HIGHLIGHTS OF SURINAME AND GUYANA

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15 DAYS

ITINERARY SUMMARY

 

Day Place Highlights
Day 1 Paramaribo Arrive in Paramaribo, Suriname
Day 2-3 Danpaati Village tours, Museums, Rainforests
Day 4-5 Paramaribo City tour, Coffee and Cocoa Plantation, Museums
Day 6 Kourou
Guyana Space Centre, EU influenced French Guiana
Day 7 Devil’s Island and Cayenne Catamaran Tour of Salvation Islands, Visit historical incarceration facilities
Day 8-10 Georgetown City tour, Botanical Gardens, Zoo, Kaieteur Falls
Day 11 Atta Iwokrama River Lodge, Atta Rainforest Lodge, Turtle Mountain, Bird and Wildlife Watching
Day 12-13 Surama Surama Mountain Hike, Iwokrama Forest
Day 14-15 Georgetown Rainforest flight, Traditional Guyanese 7 curry dinner

Day 1 Paramaribo, Suriname

Paramaribo, Suriname
Overview:

Arrive in Paramaribo the capital of Suriname located on the banks of the Suriname River. The dutch colonial town is well known for its charming buildings and laid-back atmosphere. The city was deemed a UNESCO World Heritage site for its combination of European and local influences.  You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Featured Accommodation
Eco Resort Inn

Formerly a statuesque townhouse, the Eco Resort Inn has been lovingly renovated while maintaining the authenticity of its exquisite colonial architecture. It has been transformed to feature an extremely charming lobby and is one of Paramaribo’s most favoured hotels with numerous eco-friendly features. Located within a 5-minute walk of the historic centre of Paramaribo and the tantalizing city life, rooms offer either a breath-taking view of the Suriname River or a beautiful view of their lovely garden. The hotel is simply ideal for guests who want to visit Suriname to relax and unwind.

Day 2-3 Danpaati River Lodge, Suriname

Guyana River Wilderness Explorers

Image provided by Wilderness Explorers

Overview:

This morning you will embark on a diverse cultural and environmental experience as you depart from Paramaribo and travel approximately 190 km to arrive at the village of Atjoni. At the port of Atjoni you will join a motorized canoe, where skilled personnel will navigate their way up the Upper Suriname River, which is famous for its breathtaking rapids, to the Danpaati River Lodge. You will have a chance to relax for the afternoon before embarking on an exciting cruise along Suriname River, looking for wildlife along the river banks.

 

The following morning you will be treated to visiting one of the 12 local villages that are affiliated with Danpaati. You will have a guided tour through the village where you will be introduced to the unique way of life for the local population and the wonderful traditions brought from Africa by their ancestors. After the tour you will visit the Maroon museum Saramaka which is dedicated to the cultural heritage of the Saramaka Maroon population.

 

Discover the secrets and wildlife of the rainforest during a walk in the woods during the afternoon. Choose to relax afterwards with a massage or participate in some activities in the surrounding area such as fishing or canoeing. Spend the evening enjoying local traditional and cultural dance performances by the local population, whilst having the significance of each dance explained by your guide.

Featured Accommodation
Danpaati River Lodge
Danpaati River Lodge, Suriname

The Danpaati River Lodge is an exceptionally remote and tranquil oasis in the heart of nature, welcoming adventurous visitors in search of an escape from modern stresses and distractions. The lodge features a welcoming and breezy lounge facing the river, a large pool surrounded by a hardwood yoga deck, and easy access to one of the few portions of the Surinam River where it is entirely safe to swim. Accommodations are spacious A-frame style cabins with carefully appointed amenities including fresh coffee service in the mornings, mosquito nets, and unbeatable views into the thick, surrounding nature.

Day 4 River Lodge to Paramaribo, Suriname

Danpaati resized
Overview:

This morning take the time to say goodbye to the beautiful surroundings of the Danpaati River Lodge and their friendly, attentive staff before boarding the canoe to start your return journey back to Paramaribo.  Upon returning back to Paramaribo you will continue through to Leonsburg pier where you will board a lovely boat for a sunset dolphin tour. You will disembark the boat for sunset and local snacks from an old plantation village, on their traditional wooden deck on the waterfront of the Commewijne River. When you’re ready jump back on board, pour another drink and leisurely make your way back to Leonsberg. From here, transfer back to Paramaribo to return to your hotel.

Day 5, Paramaribo, Suriname

Danpaati, Suriname
Overview:

The following day it is time to enjoy the wonderful capital city of Surimane, Paramaribo. It has been placed on the UNESCO “World Heritage” list of historical monuments. You will receive a private guided tour, along the most prominent historic locations in downtown Paramaribo experiencing the unique cultural architecture. You will witness many important and traditional monuments and also enjoy many other interesting sites such as a mosque right next to a synagogue.

 

From town you will then proceed to the Commewijne district which is situated to the east of Paramaribo across the Suriname River. The tour takes you along the former colonial plantations, most of which are now abandoned.  You’ll make a stop at plantation Peperpot where the old coffee and cocoa factory, deputy-director’s house and the old office are located.  This former plantation is one of the oldest plantations in Surinamese history. This is one of the last plantations still in its former original state. On the plantation you can still see coffee and cocoa plants all the while keeping an eye out for the many birds which can be spotted.

 

From Peperpot you will then visit a former sugar plantation before continuing on to the confluence of the Commewijne and Suriname Rivers at Nieuw Amsterdam, a mesmerising sight to behold.  From there you will visit the outdoor museum Fort Nieuw Amsterdam.

Featured Accommodation
Eco Resort Inn

Formerly a statuesque townhouse, the Eco Resort Inn has been lovingly renovated while maintaining the authenticity of its exquisite colonial architecture. It has been transformed to feature an extremely charming lobby, of one of Paramaribo’s most favoured hotels with numerous eco-friendly features. Located within a 5-minute walk of the historic centre of Paramaribo and the tantalizing city life, rooms offer either a breath-taking view of the Suriname River or a beautiful view of their lovely garden. The hotel is simply ideal for guests who want to visit Suriname to relax and unwind.

Day 6 Kourou, French Guiana

Kourou, French Guiana
Overview:

Today you will make your journey from Paramaribo to Kourou, French Guiana. The first leg of your travel takes you eastbound along Suriname’s coastal road, making your way to the ferry to cross the Maroni River, heading for French Guiana or “Guyane” as it is frequently (and confusingly) called locally. Arrival at St. Laurent du Maroni is relatively uncomplicated, and your French guide will be on hand to help you navigate the usual customs and immigration formalities.

 

French Guyana is a Department of France, so technically you have entered the EU upon arriving here. There is strong evidence of the connection to the “1st world” with every car seeming to be a late-model Mercedes, Volkswagen or Peugeot, the roads are in near perfect condition, espresso coffee is on tap nearly everywhere, and the Euro is the currency of choice. You will continue your journey to Kourou via the Center Spatiale Guyanaise (Guyana Space Centre) for a guided tour.

Day 7 Devil’s Island and Cayenne, French Guiana

Devils-Island-French-Guiana
Overview:

After breakfast at the hotel you will set sail aboard a catamaran towards what is commonly referred to as “Devils Island”. It is really a triangle of three islands – Îles du Salut, or the Salvation Islands – 11 kilometres off the coast of Kourou. The islands played a central role in French history as far back as 1792 when they were first employed as a transit point, first for explorers, then slaves and later for political prisoners.

 

Your first stop is Île Saint-Joseph, the southernmost island and is easily circumnavigated on foot in less than 2 hours and is home to the most striking incarceration facilities that made up this notorious penal colony. The countless scenes of nature slowly but relentlessly reclaiming the land here are really quite remarkable… you’ll lose count of how many tree roots you see growing out of one cell door and curving around to enter an adjacent cell. Ironically, the actual Île du Diable (Devil’s Island) is inaccessible to visitors due to dangerous shoreline conditions. After a day exploring the islands, return to Kourou by Catamaran and enjoy a private transfer to Cayenne and explore the capital city at your leisure.

Day 8 Cayenne to Georgetown, Guyana

Cayenne, French Guiana
Overview:

After breakfast in Cayenne it is time to start your journey to Georgetown. Begin by transferring to the border of St. Laurent de Maroni. On your way you will make a brief stop in St Joseph’s church, in Iracoubo. The entire inside of the church was hand painted by one of the convicts from a nearby penal colony. When you arrive in St. Laurent enjoy a mini city tour where you will pay a brief visit to the well-preserved Transportation Centre. The facility once served as the processing centre to the various penal colonies in French Guiana.

 

Afterwards, continue to customs and then cross by boat (Pirogue) to Albina and onwards to Paramaribo. Upon reaching Paramaribo you will then board your one hour flight to Georgetown, Guyana’s capital city.

Day 9 Georgetown, Guyana

Georgetown
Overview:

Begin your first full day in Georgetown joined by your private guide and culinary master, Chef Delven Adams who will begin by showing you around Bourda Market, the largest of the four markets in Georgetown. Learn about all of the local types of meat, seafood, fruit and vegetables on offer.

 

During your visit to Georgetown there are a number of interesting sights that should not be missed: the most famous being St. George’s Cathedral.  The Cathedral is one of the world’s tallest free standing wooden buildings and was consecrated on 1892.

 

No trip to Georgetown would be complete without a visit to the Botanical Gardens.  The Gardens houses one of the most extensive collections of tropical flora in the Caribbean and are laid out with ponds, canals, kissing bridges and bandstand.  Over 100 species of Guyanese wildlife can be observed at the Zoo including a wide variety of birds.

 

In the afternoon take a private tour through the heart of the city to the Stabroek Market area. Here you will join the afternoon commuters using the river taxi’s which is used to cross the Demerara River.  As you slowly cruise along the bank of the Demerara River your guide will give you a brief history and facts of the famous buildings along the waterfront. Soon after the sky begins to get dark you return to the ferry dock and enjoy the city light from the river.

Day 10 Kaieteur Falls, Guyana

Kaieteur Falls
Overview:

After a good night’s rest and a filling breakfast it will be time for an unforgettable day to Kaieteur Falls, the world’s tallest single-drop waterfall. Start the day with a scheduled flight over the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers and hundreds of kilometres of unbroken tropical rainforest to land at Kaieteur Falls. Situated in the heart of Guyana on the Potaro River, the water of Kaieteur, one of the worlds natural wonders, flows over a sandstone conglomerate tableland into a deep gorge – 5 times the height of Niagara Falls.

 

There are no other falls in the world with the magnitude of the sheer drop existing at Kaieteur. It 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. Fly back to Georgetown and be transferred to your hotel- still beaming from the magnificent day.

Featured Accommodation
Grand Coastal Hotel

Grand Coastal Hotel is located in Guyana on the East Coast of Demerara, just minutes from the capital city of Georgetown. This hotel is a boutique international hotel with local flavours and offers a safe and secure environment with excellent services and accommodation along with a restaurant, bar, gym and pool.

Day 11 Iwokrama River Lodge and Atta Rainforest Lodge, Guyana

Iwokrama-River-Lodge, Guyana
Overview:

Prepare for an early morning as you start your journey from Georgetown to Iwokrama River lodge. A private transfer will pick you up and take you to Georgetown’s airport to fly you to an airstrip where you will be picked up and taken to the lodge. Upon arriving at Iwokrama Lodge you will board a boat travelling to Turtle Mountain. Enjoy a well maintained trail that winds through the forest before an exhilarating climb up the mountain to its summit. This trail is also a great location for seeing Black Spider Monkey and Red Howler Monkey and if you are very lucky even a Jaguar.  This pristine forest offers huge buttress trees and the endemic Greenheart, a highly sought after hardwood.  If you think this hike may be too strenuous you can take an alternative boat trip to Stanley Lake to search for Giant River Otters and Black Caiman.

 

Return to the lodge for lunch and a chance to relax. After lunch you will be transferred by 4 x 4 along a trail that is one of the best places to see the elusive Jaguar. The journey concludes at the Atta Rainforest Lodge.

Featured Accommodation
Atta Rainforest Lodge
Atta-Rainforest-Lodge, Guyana

Atta Rainforest Lodge is 500 metres from the base of the Canopy Walkway, offering comfortable private-room accommodation with ensuite bathrooms, delicious home-cooked meals, and traditional Amerindian hospitality.  The lodge is completely surrounded by tropical rainforest which offers a complete immersion in the rainforest. The main building is open sided with views across the gardens to the towering forest on all sides and houses the bar, dining area and kitchen.

Day 12-13 Surama Eco-Lodge, Guyana

Surama Eco Lodge, Guyana
Overview:

After a night spent in the beautiful Atta Rainforest Lodge you have the chance to get up before dawn to the canopy of trees where you welcome the dawn chorus.  From this tree top vantage you get to opportunity to see Red Howler and Black Spider Monkeys. Enjoy wildlife and bird watching walks on the trails around the area.

 

Head from the Atta Rainforest Lodge through the rainforest to Corkwood in the Iwokrama Forest.  Here there is a comparatively short trail to hopefully see the amazingly brilliant Guianan Cock-of-the-rock. Then continue the journey to Surama.

 

The Amerindian community of Surama is located in the heart of Guyana.  The village is set in five square miles of savannah which is ringed by the forest covered Pakaraima Mountains. On arrival in Surama you will receive a warm welcome from local staff and settle into your accommodation at the Surama Eco-lodge.  Your private guide during your time at Surama will take you to local villages, through many trails and up Surama Mountain for breathtaking views.

Featured Accommodation
Surama Eco Lodge
Surama Eco Lodge, Guyana

Surama Eco Lodge is an isolated and idyllic location which offers an escape from the concrete jungle to a serene and peaceful existence with nature.  The guides have lived their entire lives in the rainforest, and have an incredible understanding of nature and how to utilise its resources. Set at the western edge of the main village, the eco lodge is perched atop a meadow facing a thick forest wall, creating a perfect opportunity to view birds, monkeys and even the occasional jaguar. The locals help you to feel welcome and like a guest in their home.

Day 14-15 Georgetown, Guyana

Georgetown, Guyana
Overview:

Enjoy dawn breaking across the rainforest. Take the chance to have a walk through the forest to look for wildlife and birds.  Travel from the Surama Eco Lodge to the Rupununi airstrip for your breath taking flight over hundreds of kilometres of rainforest back to Georgetown. Enjoy a final dinner of a traditional Guyanese 7 curry dinner. Ride in a private transfer to the airport for your departing flight.

Featured Accommodation
Grand Coastal Hotel

Grand Coastal Hotel is located in Guyana on the East Coast of Demerara, just minutes from the capital city of Georgetown. This hotel is a boutique international hotel with local flavours and offers a safe and secure environment with excellent services and accommodation along with a restaurant, bar, gym and pool.

We will tailor the perfect holiday to suit your needs.