Transport

3 domestic light aircraft flights; 7 land journeys, 2 journeys by road and river.  There are journeys most days, but some are short. .

Accommodation

Simple and mid-range hotels, small jungle and wildlife lodges basic lodges.

Meals

Breakfast daily; lunch days 4,5,6,7,9; full board days 2,3,11,12,13

Summary Of Nights

15 days, 14 nights: Paramaribo 1, Danpaati 2, Paramaribo 2, Kourou 1, Cayenne 1, Georgetown 3, Atta Rainforest Lodge 1, Surama Eco-lodge 2,  Georgetown 1.

Money

Take cash in US$ (and for French Guiana, euros) up to the total limit your insurance will allow. ATMs which give access to cash are available in cities, but it’s worth having plastic for both Visa and Mastercard. We recommend a daily budget of $US35-40 per person per day to cover the cost of meals and daily expenses including tips and taxes. Euros are accepted in French Guiana. 

Visas

Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate.

If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application.

Insurance

Travel insurance is essential. Details of our recommended policy can be found on our Travel Insurance page.

Airport Taxes

International airport tax should be included in the cost of your ticket.

Climate

The climate is tropical, so your holiday will be hot and humid throughout. Along the Caribbean coasts of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, October is statistically one of the driest months in the year.

Cayenne’s annual rainfall is over 3,600mm, but October’s is 74mm – i.e. only 1/60 of the yearly total. But it’s all tropical – it can rain anytime, often in short and very heavy bursts.

Vaccinations

Preventative jabs or tablets are recommended for: malaria, typhoid, polio, tuberculosis, tetanus and hepatitis A. Consult your local GP, or health clinic – he or she will probably refer you to the NHS fitfortravel website.

Take precautions against being bitten -by applying insect repellent, especially in the evenings out of cities. A valid yellow fever certificate or official doctor’s note stating why you cannot be vaccinated must be produced when crossing some borders, so it is essential that these are carried.

The Ministry of Health in Suriname advises passengers travelling to Suriname to be vaccinated against Yellow Fever. This is also valid for travellers departing from Suriname towards countries in the Caribbean region. You will be required to present your ’International Certificate of Vaccination’ booklet, which will be checked before departure. You may be denied entree to any country if you fail to present this document. You should be vaccinated at least 10 days before departure.

There are several brands of gel or foam which can be used for washing your hands where no clean water is available.

Clothing And Equipment

Clothing should be casual and comfortable – plenty of light cotton (or light-weight wicking fabric which controls perspiration and dries quickly). Light colours are beneficial against sun and bugs. Dark clothes attract mosquitoes.
For wildlife viewing, the best colours to wear are pastel tones, such as brown, beige and green, which don’t highlight your silhouette in the landscape and camouflage you in foliage. Avoid strong colours like yellow, bright blue and red.
Shorts and short-sleeve shirts should be avoided in the evenings, especially away from cities. Air-conditioning in rooms and restaurants is the closest you’ll get to being cold, so a light sweater or “layers” will suffice.
For some excursions to the jungle and/or local flights you may be restricted to a maximum baggage allowance of 10kg (owing to limited space on light aircraft). In addition, some of the mini buses we use have limited baggage space.  
A backpack or soft holdall (ideally with some degree of waterproofing) is the most comfortable way to carry your belongings, along with a small day-use backpack (25-40l capacity). Don’t over-pack – no hotels have bellboys, and few have lifts – please ask us for advice if you’re unsure.