Photo Galleries: Guyana and Suriname Photo Gallery Steve Hilty

Little-known and practically undiscovered by naturalists and birders, these two countries contain some of the finest and most extensive lowland tropical rainforests left anywhere on earth. We are proud to offer this newly designed trip—the Guianas in double shot—a dual trip that combines what we believe are the best regions of both countries. Almost ninety percent of Suriname (formerly Dutch Guiana) is covered with pristine lowland rainforest, which is home to a fascinating and diverse flora and fauna. Next door, sandwiched between Venezuela on the west and Suriname on the east, lies Guyana. Guyana, like Suriname, has vast lowland rainforests and, in addition, in the south, extensive and easily accessible natural savannas. Taken together, the two countries offer a tremendous range of habitats and a much greater level of comfort for travelers than is available in either country separately. In short, we have cherry-picked the best of both countries and, most importantly, by including Guyana, we can now offer visitors an opportunity to see the fabled Guianan Cock-of-the-rock displaying at a lek without an excessively long walk or the need for an overnight in hammocks.

Both Suriname and Guyana have a lot to offer birders and naturalists. Although still poorly known as travel destinations, they have been working hard to improve facilities and are eager to develop ecotourism. Both countries have small populations that live mostly on the coastal plain. The majority of the populations of both live in the capital cities: Georgetown in Guyana, and Paramaribo (pronounced Pa-ra-MAR-a-boo) in Suriname. The remainder of the territory in these countries is sparsely inhabited or uninhabited. Suriname has a fine system of nature reserves that offer access to numerous truly wild areas. Although Guyana has fewer reserves, it has one that is immense and spectacular—the Iwokrama Forest Reserve. Its facilities are on par with the best anywhere in South America and the birding here is spectacular as well.

For those who enjoy walking through tall, virgin rainforest, Suriname and Guyana are superb. The reserves in both countries have many fine trails and narrow roads. Birds seen on previous trips in Suriname include such notables as Black Curassow, Gray-winged Trumpeter, Guianan Toucanet, Capuchinbird, Spotted and Variegated antpittas, White Bellbird, Sharpbill, and Red-and-black Grosbeak. On a brief scouting trip to Guyana, we were astounded to see Harpy Eagle, Guianan Red-Cotinga, and Marail Guan our first afternoon along the main road through the Iwokrama Forest Reserve. Trails inside the reserve brought Black-faced Hawk, mixed species flocks, army ant swarms, and many exciting antbirds.

Most visitors have commented on the relative ease with which antbirds can be seen in the Guianas, particularly when compared with Amazonia, and this includes professional ant-followers like the Rufous-throated and White-plumed antbirds, as well as antwrens, antshrikes, and even antpittas and such prize species as Wing-banded Antbird. In addition to birds, most groups in Suriname see four or five species of monkeys and occasionally tapirs or large cats.

We begin this trip in Guyana, and on the very first day we'll fly directly to a lodge at the northern end of the Rupununi Savanna; from there we will enter the Iwokrama Forest Reserve. We will spend all or parts of the next three days at this field station, which provides luxurious accommodations for such a remote site. The field station offers close forest trails, a lovely clearing, a lovely setting overlooking the Essequibo River, and one of the best birding roads we've seen. Later we will move southward to a very comfortable lodge in the Rupununi Savanna. Based at the lodge in the savanna, we plan to spend a morning at the display grounds of the Guianan Cock-of-the-rock, and an afternoon at a canopy walkway. Following our week in the interior of Guyana, we will return to the capital city of Georgetown, visit the Botanical Garden, and prepare for our short flight to Suriname.

We begin our week in Suriname with marsh and forest-edge birding just east of the capital city, and then spend a day in the white-sand savannas of the interior before continuing on to Brownsberg Nature Reserve located atop a low plateau. Brownsberg is a birder's paradise—parrots, antbirds, flycatchers, caciques, and tanagers are at one's doorstep—and its combination of cooler temperatures, spectacular views overlooking Afobaka Lake from the lodge, and tremendous birding make it a perennial favorite.

A word about what to expect: accommodations in Suriname are excellent in Paramaribo and at our site near Overbridge. At Brownsberg Nature Park they are simple and rustic, but comfortable, and will include shared washing facilities. The facilities have been noted for their cleanliness, and the forest service employees are very helpful. Food, also, has been excellent. Most people agree that the on-site birding accommodations, the relaxed and easy pace, and good food make Suriname a premier birding experience. In Guyana, facilities are excellent at both interior sites (the site at Iwokrama even includes Internet access!), as well as the final night in Georgetown. The walk to see the Guianan Cock-of-the-rock display grounds takes approximately two hours each way (moderate pace), over relatively level terrain. It is, of course, through humid lowland rainforest, but should not be difficult for anyone in reasonably good physical condition. The spectacle of up to a dozen male Guianan Cocks-of-the-rock—some displaying in shafts of brilliant sunlight, some perched overhead—is one of the most spectacular avian sights on the continent.