Visit the Three Guianas: Suriname, French Guiana & Guyana

Optional pick-up from Cheddi Jagan International Airport and transfer to Cara Lodge in Georgetown.

Cara Lodge, a magnificent wooden colonial home transformed into a charming hotel, offers guests a touch of bygone elegance.

Built in the 1840s, this historic gem boasts a romantic past, once home to the city’s first Lord Mayor. Cara Lodge has also welcomed guests such as King Edward VIII in 1923, President Jimmy Carter, HRH King Charles III, and Mick Jagger.

*For travellers arriving from the UK on the direct Thursday flight from London, we can arrange a pre-tour stay at Cara Lodge before joining the main group.

Overnight Cara Lodge

Check-in 1400, checkout 12midday.

Pick up from your hotel for transfer to Eugene F. Correia International Airport where you board a scheduled flight over hundreds of miles of unbroken tropical rainforest to land at Kaieteur Falls, the world’s highest free-falling waterfall.

Kaieteur Falls

Kaieteur Falls, first seen by a European on April 29, 1870, is located in the heart of Guyana on the Potaro River, a tributary of the Essequibo. The water of Kaieteur flows over a sandstone conglomerate tableland into a deep gorge—a drop of 741 feet, or five times the height of Niagara Falls.

There are no other falls in the world to match the magnitude of the sheer drop existing at Kaieteur. Amerindian legend of the Patamona tribe has it that Kai, one of the tribe’s chiefs, sacrificed himself by canoeing over the falls. It was believed this would encourage the Great Spirit Makonaima to save the tribe from being destroyed by the fierce Caribishi.

Kaieteur supports a unique micro environment with Tank Bromeliads, the largest in the world, in which the tiny Golden frog spends its entire life and the rarely seen Guiana Cock- of-the-rock nesting close by.  The lucky visitor may also see the famous Kaieteur Swifts or Makonaima Birds, which nest under the vast shelf of rock carved over millions of years by the black water of the Potaro River. After the visit, re-board the plane for the return flight to Georgetown.

Notes on Kaieteur Falls flight upgrade options

Flights to Kaieteur Falls are operated on chartered aircraft, and all flights have a minimum passenger restriction.  Therefore, any booking to Kaieteur and Orinduik Falls is contingent on a minimum of 12 passengers being available to travel.

In most cases we are able to fill flights, especially if scheduled for a weekend.  However, in the rare case that we cannot meet the required numbers, we reschedule the trip to another day during your stay, if this is possible.

We retain the right to reschedule a flight as a first option. If we cannot reschedule the flight, we guarantee a flight with a minimum of 2 passengers to Kaieteur Falls only. If a flight is cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control, such as weather, we endeavour to reschedule the flight during your itinerary. If this is not possible, then a full flight refund is made.

Pickup and transfer from Eugene F. Correia International Airport to Georgetown.

Overnight at Cara Lodge.

Optional services (please ask for more details):

Birding in Georgetown Botanical Gardens

Evening Seawall, bars and street food experience

Dinner at Aagman Indian

Pickup and transfer to Eugene F. Correia International Airport.

You board a scheduled flight for the journey over hundreds of miles of tropical rainforest to land at Fair View Airstrip. (Check-in 07.00, departure 08.30).

On arrival, you are met at Fair View Airstrip and transferred to Iwokrama River Lodge.

After your orientation, depart the lodge by boat, bird-watching along the way, for the hike to Turtle Mountain. A well maintained trail winds through the forest before an exhilarating 1 and 3/4 hour climb up the mountain to the summit at 935ft/360m.

The effort is more than worth it for the breath-taking views over the forest canopy when you get there and chances of Green Aracari, White Bellbird or a fly-by of one of five types of eagles. This trail is also an excellent location for seeing Black Spider and Red Howler Monkey.

If you think this hike may be too strenuous, you can opt for a boat trip to Stanley Lake to search for Giant River Otters and Black Caiman.

We return to the lodge for lunch and then take a vehicle along the trail that is one of the best places to see the elusive Jaguar. No guarantees, but many have been lucky! This road is the only north – south access in Guyana, linking the country to Brazil but there isn’t much traffic and wildlife is often seen along the way. The journey finishes at the Atta Rainforest Lodge, where we find the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway.

The Iwokrama Canopy Walkway is located near the southern boundary of the Iwokrama Reserve. The walkway has four suspension bridges and three platforms, the highest of which is some 30 metres above the ground. (Important note: currently, 2 bridges & 1 platform is down for maintenance, Nov 2025)

Another area where you will spend some time is the clearing around the lodge which is one of the best places to see another of Guyana’s iconic birds, the Crimson Fruitcrow.  The clearing is also a good spot for Black Curassow since there is a large, growing family group which has become accustomed to people and regularly crosses the clearing.

Atta Rainforest Lodge lies 500 metres from the base of the Canopy Walkway, offering comfortable accommodation with private bathrooms, tasty home-cooked food, and traditional Amerindian hospitality. The main building is open-sided with views across the gardens and the forest on all sides. It houses the bar, dining area, and kitchen. The gardens have a superb collection of Heliconia flowers that attract over ten different humming birds.

Overnight at Atta Rainforest Lodge.

Before dawn, you return to the canopy, where bird watching is a treat. You can sometimes see Red Howler and Black Spider Monkeys from this tree-top vantage point.

In addition to the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, you can enjoy wildlife and bird-watching walks on the trails around the area. For those interested in botany, many of the trails have the key tree species marked.
The surrounding forest is home to numerous bird species, stunning insects, noisy amphibians, and playful primates: deer, tapir and agouti are also regular visitors to the lodge. Serious birders will want to scour the undergrowth for the rarely spotted Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo.

As night descends on the canopy walkway, you may spot the White-winged Potoo. Night walks are possible and something interesting always seems to pop up, including one of the six different cats to be found along the road near the lodge.

Overnight at Atta Rainforest Lodge.

Start the day with the dawn chorus from the canopy walkway. Return to the lodge for breakfast before setting  off through the Iwokrama rainforest to Ginep Landing.

From Ginep Landing, we embark on a boat journey along the Rupununi River to reach Karanambu Lodge. Depending on water levels, this trip is an excellent chance to spot Giant Otters, as several family groups inhabit this section of the river.

Karanambu is a 110-square-mile area in the North Rupununi that used to be a cattle ranch. It was once owned by Diane McTurk, who was famous around the world for her work with giant otters. The area is known for its wide-open savannahs, wetlands, and incredible mix of plants, animals, and cultures. Within Karanambu, you’ll find grasslands, marshy ponds, riverbank forests, and a 30-mile stretch of the Rupununi River. For its size, it’s amazingly rich in wildlife—with over 600 kinds of birds, more than 200 types of mammals, and around 700 species of fish that move through during the rainy season.

This region is also deeply historical—it’s been home to the Makushi people and other Indigenous groups for more than 7,000 years. Over the years, many explorers and writers have come here, including Robert and Richard Schomburgk, Charles Waterton, Evelyn Waugh, and Gerald Durrell. Even a young David Attenborough visited and wrote about it in his early book Zoo Quest to Guiana.

Thanks to its mix of rivers and open plains, Karanambu offers lots of things to do outdoors. There are two organized guided trips every day—one at sunrise and another late in the afternoon into evening—when the weather is cooler and animals are most active. You can explore by boat, by 4×4 vehicle, or on foot through forest trails and around ponds.

In the late afternoon, visitors usually go by boat to look for wild Giant River Otters. As evening sets in, the tour continues to ponds where you can see the huge Victoria amazonica waterlily bloom. On the way back, you’ll use spotlights to look for Black Caimans, night birds, and other nocturnal creatures.

Cabins are traditionally made clay brick, each with en suite and veranda with hammocks.

Overnight at Karanambu Lodge

This morning, you’ll head out early to explore the rolling grasslands, where giant anteaters live. If you’re lucky, you might spot one of these impressive six-foot-long creatures digging into a termite mound for its breakfast. Giant anteaters usually live alone, except when a mother is raising her young, when males compete, or during mating season. Mother anteaters often carry their babies on their backs until they’re old enough to walk on their own.

In the evening, you can choose between a river trip or a birdwatching walk. Bird lovers can explore the patches of woodland or the forest along the riverbanks, where we’ll look for many bird species—including the Agami Heron, which is a highlight of the area. If you prefer, you can take an evening stroll along the airstrip to spot up to seven kinds of nightjars, as well as Double-striped Thick-knees out in the grasslands.

Overnight at Karanambu Lodge

There is time to travel out to search the savannah again for giant anteaters, if you didn’t spot one yesterday. Or head back to the Rupununi River by boat to look for wild Giant River Otters, Black Caiman and Arapaima along quiet stretches of river.

Return to the lodge for breakfast before heading across the savannah to Lethem and your flight back to Georgetown.

Overnight at Cara Lodge

Optional services (please ask for more details)

Demerara Historical River Tour

Dinner with the Singing Chef

This morning, you’ll have an early start and enjoy breakfast at one of the local food stands with our host, guide, and chef, Delven Adams. Chef Delven will take us on a tour of Bourda Market, the biggest of Georgetown’s four markets. We’ll begin at the Guyana Shop, which sells locally made and packaged products, then continue into the bustling market itself, where we’ll meet some of the vendors Chef Delven buys from every day.

We’ll explore different sections of the market, including the fish market, meat stalls, and haberdashery area, where you can find everything from thread to rolls of fabric. There are plenty of dry goods too, like rice and the famous Demerara sugar. A visit to the bush medicine stalls is always fascinating—you’ll learn about traditional herbal remedies used by locals. Outside, you’ll get the chance to see, touch, and taste a wide variety of tropical fruits and vegetables that grow only in this part of the world.

As you shop, Chef Delven will buy ingredients—taking your suggestions for what you’d like to try later—before heading home to start preparing lunch. Meanwhile, we’ll continue on a city tour of Georgetown with an experienced local guide, who will share the city’s history, stories, and local culture.

During the city tour, you’ll visit important sites like the National Museum, which displays local wildlife in beautifully preserved old glass cases, and the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, home to artefacts and exhibits about Guyana’s Indigenous peoples and their way of life.

On this combination driving and walking tour, you’ll also see Georgetown’s elegant historic buildings, such as the Public Library, City Hall, Victoria Law Courts, St. Andrew’s Kirk, Stabroek Market (once described as a “bizarre bazaar”), and St. George’s Cathedral, one of the world’s tallest wooden buildings.

You’ll then visit the Botanical Gardens, which feature an impressive variety of tropical plants, and make a stop at a nearby pond—either in the gardens or at the National Park—to feed the endangered West Indian Manatees.

After your city tour, you’ll head to Backyard Café for lunch. As the name suggests, this cosy spot is literally in Chef Delven’s backyard—a hidden gem he’s turned into a private, open-air restaurant. If you’d like, you can join Chef Delven in the kitchen as he prepares a delicious meal using the fresh ingredients we bought in the morning. Or you can simply relax under the shaded arbor, sip on a homemade juice or a cold beer, and enjoy the aromas drifting from the kitchen. Once lunch is ready, you’ll enjoy a multi-course meal— take your time, because you’ll want to taste everything!

After lunch, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight to Suriname (note: the flight cost, approximately USD 325, is not included and may change).

Upon arrival in Paramaribo, you’ll check in at Eco Torarica Hotel, a former townhouse that’s been beautifully converted into one of the city’s most charming eco-friendly hotels. Located just a five-minute walk from the historic centre, it offers rooms with views of either the Suriname River or the hotel’s lush garden. It’s the perfect place to unwind and enjoy the relaxing, tropical atmosphere of Suriname.

Overnight in a standard room at Eco Torarica. (Check in time 1500hrs, Check out time 1200hrs)

Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname, has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002 for its remarkable collection of historic buildings.

We’ll begin our tour in the heart of the city with a visit to Fort Zeelandia, one of Paramaribo’s oldest and most important landmarks. Here, your guide will give you an in-depth tour of the fort and share stories about its fascinating past.

Next, you’ll continue on foot to explore Independence Square, surrounded by beautiful colonial-era buildings, including the Presidential Palace and the peaceful Palm Gardens. You’ll also stroll down Lim A Po Street, known as one of the prettiest streets in Paramaribo.

After our walk, you’ll take a scenic drive through the city to see more of its historic wooden architecture, stopping for photos at the Synagogue and Mosque, which stand side by side—a powerful symbol of Suriname’s harmony and cultural diversity. The next highlight is the St. Peter and Paul Cathedral, the tallest wooden building in the Western Hemisphere.

Please note: covered clothing is required when entering the cathedral

The city tour ends at the lively Waterkant, a riverside promenade along the Suriname River, where locals gather to relax, enjoy snacks, and take in the view.

Stop for lunch at a local restaurant, where you can taste traditional Surinamese flavours.

After lunch, you cross the Suriname River via the bridge to visit the Commewijne District, located just opposite Paramaribo. This area is known for its former colonial plantations, many of which have now become residential or natural areas. One of the most notable is Plantation Peperpot, located on the right bank of the river. Here, you’ll explore the old plantation grounds and visit the former workers’ living quarters, known as a Kampong. You’ll also spend some time in the Peperpot Nature Park, a lovely area known for its rich birdlife and small rainforest animals, including monkeys.

Your final stop will be Fort Nieuw Amsterdam, an open-air museum located at the strategic meeting point of the Commewijne and Suriname Rivers, near the Atlantic coast. Built by the British in the 18th century to protect the surrounding plantations, the fort is shaped like a five-sided polygon with bastions at each corner. You’ll see restored buildings such as the gunpowder house from 1740 and a coach house featuring 19th-century carriages. Don’t miss the pond where the magnificent Victoria amazonica, the world’s largest water lily, can often be seen floating on the surface.

Overnight in a standard room at Eco Torarica Hotel.

Optional services: 

Sunset Dolphin Tour

This morning, you embark on your nature and cultural experience as you set off from Paramaribo.

After covering approximately 190 km, we reach the port of Atjoni, where we board a motorised canoe. The skilled crew will navigate the Upper Suriname River, famous for its rapids, to the Danpaati River Lodge.

Danpaati River Lodge

Danpaati River Lodge is a remote and peaceful oasis in the heart of nature, welcoming adventurous visitors who are looking for an escape from modern stresses. The lodge has a welcoming and airy lounge looking out on to the river, a pool surrounded by a yoga deck, and easy access to one of the few safe swimming spots on the Suriname River.

Accommodation is in generous A-frame-style cabins with carefully selected amenities, including fresh coffee service in the mornings and great views across the river and into the surrounding rainforest.

The day ends with an exciting cruise on the river to search for caiman lying on the banks.

Overnight at Danpaati River Lodge in a standard room.

Today, you will visit Pikin Slee, one of the 12 villages that are affiliated with Danpaati. During our guided tour, you will be introduced to the rich traditions brought from Africa by their ancestors.

After the tour, you visit the Maroon Museum Saamaka, which is dedicated to the cultural heritage of the Saramak Maroon population.  In the museum, you learn about the Maroon’s history and their ancient traditions and crafts.

Return to the lodge for lunch.

Rainforest visit

In the afternoon, you will walk in the woods to discover some of the rainforest’s secrets. Afterwards, you could opt for a massage combining traditional and Western techniques. Other available activities include exploring the surrounding area by fishing or taking a dugout canoe around the island.

After dinner, enjoy a traditional and cultural dance performance. The locals will perform traditional dances such as the Seketi, Awasa and Bandamba. Your guide will explain the cultural significance of each dance.

Overnight at Danpaati River Lodge in a standard room.

This morning there is still a little time to soak in the beautiful surroundings and take some final photos before setting off by dugout canoe from Danpaati to Atjoni, and from there back to Paramaribo by vehicle.

Overnight in a standard room at Eco Torarica Hotel.

Optional services:

Dinner at Mirosso

You’ll collect your packed breakfasts before setting off early so we can take our time to enjoy the journey. The first part of the trip takes you east along Suriname’s coastal road to the Albina border station.

Border formalities here are usually quick, and before long, you be crossing the Maroni River by ferry into French Guiana—known locally as Guyane. On arrival in St. Laurent du Maroni, our French guide will meet us and assist with customs and immigration procedures.

Since French Guiana is officially part of France, you’ll actually be entering the European Union. You’ll notice the European influence right away—cars like Mercedes, Volkswagens, and Peugeots on the road, well-maintained highways, cafés serving espresso, and the Euro as the local currency.

Once in St. Laurent, you’ll take a short city tour, including a visit to the Camp de la Transportation, a remarkably well-preserved historical site. This former compound once served as a holding and sorting centre for enslaved people, indentured laborers, and later for French prisoners and political exiles before they were sent to different penal colonies across French Guiana.

You’ll then continue our journey, enjoying a packed lunches along the way, as you travel to the Centre Spatiale Guyanais (Guiana Space Centre) for a guided tour. The tour typically includes a coach ride through the massive complex, with stops at assembly buildings, launch pads, and control centres. Although the official tour is conducted in French, your guide will provide English translations where possible.

Please note that visits to both the Space Centre and Devil’s Island are subject to unexpected closures due to technical reasons or rocket launch preparations. While launch dates are announced in advance, they can change at short notice because of weather or other conditions—sometimes by hours, days, or even weeks. On launch days, and occasionally for a few days before or after, both the Space Centre and Devil’s Island remain closed for safety reasons.

We appreciate your understanding in case of any itinerary changes, and we’ll do our best to reschedule visits or offer alternative experiences. The good news? You just might be lucky enough to witness a rocket launch in person—an unforgettable sight!

Hotel Atlantis

Hotel Atlantis is a modern business hotel on the edge of Bois Devil Lake. It offers air-conditioned rooms, telephones, Wi-Fi, satellite television and refrigerators. The generous lobby has a patio overlooking the pool, lake and tennis courts. The modern restaurant offers French and Creole cuisine and an excellent wine selection.

Overnight in a standard room at Hotel Atlantis.

(Check-in time 14.00, Check-out time 11.30)

After an early breakfast, you’ll transfer to the dock in Kourou to begin your journey to the Îles du Salut, often referred to collectively as “Devil’s Island.” In reality, this name describes a group of three small islands—Île Royale, Île Saint-Joseph, and Île du Diable—located about seven miles off the coast of Kourou.

You’ll set sail aboard a catamaran, heading first to Île Royale, the largest and most accessible of the three. These islands have a long and fascinating history, dating back to 1762, when they were used as a base for explorers, later as a transit point for enslaved people, and eventually as a notorious French penal colony that held political prisoners and convicts.

The southernmost island, Île Saint-Joseph, earned the nickname “the silent island” because prisoners there were forbidden to speak to anyone—not even guards or other inmates. The famous convict Henri Charrière, known as Papillon, claimed to have spent two years there in solitary confinement. The island’s harsh conditions also gave it another grim nickname: “the man-eater.”

Île Royale holds the oldest and largest collection of buildings from the penal era, including an old church, administrative offices, and officers’ quarters. Today, it also has a restaurant and small hotel for visitors. Although Île du Diable—the actual “Devil’s Island”—is visible from Île Royale, it’s off-limits to tourists because of its steep, rocky shores and strong currents. This is where the most famous prisoner, Captain Alfred Dreyfus, was exiled. Papillon also claimed to have made his daring escape from there on a homemade coconut raft.

Our boat will dock at Île Royale, where you’ll have time to explore the island at your own pace. You can wander through the old prison cells, dormitories, and hospital ruins, and visit the small cemetery for children behind the former hospital. When you’ve finished exploring, you can relax in the shade near the dock—there are benches under large trees where you can catch a cool ocean breeze. Keep an eye on the rocks by the shoreline; sea turtles are often seen foraging there.

Return to Kourou by catamaran and transfer to your Cayenne hotel.

Hotel Central is situated in the heart of Cayenne close to Palmistes Square, and just a short walk from the shopping streets and the business district.

Overnight at Central Hotel in a standard room

Today is the last day of your Three Guianas tour.

If your flight is later in the day, you might enjoy a tour of Cayenne city. We’d be happy to organise a city tour or airport transfer- ask us for more details.

Optional services:

Cayenne City Tour

Pick up and transfer to Cheddi Jagan International Airport for your departing flight

Guyana is the only English-speaking country on the South American continent and has a Caribbean feel. 

It is a destination for the nature lover looking for an off-the-beaten-path destination with many attractions. Guyana offers pristine rainforest, abundant wildlife, jaguars and the mighty Kaieteur Falls.

Start your adventure in the melting pot that is the country’s capital – Georgetown. Here Hindu, Muslim and Christian cultures blend in harmony.

Head off to visit the breathtaking Kaieteur Falls – the  world’s highest single-drop waterfall.

Then the interior beckons. Jungle and Savannah await. With luck you might spot the Cock o’ the rock or a harpy eagle.

Bigger mammals such as the ant eater might surprise you or if incredibly lucky the mighty jaguar. Travel by road or river and stay in rustic but comfortable lodges – all with an authentic Guyanese welcome.

Guyana will be an unforgettable adventure.  

Guyana has five natural habitats to discover, the most famous of which is is its dense rain forest.

This ‘jungle’ is also known as the Forested Highland Region and is in the south of the country, and is very sparsely populated.

The majority (around 90%) of Guyana’s population lives in a marshy plain on the Atlantic coast, known as the low coastal plain.

Most of the country’s mineral deposits (bauxite, gold, diamonds) are found a little further inshore in that is called the white sand belt.

The south west of the country gives way to a desert savannah which then becomes an interior savannah.

From here, the grasslands and mountains of the interior highlands start to rise towards the borders with Brazil and Venezuela.

This is the largest of Guyana’s geographical areas and consists a series of plateaus, flat-topped mountains, and savannahs.

The Pakaraima Mountains dominate the western part of the interior highlands and include Mount Roraima, Guyana’s highest peak at 2,772m (9,094 ft) on the Venezuelan border.

The largest expanse of grassland, the Rupununi Savannah, covers about 15,000 square kilometres in southern Guyana.

Guyana has three large rivers, the Essequibo at 1,010km(628 miles), the Courantyne River (which forms a natural border with Suriname) at 724kms (450 miles), and the Berbice – 595kms (370 miles).

Guyana is a hot and humid country. February and March are prime times to visit, along with Aug-Jan. Read our guide to Guyana’s weather for more.

The mean shade temperature is 27°C, while maximum is 31°C and the minimum is 24°C. The heat is greatly tempered by cooling breezes from the sea.

There are two wet seasons in the north of the country, from May to June, and from December to January.

The south and the Rupununi region receive one wet season from May to July.

All wet seasons may extend into months either side.

Rainfall averages 2,300 mm a year in Georgetown.

Good kit is vital for every trip.

Book with Andean Trails and get 15% off Páramo’s fantastic ethical and high performance outdoor gear.

Overview

Guyana is a hot and humid country.

Take sunscreen, sun glasses and a hat to Guyana.

It can rain at any time, so always have a poncho/waterproof jacket handy.

Give plenty of thought to kit selection, and try to keep weight down.

Passenger/s traveling on internal flights in Guyana are allowed a free baggage allowance of 20lbs/9.1KG exceeding this weight passenger/s will incur a cost of GY$150.00 (price subject to change) equivalent to US$ 0.77cents per pound. Please note that additional baggage allowance is subject to availability and cannot be confirmed until day/time of check-in by the airline.  We can book excess weight on your behalf but it is subject to being within the payload of the aircraft and at the discretion of the airline. We understand you may want more than 20lbs/9.1KG of baggage and wish to have guaranteed excess baggage/weight and so an alternative is to pre-book an extra seat on the flight which will afford you 175lbs/79.4KG for you to use individually or for your group. 

Below is a more detailed guide.

Detailed kit list

• Good binoculars.
• Camera and film / memory cards (take at least twice the amount you think you will need!).
• Tight-weave, light weight long trousers.
• Quick dry socks.
• Rain suit or long poncho (100% waterproof – test before you leave home).
• Long-sleeved tight-weave shirts.
• T-shirts.
• A warm jumper – it can feel cold on some boat journeys.
• Water bottle (2 litres approx.) & purification tablets.
• Sun cream (high factor, min. 30+) and lip salve.
• A broad-brimmed hat that will not come off on windy boat-rides.
• Shorts.
• Sunglasses with UV filter.
• A pair of trainers.
• Ankle high hiking boots.
• Insect repellent.
• The original and a photocopy of your passport.
• Yellow fever inoculation certificate.
• A large, bright head torch, spare batteries and bulb.
• Cash (small denomination bills, USD or GBP sterling) for souvenirs at the lodge, alcoholic beverages, etc.
• Daypack (at least 30 litres). Comfortable and with waterproof lining or cover.
• Personal first-aid kit to include: painkillers, plasters (band-aids), moleskin, antibiotic cream, general antibiotics (ask your GP), after-bite (tiger balm), anti-diarrhoea tablets, throat lozenges, re-hydration salts & personal medication.
• Towel & wash-kit.
• Wet Wipes/antiseptic hand-wash cream.
• Head-lamp (plus spare bulb and batteries).
• Penknife.
• Travel alarm clock.
• Plastic bags – ‘Zip-loc’ & tough bin liners.
• Book, e-book, mp3 player/ipod or other to help pass the time.
• Extra snacks i.e. cereal bars or favourite chocolate bars.

Miscellaneous others

• Money belt.
• Passport.
• U.S. dollars / GBP sterling cash, mixed-denomination notes, undamaged and unmarked.
• ATM cash/credit card.
• Any inoculation certificates.
• Personal & medical insurance certificates.
• Presents e.g. Postcards from home.
• Comfortable clothes for travel, smart clothes for Georgetown

Andean Trails has 25 years of experience of putting together the best South America holidays.

We pay a fee to the CAA for every licensable passenger we book since we hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence granted by the Civil Aviation Authority. In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the CAA will ensure that you are not stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any money you have paid to us for an advance booking.

We also offer ATOL (Civil Aviation Authority) protected holidays to give our customers peace of mind when booking and travelling.

When you buy an ATOL protected air holiday package from Andean Trails Ltd you will receive a Confirmation Invoice from us confirming your arrangements and your protection under our Air Travel Organiser’s Licence number 6275.

You can read more about ATOL, who is covered and what protections you have if not ATOL-covered, on our ATOL page.

What is ATOL?

The CAA’s ATOL scheme offers protection to your money and your holiday if you book with us. Not everybody is covered (see ‘Who is covered?’ for more), as you must purchase an ‘air package holiday’ with Andean Trails to be protected.

And  ‘air package holiday’ is defined as including a flight and some ground services (hotel, transfer, trek etc). This is also known as an ‘ATOL-protected holiday’.

Who is covered?

To be covered by ATOL, you must book a flight and some ground services with us and be from the UK. If you are from the UK and only book ground services and no flights, you are not covered by ATOL (see below for more on how non-ATOL clients are covered).

If you are outside the UK and buy flights with us, you will be ATOL protected IF any of the flights booked with Andean Trails touches/stops in the UK at any point during your holiday package booked with us.

If you buy your flights elsewhere, please check with that agent if you are ATOL protected. Be careful with online flight purchases and make sure you know what protection you have, if any, before paying for flights.

Not all holiday or travel services offered and sold by us will be protected by the ATOL scheme. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking.

For land only holidays not involving any air travel, in accordance with “The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992”, all UK passengers booking with Andean Trails Ltd. are fully protected for the initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all money paid to us, arising from cancellation or curtailment of travel arrangements due to the insolvency of Andean Trails.

I’m not ATOL covered, what protection do I have?

If you are not ATOL covered, any payments you make to us go to a Trust account.

We can only access this money once your tour has been completed, meaning that if anything happens to Andean Trails Limited while you are on holiday, then your money is secure and you can either complete the trip or be able to make it home.

If you pay for your holiday with a credit card, some offer payment protection – please check with your cardholder.

You also should have cancellation protection written into your insurance (which we recommend you have at the time of booking) in case you need to cancel.