In one month, we leave for five weeks across a part of the world that has been on our list for a long time: the Caribbean coast of South America and the Three Guianas.

Our route begins in Martinique, then moves through French Guiana, Suriname, and Guyana before heading west to Ecuador and Panama. It is not the most direct route, and that is exactly the point. We are building this trip around places that feel distinct: rainforest rivers, colonial cities, jungle lodges, remote islands, high volcanoes, and the everyday moments in between.

For a broader look at the route and the project behind it, visit our Gate 58 Expeditions & Content page.

Why the Three Guianas?

Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana sit together on South America's northeast coast, but each has a completely different character. Guyana is English-speaking and tied to the Caribbean; Suriname blends Dutch, Indigenous, African, and South Asian influences; and French Guiana is a French overseas department with its own tropical, South American identity.

They are not the easiest destinations to combine independently, which is part of their appeal. Getting between them means ferries, flights, long drives, and some flexibility—but it also means seeing a region most travelers skip.

Our Route Through the Guianas and Beyond

In French Guiana, we will spend time in Cayenne, at the market in Cacao, in Kourou, and in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni with its French colonial prison complexes. We also plan to visit the Guiana Space Centre and Îles du Salut, the former penal-colony islands that include the notorious Devil’s Island, made famous by Papillon.

From there, we cross into Suriname for Paramaribo and several days at an eco-lodge in the rainforest interior along the Upper Suriname River, on the northeastern edge of the Amazon rainforest. Then it is on to Georgetown, Guyana, where the market, local food, the famous El Dorado Rum Distillery, and Kaieteur Falls are all high on the list.

The second half of the trip shifts completely: Ecuador’s Avenue of the Volcanoes, Quilotoa, Baños, and Quito, followed by Panama City and the Caribbean side of Panama.

What We Hope to Bring Home

This is a photography trip, but not just a collection of landmarks. We want to come back with stories about the places between the highlights: a roadside meal, a boat ride into the rainforest, a conversation in a market, the way a city feels after dark, and the small surprises that never make it onto an itinerary.

We will share photographs, stories, and short videos from the road on Gate 58 Instagram and Darren Edwards Photographs.

For now, the bags are not packed, the route is still being refined, but we are counting the days. 

Happy Travels!