The Three Guianas
Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana sit on South America's northeast shoulder, a single ecological region split across three colonial histories, three languages and three currencies.
One region, three countries
The Guianas occupy a green corner of South America that most travelers never reach. The region runs from the Orinoco delta in the west to the Oyapock River in the east, bounded by the Atlantic to the north and the Amazon basin to the south. Across that span the land is dominated by primary rainforest, savannah and rivers, with population concentrated along a narrow coastal strip.
Politically the three countries are very different. Guyana is the only English-speaking country in South America and is now an oil and gas economy in transformation. Suriname is a former Dutch colony and the smallest independent country on the continent by both area and population. It is also one of the most ethnically diverse places on earth. French Guiana is an overseas department of France, part of the European Union, where Europe launches its Ariane rockets from near the equator.
What ties them together is geography and forest cover. All three are more than 85 percent forested, all three are sparsely populated, and all three sit outside the standard South America itinerary. Travelers who reach them are typically experienced and curious, drawn by the access, the wildlife and the cultural complexity that has built up across centuries of plantation economies, Maroon resistance, indentured labor and Amerindian continuity.
One region, three different worlds.
Culture and wilderness
Cultural depth, not just nature.
Maroon communities on the Upper Suriname River, the penal colony archipelago off Kourou, Georgetown's wooden colonial architecture and Paramaribo's Hindustani, Javanese, Creole, Maroon, Chinese, Amerindian and European mix. The history here is genuinely layered.
Some of the most intact rainforest left on earth.
All three countries are more than 85 percent forested. Kaieteur, Iwokrama, the Brownsberg and Brokopondo region and the southern interior of French Guiana hold primary forest with jaguar, giant otter, harpy eagle and many endemic species.
Plan your trip
Practical information for travelers heading to the Guianas, including entry requirements, what to pack and how to get here.
General Information
Currency, language, climate, electricity and mobile network across the three countries.
Getting Here
Flight routes, regional connections and overland crossings.
Visa & Vaccinations
Entry documentation, e-visas, Schengen rules for French Guiana and recommended vaccinations.
What to Pack
Clothing, footwear, electronics and documents for jungle, river and city legs.
National Holidays
Public holidays in Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana that may affect ferry crossings and operations.
Travel Responsibly
Guidance on respecting Maroon and Amerindian communities, wildlife encounters and the rainforest environment.
Ready to plan your trip?
Tell us what you want to see and how much country you want to cover. We will come back with a tailored itinerary within 48 hours.