Travel on the Cheap: Overland Trip from Guyana to Suriname
A direct flight from Georgetown to Paramaribo would get you across the border in an hour’s time. However, if
a) You’d like to save some money
b) You’ve got some time to kill
c) You’re looking for adventure
d) You need to get from Guyana to Suriname
e) All of the above
Then this is just what the doctor ordered.
In a nutshell, the trip involves a bus from Georgetown to Corriverton on the Guyana-Suriname border, a ferry across the river into Suriname and a bus from Nieuw Nickerie to Paramaribo.
|
Overland Trip |
Flight |
| Bus to Corriverton – USD 7.5 Accomodation – USD 12.5 Dinner – USD 3 Ferry – USD 10 Bus to Paramaribo – USD 20 Lunch – USD 5 Total – USD 58 |
Ticket to Paramaribo – USD 125 Departure tax – USD 25 Cab to airport – USD 5 Total – USD 155 |
This seemed straightforward at first glance. In retrospect, it might’ve been slightly more complicated than that. The journey begins at Starbroek with 5 people trying to grab your bags and physically throwing you into their minibus. A loud yell usually shows them that you mean business and are not a pushover. You’ve got 2 options at this stage. Option one involves forking out GYD 2500 for a seat on a cab going to Corriverton (yes – drivers usually pimp out their cabs and get 4 or more passengers to share a cab). But the cab’s for sissies. The real deal is riding the mini-bus to the border for GYD 1500. It’s cheap, entertaining and quick. The quickness might come at the expense of safety.
The ferry leaves for Suriname twice a day – 9am and 1pm. With a little reverse engineering you’ll realize that you need to take a bus to the border the night before if you intend to catch the 9am ferry and get to Paramaribo at a reasonable hour. Accommodation at Corriverton (border town in Guyana) is easily available with prices ranging from GYD 2500 to 6000. No need to book in advance. The cheap rooms are really minimal to the extent that toilet doors do not exist. The more luxurious rooms have air conditioners and cable TV!
The ferry timings are only indicative and the ferry will definitely not leave on time. Expect a 1-hour delay. The journey costs 2000 GYD for a 1 way ride and GYD 3000 for a return journey.
When the ferry docks on either side, you’ll notice that around 10 people make a dash for the immigration line. I was content to scurry along and be the 11th person in the queue. However, the rest of the ferry took their time and much to my frustration, proceeded to push past me claiming to be with one of the 10 people in front of me. Having picked a fight with a few queue breakers (8 years in Singapore did that to me), I had the last laugh when I found out that they had to wait in the sweltering heat for all passengers to clear immigration before the buses departed for Paramaribo.
Once you get to Suriname, don’t expect a drastic change in the people or place. There’s a bit of Dutch and some iffy English splashed around on signboards but the English sounds the same as the Creolese in Guyana (although it should be called Rasta English in my opinion).
Look closely at the pictures below and its hard to tell which one’s Guyana and which one’s Suriname (one of them has a road – hint hint).
trip from guyana to surinam
i need a phone number for a bus running to surianme.
Hello Jason,
I want to give this a try. How different is Paramaribo from Georgetown?? Which city would you recommend for an extended stay by an American??
Paramaribo is as different from Georgetown as Scotland is from Italy. Both are awesome places to visit.
Paramaribo is much more civilized than Georgetown……….
how do i contact you guys i need a number or please call me 6005757
Do you have any contact number ?
Hello, right now you can go from Georgetown to Paramaribo in a direct bus costs 6500 + 3200 ferry that’s only 45US an they pick you up at th hostel. They are called CHAMP, you have to book with them 1 day before at least
Hi Patrica
Any contact# for CHAMP
Hey do you have a number for them in guyana
Any body got contact numbers for bus trip from GT to Suriname
I’ve used Taxi Roy. Surinamese number: +597 8657208 Guyanese number: 6280468
Right now the price is 180 SRD and 15 USD for the ferry.
I went to Suriname with my family when I lived in Guyana in the 90’s. It was a harrowing experience, only because on the road to Paramaribo the taxi driver was speeding and even more cars and buses where speeding past us. Tell your driver to slow down! We came upon an accident with fatalities. Can you image? My eyes were like saucers, I had nightmares for months and it ruined my experience in Suriname. There were three bodies laid out two where covered with sheets one was not. One was a baby! Ugh! I don’t remember the trip home. Well I don’t want to be a debbie downer but it is doable and an adventure I did it at 15 with my 14 and 8 year old sister along with Mom and Dad. We stayed at the YMCA in Paramaribo!
Hi. I would be travelling from Guyana to Suriname driving over on the 10th August, 2015. what is the time i should be at the Ferry Station on that day? and how much per person? this is the first time i will be heading over there and really needs some help. Please. Thanks.
Hi I will to go surinam to paramaribo’ I want to know the ct to the bus from iG paramaribo to georgetwon
The journey from Guyana to Suriname is very long but it’s adventurous and saves you money. Everyone has had bad experiences, you don’t make someone else’s bad travel experience detour you from doing what u wanna do. There are skyline buses, and Mike bus services that picks you up from your home as Early as 3am in the morning
Contact 1-869-766-9566 for more info on the bus services
Hi Karen. How long does it take to get from Guyana to Suriname Via the bus service
Roughly about 8hrs the buses stio forppassengers to use the bathroom and to buy food
Hi Karen does your bus do pick up in suriname from hotel to the ferry?
I am also wondering if the ferry works on Sunday. Does anyone know. We want to surprise our relatives in Nickerie.
The ferry runs every day
Roughly about 12hrs Lindon
Hi karen can you please tell me if I there’s a bus from Surinam to Guyane and how long is the journey and how much it cost,also if I can travel there by cab pease thank you.
Hi Judith
Guyane, you mean French Guyana? There are no regular busservices like from Georgetown to Paramaribo, but you can take the public bus, which is very cheap (around 10SRD) or you can take a shared taxi (Normally 20 EUR) or a private taxi (30 EUR) to Albina. From Albina there are many small boats, who will be happy to bring you over for around 20 SRD. The journey Paramaribo – Albina takes 3 hours.
Best regards,
Sigrid
Hi! Is it safe to do Guianans by bus by solo female traveler?
Hi Aleks,
I’m wondering about this question too 🙂 Did you already receive an answer?
Not a problem. I know quite a few girls who have travelled solo across the country and had a great experience. However, please don’t travel alone at night, don’t take unnecessary risks. etc etc.
Brilliant write up on the crossing as i may have to do this myself but in reverse
thanks again
Hi, do you obtain the “tourist card” when you arrive in Suriname at immigration?
I just got my tourist card here in Georgetown and wrote up the process. Check it out here:
http://drunkwithjetlag.com/2017/02/10/suriname-embassy-in-georgetown-guyana/
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I am planning to go to Suriname from Guyana by ferry and then drive or bus to paramaribo. I am originally from Canada. How do you get tourist card for Suriname? And what’s name of ferry from Guyana to Suriname? and how long drive to paramaribo from nieuw nickerie? Any advice or suggestion? Hope you can help me 🙂
You will need to submit the following documents in order to receive your tourist card:
A copy of your passport photo page.
A copy of the passport page which contains your Guyana entry stamp.
Your passport.
You will need to bring the following items to process your application:
$35USD in cash. Small notes only, they accepted my $20 notes.
You will need to have proof of the following when you arrive in Suriname:
Yellow fever vaccination (no need to bring your immunization card to the embassy).
There is a strict dress code in effect for both men and women. Long pants, closed toed shoes, and an appropriate shirt (short sleeves are ok). I was able to get in with running shoes, jeans, and a polo shirt no problem. For women, closed toed shoes, a long dress (below the knees) or pants and a blouse are acceptable.
http://drunkwithjetlag.com/2017/02/10/suriname-embassy-in-georgetown-guyana/
According to British travel advisory
1) you need to pay 20$ dept tax leaving go guyana
2) you need s visa for Suriname unless arriving by air
3) departure tax for Suriname is a whopping 66$…wtf
Is this true or not. Visa + departure tax = 100$ for priveledge of visiting Suriname!!!
How much does it cost from georgetown to paramaribo suriname by bus.
Please state ferry charge + bus
You can only travel by ferry. There are no bus from Guyana.
From Georgetown to skeldon by mini bus is around 2000 Guyanese money or 20 US dollars. Then from there you have to take the ferry across to Nikerie and then a bus for five hours to Paramaribo.
Hi Chandra,
How much is the ferry across and the bus from Nikerie to Paramaribo?
where place is good to go and visit in Georgetown, Guyana? such as adventure or resort or something like that. Any suggestion?
Georgetown is not really a touristy place. It’s a relatively small town in a poor country, and I’ve never heard about anything resembling a resort in the town itself. You can contact a travelagency for a trip inland to see the waterfalls etc. I joined a historical trip on the Orinoco river with http://www.dagron-tours.com and we had a good, well organized trip.
Does the ferry leave on a Sundays to go to Suriname?
Do I have to get a yellow fever vaccine before coming to Suriname?
Hi I would like to come to Paramaribo from the 30th of December to January 3rd
Hi if you need a hotel in suriname paramaribo please vist Casablanca hotel & casino at wilhelmina street 28
Feel free to contact us
☎️ + 597 521625
📲 + 597 817 8695
📧 casablancahotel.reservations@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/Casa-Blanca-Hotel-103659445042744/
Hi if you need a hotel in suriname paramaribo please vist Casablanca hotel & casino at wilhelmina street 28
Feel free to contact us
☎️ + 597 521625
📲 + 597 817 8695
📧 casablancahotel.reservations@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/Casa-Blanca-Hotel-103659445042744/
Hi how are you incase you might travel (again) to Suriname, paramaribo you are welcome by hotel Casablanca at wilhelmina street 28
Feel free to contact us
☎️ + 597 521625
📲 + 597 817 8695
📧 casablancahotel.reservations@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/Casa-Blanca-Hotel-103659445042744/