Guide on the road from Macapa to Oiapoque
 

I too found Mark's post really useful and due to the lack of quality information on riding through this part of the world I made a video guide to the road conditions on the Macapa to Oiapoque road which gets you into the Guiana's from Brasil.

YouTube - Brainrotting Extras: Crossing Amazon by Boat: Belem to Macapa & Road Conditions on BR156 Oiapoque

I broke down on the Lindem to Lethem road so know that stretch of road better than I would have wanted. I eventually managed to get from Georgetown to Lethem in one day, it took about 12 hours but it is possible. You need to leave Georgetown at sunrise and it's clear that the final section of the road through the Guyanese savannah suffers badly during rainy season. Needless to say I travelled through The Guiana's during the dry season.

I've seen that video, great work! I hope the heavy rains will not come after us... Expect to hit the Guyana's in March... Rain will come in April.... So we will catch some of it alright.

mark,
Many thanks indeed

Hello Easyg,
Many thanks indeed for the video clip and information, I am planning to do this very trip starting in Georgetown down to Boa vista, to Manus to Macapa by boat then up the B156 to French Guyana and through Dutch Guiana and back to Georgetown. Any further information will be greatly appreciated as I am looking at September of 2012. i you hear of anyone intersting in joining this trip kindly spread the word. Best regards, Moe

the northern part of SA
 

mailking - how did it go?

demoes - I am planning on a similar trip in 2012 as well. Any interest in maybe an slightly later date? I am leaving the States on August 2012 and will hit Venz maybe about Oct. 2012 as I have friends in Colombia.

All points South
 

September / October (2012) might be fine. We can meet at Boa Vista an hour from the Guyana border then take the hiway down to Manus. Load the bikes onto a ferry and sail down to Macapa. Ride the BR 156 north to French Guiana to Dutch Guiana and over to Guyana (formaly British Guiana) where I will be starting my trip from. Bike shipped from Toronto to Guyana is apx. $400 crated and takes six weeks to arrive in Georgetown. Anybody did the part from Manus to Macapa by ferry? Any idea of the cost?

Georgetown
 

Anybody needing mechanical help in GT could visit the Campala Hotel on Camp Street and ask for Chicken [Shashtri Lall] who is my engineer at Atlantic Natural Oils soap factory. Skelly, the big rasta guy is also a diamond too. Tell them Mr.Mike sent you. They will also brief you on the latest Boa Vista road conditions.

Mike the Bike
 

R U Mike the Bike Hailwood? Great chap indeed. I'll check out Chicken at the Campala Hotel in Gt and pass on your regards (good contact to have), hoping to be there March 23 to Aptil 7th for the Pakarima Safari from Georgetown to The Brazilian border.

We are still in Ceará, and slowly heading north.

I was thinking of driving to Santarem and cross the Amazon there, then drive to Macapa. But I am not sure if there is a road at all over there on the other side? Anybody any clues?

Adventurous greetings,
Coen

I happen to be sitting next to a stack of maps. None show a through road on the north side of the river. One does show a road which goes part way but stops in a town along the map crease where I can't read it (sorry), then a blank stretch, then another road from Almeirim continuing to Macapa. Easy enough to take a river boat from Santarem to Macapa, though, if you're not opposed on moral or religious grounds.

Hope that helps.

Mark

hmmm how funny, I was just looking at the several maps online and here next to me on the passengers seat, and I have one map that does show a road all the way up... How frustrating is that? But experience has learned that you will never know what you have in front of you until you really go there and see for yourself, so that will probably be the solution.... :-)

Adventurous greetings,
Coen