You dream of discover Guyana, this French region bordered by the Amazon? But then, who says Amazon, also says frequent rains… Guyana has a wet season during a few months of the year. Are you looking to find out more about the rainy season in Guyana? When is it? Is it possible to travel during this period? Are there any risks? In this article, I give you the answer to all these questions in order to help you make the most of your next trip.
What is the climate in Guyana? The best time to travel?
French Guiana is sometimes thought to be a Caribbean island, in the same way as Guadeloupe and that it could thus have the same climate. However, Guyana is not an island. It’s a overseas department French located in the Amazon, on the border of Brazil and Suriname. The climate is there equatorial, with a humidity and one heat continues throughout the year.
In fact, the humidity in Guyana rarely drops below by 80%. This sometimes makes the atmosphere difficult to bear, particularly inland. The coasts, where the wind blows more often, are a little more pleasant. On the other hand, the sea temperature is around 27/28 °C and the Swimming is therefore possible all year round.
The different seasons in French Guiana
In French Guiana, it’s not the temperature that makes the season, unlike at home. In fact, the average temperature is generally 26°C and does not experience many changes over the months. Although in the evening it sometimes drops below 20°C during the cooler nights (October, November). If you go to Guyana, you have a good chance of being hot. But luckily, the humidity of the air and the heat are tempered by the trade winds.
So, the climate of Guyana is influenced by the Intertropical Convergence Zone or ZCIT, also called ZIC. It is a space where the trade winds meet above the ocean. Depending on the direction of the winds and the axis of rotation of the earth, the ZIC reaches Guyana. The precipitation then falls on the region. During the dry season, it generally passes further north and prevents Guyana from downpours.
We often talk abouta dry season and a rainy season in Guyana. However, French Guiana is actually divided into 4 seasons, which differs especially depending on the precipitation level.
- From the end of November to mid-February: this is the “short rainy season” and the Carnival period.
- Between mid-February and the end of March, it is “little summer of March”, which is a dry season
- From April to June, it is the great rainy season, but also the nesting season of leatherback turtles
- Finally, from mid-July to the end of November it is the long dry season.
The dry season in Guyana: temperature, period, rain…
Among the 4 seasons in Guyana, we find the little summer of March. It corresponds to a lull in the middle of the rainy season. This period sometimes takes place as early as February and changes depending on the year. Generally, the rains stop for one to two weeks, and a few days of good weather precede or follow this period. Finally, it must be said that this season is more marked in the north-west of Guyana as in St Laurent du Maroni.
On the other hand, the long dry season, from mid-July, will be the ideal time for a trip to Guyana. It’s also the season the hottest because it corresponds to the one where the level of sunshine is the best. Indeed, the sun shines on average 7 to 8 hours per day between August and October. In addition, September and October are the least rainy months. There is generally an average of 26 to 32°C during the hottest part of the day.
All this data is necessarily tempting, but is it really the only possible period for a stay in Guyana? Here is more information on the rainy season in Guyana to help you make your choice.
Guyana knows two periods of rainy seasons.
Between January and February, it is short rainy season. During this period, showers are common but the good weather very often remains there. Additionally, rain usually falls in the evening, which does not prevent you from enjoying the trip.
On the other hand, during the long rainy season, we know a period of long showers which usually take place all night and sometimes in the morning. These rains are very abundant or even torrential, especially towards Cayenne and Saint Georges.
During the day, the sky sometimes darkens suddenly and we then witness an intense but relatively brief downpour. You must therefore plan to take shelter quickly when you see the weather getting cloudy. In addition, during the main rainy season, the sunlight level is quite low in Guyana, with an average of 4 to 5 hours per day. The sky is more often gray or hazy.
However, the rainy season also has its advantages in terms of landscapes, on-site events and also prices. Although the weather will probably not always be good, it is not formally discouraged to go to Guyana during the rainy season.
However, for your trip, you will need avoid the months of May and June if possible, which are the rainiest. We note 500 mm of rain in May in Cayenne and often almost 400 mm in June. During this period it rains almost daily. However, the region is less rainy on the side of Maripasoula and Saint-Laurent with “only” approximately 300 to 350 mm of rain. This difference in precipitation is also noted throughout the year for these two cities.
Risks during the rainy season in Guyana
Due to its location, Guyana is not not an area where there is a risk of cyclone. They generally pass further north, towards the Caribbean side.
However, the region is subject to some flood risksduring torrential rains especially in May and June. Likewise, during the rainy season, the coast is hit by significant waves and we sometimes witness a raging ocean. These events are caused by strong tropical depressions that take place within the Atlantic Ocean. Swimming can then be relatively dangerous.
Furthermore, the rainy season also indicates a additional risk of mosquitoes. The yellow fever vaccine is mandatory to travel to Guyana and the typhoid fever vaccine is also recommended. However, you will also need to be particularly vigilant if you are traveling near waterways and inland. In this case, you will need to take anti-malaria medication with you, wear long clothes and equip yourself with a mosquito net impregnated with repellent at night.
Apart from this, the risks during the wet season for travelers remain quite limited. You can therefore leave with peace of mind during the rainy season in French Guiana.
What should you pack in your luggage when traveling to Guyana in the wet season?
When traveling during the rainy season in Guyana, we will remember to bring waterproof clothing to protect yourself from showers, but we will mainly opt for light clothing, in fine fabrics, which dry quickly. Likewise, it will be better to take closed shoes for hikes and showers. An umbrella is always a good ideaalthough its use may be limited in heavy downpours.
You are ready to defy the weather and going to Guyana during the rainy season? So you now have all the information you need to prepare your stay and enjoy it despite the rain. The Carnival period is particularly popular with tourists, it would be a shame to deprive yourself of it!
