Wild Coast Tour: Guyana, Suriname & French Guiana– Winter Season

Taxi only costs from CJIA to Georgetown (GEO)

Pickup and transfer from Cheddi Jagan International Airport to Georgetown and your selected hotel.

Cara Lodge was built in the 1840s. It has a long and romantic history and was the home of the first Lord Mayor of Georgetown. Over the years, the property has been visited by many dignitaries, including King Edward VIII, who stayed at the house in 1923. Other dignitaries have included President Jimmy Carter, HRH King Charles III and Mick Jagger. This magnificent wooden colonial home turned hotel offers the tradition and nostalgia of a bygone era.

Overnight at Cara Lodge.  (Check in time 1400hrs, Check out time 12midday)

This morning, we make an early start to have breakfast at one of the local stands with our host, guide and culinary master, Chef Delven Adams who will guide us around Bourda Market, the largest of the four markets in Georgetown. We will start our tour at the Guyana Shop which has all the local products produced and packaged in Guyana, before heading over to the market where we will meet some of the vendors who Chef buys from daily.

We will visit the fish market, the meat section and the haberdashery section – where one can find anything you can think of from thread to bolts of all kinds of fabric. Dry goods like rice and of course demerara sugar are abundant. A stop at the bush medicine stalls is always educational. Heading outside you can see, touch and taste a variety of local fruits and vegetables unique in this part of the world. The chef will make his purchases with your suggestions of what you would like to try and will then head home to start preparing while we continue on a tour of the city of Georgetown with an experienced guide who will give you the history, rumours and facts on Georgetown and its citizens.

During your visit to Georgetown, there are a number of interesting sites that should not be missed such as the National Museum, which contains a broad selection of our animal life portrayed in taxidermy in beautiful old glass cases, and the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, which houses a wonderful collection of artefacts and explains history and lifestyle of our indigenous peoples.

On this mix of vehicle and walking tour, enjoy the views of other historic buildings along this promenade such as the Public Library, City Hall, the Victoria Law Courts, St. Andrews Kirk, Stabroek Market – once described as a “bizarre bazaar, and St. George’s Cathedral, which is one of the world’s tallest free-standing wooden buildings.

We will visit the Botanical Gardens, home to an extensive collection of tropical flora, and we will also pay a visit to a pond either in the gardens or the National Park, to feed the endangered West Indian Manatees.

After our city tour, we will go to the Backyard Café for lunch. This, as the name suggests, is a backyard that Chef has turned into an exclusive little hidden gem of a restaurant. If you are interested, Chef will welcome you to join him as he prepares a wonderful meal prepared from the fruits and vegetables we bought in the market in the morning. Or you can just sit under the arbour and sip unique blends of juice or enjoy a cold beer, while taking in the sounds and smells of a delicious meal in the making. Once he is ready, we will start eating our way through the courses, remember to pace yourself as you will want to try it all. 

Overnight at Cara Lodge.

Optional Service (not included in package rate)

Birding in Georgetown’s Botanical Gardens – 3 Hours Duration

0545hrs pickup and transfer to the extensive and beautiful Georgetown Botanical Gardens where, if we are lucky, we will have views of the Blood-colored Woodpecker. This colorful Veniliornis is found only in the Guianas and even there almost wholly limited to the narrow coastal plain. The gardens host Snail Kite, Gray Hawk, Pearl Kite, Carib Grackle, Red-bellied and Red-shouldered Macaws and the rare festive parrots. We will walk on trails in the back of the gardens and may see Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Black-crested Antshrike, Silver-beaked Tanager, Buff-breasted Wren, Golden-spangled Piculet and Ashy-headed Greenlet. You may even want to take a break from birding to feed some manatees in one of the nearby ponds.

Return to your hotel.

1130hrs pickup and transfer to Eugene F. Correia International Airport. ​

From the Eugene F. Correia International Airport take a scheduled flight over the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers and hundreds of miles of unbroken tropical rainforest to land at Kaieteur Falls, the world’s highest free-falling waterfall.

Kaieteur is situated in the heart of Guyana on the Potaro River, a tributary of the Essequibo. The water of Kaieteur flows over a sandstone conglomerate tableland into a deep gorge – a drop of 741 feet or 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. Amerindian legend of the Patamona tribe has it that Kai, one of the tribe’s chiefs (after whom the falls is named), committed self-sacrifice by canoeing himself over the falls. It was believed this would encourage the Great Spirit Makonaima to save the tribe from being destroyed by the savage Caribishi.

Kaieteur 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 over millions of years by the black water of the Potaro River.

Condition of Sale : Flights to Kaieteur and/or Orinduik Falls are operated on a scheduled aircraft and mainly on weekends, and all flights have a minimum passenger restriction. Therefore, any booking to Kaieteur and Orinduik Falls is subject to a minimum of 12 passengers being available to travel. In most cases we are able to fill flights. However, in the rare case that we cannot meet the required numbers we will reschedule the trip to another day during your stay, if this is possible. Wilderness Explorers retains the right to reschedule a flight as a first option. If we cannot reschedule the flight Wilderness Explorers will guarantee a flight, with a minimum of 2 passengers, to Kaieteur Falls only. If a flight is cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control, such as weather, we will endeavour to reschedule the flight or offer another excursion of the same value during your itinerary. If this is not possible then a full refund on the flight will be made.

Pickup and transfer from Eugene F. Correia International Airport to Georgetown.

Optional Service (not included in package rate)
Dinner with Singing Chef incl. return transfers

Guyana has a plethora of incredible foods. From grass-fed cows, delicious fresh fish, succulent prawns, wonderful tasting chicken and the colourful fresh fruits and vegetables.

Now combine all that with a trained international Guyanese chef bringing together an updated form of classical Guyanese cuisine and served in the delightful garden setting of his home. On top of that, combined with the smells of the herb garden and seeing fruits of the garden hanging from the trees around you. Lit by stars moon and candlelight you are going to be in for an unforgettable feast. Eon John will be cooking right in front of you so it’s a very personal experience.

We start with a delicious rum cocktail (or mocktail) and relax. The menu is designed to suit your group’s palette so if you fancy the bush fish like hassar lovingly crafted into a delicious meal or maybe the golden Gilbaca catfish which is one of the sweetest fish ever. The ingredients come together using ingredients that have been personally sourced to give you a highlight of your dining experience in Guyana. Chef Eon John the Singing Chef will serenade you under the stars as you finish your meal.

Overnight at Cara Lodge.

0430/0445hrs we will depart your hotel and travel eastward from Georgetown along the Atlantic coast to the Mahaica River. Here you will be joined by your guide before we continue to the river landing.

The narrow winding road to the landing runs parallel to the river and takes us through an area that has been mainly used for the cultivation of rice and other crops. This gives us a glimpse into the everyday lives of the farming community scattered along this road. Fortunately for us, the area along the river has been well preserved and provides an excellent riverfront ecosystem inhabited by flocks of egrets, herons, ibis, various marsh tyrants, and Guyana’s national bird, the Hoatzin.

Upon arrival at the river landing you may enjoy a cup of coffee or tea before heading out onto the river. This is the life line of the community and is one of the main sources of transportation, food, recreation and fresh water to irrigate the fields.

The river offers a rare chance to see the range-restricted Blood-colored Woodpecker which has been badly affected by habitat loss in the ‘Guianas’ coastal region.

This river is one of the best places to spot Guyana’s national bird, the Hoatzin (Opisthocomus Hoatzin), also known as the Stinkbird, or “Canje Pheasant”. This odd bird is an unusual species of tropical bird found in swamps, riverine forest and mangrove between the Amazon and the Orinoco delta in South America. It is a pheasant-sized bird about 65 cm (25 in) long, with a long neck and small head. It is brown in colour, with paler under parts and has an unfeathered blue face with maroon eyes, and its head is topped by a spiky, rufous crest. The Hoatzin is herbivorous; it eats leaves and fruit, and has an unusual digestive system with an enlarged crop which functions as a rumen. It also produces a horrible smell to scare away potential predators.

After our tour, we will return to the home of our boatman, where we will have breakfast before returning to Georgetown.

Optional Service (not included in package rate)
Demerara Historical River Tour

This afternoon, we will take a drive through the heart of the city to the Stabroek Market area. Here we will join the afternoon commuters using the old ferry stelling to board the river taxis, which are used to cross the Demerara River. The river taxis are a faster alternative route to using the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

We will slowly cruise along and across the Demerara River while your guide will give a brief history of the famous buildings along the waterfront. We then continue our trip to see the Demerara Harbour Bridge, once the longest floating bridge in the world at a total length of 1,851m long. We will cross under the bridge and tie up our boat near a mangrove that is the nightly roost for a variety of birds. As the sun sets over the river we will have a cold drink and some snacks (or cutters as we call them here in Guyana) as we enjoy flocks of brilliant Scarlet Ibis, Snail Kites, Herons, and three kinds of Egrets as they fly across the sky and settle into the mangroves for the evening.

Soon after the sun sets, we return to the ferry stelling while enjoying the city and ship lights from the river.

Optional Service (not included in package rate)
Evening Seawall, Bars and street food experience

Every Sunday evening, Georgetown’s Seawall comes alive as families, courting couples, and friends promenade along the seawall, enjoying the Atlantic sea breeze. The narrow strip becomes a hive of pop-up cocktail bars, street food vendors, blaring Caribbean music and parties spilling out of the trunks of cars. This excursion takes you into the heart of the scene, visiting various bars and enjoying street food with your guide, who knows all the best places. We will also visit other local bars around the city, looking for what is popular, traditional or unusual. Every Sunday is a new experience, tailored around the group and the level of immersion into the local culture they wish to enjoy.

Overnight at Cara Lodge.

Transfer from your hotel to the Eugene F. Correia International Airport for your GUMAIR flight. (cost for ticket is not included in the final rate)

Pick up from the Edward Gummels Airport and begin your Paramaribo City tour.

Paramaribo, the capital city of Suriname, has been placed on the UNESCO “World Heritage” list of historical monuments since 2002. We start our tour in the inner city of Paramaribo with a visit to the ancient building complex, Fort Zeelandia. You will have an extensive guided tour from our guide. We continue the trip by foot and visit the Independence Square surrounded by historical buildings including the Presidential Palace, the Palm Gardens and Lim a Po Street, one of the most beautiful streets in Paramaribo. After this walk, we drive along the most prominent historical buildings with their unique architecture. We will make a photo stop at the Synagogue and Mosque which are located right next to each other. Our next stop will be the Cathedral, the highest wooden building in the Western Hemisphere. Our City Tour ends at the Waterkant along the Suriname River, the favourite meeting place in Paramaribo for many Surinamese.

Transfer to the pier at Leonsberg where we will be picked up for the Sunset Dolphin tour. While having a drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) we enjoy the cool breeze and river views. Meanwhile, the captain searches the horizon for the dolphins. Normally we see them swim by in groups of up to 20 dolphins. Sometimes they’re very curious and if we are lucky they will jump and play close to the boat. After having enjoyed this playful company we part for the wonderful restored plantation Rust & Werk where we will go for a walk in the village. Here the descendants of the contract workers from Indonesia live, we call them the Javanese people. After the sun has set we will get back on board, pour a drink and enjoy a local snack, and slowly make our way back to Leonsberg. Transfer to your hotel.

Formerly a townhouse, it has been transformed into the most charming lobby of one of Paramaribo’s most favoured hotels with numerous eco-friendly features. The Eco Torarica is 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 the lovely garden. The hotel is simply ideal for guests who want to visit Suriname to relax and unwind.

Overnight in a standard room at Eco Torarica. (Check in time 1500hrs, Check out time 12midday)

We will begin our tour to Commewijne, which is situated right across the river from Paramaribo, with a drive over the bridge. The tour takes you along the former colonial plantations, most of which are now abandoned and have become residential areas. Plantation Peperpot is located in the Commewijne district, on the right bank of the Suriname River. We will make a stop at the former plantation for a visit of the premises and the workers living area called a Kampong. We will also visit the recently installed nature park at the plantation, famous for bird life and small rainforest animals, such as monkeys.

After Peperpot our next stop will be a visit to the outdoor museum at Fort Nieuw Amsterdam. Fort Nieuw Amsterdam is situated in a strategically important location: on the precise meeting point of the Commewijne and the Suriname River, close to the ocean. The large fortress was built by the British as a defense for the plantations that were situated along the upper parts of both rivers. The fortress was originally an earthwork construction. It has the shape of a polygon (5 equal sides) and features 5 bastions. At the outdoor museum, there are several restored buildings, including the gunpowder storage building from 1740 and the coach house with a few coaches dating from the 19th century. In one of the ponds you can find the famous giant water lily, Victoria Amazonica.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

Optional Service (not included in package rate)
Dinner at Mirosso, incl. return transfers and VAT

In the evening you will be picked up for dinner at a stylish Indonesian restaurant ” Mirosso”. Suriname has an interesting cultural mix and an unexpected Javanese population. After the abolition of slavery, the plantations in Suriname needed a new source of labor. In 1890, the influential Netherlands Trading Society, owner of the plantation Mariënburg, undertook a test to attract Javanese contract workers from the Dutch East Indies.

Until then, primarily Hindustani contract workers from British India worked on the Suriname plantations as field and factory workers. On August 9, the first Javanese arrived in Paramaribo. The test was considered successful and by 1894 the colonial government took over the task of recruiting Javanese hands. They came in small groups from the Dutch East Indies to the Netherlands, and from there to Paramaribo. The transport of Javanese immigrants continued until 1914 (except 1894) in two stages through Amsterdam. The Javanese were recruited to work on plantations and then they branched off in opening restaurants.

Overnight in a standard room at Eco Torarica.

We make an early start to comfortably pace ourselves through the journey. The first leg of our travels takes us eastbound along Suriname’s coastal road, to the Albina border station.

Formalities here rarely take more than a few minutes, and soon we find ourselves in Piaka canoe crossing the Maroni River headed for French Guiana or “Guyane” as it is frequently (and confusingly) called locally. Arrival at St. Laurent du Maroni is relatively uncomplicated, and our French guide will be on hand to help us navigate the usual customs and immigration formalities. French Guyana is a Department of France, so technically you have entered the EU upon landing here. And, evidence of this connection to the “1st world” is immediately evident: every car seems 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.

Upon arrival in St. Laurent, we will pay a brief visit to the well-preserved Camp de la Transportation. The facility once served as the transit point for slaves and indentured servants and later for political prisoners and convicts from France. They were sorted here and then assigned to the various locations around French Guiana.

Hotel Atlantis is a modern business hotel on the edge of Bois Devil Lake with air-conditioned rooms, telephone, WiFi, satellite television and refrigerator. The spacious open lobby includes a patio overlooking the pool, lake and tennis courts. The trendy restaurant offers French and Creole cuisine and has an excellent selection of wines.

Overnight in a standard room at Hotel Atlantis. (Check in time 1400hrs, Check out time 12midday)

After an early breakfast we will transfer to the dock in Kourou for our departure for the Iles du Salut. What is commonly referred to as “Devils Island” is really a triangle of three islands – Îles du Salut, or the Salvation Islands – seven miles off the coast of Kourou. We set sail aboard a catamaran towards our first stop, Île Royale. The islands played a central role in French history as far back as 1762 when they were first employed as a transit point, first for explorers, then slaves and later for political prisoners and convicts. Île Saint-Joseph is the southernmost island and was known as the silent island as inmates were not allowed to speak to either the guards or fellow convicts. Papillion claimed to have spent two years here in solitary confinement. St. Joseph was known as the ‘man-eater’ for obvious reasons.

Île Royale is the site of the oldest and most extensive buildings on the islands, featuring an old church, administration buildings, officers’ quarters, and today, a good restaurant and lodging facilities. Ironically, the actual Île du Diable (Devil’s Island) is inaccessible to visitors due to dangerous shoreline conditions. This is the island where the prison’s best-known occupant, Alfred Dreyfus, was famously secluded. Papillion claimed that he escaped the island on a coconut raft.

Your boat will dock on Ilse Royale. The prison buildings here are quite well preserved, and you can meander at will through the cell blocks, dormitory buildings, and other structures. Be sure to check out the children’s cemetery behind the old hospital. If your walking tour wraps up early, there are plenty of shady trees with benches under which you can catch a cool breeze down by the dock. Keep an eye out for sea turtles that like to scavenge among the rocks near the dock.

Return to Kourou by catamaran and transfer back to your selected hotel. Overnight in a standard room at Hotel Atlantis.

Transfer to the Center Spatiale Guyanaise (Guiana Space Center) for a tour. Launch schedules are a closely-held secret so our schedule today may be amended on short notice. The usual tour includes a motor coach tour which criss-crosses the centre’s mammoth facility, including stops at various assembly buildings, launch pads and control centres. The entire tour is offered in French, but your guide will supply translations as often as possible.

Your trip in French Guiana includes a visit to the Space Centre and Devils Island which are subject to unforeseeable closures at short notice, either for technical reasons or around rocket launches. Whilst we have the scheduled rocket launch dates, the launches are subject to change due to weather and technical considerations, and the final launch dates may vary drastically from the schedule. It may be changed by hours, days or even weeks. When a rocket is to be launched the Space Centre will close on the day of the launch, sometimes they may close for a few days before and after, it varies from launch to launch. As Devils Island is below the launch trajectory the site is also closed on launch days. As you would appreciate, these conditions are beyond our control, and we apologise for any inconvenience that may be experienced and will do everything to minimize changes to your itinerary. We will attempt to reschedule visits, where possible, or offer alternative activities. The upside is you may be lucky enough to see a rocket being launched!

Optional Service (not included in package rate)
Cayenne City Tour

Enjoy a tour of Cayenne, the administrative and commercial centre of French Guiana. It is a typical creole town with about 50,000 inhabitants, half of the entire population of the country. The Fort Cépérou, the Place Léopold Heder, the hotel of the Jésuites, the Place de Grenoble, the Place des Palmistes, the colonial hospital, the Franconie Museum, the town hall and the city centre are the gems of Cayenne.

Hotel Central is located in the heart of Cayenne, close to the historic Palmistes Square, just a short walk from the shopping streets and the business district. Overnight at Central Hotel in a standard room. (Check in time 1500hrs, Check out time 1130hrs)

Optional Service (not included in package rate)
Airport t/fer from HOTEL TO Cayenne Airport

Pick up from your hotel and transfer to the airport for your departing flight.