Guyana, Suriname & French Guiana - Audley Travel

Guyana, Suriname & French GuianaSqueezed in between Venezuelaand Brazil on the Caribbeancoast is the small English-speakingcountry of Guyana and itsneighbours of Suriname and FrenchGuiana. These countries are a delightfor the intrepid traveller and thosewho want to visit genuinelyuntouched wilderness and experiencea unique melting pot of cultures.The countries are diverse, withofficial languages of English, Dutchand French combined with Asian,African and Creole influences andflavours. They are packed withappeal, yet scarcely visited, and totake a journey here is really to takea step into uncharted territory.The natural world is the keyattraction; from virgin rainforestto rolling savannah, not to mentionspectacular birdlife and mammalsthat include giant river otters andjaguar. There is much to explore inthis remote corner of the continent.Emerald tree boa1 Kaieteur Falls, GuyanaA breathtaking sheet of water,the Potaro River pours overa sheer drop of over 230metres (five times the heightof Niagara).2Surama, Guyana12345Deep in the rainforest, visitthe home of an Amerindiancommunity of the Macushi tribe,now a thriving and awardwinningeco-tourism initiative.3 Rupununi Savannah,GuyanaExplore these wildlife-richgrasslands by boat orhorseback and hear fascinating‘outback’ tales.Giant otter4 Galibi Nature Reserve,SurinameSee the spectacle of hundredsof turtles coming ashore to layeggs, or watch the resultingbaby turtles head to the seafor the first time.5Space Centre, Kourou,French GuianaGolden frogTake a tour of the launch baseof the European Space Agency,it is from here that the Arianeand Soyuz rockets have lifted off.52

Georgetown, Kaieteur Fallsand Orinduik FallsThe capital of Georgetown will usually be theplace to start and end your trip to Guyana. It isthe only settlement of size in the country and is arelaxed, tropical place with picturesque areas ofwhite wooden 19th century houses on stilts.From here you can fly into the heart of Guyana’sforested interior where, backed by the Pakaraimamountains, Kaieteur Falls is a particularly aweinspiringspectacle. The lush surroundings of thefalls are home to flora and fauna including tankbromeliads, golden frogs and the cock-of-the-rockbird. Further south, Orinduik Falls are verydifferent; the wide Ireng river roars over a seriesof steppes and terraces, leaving behind naturalfizzing pools where you can take a dip.Surama, Iwokrama and theCentral RainforestSurrounded by savannah, forest and mountains,Surama is an isolated and idyllic spot offeringsimple ecolodge accommodation and an insightinto Macushi tribal life. Activities, led by a memberof the community and local naturalist guides,range from tours of the village to dawn hikes,bird-spotting and canoeing along the Burro Burroriver. Iwokrama, in the central rainforest, is anarea dedicated to the study of conservation andsustainable rainforest development, and offersthe chance of sighting the elusive jaguar, alongwith other wildlife.Rupununi SavannahThe Rupununi savannah is a vast, seasonallyflooded plain sandwiched between the RupununiRiver and the Brazilian border. It is teeming withwildlife and a large variety of bird species includingthe elusive harpy eagle. This area is renownedfor its award-winning conservation projects suchas those at Karananbu Lodge which welcomesguests into simple cabanas. The Karanambu Trusthas won numerous awards for protecting andrehabilitating giant river otters in the area.Further south, Guyana’s largest and most remoteranch of Dadanawa offers basic accommodationand an experience of a real working ranch.Alternatively, Maipaima Ecolodge is in Nappi, andis a community-run project offering a rewardingchance for birdwatching.Maipaima Ecolodge, Nappi village, GuyanaHooded capuchin monkey, GuyanaSurinameParamaribo, the lively capital of Suriname, hasbeen declared a UNESCO World Heritage Sitethanks to the fusion between European(predominantly Dutch) and indigenous SouthAmerican culture and colonial architecture. Theother main highlight of Suriname is the GalibiNature Reserve which lies approximately 100kilometres east along the coast from Paramaribo.It is a primary nesting site for four species ofturtle. Visit between April to July to seeleatherbacks, olive ridley, green and hawksbillturtles come ashore to lay eggs, and miniaturehatchlings scuttle out to sea in their droves.Kaiteur Falls, GuyanaFrench GuianaProbably the most famous site in French Guianais near Kourou where the European SpaceAgency has its launch site. Guided tours of themain installations and the mission control roomare possible, plus there is a space museum andexhibitions. This site, northwest of the capital ofCayenne, was chosen by French Prime MinisterGeorges Pompidou in 1965 on the basis ofcriteria including its proximity to the equator.This means that rockets benefit from a ‘catapulteffect’ as a result of the increased speed of theEarth’s spin at this point. Another place of interestis Devil’s Island. Made famous by prisoner andescapee Henri Charrière in his best-selling book‘Papillon’, Devil’s Island is the most secure andleast accessible of the three volcanic islands inthe notorious convict settlement of Iles du Salut,offshore between Cayenne and Kourou.Despite their harsh past, the islands’ wild beautywins visitors over these days, and a visit bysailboat reveals lush palm-filled slopes androck-strewn beaches.Audley in GuyanaSuriname & French GuianaVisitors to Guyana number less than 3,000a year, indicating just how far off mosttravellers’ radar it is. However, we takeparticular care to promote ecologicallysensitive travel in this unspoilt environment.Your trip, which will have been plannedaccording to your preferences for wildlifespotting, adventure and trekking, or just ageneral overview of the region, will make useof the range of lodges which are dottedthroughout the country. Combining Guyanawith Suriname or French Guiana is done byoverland transfers across the borders orflights between the capital cities. There isvery little infrastructure that links thesecountries to their giant neighbours ofVenezuela and Brazil, although air and roadlinks are gradually improving. However beachbreaks in the Caribbean islands of Barbados,Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica and St Luciacan be arranged either before or after yourtrip. Travelling with a sense of adventure andan understanding of the standards of thisinfrastructure will ensure a trip to thesecountries is a great experience.PracticalitiesAccommodation options in Guyana arelimited in that there is generally only oneplace to stay in each location you visit. Manyof these properties are basic, some withoutelectricity, but the focus of a trip to Guyanais the country, not the accommodation.Getting around is mainly by 4x4, boats andlight aircraft. Guyana is best avoided duringthe main rainy season from May to July andthere is also a short rainy season that affectsGeorgetown from December to January. InSuriname, the major rains fall from April toJuly, but if you are keen to see the turtleshatching, you need to visit during this time.Find out moreFor suggested itineraries and practicalinformation about travel in Guyana, Surinameand French Guiana, please see our website.☎www.audleytravel.comInteractive maps and features,further suggested itineraries,accommodation, climate informationand articles written by our specialists.Discuss your plans with our specialists01993 838 605Guyana, Suriname & French Guiana 53