Day 1: Arrive Cayenne — Into the Green
Arrive Cayenne. Afternoon walk through the capital. Evening: rumor has it the jungle starts at the end of every road. Welcome dinner of local river fish and Amazonian fruits. Overnight Cayenne.
Day 2: Kaw Marshes — Caiman Kingdom
Travel to Kaw, a RAMSAR wetland of 137,000 hectares. Afternoon hike the savanna edges. At dusk, board a pirogue for the main event: as darkness falls, caimans emerge. Black caimans up to 4 meters, spectacled caimans in the shallows, their eyes glowing red in your guide’s spotlight. Hoatzins roost overhead, scarlet ibises streak across the sunset, and the marsh symphony of frogs fills the night. Overnight near Kaw.
Day 3: Rainforest Trek — Primary Forest
Full-day trek into primary rainforest with a local guide. The jungle closes in immediately: buttressed roots of kapok trees, lianas thick as arms, the distant roar of howler monkeys. Your guide reads the forest like a book—pointing out medicinal plants, the tracks of tapir and jaguar, and the calls of macaws and toucans overhead. Cross streams on fallen logs, learn to drink from jungle vines, and experience Amazonia at its most pristine. Overnight rainforest camp or lodge.
Day 4: Cacao — Laotian Amazon
Journey to Cacao village: pineapples, soybeans, and Hmong embroidery where you’d expect Amazonian jungle. Visit the Sunday market (if timing permits) where Hmong-Guyanese fusion cuisine appears: rice noodle soup spiced with Amazonian peppers, tropical fruit preserves, and intricate textiles. Hike surrounding trails through secondary forest recovering from past agriculture. Overnight Cacao.
Day 5: Sinnamary River & Return
Morning on the Sinnamary River: giant otters hunt in family groups, toucans cross the canopy, and kingfishers dive for fish. Afternoon return to Cayenne. Visit the market for last Amazonian souvenirs. Farewell ti’punch at a Cayenne bar. Overnight Cayenne.
Day 6: Departure
Final baguette, final café au lait. Transfer to the airport. The Amazon’s French corner will stay with you.
