THE THREE GUIANAS
Highlights
The power of the Kaieteur Falls
Georgetown and Paramaribo, timeless colonial capitals
The Amazon rainforest of Suriname
Kourou Space Center
Where we will stay
Hotels and guesthouses in the cities (Georgetown, Paramaribo, Kourou, Cayenne) and an Amazon eco-lodge during the Suriname river tour.
How we move around
Private minivans, taxis, local buses, river ferries, local boats.
TYPE OF TRIP
n expedition-style journey designed for travelers seeking authentic and unconventional experiences. This itinerary involves long transfers, multiple border crossings, changing transportation methods, and regions where infrastructure can be limited or unpredictable. More than physical effort, the trip requires adaptability, flexibility, curiosity, and an open-minded approach toward remote and lesser-visited parts of South America. The Three Guianas are not a conventional tourist destination, but a frontier adventure where cultural diversity, tropical landscapes, and logistical challenges become part of the experience itself.
For more information about our trips, see the FAQ section.
DAY 1 – ITALY → BRIDGETOWN (BARBADOS)
Morning/Afternoon: Departure from Italy with an international flight to Bridgetown, the vibrant capital of Barbados, with one stopover en route. Upon arrival, pick-up of the rental car and transfer to the hotel for check-in and first contact with the island’s relaxed Caribbean atmosphere.
DAY 2 – BARBADOS
Morning/Afternoon: Breakfast and departure for a self-drive circular exploration of Barbados, discovering the island’s contrasting landscapes and cultural character. The route follows the calm western Caribbean coast, known for its tranquil waters and golden beaches, before gradually transitioning toward the rugged Atlantic shoreline, shaped by dramatic cliffs and powerful ocean waves. Scenic stops along the eastern coast, panoramic viewpoints, fishing villages, and local communities offer a deeper look into the island’s authentic identity.
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/Afternoon: Breakfast and departure for a self-drive exploration of Tobago, discovering the island’s pristine beaches, panoramic coastal roads, and lush tropical interior. The route includes stops at hidden bays, rainforest viewpoints, fishing villages, and untouched stretches of coastline that showcase the island’s more authentic and relaxed Caribbean atmosphere.
Evening: Return toward the airport, drop-off of the rental car, and evening flight from Tobago to Port of Spain, Trinidad. Arrival, transfer to the hotel, and overnight stay in the capital.
DAY 5 – TRINIDAD → GEORGETOWN (GUYANA)
Morning/Afternoon: Breakfast and departure for a full-day exploration of Trinidad with private transportation and driver, crossing some of the island’s most diverse landscapes. First stop at the legendary Pitch Lake, the largest natural asphalt lake in the world, with an introduction to its geological formation and its historical importance for the island’s industrial development. The journey continues inland through the lush Northern Range, entering protected rainforest areas rich in biodiversity. Short walks through tropical vegetation, streams, and forest trails offer insight into Trinidad’s extraordinary ecological diversity and wildlife. Later, transfer to the northern Atlantic coast and stop at Maracas Bay, one of the island’s most iconic beaches, surrounded by jungle-covered mountains and popular among locals. Free time to relax by the sea and enjoy the island atmosphere.
Evening: Return to Port of Spain and transfer to the airport for the international flight to Georgetown, capital of Guyana. Arrival, transfer to the hotel, and overnight stay.
DAY 1: Departure from Italy with an international flight to Georgetown, the capital of Guyana, with two stopovers. Depending on the flight schedule, arrival may take place either in the evening of Day 1 or during the morning of Day 2. Transfer to the hotel and accommodation in Georgetown.
DAY 2: GEORGETOWN
Morning: Guided city exploration of Georgetown, including the Gothic-style City Hall, the famous St. George’s Cathedral, one of the tallest wooden churches in the world, and Independence Square, considered the political heart of the country.
Afternoon: Continuation of the visit with the Parliament area and immersion into the lively Stabroek Market, Georgetown’s iconic covered market, among tropical fruits, spices, local products, and everyday urban life.
Evening: Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Georgetown.
Morning/Afternoon: Transfer to the airport and departure by small aircraft toward the spectacular Kaieteur Falls, deep in the Guyanese Amazon rainforest. Scenic flight over rivers and endless jungle landscapes. Arrival at the national park and guided visit to the falls: with a single drop of more than 220 meters, Kaieteur is considered one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world. Time for panoramic walks, observation of endemic flora, and exploration of the surrounding natural environment. Return flight to Georgetown in the afternoon.
Evening: Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Morning/Afternoon: Early departure from Georgetown and transfer to Moleson Creek, crossing the rural landscapes of Guyana toward the border with Suriname. Boarding the ferry to cross the river to South Drain. Change of vehicle and continuation by road to Paramaribo, the multicultural capital of Suriname.
Evening: Arrival in Paramaribo, hotel check-in. Dinner and overnight stay in the city.
Morning: Guided city tour of Paramaribo, including a visit to Fort Zeelandia, the UNESCO-listed historic center, and the local market, surrounded by Dutch colonial architecture and the city’s multicultural atmosphere.
Afternoon: Excursion to New Amsterdam and the former plantations along the Suriname River. Boat navigation with the possibility of spotting the famous pink river dolphins, symbolic inhabitants of the region.
Evening: Return to Paramaribo. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel
Morning/Afternoon: Departure from Paramaribo toward Atjoni, the last accessible road outpost before the Surinamese Amazon rainforest. Along the route, the scenery gradually transforms from urban landscapes to rural villages, dense forest, and river environments. Arrival in Atjoni in the early afternoon, followed by boarding a motorized canoe for approximately one hour of navigation along the Suriname River, the only true access route to the Upper Suriname region. Arrival at Knini Paati, a river island inhabited by Maroon communities (Bushinengué), descendants of enslaved Africans who escaped colonial plantations and found refuge deep within the rainforest. 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 surrounding forest with an introduction to the natural ecosystem and the daily life of the river communities.
Evening: Return to the lodge, dinner featuring traditional local dishes, and nighttime boat excursion for caiman spotting, experiencing the rainforest at its most alive and atmospheric moment. Overnight stay at the lodge, immersed in the sounds of the jungle.
Morning: Wake-up in the rainforest and final moments to observe life along the river and on the island. Departure for a final excursion of several hours dedicated to exploring the surrounding environment, forest, villages, and river landscapes, with deeper insight into the relationship between the Maroon communities and the natural world around them.
Afternoon: Return to the lodge for lunch, followed by departure by boat back to Atjoni, crossing the river once again. Arrival and meeting with the driver for the overland transfer back 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.
Morning/Afternoon: Transfer to Albina and ferry crossing over the river to Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, in French Guiana. Visit to the former penal colony of Saint-Laurent, historically used as a transit point for deportees bound for the Îles du Salut. Introduction to the history of the French prison system in the Amazon region. Continuation toward Kourou with a stop at the European Space Center, symbolizing the striking contrast between advanced space technology and the surrounding rainforest environment.
Evening: Dinner and overnight stay in Kourou
Morning/Afternoon: Boat excursion to the famous Îles du Salut archipelago: Île Royale, Île Saint-Joseph, and Île du Diable (Devil’s Island). Visit to the ruins of the former penal colonies, isolation cells, and historical sites connected to the deportees who were once imprisoned there. Return to the mainland and transfer to Cayenne.
Evening: Dinner and overnight stay in Cayenne.
City tour of Cayenne: exploration of the historic center, Place des Palmistes, and Fort Cépérou, with panoramic views over the city and the Atlantic Ocean. Transfer to the airport and departure on the international flight back to Italy (with one stopover). Arrival scheduled on Day 11. Possible continuation of the journey with the “Northeast Brazil” itinerary, continuing overland to Macapá and then flying to Salvador.
