Guyana used to be British Guyana until independence in 1966, and its culture is much more Caribbean than the rest of South America. It's also where I was briefly held by rebels with machine guns in the jungle.
Updated: Jun 16, 2008 10:44am PST
Formerly Dutch Guiana, Suriname is an incredibly diverse country made up of Dutch, Indian, Creole, Javanese, Maroon, and Amerindian ethnic groups. Most people speak Dutch or Sranan Tongo, and Dutch influence remains strong.
Updated: Jun 21, 2008 5:08pm PST