Embarking on a 15-day journey through Suriname and Guyana promises an unforgettable adventure through stunning landscapes and vibrant cultures. From exploring colonial cities like Paramaribo to venturing deep into the rainforest, each day offers new experiences and discoveries. Highlights include river cruises, village visits, wildlife spotting, and even a thrilling flight over Kaieteur Falls, one of nature's most impressive spectacles. Throughout the journey, you'll stay in unique accommodations like eco-friendly lodges in the jungle's heart. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, culture seeker, or simply looking for an off-the-beaten-path adventure, this itinerary has something for everyone. Get ready to immerse yourself in the beauty and diversity of South America's hidden gems
Highlights
Witness the majestic Kaieteur Falls from above the Demerara River
Experience the thrill of a canopy walkway at Atta Rainforest Lodge
Visit the UNESCO World Heritage city of Paramaribo
Go on river excursions to spot elusive nocturnal creatures
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
Upon arrival in Paramaribo, you'll be picked up and taken from the Airport to your hotel. Formerly a townhouse, now a captivating lobby, Eco Torarica stands as one of Paramaribo's favorite hotels with eco-friendly features. Situated a short stroll from the historic heart of Paramaribo, it offers rooms with stunning views of the Suriname River or lush garden. Perfect for those seeking relaxation, your overnight stay in a standard room at Eco Torarica promises comfort and tranquility.
This morning marks the beginning of your nature and cultural expedition as you depart from Paramaribo. After traveling approximately 190 km, you reach the village of Atjoni. Here, at the port of Atjoni, you board a motorized dugout open canoe, skillfully navigated by our personnel, to embark on a journey up the Upper Suriname River renowned for its breathtaking rapids, until you reach the Danpaati River Lodge.
Nestled deep within the rainforest, the Danpaati River Lodge offers you a remote and tranquil sanctuary for adventurous souls seeking respite from modern life. With a welcoming lounge overlooking the river, a spacious pool surrounded by a hardwood yoga deck, and access to a safe swimming area in the Surinam River, the lodge provides you with an unparalleled escape. Your accommodations are in spacious A-frame style cabins with carefully curated amenities, including morning coffee service, and stunning views of the river and surrounding rainforest.
Your day concludes with an exhilarating river cruise, scouting for caiman along the river banks. You'll spend the night at Danpaati River Lodge in a standard room, ready to continue your exploration of Suriname's natural wonders.
Today, you'll embark on a journey to one of the 12 villages connected to Danpaati, with Pikin Slee just a 30-minute boat ride away. A guided tour awaits you, offering insights into the locals' unique way of life and their rich African traditions. Following the village exploration, we'll visit the Maroon Museum Saamaka to delve into the Saramak Maroon people's culture, history, traditions, and crafts. After returning to the lodge for lunch, the afternoon presents opportunities to uncover the rainforest's secrets on a guided walk or indulge in a massage blending traditional and Western techniques, with options for fishing or a dugout canoe excursion around the island. As evening descends, immerse yourself in the cultural richness of the region with a traditional dance performance featuring Seketi, Awasa, and Bandamba dances, each explained for their cultural significance by your guide. Finally, retire in a standard room at Danpaati River Lodge for the night.
This morning, take time to enjoy the lovely views and snap photos. Say goodbye to the staff, then travel from Danpaati to Atjoni in a motorized dugout canoe. Finally, we'll head back to Paramaribo by car.
On a guided tour, explore the UNESCO World Heritage city of Paramaribo, Suriname's capital. Learn about its colonial history with visits to Fort Zeelandia, the Presidential Palace, and Independence Square. Walk along the Suriname River's bank and through Palm Gardens, stopping at the Waka Pasi boardwalk for tropical ice cream flavors. Marvel at the coexistence of a mosque and synagogue. Then, journey to the Commewijne district, known for its colonial plantations. Visit Peperpot, an ancient plantation with well-preserved coffee and cocoa factories. Spot diverse bird species in the area. Next, discover Marienburg's mini-museum before savoring lunch at a traditional Javanese restaurant in Tamanredjo. Visit Fort Nieuw Amsterdam, an outdoor museum guarding the confluence of Commewijne and Suriname Rivers. Conclude the tour with a transfer back to Paramaribo by car or bus, enjoying a lunch at a local restaurant.
You start early to manage your journey. Heading east along Suriname's coastal road, you reach the Albina border station. Crossing the Maroni River by pirogue (dug-out boat), you arrive at St. Laurent du Maroni in French Guiana, a department of France. A French guide assists with customs and immigration. In St. Laurent, you tour the Transportation Centre, once a processing station for convicts bound for penal colonies. Continuing to Cayenne, the capital, you explore landmarks like Fort Cépérou, Place Léopold Heder, and Hotel of the Jesuits. Hotel Central, in the heart of Cayenne near Palmistes Square, awaits your stay, conveniently close to shopping and business areas.
Experience the historic Îles du Salut, or Salvation Islands, on a catamaran trip from Kourou. Start with breakfast, then sail to Île Royale, which has been known for its rich history since 1792. Explore Île Saint-Joseph, where inmates were once held in silence. Visit the children’s cemetery on Île Royale before returning to Kourou by catamaran. Stay at Hotel Atlantis, a modern business hotel with amenities like air conditioning, WiFi, and a trendy French and Creole cuisine restaurant. Enjoy your overnight stay in a standard room at Hotel Atlantis.
Transfer to the Centre Spatial Guyanais (Guiana Space Centre) for a tour, bearing in mind that launch schedules are closely guarded secrets, meaning our plans for the day might change suddenly. The standard tour involves a motor coach ride through the expansive facility, stopping at various assembly buildings, launch pads, and control centers. Although the tour is primarily conducted in French, your guide will provide translations whenever possible. En route, we'll briefly pause at St Joseph’s church in Iracoubo, renowned for its interior, entirely hand-painted by a former convict from a nearby penal colony. Following this, we'll continue to immigration and then cross by Pirogue to Albina, proceeding onwards to Paramaribo. We'll organize your pickup from Albina and transfer you to your hotel in Paramaribo.
You'll start by being picked up from your hotel in Paramaribo and transferred to the local airport, Zorg-en-Hoop, for a GUMAIR flight departing at 07:30hrs to Georgetown, arriving at 07:45hrs. (Please note that the ticket is not included in the final rates below). You'll be transferred to Georgetown upon arrival at Eugene F. Correia International Airport.
Join Chef Delven Adams for a market and city tour in the morning. You'll explore Bourda Market, the largest market in Georgetown, where you'll meet local vendors and discover various sections including the fish market, meat section, and haberdashery. Chef will make purchases based on your preferences while you continue on a city tour with an experienced guide, visiting landmarks like the National Museum, Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, St. George’s Cathedral, and more. Next, you'll visit the Botanical Gardens and feed the endangered West Indian Manatees. Lunch will be at the Backyard Café, where you can enjoy a meal prepared by the Chef or relax under the arbor with a beverage.
In the afternoon, drive to the Stabroek Market area and board river taxis to cross the Demerara River, learning about famous buildings along the waterfront. Cruise along the river to see the Demerara Harbour Bridge and enjoy snacks as you watch birds like Scarlet Ibis and Herons settle in the mangroves at sunset.
Tonight, you'll stay at Cara Lodge, a historic wooden colonial home turned hotel with a rich history dating back to the 1840s, offering a nostalgic experience of a bygone era.
Start your day with a pickup and transfer to Eugene F. Correia International Airport. From there, you'll take a scheduled flight over the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers and vast tropical rainforests to reach Kaieteur Falls, the world’s highest free-falling waterfall. Kaieteur, discovered in 1870, is located in the heart of Guyana on the Potaro River, with water plunging 741 feet into a deep gorge—five times the height of Niagara Falls.
Kaieteur is unique, with no other fall boasting such a sheer drop. According to Amerindian legend, the falls were named after Kai, a tribal chief who supposedly self-sacrificed by canoeing over the falls to protect his tribe from the Caribishi. Kaieteur hosts a diverse ecosystem, including Tank Bromeliads, home to the tiny Golden frog, and the elusive Guiana Cock-of-the-rock. Visitors may also witness the spectacular flights of Kaieteur Swifts nesting under the rocky shelf carved by the Potaro River over millions of years. After your unforgettable experience at Kaieteur Falls, you'll board your plane for the return flight to Georgetown, where you'll be picked up and transferred to Cara Lodge for an overnight stay.
Day 11: Iwokrama River Lodge and Atta Rainforest Lodge
You'll start your day with a pickup and transfer to Eugene F. Correia International Airport. From there, you'll board a scheduled flight for a journey over hundreds of miles of tropical rainforest to land at Fair View Airstrip. After landing, you'll be picked up and transferred to Iwokrama River Lodge.
Once settled, you'll head out for an adventure. You can choose between a boat trip to Stanley Lake to search for Giant River Otters and Black Caiman or embark on a hike to Turtle Mountain. The hike is about 1 3/4 hours and leads to the summit at 935 feet, offering breathtaking views of the forest canopy and the chance to spot various bird species and monkeys.
After lunch, you'll transfer by 4x4 along a trail known for its wildlife sightings, including the elusive Jaguar. The journey concludes back at the Iwokrama River Lodge. Later, you'll explore the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, suspended over 30 meters above the ground, offering a unique perspective of the rainforest.
Back at the lodge, you'll have opportunities to spot birds like the Crimson Fruitcrow and Black Curassow in the surrounding clearing. Atta Rainforest Lodge, where you'll spend the night, offers comfortable accommodation with ensuite bathrooms, delicious home-cooked meals, and stunning views of the towering forest. Overnight at Atta Rainforest Lodge.
Before dawn, we'll head back to the canopy for some birdwatching. Watch for birds like the Rufous-throated Sapphire, Green Aracari, and Pygmy Antwren. If lucky, we might spot the Guianan Toucanet or Pompadour Cotinga. We might even glimpse Red Howler and Black Spider Monkeys from up high.
During the day, we can explore the trails around the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway. Here, we might encounter various bird species, insects, amphibians, and primates like monkeys. Deer, Tapir, and agouti are also common sights around the lodge. Serious birdwatchers might get lucky and spot the elusive Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo hiding in the undergrowth.
As night falls, we might see the White-winged Potoo. Night walks are also an option, where we might encounter some surprises like one of the six different cat species found near the lodge. Overnight at Atta Rainforest Lodge.
Start your day with birdwatching from the canopy walkway, then head back to the lodge for breakfast before setting off. The journey from Atta Rainforest Lodge through the rainforest to Corkwood in the Iwokrama Forest. Embark on a short trail to catch sight of the Guianan Cock-of-the-rock and gain insights into medicinal plants. Afterward, venture to the indigenous community of Surama, nestled amidst Guyana's savannah and forest-clad mountains. Run by the community, Surama Eco Lodge ensures collective benefits. Upon reaching Surama, settle into your lodge and join a guided walk to discover the forest and birdlife. Later in the afternoon, trek three miles to the Burro Burro River for wildlife spotting, followed by a guided river paddle to observe Giant River Otters, Tapir, Spider Monkeys, and more. Conclude your day with a guided night walk to witness nocturnal wildlife before spending the night at Surama Eco-lodge.
Wake up early to explore the savannah with a morning walk before embarking on a hike up Surama Mountain, offering breathtaking vistas of the village and surrounding Pakaraima Mountains. While not technically challenging, the climb can be strenuous, particularly after rainfall. Your guides will gladly suggest alternative activities if you prefer. Following your mountain adventure, we'll drive from Surama Eco Lodge to Lethem, where you'll catch a scheduled flight to Eugene F. Correia International Airport. Upon arrival, we'll pick you up and transfer you back to Georgetown. To round off your day, we'll ensure you're comfortably settled at your hotel before escorting you to a nearby restaurant for a satisfying meal.
Day 15: Return Home
You have the option to either take a day off to relax, go on an optional tour, or return home.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for May 3, 2025 not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for May 3, 2025 are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$8,990
Minimum 2, maximum 12 persons to operate the trip
Notes
$1,193 Single Supplement Additional Cost for Private Room when traveling with others. Traveling Solo? Contact us for a custom quote.
Initial deposit is 20% (min. $400), and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
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