South America

Paris

France

Cayenne

French Guiana

French Guiana ☀️ at €599 rtn 

Fly in business class in September-March 2024 to French Guiana at €1477 rtn from Paris with Air France. Two checked bags & lie-flat seat included

*business/non-stop* Paris to French Guiana 🌿 at €1477 rtn

Fly in December - September in Business Class to Cayenne, French Guiana in £1270s-£1310s rtn from across the UK with Air France. Lie-flat seats included.

Birmingham

England

Edinburgh

Scotland

London Heathrow

Manchester

Newcastle

*biz class* French Guiana 🇬🇫 in £1270s-£1310s rtn from across the UK  

Dust off your explorer's hat, we're going for an adventure...

*biz class/non-stop* Cayenne, French Guiana 🇬🇫 at €1499 rtn from Paris

Guatemala

Brazil

Hey there Travellers,
It is nice to see that you're not an overly judgemental bunch. Last week, I asked you for&nbsp;<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-214-ultimate-carry-on-respectful-dressing">your take on "respectful dressing"</a> at 38,000 ft, and the feedback was generally pretty balanced: comfort is paramount, but (when you have the choice) there's no need to be sloppy.
There were a few exceptions, however. Some of you felt that travel is indeed a special occasion, so we should dress appropriately, while others were defiant in the face of budget discomfort &mdash; if the airlines won't rise to the occasion, why should we?
Needless to say, I'm not planning to wear my Sunday best this afternoon, when I board a Ryanair flight to Porto for my last foreign adventure of the year. I'll probably make sure there aren't any coffee stains down my front before I board, but I can't guarantee there won't be a splash of port wine there by the time I return.
Happy travels and safe landings,

Katy - Editor of The Detour

Searching for Culture Without the Crowds in Guatemala

&ldquo;I&rsquo;m interested in traveling to Guatemala, and I know almost nothing about it except that it looks really beautiful. I&rsquo;m interested in when might be a shoulder season there, still pleasant but not high season, as I don&rsquo;t love big crowds. I love getting to know villages and local culture as well as experiencing nature - mountains, hiking, and swimming.&rdquo;

Navigator Akasha finds phenomenal Flights faster than you can decide where you want to take a trip to next. A pro at finding the best of the best fares, she's also a master at sharing must-visit spots for when you land.

Answered by Akasha

Hey there, traveller! You&rsquo;re in the right place. I spent about 6 months in Guatemala, so I&rsquo;ve got heaps of tips for you.
As a solo female traveller, I&rsquo;ll start with what I wish someone had said to me about travelling in Guatemala: It&rsquo;s hard, it&rsquo;s beautiful, and it&rsquo;ll change you. It&rsquo;ll challenge everything you think you know if you let it. 
Once you allow yourself to be moved by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyWikR-XQUU">layers of Maya history</a>, the insane resilience of communities, and truly feel the weight and warmth of a place shaped by such struggle and beauty, you cannot unfeel or unknow. And isn&rsquo;t that one of the reasons why we travel to places like this? To feel something real enough that it stays with us long after we&rsquo;re home?

But to do that, please take my advice and step outside the &ldquo;expat&rdquo; bubble, especially since you said you don&rsquo;t like big crowds. Overtourism can be a real issue here, especially in places like Antigua, and even more so on the shores of Lake Atitl&aacute;n, where I spent most of my time. 
It&rsquo;s easy to be swept up by blogs promising a &ldquo;hippie mecca&rdquo; of self-declared healers and &ldquo;sacred&rdquo; retreats in San Marcos la Laguna. But trust me, not all that glitters is gold. Sadly, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ubicomp.org/ubicomp-iswc-2023/attending/maya/">traditions of the Kaqchikel and Tz&rsquo;utujil</a> peoples have been watered down, mass-produced, and sold back as &ldquo;authentic.&rdquo; As a result, they are exploited, priced out, and often treated as background noise to the version of culture visitors prefer to consume. I won&rsquo;t go into detail here; that&rsquo;s another blog post in the making.

But if you are keen on visiting the lake, there are still a handful of towns that are a little less curated than San Marcos, San Pedro and Panajachel. They aren&rsquo;t entirely tourism-free but <a href="https://routinelynomadic.com/jaibalito-guatemala/">Jaibalito</a> and <a href="https://www.gypsysols.com/santa-cruz-la-laguna-lake-atitlan/">Santa Cruz la Laguna</a> offer more of a relaxing escape from the crowds, have a handful of locally run guesthouses, and some decent hiking (be sure to hire a guide). And San Juan, although firmly on the map, is <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/the-sacred-art-of-lake-atitlans-weavers">home to Maya women&rsquo;s weaving co-operatives</a> that specialize in naturally dyed textiles that align with the Mayan moon calendar.
These cooperatives play a pivotal role in the community, preserving traditional weaving techniques and improving the overall quality of life for the local women. You can take workshops here run directly by the families themselves. San Juan is also the unofficial gateway to the sunrise Indian Nose Hike; but again, remember to always go with a guide!&nbsp;
Many towns across the lake also have family-run Spanish programs or <a href="https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/guatemala-homestay/">homestays paired with lessons</a>.&nbsp;

Since you mentioned that you &ldquo;love getting to know villages and local culture as well as experiencing nature/mountains&rdquo;, I&rsquo;d recommend certain parts of Guatemala that sit well beyond the Atitl&aacute;n&ndash;Antigua loop.
<a href="https://sightdoing.net/ixil-triangle-guatemala/">The Ixil Triangle</a> in the Western Highlands (Nebaj, Chajul, Cotzal) is one of the most culturally rich and resilient regions in the country. And being right up in the Highlands, your guide will be able to take you on some fantastic hikes.
The Ixil people live in the high, rugged <a href="https://www.highlux.co.nz/2017/09/exploring-the-sierra-de-los-cuchumatanes/">mountains of the Cuchumatanes</a>, which has historically kept them pretty isolated. This allowed them to maintain their unique customs, dress, and language longer than many lowland Maya groups who faced more colonial influence. 
<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/guatemala-culture-without-the-crowds">Keep reading...</a>

Reader's Corner

Navigator Fran is an Italian globetrotter with a passion for remote destinations and snacking. Currently based in Brussels, she'll gladly tell you where to find the yummiest fries around the city.

By Fran

Every time someone asks me what was the most unforgettable trip I have ever taken, I can&rsquo;t help but think of the month I spent in the Amazon Rainforest,&nbsp;<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/navigating-the-amazon-in-three-weeks">navigating the Amazon River on hammock boats</a>.

It&rsquo;s been over four years since I waved goodbye to those 5am breakfast calls and pink dolphin spotting sessions, and &mdash; although I&rsquo;ve loved discovering other corners of Brazil and its incredible culture &mdash; my itch to return to the Amazon has been growing and growing.
So, while most of my friends will be enjoying Carnaval on the streets of Rio de Janeiro and Salvador de Bahia this February, I&rsquo;ve decided to embark on a voyage to complete my navigation of the Amazon River. This time, my dear friend Phil and I will navigate from Bel&eacute;m do Par&aacute; all the way to Macap&aacute;, in Amap&aacute; state, and then spend a week or so in the area.

How much do we know about Amap&aacute;? Virtually nothing. And while we&rsquo;re incredibly excited about the adventure ahead, information about what to do in the area is veeeeery scarce. For the record &mdash; this is all part of the fun when it comes to&nbsp;<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/the-south-american-countries-we-never-talk-about">discovering underrated corners of South America</a>, of course!
Now, if you <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/JxddvEALsmQ7YGrh6">take a peek at the map</a>, you&rsquo;ll see that the state of Amap&aacute; borders French Guiana. As a good ol&rsquo; Border Studies alumnus, hopping over the Oyapok River is already on my bucket list, and for the past couple of days, I&rsquo;ve been on the search for fun projects and detours around the area.
What made my Amazon escapade so special last time were the connections I made on the <s>road </s>river, and all the culture I was lucky enough to be welcomed into, allowed to listen to and photograph. 
So, now I turn to you &mdash; well-seasoned travellers who aren&rsquo;t scared of venturing off the beaten path and have visited French Guiana, Amap&aacute;, or even just Par&aacute;&rsquo;s hinterlands &mdash; do you have any advice for me? Let me know in the comments!
Muito obrigada, gente :-)

Travel Tips

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across web this week.
<ul>
<li>Can you guess which once isolated nation is becoming the fastest-growing travel destination on the planet? Hint:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" class="c-link" data-stringify-link="https://travelbinger.com/how-uzbekistan-became-the-silk-road-capital-for-21st-century-travelers/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" href="https://travelbinger.com/how-uzbekistan-became-the-silk-road-capital-for-21st-century-travelers/" rel="noopener noreferrer">It&rsquo;s a Stan</a><a target="_blank" class="c-link" data-stringify-link="https://travelbinger.com/how-uzbekistan-became-the-silk-road-capital-for-21st-century-travelers/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" href="https://travelbinger.com/how-uzbekistan-became-the-silk-road-capital-for-21st-century-travelers/" rel="noopener noreferrer"></a>. </li>
<li>Somewhere at the bottom of the sea, Norway&rsquo;s busy building the world&rsquo;s longest and deepest undersea road tunnel. It aims to replace current ferries on the west coast faster than you can say&nbsp;&ldquo;<a target="_blank" class="c-link" data-stringify-link="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/norway-longest-deepest-underwater-tunnel-spc" data-sk="tooltip_parent" href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/norway-longest-deepest-underwater-tunnel-spc" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rogaland fastforbindelse</a>&rdquo; </li>
<li>As if removing their 2 free checked bags wasn&rsquo;t enough, Southwest Airlines is aiming to become public enemy number 1 by <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/southwest-airlines-plus-size-policy-b2875948.html">charging&nbsp;plus-sized passengers</a>&nbsp;for two seats from January 27th, 2026. </li>
<li>Machu Picchu,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" class="c-link" data-stringify-link="https://www.remotelands.com/travelogues/alinja-castle-the-machu-picchu-of-the-caucasus/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" href="https://www.remotelands.com/travelogues/alinja-castle-the-machu-picchu-of-the-caucasus/" rel="noopener noreferrer">but make it Caucasus</a>. Would you travel all the way to rural Azerbaijan to see this lost city dupe? </li>
<li>And finally, spotted over South Africa&rsquo;s skies: is it a bird, is it a plane, is it Santa?&nbsp;Actually, it is one of those things, we're just not sure which. Think: high-speed sleigh pulled by&nbsp;<a target="_blank" class="c-link" data-stringify-link="https://www.instagram.com/p/DRuDRGHDd_O/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D" data-sk="tooltip_parent" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DRuDRGHDd_O/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D" rel="noopener noreferrer">a springbok and a zebra</a>.</li>
</ul>

Travel News

Central and South America: Jack's Style

Guyana

Suriname

Ecuador

Paraguay

Venezuela

This article was originally published in The Detour in January 2024, before Ecuador was added to the piece linked below. We have made some updates to reflect the change.
<hr>
Scrolling wistfully through another of the countless &ldquo;best countries to visit for XYZ&rdquo; lists, I found myself stopping and re-reading the title: &ldquo;<a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/south-america/best-countries-visit-south-america-b2472253.html?lid=vbe18r4pg8ch">7 of the best countries to visit in South America</a>.&rdquo;
When there are only 12 countries on the continent (*plus one French overseas department), it makes you wonder what it takes to become one of the glaring omissions? For some, it&rsquo;s undoubtedly political unrest (*ahem* Venezuela) but for the others, it just seems to be a case of poor PR. Let&rsquo;s get stuck in&hellip;
<h2 id="ecuador">Ecuador</h2>
Ecuador had absolutely no business being left off this list when it was originally published in 2024&mdash;they had David Attenborough, for goodness&rsquo; sake! As the home of the Gal&aacute;pagos Islands, it&rsquo;s probably one of the most inspiring destinations for wildlife on the entire continent, or even planet. Grab a cuppa and sit down with <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://youtu.be/dTdyRTN9Baw?si=fOGbb23vHO-sY2DX">the legend himself</a> if you need a refresher.
And there&rsquo;s more where that came from on <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://inspiredbymaps.com/isla-de-la-plata-ecuador-alternative-to-the-galapagos/">Isla de la Plata</a>, aka the Poor Man&rsquo;s Gal&aacute;pagos, where you can catch a glimpse of some <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://youtu.be/lcPHFQP9GN0?si=YREZZJi-QKwT7m__&amp;t=11">blue footed boobies</a> without burning a hole in your pocket. You&rsquo;ll even find a mess of iguanas just hanging out in the centre of Guayaquil. Yes, a <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://theoccasionaltraveller.com/guayaquil-iguana-park/">mess</a>.

The capital, Quito, will take you inland to the foot of the Andes. The city&rsquo;s <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyeVKim6mUc">cable car</a> offers up seriously epic views over the <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/quito-ecuador-underrated-capital-city/index.html">historical city</a>, while <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://www.ecuador.com/attractions/sights/mitad-del-mundo/">Mitad del Mundo</a> serves as a humbling reminder of the time someone bungled marking where the <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://www.aswesawit.com/real-equator-line/#:~:text=The%20Equator%20line%20is%20located,and%20do%20when%20you%20arrive.">real equator crossing</a> is. On top of that, Quito is also the gateway to the Ecuadorian Amazon and <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://www.muchbetteradventures.com/magazine/yasuni-national-park-ecuador-amazon-biodiversity/">Parque Nacional Yasun&iacute;</a>, one of the most diverse biospheres on earth. Can&rsquo;t argue with that.
Buuuut here&rsquo;s the catch: Ecuador has been <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/how-ecuador-became-a-narco-state/">in the news a lot</a> recently due to political unrest, gang warfare, and general violence. In and around Guayaquil, narco activity has increased as gangs fight for control of the ports to ship drugs produced in Colombia and Peru.
The Ecuadorian government initiated a state of emergency, meaning there&rsquo;s an increased military presence and daily curfew in place across the country while they attempt to regain control. That said,&nbsp;<a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/ecuador">current travel advice</a> still considers most of Ecuador safe to travel to, especially the national parks and Amazon region, as well as the Gal&aacute;pagos.
We wouldn&rsquo;t blame you for hesitating about booking flights right now, but in theory, there&rsquo;s nothing to stop us heading off into the jungle&hellip;
<h2 id="paraguay">Paraguay</h2>
Right in the middle of South America lies land-locked Paraguay. As international tourists go, the country is pretty overlooked&mdash;in 2022, only 1.5 million foreigners visited Paraguay, over 75% of whom came from neighbouring Argentina.
So, why don&rsquo;t we go there? According to the Global Peace Index, it&rsquo;s <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://worldlyadventurer.com/is-it-safe-to-travel-south-america/">not because it&rsquo;s dangerous</a>. Like most built-up cities, the capital, Asunci&oacute;n, isn&rsquo;t free of crime, but if you keep your wits about you and don&rsquo;t wave your valuables around, you should be good.
It turns out the reason hardly anyone visits Paraguay is that <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://www.czickontheroad.com/is-paraguay-worth-the-visit">there&rsquo;s nothing to do</a> there. Or so we think.

Asunci&oacute;n is one of the oldest settlements in South America, and now a <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/beckbamberger/2023/05/06/paraguays-asuncion-is-quietly-enticing-tourists/?sh=6175635370b1">vibrant, modern city,</a> dotted with colonial ruins, local markets and a <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://www.tripsavvy.com/best-restaurants-in-asuncion-paraguay-5198743">food scene</a> that&rsquo;ll tickle most taste buds. Unless you don&rsquo;t eat meat&mdash;then you should bring a packed lunch.
Down south, there&rsquo;s plenty more evidence of the country&rsquo;s chequered history at the impressive 17th century <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://www.timetravelturtle.com/paraguay/jesuit-ruins/">Jesuit ruins</a>, which were built by missionaries in an effort to convert the local Guaran&iacute; people.
There&rsquo;s plenty of beautiful (tourist-free) nature out there as well, like the quiet beaches of <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://youtu.be/pUZAnErHMYQ?si=yY3xBdQ86jZuU3Ax">Laguna Blanca</a>, or <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://nationalparksofparaguay.blogspot.com/2013/08/ybycui-national-park-part-2.html">Ybycu&iacute; National Park</a> with its monkeys, tropical birds and (fairly modest) waterfalls. Although, when it comes to waterfalls, save yourself a trip to see the big guns at Iguazu by checking out the <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/salto-de-monday">Saltos del Monday</a> instead. Or, realistically, visit them as well.
<h2 id="suriname">Suriname</h2>
Much like Paraguay, there&rsquo;s no special safety risk when it comes to visiting Suriname. Again, don&rsquo;t be flashy or walk around dark areas at night, and you&rsquo;re likely to be just fine. That said, <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/suriname/safety-and-security">government advice</a> suggests travelling with a tour company if you&rsquo;re heading away from coastal areas and into the centre of the country.
And that&rsquo;s exactly where you&rsquo;ll find the <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g3364167-d1537809-Reviews-Central_Suriname_Nature_Reserve-Saramacca_District.html#/media-atf/1537809/416229273:p/?albumid=-160&amp;type=0&amp;category=-160">lush nature reserves</a> that absolutely shouldn&rsquo;t be missed. From the imposing mountains, to the hundreds of indigenous bird species (and a few <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://ebird.org/species/gcoroc1">giggle-worthy names</a>), it&rsquo;s well worth making the effort to leave the Caribbean coast. There are loads of tour companies available in the region, but <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g294082-d19819244-Reviews-Impressive_Suriname_Travel_Services-Paramaribo_Paramaribo_District.html">Impressive Suriname</a> get excellent reviews.

But the capital, Paramaribo, also deserves a couple of days on your itinerary. The city's imposing structures are essential stops. The cathedral is the largest wooden church in the region and <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://notesonslowtravel.com/the-wooden-st-peter-and-paul-cathedral-in-paramaribo-suriname/">sure lives up to the hype</a>, while <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://www.alluringworld.com/fort-zeelandia/">Fort Zeelandia</a> is perched upon the banks of the river, reminding visitors of the long colonial history.
Paramaribo is an ideal place to sample a few local dishes&mdash;many of which you&rsquo;ll recognise. Surinamese cuisine takes influences from India, Indonesia, Africa, China&hellip; the list really does go on, so don&rsquo;t be surprised if you&rsquo;re served up a <a style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; text-decoration: underline; font-family: 'Work Sans',Helvetica, Arial !important; color: #0ebfff;" href="https://travelfoodatlas.com/food-of-suriname-10-must-try-traditional-dishes">roti or nasi</a>.
<h2 id="venezuela">Venezuela</h2>
This one might be the most obvious on the list of &ldquo;why we don&rsquo;t go there&rdquo;&mdash;years of civil unrest, a shortage of basic public services and harsh living conditions are just the start. Violent crime rates are high, and renewed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-venezuela-guyana-dispute-explained-in-3-maps/?lid=i4q7gfubjm6y">territorial disputes</a>&nbsp;with neighbouring Guyana just add to the tension.
It&rsquo;s a shame, because otherwise, Venezuela kind of has it all in terms of reasons to visit&mdash;stunning&nbsp;<a href="https://passporterapp.com/en/blog/venezuela/best-beaches-in-venezuela/?lid=3m1un2jigmy1#1-The-beaches-of-Los-Roques-archipelago">Caribbean coastline</a>, the actual&nbsp;<a href="https://www.world-of-waterfalls.com/waterfalls/latin-america-angel-falls/?lid=vlddp5v7e9uj">tallest waterfall in the world</a>, impressive&nbsp;<a href="https://artsandculture.google.com/story/mount-roraima-ephemera-documentary/0wVBNbmVRPLfoA?hl=en&amp;lid=t249ul2h1vrs">table-top mountains</a>, its own corner of the Amazon&hellip; Oh, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.willflyforfood.net/food-in-venezuela/?lid=8hq82p66be53">super tasty food</a>, which I've (so far) only tasted in Berlin.
Sadly, most of us will likely be waiting a while before experiencing it first hand.

<h2 id="guyana">Guyana</h2>
Guyana&rsquo;s safety levels land somewhere (<a href="https://westviewnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/null-24.jpeg">fairly appropriately</a>) between Suriname and Venezuela, especially when you&rsquo;re in the capital, Georgetown. And while Georgetown does have a few things worth seeing (another one for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/st-georges-cathedral?lid=ghgoi1tncegg">big wooden church</a>&nbsp;lovers), it&rsquo;s really inland that you&rsquo;ll want to go.
Guyana offers a lot to thrill the adventurous traveller, but be sure to sign up for guided tours with a&nbsp;<a href="http://exploreguyana.org/?lid=25ghn6tp70kb">reputable company</a>&nbsp;for the best rainforest adventures.
<a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/nature-travel/worlds-largest-single-drop-waterfall-kaieteur-falls-guyana?lid=itwktx4ig72f">Kaieteur</a>&nbsp;is the world's largest single drop waterfall, and the best (and easiest) way to see it is from a bird's eye view on an aerial tour. These cost $220-$270 per person and usually include a guided tour of Kaieteur National Park as well.
If you have a few more days (and dollars) you could book a guided&nbsp;<a href="https://www.enchantedexpeditions.com/tour-item/kaieteur-falls/">4-day trip over land</a>. This is a more intimate way to see the country, with meals, lodging, and transportation to the start of the hiking trail included.
While tourism is relatively new to Guyana, it's already setting itself up to be as sustainable as possible. You'll be spoilt for choice with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.greentraveller.co.uk/post/where-to-stay-in-guyana?lid=712vad2oxjr8">eco lodges</a>, many of which are still working ranches or conservation hubs.
The bravest travellers can even&nbsp;<a href="http://caimanhouse.com/?lid=sin6zp694i25">tag along with researchers</a>&nbsp;while they capture and study the black caiman - one of the world's largest reptiles that rule the rivers of Guyana. Don't worry, you can stay in the other boat while they do the wrangling!

<h2 id="french-guiana">French Guiana</h2>
Last but not least, the slight anomaly in the bunch&mdash;French Guiana. Not actually a country, it is in fact an overseas department of France, meaning it&rsquo;s part of the EU and uses the Euro. And as a bonus, when it comes to safety, you should just follow normal precautions.
As you might guess from the other countries mentioned, you&rsquo;ll most likely be here for the nature. After landing in Cayenne, head north towards the border with Suriname. Cruises&mdash;definitely&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/GpL7ZIjNo5o?t=15&amp;lid=y2jtbhb0q3z7">not the ones</a>&nbsp;you're thinking about&mdash;leave from Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni to navigate all the way into the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espritparcnational.com/en/live-experiences/forests-tales-and-legends/guiana-amazonian-park-forests-tales?lid=rwdey58v803r">Guiana Amazonian Park</a>. Sitting on the wooden canoes for 3+ hours can be quite uncomfortable, but spotting&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_NUmm2D8OW4?lid=g3u4vyol5waf">these guys</a>&nbsp;is absolutely worth the flat bum!
Before hopping on your canoe, make a stop at Hattes Beach. Not only it's an incredibly pretty spot, it is also the perfect&nbsp;<a href="https://anitabeyondthesea.com/beaches-in-french-guiana/#aioseo-les-hattes-beach">nesting location</a>&nbsp;for huge leatherback turtles - a good addition to those&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmbhlnwjuVo&amp;ab_channel=Danslesfor%C3%AAtsdeGuyane&amp;lid=rxbe3stz6rlw">toucans and giant otters</a>.
You&rsquo;ll find plenty of&nbsp;<a href="https://etichotels.com/journal/top-10-sustainable-hotels-in-french-guiana/?lid=aq6ahddve7rd">eco lodges</a>&nbsp;scattered around the jungle, in case you don&rsquo;t like the idea of sleeping on a hammock in the middle of the forest. Just don&rsquo;t forget to bring a power-bank and a torch&mdash;most accommodation doesn&rsquo;t have electricity.

That completes that list of destinations that&nbsp;The Independent didn&rsquo;t deem &ldquo;the best&rdquo;! Honestly, they all seem pretty exciting to me&hellip;
Let us know what you thought! Are these spots worth the visit? Where else in South America do you want to give a shout-out? Comment below to share your experiences!

French Guiana

French Guiana at €599 rtn

business/non-stop Paris to French Guiana at €1477 rtn

biz class French Guiana in £1270s-£1310s rtn from across the UK

biz class/non-stop Cayenne, French Guiana at €1499 rtn from Paris

Central and South America: Jack's Style

The South American Countries We Never Talk About

French Guiana

French Guiana at €599 rtn

*business/non-stop* Paris to French Guiana at €1477 rtn

*biz class* French Guiana in £1270s-£1310s rtn from across the UK

*biz class/non-stop* Cayenne, French Guiana at €1499 rtn from Paris

Central and South America: Jack's Style

The South American Countries We Never Talk About

business/non-stop Paris to French Guiana at €1477 rtn

biz class French Guiana in £1270s-£1310s rtn from across the UK

biz class/non-stop Cayenne, French Guiana at €1499 rtn from Paris