How to travel overland across the 3 Guyanas

Guyana, Suriname and French Guyana, popularly known as ‘’the 3 Guyanas’’, are three countries located in the eastern shoulder of South America and probably, the least visited countries in the all the Americas.

Either you are overlanding across Latin America or just traveling here for a few weeks, it’s easy to combine the 3 countries in one single trip.

This guide will show you how to cross the 3 Guyanas (Guyana-Suriname-French Guyana) overland, from Georgetown to Cayenne.

In this Guyana travel guide, you will find:

Introduction to travel in the Guyanas: Why are they called the 3 Guyanas?

The Guyana is a geographical area comprised of the Guiana Shield.

Politically-speaking, this area today refers to Guyana, Suriname and French Guyana but, theoretically, it also includes the Guayana region in eastern Venezuela and Amapá state in Brazil.

In fact, during colonial times, the Venezuelan Guyana was referred to as Spanish Guyana, while Amapá state as Portuguese Guyana.

Similarly, Guyana (the country) was known as British Guyana, and Suriname as Dutch Guyana.

French Guyana never got their independence and today, this tiny country is an overseas department and region of France, hence part of the European Union.

Canaima National Park is part of The Guyana

How to get to the 3 Guyanas

Where to start from, Guyana or French Guyana?

From a logistical perspective, it really doesn’t make any difference but you should start from wherever is more convenient for your kind of trip.

I personally started from Georgetown (Guyana), and the only advantage I can think of is that I liked ending my trip in Cayenne (French Guyana), where I could find pretty amazing restaurants serving decent French food and wine, something which is hard to find in the other 2 Guyanas.

How to travel to the 3 Guyanas by land

Traveling to Guyana by land

From Venezuela: There’s no official border between both countries, not even roads, but only thick jungle.

Check our travel guide to…