iwokrama Canopy Walkways
Guyana_Amazonica_Water_LilyGuyana_Iwokrama_Emerald eyed tree frog
Day 13 Burro Burro River & Surama, Guyana

Wake early to experience the same canopy walkways at dawn, providing a totally different experience and a greater opportunity to spot Red Howler and Black Spider Monkeys swinging from the treetops. You'll then leave through jungle roads in the direction of Surama, home to an indigenous Amerindian community in the heart of Guyana. The village is set in a savannah oasis fringed by mountains.

Continue to Surama Eco-lodge for lunch before partaking in a leisurely river excursion, where guides/naturalists will paddle you down the Burro Burro River helping you identify the many wildlife species.

Compass white (1)
Excursion
Cock of the Rock Trail
Compass white (1)
Excursion
Afternoon Burro Burro River Excursion
Guyana_Red Faced Spider MonkeyGiant river otter eating fish
Day 14 Georgetown

The next day, climb Surama Mountain at dawn. The early start and the somewhat moderate climb will inevitably prove worthwhile as you observe the sunrise majestically over the canopies accompanied by a dawn chorus. Later transfer to Rupununi airstrip for the flight back to Georgetown for the final night.

Compass white (1)
Excursion
Dawn Chorus - Savannah Walk and Surama Mountain
Guyana pinktoe tarantulaPrime minister official residence, Georgetown
Days 15-16 Georgetown - UK

Spend the morning relaxing or speak to your specialist about including an additional tour, depending on flight times. Transfer to the airport for your International flight to the UK.

Plane2white
Flight
International Flight

Why Book Our Uncovering the Guianas Holiday?

Truly Individual and Trusted

  • Truly individual holidays – every holiday we create is designed around you, the places you want to see and the things that are important to you.
  • Dedicated Travel Specialists – your dedicated Specialist will have firsthand knowledge of the destinations and experiences we offer, enabling us to make perfect recommendations.
  • First-class service – all our excursions and transport partners have been hand-selected to ensure they provide the best quality, experience and value.
  • 100% financial protection – our holidays are ATOL protected and we’re an assured member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO).
  • My Routes Rewards programme – as a thank you for being our trusted customer, we offer one of the most generous and flexible reward programmes in the industry.
Enquire

What makes our Uncovering the Guianas holiday Truly Individual?

The trusted choice for travellers seeking the ultimate South America adventure

Shield
Award-winning

An award-winning and leading UK tour operator providing Truly Individual holidays across Latin America

Signpost
Holidays Tailored To You

Every holiday we create is designed around you, the places you want to see and the things that are important to you.

Map
Latin America Specialists

Our passionate team of knowledgeable Latin America Travel Specialists are ready to help you plan the trip of a lifetime.

Message
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

We consistently achieve 5-star ratings on Trustpilot, reflecting our first-class service and premium holiday experiences.

What Our Clients Say About Us

Thank you to Sarah at Latin Routes for creating a seamless itinerary for our trip to North Argentina. Everything was thought of and well planned in advance.

Helen R
Stayed August 2024

Look no further if you are planning to go to South America. The trip to Chile was clockwork. The guides were excellent, and we felt really pampered in the beautiful hotels.

Sarah M. B
Stayed August 2024

Our bucket list trip to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands had been looked forward to for a very long time. We were not disappointed! The highlight of our trip, without a doubt, was our five-day eastern cruise on the beautiful yacht La Pinta.

Mr Hughes
Stayed March 2023

This is an excellent company. I worked with Paul, who was very knowledgeable and patient when organising my itinerary. There is no pressure selling. Recommend them for South America trips!

John
Stayed March 2024

Speak to a dedicated Latin America Travel Specialist today

All our itineraries can be tailored to your unique requirements. Enquire about our Uncovering the Guianas holiday and let us plan your perfect Latin American adventure.