THE THREE GUIANAS

A journey into one of the least known and most fascinating regions of South America, where the continent changes face and rhythm. The Three Guianas are a world apart: almost untouched Amazon rainforest, great rivers as the only highways, colonial capitals suspended in time, and a surprising cultural blend that brings together Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. From English-speaking Guyana to multicultural Suriname, and on to French Guiana, a European outpost in the jungle, we travel through three deeply different countries united by the same dominant environment: the Amazon. A frontier itinerary, made up of scenic flights over the forest, river crossings, former penal colonies, and space centers.

EXTENSION TO BARBADOS, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago are not the classic postcard islands to be experienced in resorts or quickly visited during a cruise: they are real countries, isolated, with strong and deeply different identities. For this very reason, they represent one of the most interesting and unconventional introductions to this part of the world. Barbados stands out for its balance between Caribbean culture and British influences, between spectacular beaches and a lively inland area made up of villages, markets, and local traditions. Trinidad & Tobago, on the other hand, is even wilder and more intense: a unique mix of African, Indian, and Creole cultures, with lush nature, tropical forests, and one of the most vibrant music and cultural scenes in the Caribbean. The BHS way of experiencing them is far removed from cruise logic: no hit-and-run visits, but real independent exploration with self-drive, direct contact with the culture and with the people. You enter the places, understand the dynamics, and experience the islands for what they truly are.

*Departure scheduled 4 days earlier than the standard itinerary

The BHS touch

The Three Guianas are one of the last truly “remote” areas of South America: three different countries, three languages, three systems, few infrastructures, and very few travelers. It is a region that, on its own, requires time, financial resources, complex logistics, and a strong capacity for adaptation. For this very reason, it is perfect to be experienced together. The BHS touch here is to bring our community together, creating a close-knit group of travelers with the same spirit: curious, flexible, ready to share transfers, remote borders, local ferries, and days that do not always follow the clock. We cross Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana in one continuous itinerary, and we can’t wait to be surprised!

Highlights

The power of the Kaieteur Falls

Georgetown and Paramaribo, timeless colonial capitals

The Amazon rainforest of Suriname

Kourou Space Center

Where we sleep

Hotels and guesthouses in the cities (Georgetown, Paramaribo, Kourou, Cayenne) and an Amazon eco-lodge during the Suriname river tour.

How we move

Private minivans, taxis, local buses, river ferries, local boats.

Trans Alps Adventure

THE THREE GUIANAS

TYPE OF TRIP

An itinerant exploration trip, with long transfers, country changes, border crossings, and variable infrastructure. A spirit of adaptability, flexibility, and curiosity toward less touristy contexts is required.

For more information about our trips, see the FAQ section.

Travel itinerary

Day 1–5: Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago extension

DAY 1 – ITALY → BRIDGETOWN (BARBADOS)

Morning and afternoon: departure from Italy with an international flight to Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados (1 stopover). Arrival in Bridgetown, pick-up of the rental car, and transfer to the hotel

DAY 2 – BARBADOS

Morning and afternoon: breakfast and departure by car for a circular tour of the island, exploring the different faces of Barbados. Crossing the western Caribbean coast, with calm beaches and tranquil waters, and gradually moving towards the more rugged and exposed Atlantic coast. Scenic stops along the eastern cliffs, coastal villages, and ocean viewpoints

Evening: return to Bridgetown. Dinner at leisure and overnight stay at the hotel

DAY 3 – BARBADOS → TRINIDAD → TOBAGO

Morning: breakfast and relaxing morning at the beach. Free time for sea, sun, and decompression on one of the capital’s beaches before continuing the journey

Afternoon: return of the rental car and international flight to Port of Spain (Trinidad). Continue with a domestic flight to Tobago

Evening: arrival in Tobago in the evening. Pick-up of the rental car and transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Tobago

DAY 4 – TOBAGO

Morning and afternoon: breakfast and departure for a self-drive tour of Tobago. Exploration of beaches, scenic viewpoints, and the lush interior, with stops between bays, tropical forest, and small villages

Evening: return towards the airport, drop-off of the car, and evening flight from Tobago to Port of Spain. Arrival in Trinidad, transfer to the hotel, and overnight stay in Port of Spain

DAY 5 – TRINIDAD → GEORGETOWN (GUYANA)

Morning and afternoon: breakfast and departure by minivan with driver for a full tour of Trinidad Island, crossing its very diverse landscapes. First stop at the famous Pitch Lake, the world’s largest natural asphalt lake. Walk in the area and introduction to its geological formation and its role in the island’s industrial development. Continue towards the interior of the island and enter a protected tropical forest area in the Northern Range hills. Short walk in the national park among dense vegetation, streams, and local wildlife, to understand Trinidad’s environmental importance as one of the most biodiverse Caribbean islands. Afterwards, transfer to the northern coast facing the Atlantic. Stop at one of the island’s most iconic beaches, such as Maracas Bay, framed by jungle and mainly frequented by locals. Free time for swimming and informal lunch at one of the beach stalls

Evening: return to Port of Spain in the late afternoon. Transfer to the airport and international flight to Georgetown (Guyana). Arrival in the evening, transfer to the hotel, and overnight stay in Georgetown. From here, the main journey through the Three Guianas begins

Day 1–2: Italy – Georgetown (Guyana)

DAY 1: departure from Italy with an international flight to Georgetown, the capital of Guyana (2 stopovers). Depending on the flight schedule, arrival in the city will be either on the evening of Day 1 or the morning of Day 2. Transfer and hotel accommodation. Overnight stay in Georgetown

DAY 2: GEORGETOWN

Morning: visit to the Gothic Revival-style City Hall, St. George’s Cathedral, one of the tallest wooden churches in the world, and Independence Square, the political heart of the city

Afternoon: continue with the Parliament and immersion in Stabroek Market, the iconic covered market of Guyana, among spices, tropical fruit, and everyday life

Evening: return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Georgetown

Day 3: Georgetown – Kaieteur Falls – Georgetown

Morning and afternoon: transfer to the airport and departure by light aircraft to the Kaieteur Falls. Scenic flight over the Guyanese Amazon, with views of rivers and continuous rainforest. Arrival at the park and visit of the falls: the single drop of over 220 meters makes Kaieteur one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world. Scenic walks, observation of endemic flora, and time to explore the area. Return flight to Georgetown in the afternoon

Evening: dinner and overnight stay at the hotel

Day 4: Georgetown – Border Crossing – Paramaribo

Morning and afternoon: early departure and transfer to Moleson Creek, crossing rural Guyana all the way to the border with Suriname. Boarding the ferry to cross the river to South Drain. Change of vehicle and continuation to Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname

Evening: arrival in Paramaribo, hotel check-in. Dinner and overnight stay in the city.

Day 5: Paramaribo

Morning: city tour of Paramaribo: visit to Fort Zeelandia, the UNESCO-listed historic center, and the flea market, among Dutch colonial architecture and multicultural influences

Afternoon: excursion to New Amsterdam and the old plantations along the Suriname River. River navigation with the possibility of spotting pink dolphins, a symbol of the river

Evening: return to Paramaribo. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel

Day 6: Paramaribo – Suriname Amazon

Morning and afternoon: departure from Paramaribo around towards Atjoni, the last road outpost before the Suriname Amazon rainforest. The landscape gradually changes: the city gives way to rural villages, forest, and river. Arrival in Atjoni in the early afternoon and boarding a motorized canoe for a navigation of about one hour along the Suriname River, the only real access route to the Upper Suriname region. Arrival at Knini Paati, a river island inhabited by Maroon communities (Bushinengue), descendants of African slaves who escaped colonial plantations and took refuge in the forest. Accommodation at the lodge, late lunch, and free time to relax, settle in, or swim in the sula (river rapids). In the late afternoon, first guided excursion in the surroundings: walk in the forest and introduction to the natural environment and daily life of the river communities

Evening: return to the lodge, time to freshen up, dinner featuring local traditional dishes, and a night boat excursion for caiman spotting, experiencing the forest at its most active and silent moment. Overnight at the lodge, immersed in the sounds of the jungle

Day 7: Amazon – Paramaribo

Morning: wake-up in the forest and final moments to observe the river and life on the island.
Departure for the third excursion, lasting a few hours, dedicated to exploring the surrounding area: forest, villages, and river, with further insights into the relationship between the Maroons and their environment

Afternoon: return to the lodge in time for lunch and departure by boat back to Atjoni, crossing the river once again. Arrival and meeting with the driver for the overland transfer to Paramaribo

Evening: arrival in Paramaribo in the late afternoon, hotel check-in, and free time to relax after the Amazon experience. Dinner and overnight stay in the city

Day 8: Paramaribo – Border Crossing – Kourou

Morning and afternoon: transfer to Albina and ferry crossing of the river to Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, in French Guiana. Visit to the former penal colony of Saint-Laurent, a sorting point for deportees bound for the Îles du Salut. Historical insight into the French prison system in the Amazon. Continue towards Kourou. Stop and visit to the European Space Center, a symbol of the contrast between high technology and the forest

Evening: dinner and overnight stay in Kourou

Day 9: Kourou – Îles du salut – Cayenne

Morning and afternoon: boat excursion to the Îles du Salut: Île Royale, Île Saint-Joseph, and Île du Diable (Devil’s Island). Visit of the prison ruins, isolation cells, and stories related to the deportees. Return to the mainland and transfer to Cayenne

Evening: dinner and overnight stay in Cayenne

Day 10–11: Cayenne – Return to Italy

City tour of Cayenne: historic center, Place des Palmistes, and Fort Cépérou, with views over the city and the Atlantic Ocean. Transfer to the airport and departure on an international flight with one stopover to Italy. Arrival scheduled on Day 11… And on to the next adventure!

*It will be possible to continue the trip by joining the “Northeast Brazil” itinerary group, continuing overland to Macapá and subsequently flying to Salvador de Bahia (quote available upon request via chat)

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PRICE

WHAT’S INCLUDED

international flights
all internal transfers as per itinerary
all hotel/guesthouse stays in shared rooms with breakfast
flight and tour to Kaieteur Falls
2-day / 1-night jungle tour in Suriname
plantation tour in Paramaribo
Îles du Salut tour
all entrance fees to scheduled sites
all permits
Italian tour leader throughout the trip
tour leader expenses
medical insurance (BHS standard)

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

Lunches and dinners, extras, personal expenses, and anything not expressly mentioned

CHECKED BAGGAGE

Not allowed for logistical reasons

DOUBLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: €200

Guarantees accommodation in a double room with the chosen partner. For participants who do not purchase the supplement, BHS will arrange accommodation in double, triple, or quadruple rooms with people of the same sex, depending on booking requirements.

SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: €400

BARBADOS, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO EXTENSION

Includes international and domestic flights, car rental and fuel, all hotel stays in shared rooms with breakfast, all entrance fees to scheduled sites, all permits, Trinidad island tour, Italian tour leader throughout the trip, and tour leader expenses.

The extension is always guaranteed with a minimum of 2 participants. However, the price varies depending on the number of participants as follows:

2 people: €1700
3–4 people: €1600
5+: €1400

At the time of booking, the price will be set at the maximum rate (2 people).

Subsequently, at the time of final payment (30 days before departure), it will be updated in the reserved area with the exact amount based on the final number of participants.