Trinidad
Day 1 of of Guyana, Suriname & Trinidad Tour
Arrive in Guyana
Today we arrive in Georgetown, capital of South America's only
English speaking country. Guyana's capital city lies on the coast,
protected by a sea wall and an elaborate drainage system designed by
the Dutch. Built mostly of wood, Georgetown is an architectural
wonder with many of its buildings dating back to the 16th and 17th
centuries. Called the garden city due to its wide tree lined
avenues, Georgetown is a little piece of the colonial past in a
modern world. Overnight in Georgetown. Dinner if required.
Day 2 of Guyana, Suriname & Trinidad Tour
Georgetown - Baganara
Early this morning we will have a brief tour of Georgetown's
principal sights. We start at the Seawall and learn about the
working of the sluice gates. We then drive to the historical center
and view St George's Cathedral, one of the world's tallest free
standing wooden buildings, and the Parliament building, completed in
1833. We continue to the Botanical Gardens and the Zoo and finish
with the Hibiscus Craft Market and the Post Office. (Depending on
timing and schedules, Georgetown sightseeing may occur at different
point in our tour). We also see the Victorian Law Courts and Town
Hall, as well as the historic Starbroek Market. We depart Georgetown
and travel to Baganara Resort. Pre-eminent among the three hundred
and sixty-five islands in the mighty Essequibo is this wonderful
little paradise with one hundred and eighty-seven acres of lush
green foliage and colourful tropical flowers. This is the gateway to
the unspoilt rainforest of Guyana and the junction where the great
Essequibo and Mazaruni Rivers meet. This evening, as the sun sets,
we make an excursion up the Essequibo River by motor boat to Parrot
Island. As the warm tropical day ends, myriad stars of the
equatorial zone appear and thousands of Amazonian parrots arrive to
roost for the night. We will walk on the edges of this mangrove
island listening to the sounds of these intelligent birds preparing
for the night. The flocks of parrots arriving at twilight is
unforgettable. Overnight at Baganara Resort. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 3 of Guyana, Suriname & Trinidad Tour
Baganara Resort
We rise early this morning for a pre-breakfast nature walk. Our walk
takes us through the humid swamp forests that cover much of Baganara
Island. This is a perfect opportunity to identify some of the
region's numerous tree species and watch for some of the more than
200 bird species recorded in the surrounding area. After breakfast
you can take a swim in the warm, clean waters of the river, or
perhaps the soft sand beaches that surround the island. Kayaks are
available for those wishing to explore the river on their own;
alternatively, you may choose to curl up in a hammock and relax.
Later today we board a motorboat and take an exciting journey to the
town of Bartica. An Arawak word meaning "red clay", it is home to
many people who work the mighty rivers. The Mazaruni has many
granite quarries--the stone is sent all over the Carribbean. The
Cuyuni leads to Venezuela and has numerous gold, silver, diamond and
bauxite mines. An isolated nearby island is still the site of
Guyana's largest prison, continuously used since built by the Dutch
several centuries ago. * Cuyuni and Mazaruni river cruises may be
replaced by other sightseeing if water levels are not high enough.
Overnight at Baganara Resort. All meals.
Day 4 of Guyana, Suriname & Trinidad Tour
Baganara - Kaieteur Waterfall - Georgetown
An aircraft will pick us up at Baganara for our day tour of the
Kaieteur Waterfall. Kaieteur thunders over a precipice, plummeting
224 m (741 feet), making it the longest single drop waterfall in the
world. This is Guyana's trademark and one of the most impressive and
beautiful sights in Guyana, a solid column of water in a
perpendicular drop into cascading foam and spray over the great
boulders at the foot of the cliff, producing breathtaking rainbows
across the gorge (hopefully the weather will be clear!). The
aircraft circles the Falls, giving views to both sides of the plane,
and then lands nearby. We walk through a tropical gorge, stopping at
a number of viewpoints, before reaching the very edge of the top of
the Falls. There are many legends of Kaieteur, but the most enduring
tells of a great old Chieftain of the Patamona tribe whose name was
Kaie. To save his people from being destroyed by the savage
Caribishi, Kaie sacrificed himself to the Makonaima, the Great
Spirit, by canoeing himself over the falls. We then fly back to
Baganara for lunch before proceding by plane back to Georgetown. The
flight provides breathtaking views of the endless canopy of tropical
rain forest sliced by huge rivers, and Georgetown's location, at the
mouth of the Essequibo. Overnight in Georgetown. Breakfast and
dinner.
Day 5 of Guyana, Suriname & Trinidad Tour
Georgetown, Guyana - Paramaribo, Suriname
We have an early morning start, setting out by road to the Corentyne
River which forms the border between Guyana and Suriname. We pass
through the mainly agricultural areas crossing the Berbice River by
ferry before arriving at Moleson Creek, where we join a second ferry
to cross to Southdrain on the Suriname border. We continue on to
Paramaribo and check in to our hotel. (This is a long though
interesting journey. Possible lengthy waits at the ferry crossing
requires patience.) Paramaribo originated in the 17th century around
an old trading post and Fort Willoughby, which was renamed Fort
Zeelandia after the Dutch conquered it in 1667. The Dutch made the
settlement near the fort the colony's capital, calling it Nieuw
Middelburg. This name for the new capital has never been accepted.
The popular name for the capital is still 'foto,' derived from
'fort.' Some months later, the British took over the fort again, but
under the Peace of Breda, Suriname became a Dutch colony again. The
name Paramaribo is derived from 'Paramurubo,' the name of an old
Arrawak village, which means 'city of parwa blossoms.' Overnight in
Paramaribo. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 6 of Guyana, Suriname & Trinidad Tour
Paramaribo - Commewijne River Cruise - Paramaribo
This morning we have a tour of this historic capital. Sights in
Paramaribo include: The Central Market where you can find tropical
fruit and vegetables galore; here one can meet a cross-section of
Suriname's ethnically-diverse population. The Palm Garden, which is
behind the Presidential Palace, is famous for its stately palm
trees. Waterfront / Independence Square is the centre of activity
during national holidays. There are also several foodstands along
the Waterfront. The historic Fort Zeelandia has been turned into a
museum, which highlights Suriname's history and arts (NOTE:
Paramaribo sightseeing may occur at a different point of our tour if
overall timing warrants). This afternoon we have a cruise on the
Commewijne River, directly opposite Paramaribo city. Our tour will
take us along the river, past former colonial plantations of which
most are abandoned and no longer active. A visit to the open-air
museum at Nieuw Amsterdam and Marienburg, the oldest former sugar
plantation in Suriname, will carry you back in time. The
agricultural projects in Alkmaar, Katwijk and surroundings will
offer you a view on how the plantation industry transformed itself
in modern times. The river which takes in a dominant place in
Commewijne, provides a way of earning a living to many fishermen in
the area. Overnight in Paramaribo. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 7 of Guyana, Suriname & Trinidad Tour
Paramaribo, Suriname - Port of Spain, Trinidad
Today we fly from Suriname to Trinidad,* a romantic island, home of
calypso and the steelband with a wonderful blend of blue-green
waters, golden sands and lush tropical jungles. On arrival we will
have an orientation tour. We visit the capital, Port of Spain, where
gingerbread-style houses are found side-by-side with a variety of
modern structures. The seven grandest examples of colonial Victorian
houses lie in a row along St Clair's border with the Savannah. Known
as the 'Magnificent Seven', the houses are each in a different style
but vie to outdo each other in form and decoration. We visit the
nearby Botanical Gardens. Later we see the impressive President's
Residence; the leafy suburbs of St Ann's lie behind. We will view
the Red House (Parliament), the Hall of Justice, and Woodford
Square. The garden in the square is the setting for open-air
political debate: the topic of the day is written on a blackboard
each morning. The Woodbrook area is dotted with restaurants and
bars, many of which are in small 'gingerbread' houses, fringed with
fretwork and delicately painted. Then it's a short drive to Lady
Young Lookout for an excellent panoramic view of Port of Spain.
We'll head for Santa Cruz Valley with its endless cocoa and coffee
plantations. The drive through this valley is approximately 20
minutes and from here we continue along the scenic North Coast Road
where we will take in a panoramic view of the Caribbean Sea at
Maracas Lookout. On reaching Maracas Beach, Trinidad's most
beautiful and popular, you can swim, sunbathe or relax before
returning to the hotel (changing facilities are available). NOTE:
Flight schedules and / or weather considerations may require that we
have today's Port of Spain sightseeing on one of the following days,
or mix up the order of our sightseeing in Trinidad. This day is also
subject to flight schedules that can change without warning. If
today's flight is cancelled or discontinued, we may have to drive
back to Georgetown and fly from there. Overnight in Trinidad.
Breakfast and dinner.
Day 8 of Guyana, Suriname & Trinidad Tour
Trinidad: Central Trinidad & Caroni Nature Sanctuary
This morning our island tour takes us through the plains of Central
Trinidad, vast mangrove swamp and rice fields. Trinidad being a
mixed society, of all different races; we will see many Hindu flags
in front of private residences and Hindu temples and hear about
their significance. We also visit the remarkable "Sadhu" Hindu
Temple, built under great sacrifice out in the sea. We visit the
lively and colourful Chaguanas fresh produce market and busy bazaar
street with a break for lunch and shopping. We then continue to the
the Caroni Nature Sanctuary, a mangrove swamp covering an area of 40
square miles at Trinidad's North West Coast. We board a large
flat-bottomed boat and slowly travel along the beautiful peaceful
waterways and lagoons admiring the bizarre beauty of the landscape
and a variety of birds and other wildlife. The most astounding among
these birds is the scarlet ibis, a large bright red bird feeding and
nesting here. This tour is world renowned among ornithologists as it
offers the observer an opportunity to see this rare protected bird
with very little effort. After this relaxing boat ride we return to
the main landing and make our way to Port of Spain. Overnight in
Trinidad. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 9 of Guyana, Suriname & Trinidad Tour
Trinidad: Asa Wright Nature Centre
Today we drive to the Asa Wright Nature Centre, home to hundreds of
species of birds, as well as other local flora and fauna. The AWNC
is a "Not-for-Profit" Trust established in 1967 by a group of
naturalists and bird-watchers to "protect part of the Arima Valley
in a natural state and to create a conservation and study area for
the protection of wildlife and for the enjoyment of all." Our guided
walk will explore the Discovery Trail and conclude on the verandah.
Colourful birds like the brilliant green shining Honeycreepers and
the Jacob Hummingbirds visit the nearby feeders just below the
verandah. This is one of the best places for birding in the tropics.
The original estate house of the former coffee-cocoa-citrus
plantation has been beautifully remodeled over the years as a
comfortable headquarters where guests gather to watch the incredible
birdlife from the verandah. Overnight in Trinidad. Breakfast and
dinner.
Day 10 of Guyana, Suriname & Trinidad Tour
Departure
Departure from Trinidad. Breakfast. BON VOYAGE!!