The five Guyanas

The 5 Guyanas – I’m finally exploring them all – overland – land border crossings in small boats – no fixers – no men – I feel so alive – adventure still breathes here. 🌍

Now I travel overland Guyana – Suriname – French Guyana – Brazil – French Guyana – rocket launch ESA. Just my daughters and I, and from Surinam, I solo travel.

Land border crossings are just that much move adventurous.

I traveled in Brazil first time in March-April 2007; Guyana and Suriname in February 2020; Venezuela december 2022.

-/-

The 5 Guyanas are like a colonial puzzle on the Edge of South America with a direct border to the EU between French Guyana and both Surinam and Brazil.

Once a mosaic of European ambitions, the Guyanas were carved out along the Atlantic coast:

🇪🇸 Spanish Guyana – now part of Venezuela.
🇬🇧 British Guyana – split between Venezuela and today’s independent Guyana. With oil being found its now one of the highest growth rates in the world.
🇩🇪 Dutch Guyana – now Suriname, independent since 1975.
🇫🇷 French Guyana – still France, EU territory, and launchpad for Europe’s space dreams.
🇵🇹 Portuguese Guyana – now part of Brazil.

Before Europeans arrived in the late 1400s–1600s, these lands were home to Arawak, Carib, and Warao peoples. Borders shifted with treaties, wars, and trades. Some Guyanas chose independence, others stayed tied to their old capitals — shaping their languages (English, Dutch, French, Portuguese, Spanish) and cultures into a rare blend of Indigenous, African, Asian, and European influences.

Today, their geopolitical ties still follow history: France leans to the EU, Suriname to the Dutch sphere, Guyana to the Commonwealth, Brazil to the Lusophone world, Venezuela to Latin America’s bloc politics.

One coastline — five histories — endless stories.

Brazilian Amazonas:

Border crossing French Guyana – Brazil

Suriname

Guyana