To visit Guyana is to discover an incredible French region. Located between Brazil and Surinam, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Guyana is a paradise for nature lovers in search of adventure and authenticity. Little-known territory, untouched by mass tourism, it is nevertheless full of attractions and you can live extraordinary experiences there. Here are all our tips for preparing your trip, follow the guide!
Is Guyana the kingdom of nature?
To the west, towards the border with Surinam, is the town of Saint Laurent du Maroni. It housed a penal colony, the remains of which can still be visited today, but it also marks the beginning of the nature part of the stay in Guyana.. Not far from there is the Voltaire waterfall. The Maroni River is the starting point for many “ecotourism” circuits where travelers are invited to go up the Maroni River by canoe and spend a night - or more - in the middle of the equatorial forest. This is the unique opportunity to meet indigenous people and to discover the richness of the biodiversity of Guyana.
Nature in Guyana
When is the best time to visit Guyana?
Located just above the equator, Guyana has a tropical climate marked by a dry season and a rainy season. The best time to visit Guyana is the dry season, which runs from July to November. The rest of the year, however, is not recommended. During the rainy season it is very rare that it rains all day long: you will have the right, at worst, to heavy showers which will quickly give way to a great sun!
Beach in Guyana
On the temperature side, it's very simple: it's hot all year round with an average of 32 ° C during the day and 23 ° C at night, accompanied by a humidity level that often exceeds 70%. The prices of plane tickets are around 600 € between January and June and between 800 and 1000 € between July and December. It can be interesting to visit Guyana in February and March, when the carnival is in full swing. Tickets are reasonably priced and you can enjoy the “little summer of March”, the least humid month of the rainy season. On the other hand we advise you toavoid the month of december. The prices of plane tickets are soaring and many tourist sites are closed for the holidays.
What budget should you plan to visit Guyana?
Life in Guyana is approximately 20% more expensive than in mainland France. So plan on a fairly substantial budget if you want to take advantage of it and explore the interior. 50 € per day and per person will be a minimum and to be more comfortable, count between 80 and 100 €. Accommodation prices are more or less the same as in mainland France. In hotel or Airbnb, it will take between 50 and 130 € for a double room, depending on the comfort you want. There is no high or low tourist season, but prices can be a bit higher during Carnival. A good solution to reduce your accommodation budget: sleep in a hammock in a hut, which will cost you around € 10 per night.
The carnival
On average restaurant prices are much higher than in mainland France with a main course around € 25. The best way to save money on food is to buy local produce and cook yourself if you have accommodation with a kitchen. You can also find affordable bouis-bouis in coastal towns, especially in markets.
A market in Guyana
Renting an entry-level car will cost you around € 200 per week. If you take a domestic line from Cayenne, count between 130 and 180 € a return ticket. The most important area of expenditure will undoubtedly be the activities. For example, for an excursion on the river you will have to pay at least 25 € per day and per person. The prices are decreasing according to the number of participants.
How to go to Guyana?
The easiest way to visit Guyana is by plane. For that you will have the choice between two companies departing from Paris-Orly and which offer equivalent fares: Air France and Air Caraïbes.
The flight time is around 9 hours, the outward journey takes place during the day and the return trip at night. At Paris-Orly airport you will need to show your yellow fever vaccination record, compulsory to be able to go to Guyana, otherwise you will not be able to board the plane! If you have a lot of time and money the other possibility to go to Guyana is to embark aboard a mixed cargo ship. The crossing lasts 3 to 4 weeks and you will have to pay around 1500 € for the crossing.
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What to see in Guyana? Our 13 must-see visits
How to get around to visit Guyana?
The best way to be independent is to rent a car in Cayenne when you arrive at Félix Éboué airport. There are only two national roads on the Guyanese coast: the N1 to the West and the N2 to the East. They are supplemented by some departmental roads to go to Kaw, Apatou, on the Maroni, and to serve the inhabited areas around the towns. This network is practicable with any type of vehicle but, if you want to explore the interior tracks, it is better to rent a 4 × 4. There is no organized public transport in Guyana : no buses or trains. The only existing system is the collective taxi, “Taxi Co” for locals, which does not leave unless it is full. Suffice to say that it's a bit random!
Air guyane
To get to more remote areas, it may be interesting to take a domestic line by plane. The local company Air Guyane operates daily flights to Maripasoula (50 min), Grand Santi (1h45) and Saül (45 min). Most often these are propeller planes with 15 seats, it is better to book early! Another means of transport to visit Guyana: the pirogue. Indispensable to go from one village to another on the Maroni, to explore the Kourou river or to go on an expedition for several days.
Where to sleep in Guyana?
The best way to visit Guyana is to take a road trip to be able to understand all its facets. When you arrive in Cayenne, stay a few days around, for example in Rémire-Montjoly where the beaches are the most beautiful. The best is to choose an Airbnb, it will cost you less and you can take advantage of having a kitchen to prepare your own meals.
Remire Montjoly beach
This advice is valid for the other towns on the coast: Kourou and Saint Laurent du Maroni. To make the most of the Salvation Islands, stay at least one night there. At L'Auberge des Îles sur Royale, you can choose between several types of accommodation: in a classic hotel, in a former prison warden's house, or in a hammock.
Salvation Islands
Elsewhere, and in particular on the river or in the villages, live a unique experience sleeping in a carbet, rocked to the sounds of the forest. The carbet is the traditional Amerindian habitat, it is a wooden structure without walls but with a roof where you can hang your hammock. If you plan to sleep several times in a carbet, the easiest and cheapest is to buy a hammock and a mosquito net suitable for your arrival. You will find several specialty shops in the Crique district of Cayenne.
Caution : the nights in the forest can be cool, bring a light sleeping bag.
In recent years, several eco-lodges have emerged. These camps, often far from everything, generally offer full board stays with certain activities included. At Camp Canopé you can sleep high in the trees in an extraordinary environment!
What to eat and drink in Guyana?
Visiting Guyana also means discovering its local dishes. And know that Guyanese cuisine reflects the region's population: cosmopolitan! Indeed, several influences, Creole and Asian, give the typical flavors of Guyana restaurants. Cayenne pepper is also a must-have ingredient. At the table, we find dishes as varied as accras, Guyanese sausage and, of course, fish cooked in different ways. On the drinks side, the rum is of course a must!
What are the curiosities and activities to do in Guyana?
There is so much to do in Guyana during your stay! Here are some ideas to draw from our list:
- Climb into a canoe to discover the rivers and swim in a cove in the middle of the forest
- Rubbing shoulders with the melting pot of populations locales : Creoles, Amerindians and black-browns (Saramaka, Bushinengue, etc.)
- Go hiking in the middle of the primary forest: giant cheese makers, lianas to play Tarzan, howler monkeys… everything is there!
- See the take off of a rocket, at the Guyanese Space Center in Kourou
- Enjoy the beautiful beaches lined with coconut palms, in particular in Rémire-Montjoly
- Sleep in the middle of the jungle : comfortably installed in your hammock, you will fall asleep to the sounds of the forest… an extraordinary experience!
- Watch the turtles lay eggs Lute on the beach, between May and June
- If baigner in a blue sea in the Salvation Islands
Remains in the jungle
Useful information
Want to visit Guyana? To make your stay a success, we provide you with practical information and tips:
Are you going to visit Guyana soon? So go on a discovery the most beautiful places from this pretty corner of France! Do not hesitate to share your tips in the comments ...
