Guyana - Suriname - French Guiana Highlights - Private - 14D/13N

photo of Orinduik Falls, courtesy of Tourism Board of GuyanaThe three countries that make up the Guiana’s: Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana are all different from each other as well as the other countries of South America. Experience unique cultural and environmental differences. From French wines to hot curries, magnificent waterfalls to mangrove swamps - it’s all here in the Guiana’s.

Included: Airport transfers - All road and river transport - Double or twin accommodation - Meals as indicated - Local bar at Karanambu - Activities as listed - English speaking local guides - Internal flights in Guyana - VAT.

Not Included: Items of a personal nature - Alcoholic drinks except where mentioned above - Departure tax - International flights - Passport and Visas.

Departures: Fridays.

Notes: Passengers traveling on Internal Flights are allowed a free baggage allowance of 20lbs (9.1KG) exceeding this weight passenger/s will incur a cost of GY$125.00 equivalent to US$0.66cents

photo of Karanambu, courtesy of the Tourism Board in GuyanaDay by day Itinerary:

  • Friday Georgetown - Arrive in Guyana. Formerly British Guiana, this now independent country is the western most of the three Guiana’s. Transfer to the capital Georgetown and overnight at Cara Lodge.
  • Saturday Georgetown / Karanambu - 09:15hrs transfer to the airport for a flight to Karanambu Ranch in the North Rupununi savannahs. This is the home of Diane McTurk, widely known for her work in rehabilitating orphaned, giant river otters to the wild. Diane and her otters have appeared on National Geographic, Jeff Corwin Experience, Really Wild Show (BBC) and the Calgary’s “Zoo World”. Karanambu has a long history of visiting naturalists and Diane’s father, Tiny McTurk, has welcomed David Attenborough and Gerald Durrell (Three Singles to Adventure). Today’s generation of Edward and Melanie McTurk are your hosts, leaving Diane more time developing the Karanambu Trust, work with her otters and her writings. Dinner with Diane, Edward and Melanie will include stories on the history of the family and the Rupununi Savannahs. Overnight at Karanambu Ranch. (B, L, D)
  • Sunday Karanambu - Diane sometimes has resident orphaned otters and you can help her as she tends to them. You can visit Simoni Pond for some of the best inland fishing (add US$15.00) in Guyana including Peacock Bass or explore the flooded forest or savannah. Visits can be made to nearby ponds for bird watching and to view the Victoria Amazonica, the world’s largest water lily and Guyana’s national flower. Explore the Rupununi River in search of wild Giant River Otters, Black Caiman and Arapaima. An evening visit to Crane Pond to see hundreds of Ibis, Anhinga, Heron and Egret roosting is a highlight. Overnight at Karanambu Ranch. (B, L, D)
  • Monday Karanambu / Surama - This morning transfer by boat along the Rupununi River to Ginep Landing and then by 4×4 to the Amerindian community at Surama. On arrival in Surama receive a welcome from a village counselor and settle into your accommodation. A local guide will escort you for a short walk on trails to observe the forest and bird life. As the afternoon cools your guide will take you on a tour of the village. Visit the local school, medical centre and church along with some of the village houses. Tonight enjoy an educational walk to observe wildlife and experience the mystique of the forest after dark. Overnight at Surama Eco Lodge. (B, L, D)
  • Tuesday Surama - Rise before dawn for a walk across the savannah and then the gentle climb up Surama Mountain in the cool morning air. This is the best time to observe bird life along the trail. Breakfast will be served at a look out point which affords incredible views across the village and savannah to the Pakaraima Mountains. Return to village for lunch and then take a three mile walk across the savannah and through the rainforest to the Burro Burro River. Your guides will then paddle you on the Burro Burro River for opportunities to observe Giant River Otters, Tapir, Tira, Spider Monkeys and many more species. Return to village for sunset and to overnight at Surama Eco Lodge. (B, L, D)

    • photo of the wooden Cathedral, courtesy of the Tourism Board in Guyana

  • Wednesday Surama / Canopy Walkway / Georgetown - Before dawn transfer to the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway to welcome the dawn chorus from 35M up in the tree tops. Breakfast at the Canopy Walkway before departing by 4×4 for Annai. Lunch at Rock View Lodge before an afternoon flight to Georgetown. Overnight at Cara Lodge. (B, L)
  • Thursday Georgetown / Kaieteur & Orinduik Falls - This morning depart for a flight to Kaieteur Falls which is situated in the heart of Guyana on the Potaro River, a tributary of the Essequibo. The water of Kaieteur, one of the worlds natural wonders, flows over a sandstone conglomerate tableland into a deep gorge – a drop of 822 feet or 5 times the height of Niagara Falls. Kaieteur supports a unique micro environment with Tank Bromeliads, the largest in the world, in which the tiny Golden frog spends its entire life and the rarely seen Guiana Cock- of-the-rock nesting close by. The lucky visitor may also see the famous flights of the Kaieteur Swifts or Makonaima Birds which nest under the vast shelf of rock carved by the centuries of water, hidden behind the eternal curtain of falling water. The trip then continues onto Orinduik Falls is where the Ireng River thunders over steps and terraces of solid jasper, a semi precious stone. With a backdrop of the rolling grass covered hills of the Pakaraima Mountains, this is truly one of the most beautiful locations in Guyana’s hinterland. The Ireng river forms the border between Brazil and Guyana. In contrast to Kaieteur, Orinduik is ideally suited for swimming and you will find natural Jacuzzi’s as the falls tumble down the steps of Jasper. Overnight at Cara Lodge. (B, L)
  • Friday Georgetown / Paramaribo - Enjoy a morning Georgetown city tour, highlighting the extraordinary wooden architecture and to shop in its exciting markets and craft shops. The tour will continue with a visit of the Cathedral, the tallest wooden building in the world, the museum and other historic buildings. 13:30hrs transfer to the airport for Meta MSQ8406 departing at 1600hrs . Arrive in Paramaribo at 1750hrs and transfer to the Eco Resort Inn. (B)
  • Saturday Commewijne Plantation - Today we take you on the Commewijne River past old Dutch colonial plantations of which some are still active. You will visit the Nieuw Amsterdam museum; Marienburg, the oldest sugar-cane plantation in Suriname; Rust en Werk; the Thilapia fishery and Agricultural projects in Alkmaar, Katwijk and surroundings. You will see fishermen in the area pull in their shrimping and you will visit the fish-smokery. Overnight at the Eco Resort Inn. (B, L)
  • Sunday Jodensavanne & Blakawatra - This morning we will travel approximately 70 km to the South of Paramaribo, where on the right bank of the Suriname river, lies Jodensavanne. A former Jewish settlement, it is named after the Jewish people who settled in this savanne area around 1650. This former Jewish village is where the ruins of the most ancient synagogue of North and South America lies and the graveyard can still be seen. The tour will continue with a visit to Blakawatra, not far from Jodensavanne. Blakawatra is a recreation resort with swimming facilities in the refreshing water of the creek which is rich in minerals. Overnight at the Eco Resort Inn. (B, L)

    • photo of Space Center, courtesy of the Tourism Board in French Guyana

  • Monday Paramaribo / Cayenne - Transfer by road along the coast to the French Guiana border. Welcome at customs in St Laurent and travel to Kourou. Mini city tour of St. Laurent du Maroni with a visit of the church in Iracoubo. Lunch at “Le Pakira” at Sinnamary. Overnight at Hotel des Roches. Overnight at Hotel des Roches. (B, L)
  • Tuesday Kourou Space Centre - Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Kourou to visit Space Centre ( in French only, movie in English, possible separate explanations in English ). Tour the main installations from 08:00 to 11:00, followed by a guided visit of the museum. Lunch at the Relais Spatial, near the Spatial Center. Overnight in Kourou at Hotel des Roches. (B, L)
  • Wednesday Devils Island - Depart from the hotel for a full day excursion to Devil’s Islands by schedule Catamaran visit of St Joseph and Royale island, lunch at the guest house in Royal Island. Guided visit of the island (in French only) before the lunch including museum, main buildings, children cemetery, convict building, guards house, jails, etc. Return to Kourou by Catamaran at 1700. Overnight at Hotel des Roches. (B, L)
  • Thursday Return Home - Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to airport for departing flight from Cayenne. (B)

Insure My Trip We provide, through “Insure My Trip” comparison site, travel insurance policies from Access America, AIG Travel Guard, CSA Travel Protection, Global Underwriters, HTH Worldwide, International Medical Group, MEDEX, MedjetAssist, MultiNational Underwriters, On Call International, RBC Travel Protection, Seven Corners, Travel Insured, Travelex and TravelSafe. Click to compare the policies available.

Also tagged with: Adventure Expeditions, Escorted Journeys, South America, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Active Travel, Educational, Cultural, Nature / Ecology, Bird Watching, Hosted Tours, Private Tour, Private Escorted Journey


Vantage World Strongly Recommends Insurance for all your Travel Programs

Insure My Trip We provide, through TravelSafe Insurance, one of the nation's largest and most respected providers of travel insurance, a TravelSafe Custom Plan, where you decide the benefits YOU want and the levels of protection YOU desire including access to their 24-hour emergency assistance service from anywhere in the world. Click the link below the Plan Benefits table for plan details.