The Guianas – also known as Guyanas, are one of the least-visited regions in South America. It is made up of French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana.

If you’re planning a trip here, you’ve probably wondered: can you travel between the Guyanas without flying?

The answer is yes — and this guide breaks down exactly how to do it using overland transport.

Three countries make up what is known as the Guianas, sometimes referred to as the Guyanas – French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana. If you’re planning a trip to the Guianas, you’ve probably asked yourself: Can you overland travel through the Guyanas? Is it possible to travel between the Guyanas without flying?

Which is a fair enough question… it is afterall known as the Forgotten Corner of South America! Mainly because they don’t see as many tourists as their neighbours.

In 2025, the estimated number of recorded visitors was:
French Guiana – 150 000 tourists
Suriname – 350 000 tourists
Guyana – 450 000 tourists

I had wondered if it was possible to travel this route without flying. Actually, someone I follow on social media did this trip several years ago. There are also a handful of blogs that did answer this question. Short answer is yes, it’s possible to overland the Guianas! But some information I found were a little outdated or I felt didn’t answer everything I was wondering about. There were bits of information here and there that you could piece together… In the end, we decided to just go for it and figure it out!

Your overland journey between French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana will use almost all sorts of transportation: a mix of ferries, minibuses and shared taxis. Don’t misunderstand me, it’s possible but wasn’t straightforward! This isn’t a polished backpacking route. It’s the kind of journey where you’re asking around, double checking directions and putting your full trust that things will just work out.

And somehow, it always does. 😀

Okay, so… How to travel between the Guyanas without flying

On a map, the route looks relatively straightforward. Three countries sitting side by side along the north eastern coast of South America. Easy, right? Well, the reality of it is different, it feels more pieced together. In practice, it involved: a lot of vehicle changes, ferries, shared rides. At no point is there one continuous journey, it’s a series of small steps that eventually connect.

You’re definitely not booking this on one ticket, you’re figuring it out as you go.

Documentations needed to travel through the Guianas

French Guiana:

Despite being an ocean away, French Guiana is part of France and is one of the furtherest outreach of the European Union. However, none of the French territories located outside of Europe are part of the Schengen zone. If you’re travelling through, check your entry requirements for entering or better yet, contact the French consulate for more information.

Suriname:

For most nationalities, you will need to get an eVisa for visiting Suriname which can be obtained here. It costs €50 per person. Approval for European citizens was almost immediate. You’ll receive an eVisa Reference number, which will be needed to fill out the form for entry into Suriname.

Tip: it’s a lot easier to apply for the eVisa online rather than at the border if applicable for your citizenship.

Once you’ve received your eVisa,  fill out this form before travelling to Suriname. You can fill it out at the French Guianan border before taking the boat over, as you’ll need the name of the boat for the form. For departing Suriname, use the same website to fill out this departure form. These forms will be checked at immigration.

Guyana:

Check if you will need a visa. If you don’t, all you’ll need to do is fill out this form to enter Guyana and you’ll use the same website to fill out the form for departing Guyana.

Getting into the Guyanas

There’s a couple of options for entering the Guianas. If you’re flying, your options are Georgetown (Guyana), Paramaribo (Suriname) or Cayenne (French Guiana). Be mindful that flying may be an expensive option, especially if you’re coming from another South American country. There are direct flights either from Europe, some Caribbean islands or either Brazil/Colombia.

Alternatively, you can cross overland from Brazil. If you’ve got the luxury of time, this is quite a nice option as you may spend a few days sailing down the Amazon River on local ferries.

Overland: Santana (Macapa), Brazil → Cayenne, French Guiana

Part I: Santana / Macapa to Oiapoque, Brazil

Let’s assume you’ve followed our footsteps and find yourself in Santana, next door to Macapa. Great! The next step is to get yourself to Oiapoque, the Brazilian border to St George, French Guiana. One of the ways is to get an overnight bus between the two Brazilian cities by booking a ticket in advance on Busbud. It will take approximately 11 hours by bus, generally costing USD$ 40.

An alternative option is to take a shared taxi to the border. As we arrived in Macapa at 5 am from the overnight ferry, we opted for this. However, this shared taxi will set you back 400 BRL (USD$ 74) per person. You can get in contact with the organiser at +55 96 98418 0778.

Part II: Oiapoque, Brazil to Cayenne, French Guiana

If you got the overnight bus to Oiapoque, you’ll be able to cross the river with a ferry. Don’t forget to stamp out of Brazil at the Brazilian Federal Police station posting here (or nearby). The ferry across costs approximately 50 BRL ($9.50) per person. When you arrive in Saint George, there will be some van drivers waiting on the other side. It is worth noting that the vans only go when they are full. As per my last research, the price for the van to Cayenne from Saint George has increased from €40 to €50 ($57) as of 2026. To stamp into French Guiana, the border control is located 6km from the ferry crossing – ask the bus driver to stop you there to enter French Guiana legally.

We skipped the ferry crossing and crossed via the bridge. Our driver had a contact in French Guiana who picked us up on the French Guianan side of immigration. This transfer to Cayanne was €60 per person from this border entry.

Border Crossings Between the Guyanas

Cayanne, French Guiana → Paramaribo, Suriname

Great, you’ve already spent some time exploring Cayenne… now, how do you get to Paramaribo in Suriname?

With Public Transport to Saint Laurent du Maroni:

There is a direct bus that leaves Cayenne for Saint Laurent du Maroni – Ligne 4. However, we couldn’t figure out where the bus left from! We waited at this was the bus station as it’s where the “non direct” Ligne 7 bus to Saint Laurent du Maroni left from. Alas, Ligne 4 does not go from there. According to the schedule – Monday to Fridays there is a departure at 0500hrs, 0900hrs, 1300hrs, 1600hrs. The direct journey takes approximately 3.5 hrs by bus.

Shared Vans to Saint Laurent du Maroni:

You can head to this bus station to get a van to Saint Laurent. Although, like a lot of things, the shared vans only leave when they are full. We went there beforehand and got a contact for a company. In poor planning, we actually messaged them early on our morning of departure and managed to get 2 spots on the van leaving 10 mins. Apparently, the normal van schedule leaves at 0600hrs. Might be worth contacting them a day prior. The usual fare is quoted at €50 ($57) but we managed to get ours for €40 ($46). Navin Taxi & Bus Service +597 880 0206

Crossing from Saint Laurent du Maroni, French Guyana to Albina, Suriname

At immigration, you’ll stamp out of France and await for the next ferry or small boat to border cross. The small boat will cost €5 per person and takes just 15 mins to cross into Suriname. They will go once they are full. There’s no big dramatic crossing, no major infrastructure or long queues.

Continuing from Albina to Paramaribo, Suriname

Make sure you have your eVisa and entry form filled for Suriname. Get through immigration.
Sometimes, at the docks of Albina, drivers will approach offering rides to Paramaribo. For us, we managed to get into a mini to Paramaribo for 1000 SRD (USD$25) each – payable in SRD, EUR or USD. The drivers will drop you off at your accommodation, which is extremely handy.

There is also a shared mini bus that goes to Paramaribo but I could not find any information on the schedule or pricing for this.

Paramaribo, Suriname → Georgetown, Guyana

If you’re planning on solely using public transport, I found this to be a little tricky. Transport around Suriname seemed to depend on local van services. Taxis are available but are pricy for long distances. The closest main town to the border is Nieuw Nickerie, which is still a 30 mins drive from South Drain. You could try get here the day before but I cannot tell you how to get there.

Shared van from Paramaribo to South Drain, Suriname:

The main option is to get a shared van from Paramaribo to Georgetown. The van will drop you off at South Drain Ferry Terminal. You will pay the driver the full amount of the journey – they will take your photo and send it to the driver on the Guyanan side. The cost of the van from Paramaribo to Georgetown is 1800 SRD ($47) per person. There is only one option for pick up and is to be picked up between 0330 –  0400hrs. The transport contact we got was from our accommodation:

Ferry South Drain, Suriname to Moleson Creek, Guyana:

There seems to be only one ferry service going once a day at 10 am. The ticket counter opens approximately two hours before. Tickets are €20 / 800 SRD ($23) per person and can be paid in EURs, SRD or USD. They will take your passport when you purchase the ticket.

Await for the ferry ticket to be processed and wait for your name to be called. Your passport will be returned with the ticket and you’ll go through immigration before waiting at the “waiting area” for the ferry. There’s a small duty free shop and a little tuck shop to purchase some snacks. The ferry could be on time or 2 hrs late, like ours was. Foot passengers are the last to board the ferry and will be the last to disembark.

Moleson Creek, Guyana to Georgetown, Guyana:

At Moleson Creek, they will check for your yellow fever vaccination. Make sure you have this on hand. At the Guyana immigration, you wait in lines. A border control officer will come around collecting your passports for processing. Once again, you wait to be called through. They will have already stamped your passport but they will call upon you to check your entry form and your luggage.

Note: bio products are not allowed to be brought into Guyana.

Just outside the building, your driver will be waiting for you. But don’t worry, you don’t need to pay for anything extra as it’s all been prepaid.

Realistically, how long does the journey take?

So door to door, this is how long it took us from being picked up:

• Macapa, Brazil → Cayenne, French Guiana: 12 hours 30 mins
• Cayenne, French Guiana → Paramaribo, Suriname: 8 hours 30 mins
• Paramaribo, Suriname → Georgetown, Guyana: 13 hours 45 mins (including 2 hrs for the ferry delay)

Technically, you could move between all three Guyanas in a couple of days but all you’ll be doing is travelling. Things just take time. Some places the roads aren’t in the best condition and in other places, you need to wait around. That’s just how travel is like here. We spent two weeks travelling through the Guianas. Although, personally, because things were priced way out of our budget, we didn’t do very much and you could probably do this route in 10 days. I would recommend building in some buffer time if you’re able to.

How Much Does It Cost?

One of the biggest surprises to us was actually how expensive it was. Mind, this is all relative. We became accustomed to affordable overnight routes of other South American countries. The following are the total costs for transportation for only the border crossings priced per person.

• Macapa, Brazil → Cayenne, French Guiana: ± USD $150 
• Cayenne, French Guiana → Paramaribo, Suriname: ± USD $80
• Paramaribo, Suriname → Georgetown, Guyana: ± USD $70

All up, you’re looking at roughly USD $300 for the full journey between countries. It’s accessible but by my standards, I definitely wouldn’t call this a budget backpacker route.

Is it safe to travel between the Guyanas?

Honestly, we never really felt unsafe. While maybe for some, as this isn’t a traditional tourist route, it might be unfamiliar. You’re moving through the local systems, alongside people going about their daily lives. However, that being said, it does require some awareness, like anywhere else:

• • Travel during the day
  • Keep an eye on your belongings
  • Be comfortable navigating without perfect information

It’s not difficult, just less structured. And if you’re someone who needs all the information before doing this route… then maybe this isn’t a route for you.

What nobody tells you about this route

Well, first off: there’s barely any information. There are some posts out there on forums or blogs, but they may be outdated. Maybe in a years time, so will the information I have here. While logistically, navigating the Guianas can be a little confusing, the whole experience felt more under the radar. We only met one other traveller on our French Guiana – Suriname and Suriname – Guyana leg.

You’re not following a well worn path, definitely not a Gringo trail. It still feels largely untouched by mainstream tourism but it’s a well used route by the local Guianans. What this means is that:

• • You’ll rely on people more than Google
  • Plans shift slightly along the way
  • Flexibility is key
  • You just need to trust that it works out

Who is this route for?

I would say this is for you if you’re looking for something that’s “out of the ordinary”… I mean, how many people do you know that’s been to the Guianas? If you’re okay with uncertainty or figuring things out as you go… heck, even if you just have to wing it – Perfect, I think you’ll enjoy this route!

However… if you’re someone that needs to follow a strict plan or hate when things don’t go to plan? Or prefer predictability or short on time? Mmm, might I suggest a different route?

Can you visit all Three Guianas in one trip?

Yes, that’s what we did. It was quite a unique experience in itself. Especially in this part of the world where I would go as far as to say, tourism isn’t as built up or engrained as its neighbours? Because so few people visit these countries, combining them into one trip makes far more sense than treating them individually. And when you factor in the cost of getting to the Guianas, the upfront expense might be high … but you’ll come out better off in the long run!

But if you’re willing to step slightly outside the usual travel rhythm, it opens up a part of South America that still feels largely unexplored. And that’s getting harder to find. 😉 I will break down my itinerary, things I wished I knew and resources for French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana in another post. Because honestly, information in these parts is actually pretty hard to find.

Continue planning your trip

If you’re building this into a bigger journey, keep an eye on these blog posts coming soon:

• Manaus to Macapá boat guide (coming soon)
• Full Amazon to Guyanas overland route (coming soon)
• A Resource Guide to the Guianas (coming soon)
• A guide to Kaieteur Falls, Guyana (coming soon)

But as always, if you have any questions, drop me a comment below or contact me on my feedback form and I’ll respond to any inquires.

TLDR? Questions about Travelling the Guianas

Can you travel between the Guyanas without flying?

Yes! Travel overland between French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana using ferries, minibuses and shared taxis. The journey typically takes 3 days if you travel non stop… But I’d recommend spending at least 10 days in this region.

What is the difference between the Guianas and the Guyanas?

“The Guianas” is the correct geographical term for the region, while “the Guyanas” is a more informal version commonly used in travel searches. Both refer to French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana.

How do you travel from French Guiana to Suriname?

Travel from Cayenne to Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni by land transport. Then take a small ferry across the Maroni River to Albina in Suriname. From there, continue by minibus to Paramaribo.

How do you travel from Suriname to Guyana?

Travel from Paramaribo to South Drain. Take a ferry across the Corentyne River to Moleson Creek in Guyana, then continue by road to Georgetown.

How much does it cost to travel between the Guyanas?

Transport between the Guianas typically costs around $250 – 300 USD depending on your choices, with minibuses, ferries and shared taxis making up the majority of the journey.

Is it safe to travel between the Guianas?

Yes, overland travel between the Guyanas is generally safe. Stick to daytime travel, keep your belongings secure and be comfortable navigating informal transport systems.

Do you need visas to travel between the Guianas?

Visa requirements depend on your nationality. French Guiana follows French entry rules, Suriname typically requires an eVisa and Guyana may require an entry form or visa depending on your passport.

Can you visit all three Guyanas in one trip?

Absolutely. Many travellers, including ourselves, combine French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana into one trip due.

What is the best direction to travel the Guyanas?

It honestly doesn’t really matter. What will decide the direction is where you start and how you get into the Guianas.