guyana eco travel

12 Reasons Why Wildlife-Packed Guyana Should Be Your Next Travel Destination

By Author Steph Dyson

Posted on Last updated: 22nd January 2024

The South American continent, with its relics of ancient civilizations, millions of square kilometres of dense jungle that pumps oxygen out into the world and rich cultures that have survived invasions and epidemics, has become far more accessible to global travellers.

But I guarantee that for every country you might have visited, there are number you’ve never heard of.

Despite its profusion of pristine rainforest, larger-than-life wildlife and cultural heritage with roots across the globe, Guyana is one of those.

A country the size of Idaho or England, it hugs the Caribbean Ocean in the far northeast of the South American continent, tucked between Venezuela, Brazil and another forgotten enclave, Suriname.

Some compare it to Venezuela before the country collapsed into social and economic disrepair, while for others, its forest-cloaked interior feels like the remotest parts of Brazil.

I’ve spent the past nine years exploring South America and for me, Guyana has no comparison. It’s a place of mystery and intrigue; a nation where access to some of the continent’s most magnificent wildlife awaits at each and every remote jungle lodge.

And honestly, if I had to decide on a destination to travel this year, Guyana would win hands down. I’m not alone in this; it was included in Lonely Planet’s Best In Travel list for 2023 .

Don’t believe me? Here are 12 reasons why Guyana should be your next travel destination.

1. No one seems to have heard about Guyana yet

Let’s start at the beginning. One of the most ironic things about Guyana is that, despite all of its treasures, there’s something still missing.

They’re called tourists.

Guyana receives just a few hundred thousand visitors per year, and, even more remarkably, the vast majority make it no further than the capital city, Georgetown.

To put this into perspective, estimates suggest that just 4,000 tourists arrive to Guyana each week – which is about the same number that visits Machu Picchu in Peru each and every day .

The problem is, Guyana’s been winning awards left, right and centre for its sensitive and responsible approach to tourism. As a result, the secret of this wild land is slowly finding its way out into the world. 

If, like me, you love destinations where you can practically count the number of other visitors at major landmarks on just one hand, then Guyana really needs to become your next travel destination.

Wondering How You Can Plan A Once-in-a-Lifetime Trip to Guyana?

It’s genuinely difficult getting around Guyana without a tour. Roads are in poor condition and many of the sites are only accessible with a private plane or motorboat. I travelled to Guyana with Wilderness Explorers , a local company that has spent 25 years developing sustainable tourism in Guyana and organizing once-in-a-lifetime trips for intrepid travelers. The trip was truly incredible – and saved me so much time trying to get around alone.

They’re now offering Worldly Adventurer readers a 5% discount on all of their hand-crafted Guyana itineraries – just mention Worldly Adventurer when you enquire!

2 . Guyana’s home to one of the largest stretches of untouched rainforest on the planet

While the Amazon further south might be the Queen Bee of rainforest, few people have heard of the Guiana Shield.  

This is one of the largest stretches of untouched tropical rainforest on the planet , covering 270 million hectares and crossing into neighbouring Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, Venezuela and some of Colombia. As a result, some 8 per cent of Guyana is covered in practically impenetrable rainforest.

Ultimately, this means that Guyana is not a place of modern conveniences and boutique hotels.

But what you will find here is disconnection from life and the opportunity to stop and appreciate pristine natural landscapes which are visited by few other humans.

3. There’s larger-than-life wildlife – and excellent chances for a sighting

Thanks to this extensive rainforest coverage, Guyana is an outstanding refuge for wildlife. While reserves such as Parque Nacional Madidi in the Amazon Jungle are considered some of the most biodiverse on the planet and excellent places to encounter rare species, Guyana is also worth its salt when it comes to the natural world.

What I learned about Guyana is that while you can never guarantee a sighting, there’s a strong chance you’ll spot at least one of the giant species for which the country is famed.

The most memorable moment on the trip was the 15 minutes I spent watching a recently-awoken giant anteater stumble around the grass. It was just metres from me and my camera – something I never once thought would have been possible.

Other sightings were equally impressive.

Giant river otters paddled playfully ahead of our canoe on a barely-rippled stretch of water.

Bird-eating spiders (the largest type of tarantula in the world) were tempted out of their burrows by our guides.

A puma even padding nonchalantly across the dirt highway in front of our van. We didn’t get to see a jaguar, but then again, you can’t have everything.

4. Exploring Guyana is an adventure from start to finish

Most visitors to Guyana head deep into the jungle of the interior. But, travelling through this country is no mean feat. This is because it’s home to a mere clutch of roads and just one main highway: an unpaved road slicing from Georgetown on the coast down to the south.

Guyana means “Land of Many Waters” and, as such, you can expect to spend plenty of your trip puttering up the mighty Essequibo River and its tributaries.

While boat transport certainly isn’t the most comfortable, it’s the prime opportunity for wildlife spotting.

Keep your eyes peeled and you’ll be rewarded with front-row views of osprey pelting the river as they pluck fish out of the water or the red howler monkeys scowling down from the forest canopy.

No form of transport promises a more spectacular vantage, though, than the light aircraft that connect the capital with the country’s most distant enclaves.

It’s likely you’ll take at least one flight and while it’s an exercise in trust (you really do hope the pilot knows what he’s doing), it’s also an extraordinary experience. You’ll spend the entire journey peering out of your window and appreciating the vast, seemingly unending carpet of rainforest and rivers below.

5. It’s home to one of the world’s most unsung waterfalls

Is it me or do some landforms get all the attention? Niagara and Iguazú – sure, they’re beautiful. Angel Falls: that’s one big set of falls. But there’s a world record holder that I bet you’ve never even heard of, and it’s found right here in Guyana.

Imagine standing on a viewpoint mere metres away as, second by second 30,000 gallons (113,500 litres) of water foam roar before you. Throw in a 741ft (226m) sheer drop and you’re got Kaieteur Falls – officially the world’s highest waterfall by volume and five times taller than Niagara.

But Katetuer’s majestic scale is trumped by the fact that this waterfall is practically a secret.

Like at most of Guyana’s treasures, it’ll be a busy day if there are more than a handful of other people when you arrive.   

6. Your visit is helping to preserve the rainforest

The climate emergency and flygskam (flight shame) have led many of us to actively reduce the number of flights that we take each year. However, while flying is believed to contribute around 2% to global carbon emissions , there’s still an argument that travel can do some good – and in Guyana, there’s a strong case for this.

Lodges across the country have made vital contributions to conservation. Indigenous-run Rewa Eco-Lodge is a case in point.

Surrounded by 350 square kilometres of now-protected rainforest, the community has played an integral part in protecting their jungle from the threats of gold mining, logging and oil extraction.

Tourism has enabled communities like this in Guyana to live sustainably, thus providing an alternative source of income.

As a result, the rainforest continues to absorb around 700,000 tonnes of carbon each year – which is enough to support the carbon production of 500,000 tourists flying in from New York or 250,000 flying from London .

7. Wildlife conservation lies at the heart of tourism

It’s fair to say that tourism is underdeveloped in Guyana, with only a scattering of hotels and lodges, tour agencies and operators to choose from.

But those that do exist have played a fundamental role in ensuring that Guyana’s astounding natural richness is protected.

Back at Rewa Eco-Lodge, the community has worked hard to encourage sustainable fishing, thus helping to revive the depleted population of arapaima one of the largest freshwater fish species on the planet. These fish can now be caught – on a catch-a-release basis, of course – at the lodge.

Another tourist lodge, Caiman House in the Rupununi grasslands of Guyana, runs a trailblazing scientific study into the black caiman – with their entire project funded by tourists visiting (and even participating in!) their research.

Further down the Rupununi River, Karanambu Lodge has played a pioneering role in giant river otter rehabilitation both in Guyana and around the globe. Lucky guests can often see cubs being reintroduced to the wild right here.

Visiting any of these lodges ensures that you travel responsibly as your money is going directly to organisations dedicated to conservation. There’s no greenwashing here.

8. You encounter a remarkable and unexpected blend of cultures

After only a short time in the country and you’ll already notice that Guyana has a remarkable ethnic blend of people.

These range from the descendants of African slaves, indigenous Amerindian tribes who survived colonisation, and East Indian settlers who arrived as indentured labourers in the 19 th century, as well as a handful of Guyanese whose ancestors were British and Dutch colonists.

Guyana’s culture is unique as a result and evident in everything from the architecture in Georgetown (British), the canal system along the coast (Dutch), to the food and festivities.

Try cassava, a woody shrub better known as manioc that is a staple feature of the Amerindian diet and used to make bread, stews and even wine, or in Georgetown, sample seven curry (a dish of seven types of curry served up on a water lily leaf) whose roots lie in the Indo-Guyanese population.

What’s more, if you visit in March, get involved in the celebrations for Holi, the traditional Hindu festival of colours or head out to the grasslands in the south of the country, where the Rupununi Rodeo celebrates Guyana’s vaquero or cowboy culture each Easter.

9. Tourism is supporting Guyana’s Amerindian communities

Community-led tourism, where local people have a say in how tourism is developed in their regions, is a hugely important and oft-forgotten feature of sustainable tourism . But again, it’s an area in which Guyana is excelling.

Many of the lodges that you visit during a stay in Guyana are community-led, set up by remote Amerindian villagers as a means to using tourism to both protect the rainforest and provide a sustainable new economy. Others are operated by families, but with employment and other benefits being felt by the wider community.

Wherever you stay, it’s guaranteed you’ll be attended by local guides – most of whom have outstanding knowledge of the jungle.

What’s more, the money you pay goes directly into local pockets or into funds to support village children to go to schools located hours away by boat.

Your spending also ensures young people have job opportunities in their communities and aren’t forced to upend themselves and move across the country for work.  

But even deeper, it’s worth noting that by visiting Guyana, every single dollar you spend helps to protect rural communities and, in turn, preserve indigenous cultures and heritage that have been lost in so many other parts of the world.

10. It’s a birdwatcher’s paradise

While other countries in South America might have a greater number of bird species, Guyana’s 877 resident and migrant species promise an impressive opportunity for birdwatchers.

Indeed, ticking off 250 different types of birds in a two-week trip isn’t beyond the scale of possibility, with 200 found in the Botanical Gardens in Georgetown alone.

Headline species include the Guianan cock-of-the-rock, of which the bright orange male is the most eye-catching, and the endangered red siskin.

Beyond this, an array of macaws and parrots, herons and grebes, toucans and even the harpy eagle – with its claws that are larger than a bear’s – ensure that every moment spent outside is an opportunity to appreciate rare and impressive species.   

11. Communication is never an issue

While in the rest of South America, Spanish or Portuguese are the lingua franca, in Guyana, neither tongue will get you far. Instead, there’s a surprise awaiting you.

As a former British colony, Guyana is the only South American country where the official language is English. I wholeheartedly believe that travelling is more meaningful when you can communicate in the language of the nation you’re visiting .

Luckily, in Guyana, this means you can converse with practically everyone you meet.

While not everyone in the country speaks English with fluency, this does make for a truly fascinating opportunity to converse freely with the local people.

Expect to learn everything from ancestral customs to remarkable knowledge of the jungle that has been passed down over millennia.

12. Things are set to change – and fast

Which such a wealth of treasures, there’s no doubt that Guyana will soon become a popular international destination for travellers – and fast.

There are plenty of reasons why Guyana is a must-visit destination in South America, but, following the dark days of the pandemic, 2020 looks set to be the year of rapid change in this long-forgotten nation.

Crude oil was discovered in 2015 and the jury remains out on what impact extracting some eight billion barrels of oil and counting will have on Guyana, its nascent tourism industry and its biggest treasure – the environment.

While there can be no guarantees about what will happen in the next few years, it’s safe to say that the country will never be the same – giving you all the more incentive to travel there as soon as possible.

My trip to Guyana was in partnership with the Guyana Tourism Board and Wilderness Explorers . As always, my opinions (and absolute LOVE of Guyana) are all my own.

Rev Aloy Samuel

Thursday 9th of February 2023

Great indeed, I have long to visit Guyana, that has been my desire but I don't know how to go about it, I even want to serve in the Anglican communion church in Guyana which I I'm qualified as a priest of Anglican Church but I don't have any one to help me out, and I can even come along with my family, I pray that God will connect me one day

Thursday 12th of January 2023

Wow! Thanks for writing this article about Guyana! I didn't even think about visiting during my South America trip but will now have to check it out. How did you get around? Did you rent a car or take the bus? I will be by myself trying to figure out how to get around this country since it's not very touristy.

Steph Dyson

Thursday 19th of January 2023

Hi Alison, so I went as part of a trip with Wilderness Explorers, who are one of the best tour companies in the country. It's very hard to visit without a tour operator, as there are very few buses and a lot of the best lodges and locations are extremely remote and so very difficult to visit independently. I have heard of people doing it, though, but I don't have a huge amount of advice to give about that! It's definitely a country worth visiting, however! Steph

Katja Kirsch

Wednesday 27th of July 2022

My son works in Georgetown, a contractor. After reading this wonderful piece, I may have to go and visit. I love nature, wildlife and people who live with it not plunder it.

Monday 1st of August 2022

Yes you must! Steph

Sunday 14th of November 2021

`Hi, love your article. I am in Guyana now for another 10 days, who did you use for your water falls tour?

Thursday 25th of November 2021

Hi James, sorry I missed this comment so I don't think my response is going to be very helpful! We went with Wilderness Explorers for all of our trips. I hope you had a great time! Steph

John Staines

Monday 27th of April 2020

Great article on Guyana Steph, a country that interested my wife and I a few years ago but unfortunately we never made it. As nature lovers we have visited a few wonderful areas of Central and South America, luckily driving the Carretera Austral in Chile in November 2019. Guyana still appeals to us as a destination but due to our age (late 60's) we appreciate a little more comfort nowadays rather than some of the fairly basic places experienced in the past. I'm not talking of boutique hotels but good food / showers / electricity are always welcome. Also we tend to be quite independent and are not ones for being shown what we should see however as a nature photographer I know that local guides are invaluable. Can you recommend any reading matter that would give us more insight into accommodation, modes of transport etc. ……..assuming of course we survive Covid 19 !!

Thursday 14th of May 2020

Hi John, Bradt have an excellent guide on Guyana which gives you loads of logistical information. Ultimately, you're looking at chartered flights, lots of time in pretty uncomfortable boats (often without shade) and basic lodges that yes do have electricity, showers and excellent food, but you might find tarantulas living in your roof! I do think it's possible to visit the country independently, but you'll save a lot of time and logistical hassle if you book at least some of your trip with a local operator such as Wilderness Explorers (who will give you a 5% discount if you mention Worldly Adventurer). They arrange tours to Kaieteur Falls (which you can't really do without a tour), so can be useful even if you don't want to organise a tour completely with them. I'll be posting more content about Guyana in the near future but feel free to shoot me more questions if you have them! Steph

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Explore , guides , guyana , south america , sustainable travel , travel stories, guyana: a destination for ecotourism.

• Published March 17, 2021

Nestled between Suriname, Brazil, and Venezuela, Guyana isn’t often at the forefront of the conversation when it comes to South American destinations. In fact, it’s often mistaken for Ghana , the West African nation on the Gulf of Guinea. However, the 83,000-square-mile (214,970-square-kilometer) country boasts an impressive repertoire of unique sights, experiences, and culture. From making the world’s most expensive stamp and building one of the world’s tallest wooden churches to harboring El Dorado, the fabled lost city of gold, Guyana is full of surprises and a burgeoning frontier for ecotourism.

The country’s wealth, however, lies not exclusively in gold, but in biodiversity as well. Guyana’s extensive forests, mountains, waterfalls, and wide array of wildlife make it an ideal destination for eco-tourism, a relatively burgeoning industry that is changing the face of travel in the country.

With numerous eco-lodges and camping sites throughout its interior regions, Guyana is poised to succeed as an eco-tourism and adventure destination. The country boasts the highest single-drop waterfall in the world, a multi-purpose rainforest reserve, and a beach where endangered sea turtles come to nest every year. The country is embracing its natural wealth, opting to promote community-based nature travel rather than traditional tourism. Additionally, Guyana has witnessed the development of organizations such as CATS ,  a Community and Tourism Services group that is comprised of the Makushi tribe, a local indigenous community, the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development , and two private tour and lodge operators.

Some of the best examples of Guyana’s eco-tourism offerings are outlined below.

The Iwokrama International Center was established in 1996 as a non-profit organization. Its goal is to manage the 1,430-square mile (3,710-square-kilometer) forest reserve in “a manner that will lead to lasting ecological, economic, and social benefits to the people of Guyana and the world in general.” In fact, Charles, the Prince of Wales, is a patron of the reserve. Tasked with balancing conservation and sustainable economic activity, Iwokrama is dedicated to furthering ongoing scientific research and developing relationships with the Indigenous communities in the area. The center manages four core businesses: ecotourism, selective timber harvesting, forest management training, and forest services.

Visitors can stay at the Iwokrama River Lodge , located within the reserve. The lodge offers activities such as boating, fishing, and swimming, as well as the opportunity to visit the Kurupukari Rapids and view the nearby petroglyphs . Turtle Mountain is also available to visitors, who can camp at its base or hike to its peak. Alternatively, guests can stay on-site and catch a glimpse of Sankar, the resident caiman, who is said to be older than the lodge itself.

The reserve also features the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway , which consists of four viewing platforms in the heart of the forest 108 feet (33 meters) above the ground. Guests can also stay at the Atta Rainforest Lodge , which is also managed by CATS.

Surama, a five-square-mile (13-square-kilometer) Amerindian village located in the North Rupununi area of Guyana, is surrounded by the Pakaraima mountain range, the Burro Burro River, and miles of juxtaposing forest and savanna. Established in 1974, the Eco-Lodge is the epitome of community-based tourism in Guyana and has served as a success story and potential blueprint for other communities. The Amerindian Makushi people are the sole managers of the lodge, with a staff made up entirely of local villagers. As such, the lodge generates a significant portion of the village’s income.

In 2011, Surama Eco-Lodge was featured in National Geographic as one of the Best Hotels in Colombia, Venezuela, and Guyana. That same year, Surama was jointly awarded the Caribbean Tourism Association’s Caribbean Excellence in Sustainable Tourism.  

Kaieteur Falls and Kaieteur National Park

While there are dozens of stunning waterfalls in the country, Kaieteur Falls is the highest single-drop waterfall in the world at 741 feet tall and 450 feet wide (225 meters by 137 meters). Kaieteur National Park was the first protected area established in Guyana and one of the first in all of South America.

Named after Old Kaie, the Toshao — or leader — of the Indigenous Amerindian Patamona Tribe, Kaieteur translates to “Kaie’s Falls.” Legend has it that Kaie canoed over the falls as a sacrifice to the gods to save his people from an invading tribe. Some say the rock formations next to the waterfall appear to form a face, and many locals and tourists agree that it could very well be Old Kaie’s face etched into the wall — a permanent reminder of his ultimate sacrifice.

The park itself is home to a number of rare species, among them the stunning Cock-of-the-Rock bird and the miniature Golden Frog. In 2017, researchers with the World Wildlife Fund discovered over 30 new species in Kaieteur National Park, including the Blue Tarantula.

Shell Beach

Located in northwestern Guyana, Shell Beach is only accessible by boat. Once there, you’ll find the Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society , which was created almost 30 years ago to “manage the ecosystem of the Shell Beach area by promoting the conservation and sustainable utilization of the resources of the area for the benefit of all stakeholders.”

Almond and Tiger Beach are two of the nine beaches that make up the 90-mile (144-kilometer) stretch of coastline denominated Shell Beach. They’re also the nesting spot for four of the eight species of sea turtles in the world — the Leatherback, the Hawksbill, the Olive Ridley and the Green Turtle. Over the years, the beach has become not only a popular tourist destination, but also a safe haven for these endangered creatures to lay their eggs. Its facilities may be basic, but its minimalism and peaceful silence complement the undomesticated beauty of the unspoiled coastline. The rangers trained to maintain the beaches and protect the turtles from poachers are all from the surrounding area and have grown up knowing that this stretch of coast is something special.

Unfortunately, in recent years, the area has fallen prey to coastal erosion and flooding and, in 2017, certain sections of the beach were closed indefinitely. However, it is still possible to visit the location, and efforts to protect the area continue. Visitors can refer to the Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society to learn more about environmental initiatives in the area.

Excitement over the country’s natural wealth has begun to gain momentum as infrastructure improves and new tours and opportunities continue to be developed. Guyana’s sheer uniqueness never fails to astound — those who visit can find manatees in the National Park located in the city one day, a 10-foot-long (three-meter) Arapaima fish in the Essequibo River the next, and indulge in a thoroughly rejuvenating swim in one of the many coca-cola colored creeks the day after that.

So, if you’re looking to embark on a hands-on adventure and enjoy an abundance of natural wealth, consider adding Guyana to your bucket list. We’d be happy to have you.

Photos taken by Indira Mattai and Lancelot Khan

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A Guide to Eco-Tourism Holidays in Guyana

•   Before You Go
•   Culture
•   Guyana
•   Top Tips
•   Travel Planning
•   Wildlife

Eco-tourism comes as standard in Guyana.

This is a country whose lands are 75% covered by lush, verdant forests interspersed by mighty, life-giving rivers.

Indeed, Guyana’s original name, Guiana , means land of water. Wildlife as diverse as jaguars, giant river otters, and black caimans traverse these watercourses in one of South America’s best-protected natural landscapes.

There is dense rainforest to the country’s north, west, and south, with desert savanna areas to the west. Such variety makes Guyana one of the most biodiverse countries in the world.

The 800,000 souls calling Guyana home live mainly along the coastline and in Georgetown’s capital. Yet eco-tourism in Guyana happens throughout the country. Let’s take a closer look at the incredible efforts made in the eco-tourism industry to promote sustainability and protect biodiversity in the country.

Practising Eco-tourism in Guyana

Guyana is the third smallest country in South America, its landmass about the same size as the island of Great Britain, which encompasses Wales, England, and Scotland.

Wildlife and bird enthusiasts love the opportunity to travel by boat, foot, or safari to the pristine rainforest to see some of the world’s shyest and most spectacular animals. Locals value the jewels their land nurtures, from the largest eagle, the Harpy Eagle, to the largest anteater, the giant anteater.

Local communities have come together to build eco-tourism projects to welcome the eco-traveller to this truly adventurous travel destination. After a visit, it’ll be easy to understand the Guyanese motto: “One people, one nation, one destiny.”

Best of Eco-tourism Award

Guyana is frequently one of the most garlanded nations when it comes to eco-tourism. The country won the inaugural “Best of Eco-tourism” category at the ITB global travel trade fair in Germany in 2019.

Its tourism sector has since been regularly recognised as a leader in Eco-tourism, including the Latin American Travel Association’s (LATA’s) “Best in Sustainable Tourism” award.

Eco-tourism Activities in Guyana

The land of water has sculpted a landscape like no other across Guyana.

The soaring, tabletop mountains of Roraima are a natural boundary to the rest of the South American continent, protecting virgin rainforests, grasslands, and pristine beaches.

Highlights include the world’s highest single-drop waterfall, Kaieteur Falls , the wildlife-rich Rupununi Savannah, and the conservation work at Karanambu Ranch.

On the coast, Georgetown expresses its multicultural vibe through its markets, architecture, and people. The 70-mile-long Shell Beach is the nesting site for eight sea turtle species, considered by many to be among the world’s finest beaches.

Eco-tourism in Guyana: Quick Facts

• Longest river:             Essequibo at 628/1,010km
• Highest mountain:      Mount Roraima at 2,772m/9,094ft
• Borders:                      Brazil, Venezuela, Suriname
• Highest waterfall:       Kaieteur Falls is the world’s largest single-drop waterfall (width: 113m/371ft | Height  226m/741ft)
• Population:                 800,000
• Capital:                       Georgetown, with 200,000 inhabitants
• Official languages:      English, Guyanese Creole
• National animal:          Jaguar
• Iconic wildlife:            Jaguar, giant anteater, giant river otters, Harpy Eagle, sloths, caimans, tapirs, leatherback turtles, capybaras

Let’s dive further into eco-tourism in Guyana, checking the eco-lodges from which you can explore Guyana.

Iwokrama International Centre

Also called Iwokrama River Lodge, this research centre is nestled on the banks of the beguiling Essequibo River, right in the heart of Guyana.

More than one million acres of forest surround Iwokrama, some two per cent of Guyana’s rainforest. Scientists and researchers also call this eco-tourism project home.

Cabins:            Eight river-facing cabins with solar-powered electricity, hammocks and private bathrooms.

Activities:        Birdwatching, jaguar spotting, petroglyphs, night boat trips, Turtle Mountain hike, rapids, Amerindian cultural visit.

Location:         Eight-hour dirt road journey from Georgetown or a chartered flight to the nearby Fair View.

Atta Rainforest Lodge & Iwokrama Canopy Walkway

The Atta Rainforest Lodge & Iwokrama Canopy Walkway lie deep within the Iwokrama rainforest. More than 12 species of hummingbirds flit around the lodge; peer past the forest fringe, and you may spot deer, monkeys, agouti, and tapir.

Atta’s star attraction is the canopy walkway, a series of bridges suspended up to 30 metres/100ft above the forest floor. Visitors can get an authentic feel for nature high up among the branches. Birdwatchers love Atta and the walkway.

Cabins:            Simple rooms with ensuite bathrooms and open-to-the-sky showers.

Activities:        Canopy walkways, night hikes, birdwatching, jaguar spotting.

Location:         Two-hour drive from Iwokrama International Centre.

Karanambu Lodge

This iconic lodge, built in 1927, was converted from a cattle ranch to a conservation centre under the direction of the famous Diane McTurk (1932-2016). The Rupununi River meets savannah grasslands here, creating unique wetlands.

Diane was famous for nursing endangered and orphaned giant river otters. The zone is also famous for the giant anteaters, black caiman, and fishing. It is a great spot to watch the enormous Victoria Amazonica lily plant open.

Cabins:            Brick cabins with ensuite bathrooms, hammocks in the veranda

Activities:        Victoria Amazonica blooming, giant anteater and river otter spotting, fishing

Location:         Close to the Brazil border, Karanambu can be accessed by a charter flight or overland and river.

Surama Eco-Lodge

This award-winning community-owned lodge showcases the Amerindian traditional lifestyle. Villagers welcome you to Surama and treat you as one of their own.

Away from the lodge, Surama is surrounded by pristine rainforest that disgorges abundant flora and fauna, including Harpy Eagles. Combine hikes and canoe trips with visits to local schools and traditional Amerindian festivities.

Cabins:            Thatched cabins, ensuite bathrooms, solar-powered electricity, and with rainforest views on the edge of Surama village

Activities:        Harpy Eagle nest spotting, Amerindian culture, walks, fishing

Location:         Central Guyana, bordering Iwokrama and the Burro Burro River.

Caiman House Field Station

Profits from visitors to this scientific research station support the local library and internet connection for the local school and community.

Caiman House Field Station, resting on the banks of the Rupununi River, offers guests the chance to observe and get involved in its black caiman capture, tag, and release programme. A worthwhile visit is to the local furniture artisans at their non-profit venture.

Cabins:            Simple, large rooms with ensuite bathrooms.

Activities:        Participate in black caiman research, Victoria Amazonica blooming, giant river otters and anteaters, fishing

Location:         Close (relatively) to Karanambu Lodge and airstrip on the border with Brazil.

Kaieteur Falls

Kaieteur Falls are five times higher than Niagara Falls and one of Guyana’s iconic visitor points. Your first view is usually from above as you fly over the Falls to the nearby airstrip.

You can walk up close to the water, which gushes into a deep and forested gorge. Wildlife abounds, and a particular delight is peeking into bromeliads to spot the tiny Golden Frog that lives deep within its chambers.

Activities:        Fly over and get close to the enormous Kaieteur Falls, Golden Frogs, Cock-of-the Rock, and bromeliads.

Location:         Central Guyana, best accessed by a chartered overflight from Georgetown

Eco-tourism in Guyana

Guyana offers people the chance to travel in a way before tourism existed. Destinations are remote and sometimes involve long journeys, while the welcomes from locals are genuine; you may be the only people to have visited for weeks.

Guyana’s strength is the local communities that run the eco-lodges with sustainability as the beating heart. Protecting biodiversity is their sole aim and success; eco-tourism in Guyana is not a tick-box exercise.

Remember, your contribution to maintaining Guyana’s natural world doesn’t end when you fly home. You will take home the jaguar’s roar in your chest, the cooling waters on your skin, and the people’s smiles in your soul, experiences impossible to forget. Guyana’s secrets will become part of your life’s journey.

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Our lodge-to-lodge hiking tour offers the best trekking in Ecuador in comfort. Ecuador is one of the best Andean countries for trekking and day walks. On this lodge-to-lodge hiking tour, you experience fabulous expansive mountain vistas and volcanoes wherever you look. Enjoy views over deeply carved valleys, vast plains and a picturesque patchwork of fields. You’ll also enjoy diverse wildlife and flora, rich cultures, and interactions with friendly local people. The tour takes you through three of Ecuador’s most beautiful mountain regions: Cotopaxi, Quilotoa and Chimborazo. Full details of our Lodge-to-Lodge 13-day Trekking Tour, Ecuador.     Lodges and Guesthouses Used …

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Eco-Lodge in Guyana: Adventure in the Amazon River Basin

Written by vickie lillo, south america | adventure travel | destinations | guyana | hotels and resorts | outdoor travel | travel.

The Cessna Caravan hums softly, so softly that I am almost lulled to sleep by the rhythmic drone of its lone turbo-prop engine. But then I will have missed the nearly-imperceptible wisp of a road below as it disappears into a jungle of green florets—like millions of stalks of flowering broccoli. An endless ocean of trees, these thousands of acres of virgin rainforest proliferate in every direction. Until suddenly, the woodlands parted to make way for the powerful Potaro River where 30,000 gallons of water per second thunder into the chasm below Kaieteur Falls.  The plane lands and the thirteen of us tourists descend onto the tiny airfield. We have arrived at one of the oldest geologic formations in the world—the Guiana Shield—deep in the interior of Guyana, the only English-speaking country in the Amazon River Basin. For those who want to visit an Eco-Lodge in Guyana, the Lokono-Arawak Amerindian Reservation offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Excluding our lady pilot, just we thirteen and a handful of National Park Rangers residing on-premise, hike the short trail to the cascade. No guard rails hinder our view. Only a cluster of gargantuan tank bromeliads ( Brocchinia micrantha), acting as natural aquifers for the rare endemic half-inch golden frog, stand between the sandstone ledge and the 741-foot plunge to the splash-basin below.

Day One , I write in my journal, is devoted to admiring the largest single-drop waterfall in the world, five times the height of Niagara, surrounded by insect-eating bladderwort plants and savannah scrub.

Kaiteur Falls near the Ayonto Hororo Eco-Lodge in Guyana. Photo courtesy Merlinthewizard via Wikimedia.

Life at the Eco-Lodge in Guyana – Amerindian Reservation

We’ll spend the rest of our time in Guyana as guests at the Ayonto Hororo Eco-lodge and Wildlife Sanctuary . In fact, my husband Gustavo, our teenage son Nicolas, and I will be the very first week-long visitors at this Eco-Lodge in Guyana. Located on the 240-square-mile crime-free, disease-free (no malaria or yellow fever) Lokono-Arawak Amerindian Reservation at Pakuri, the all-inclusive bed-and-breakfast sits a mere hundred yards or so from the black-tainted waters of the Mahaica River.

Our gracious host, Damon Corrie, heir to the Hereditary Chieftaincy of the Eagle Clan, has prepared a customized itinerary for us, based on our adventure preferences. Between thunderstorms, we’ve been riding the Mahaica River and fishing upstream for catfish and cichlids (like peacock bass). You can bet I’ve been on the look-out for a wayward water camoudi (anaconda) as we sit among fern fronds and red mangrove roots, baiting our fish-hooks with a smelly cheese-and-flour paste. With the waters flooded at least six feet beyond their banks from the daily cloudbursts of this rainy season, angling is lousy. Our efforts garner a single catch, barely worth keeping; still, Juanita, our cook back at the Eco-Lodge, prepares a fitting meal for us from that one medium-sized Kaab.

Buddy Simon catches our only fish—a Kaab—on the Mahaica River. Photo by Gustavo Lillo

Nothing is wasted…no sports fishing or trophy hunting here on the reservation. Only a few of the Arawak men still hunt the traditional ways, like the ancestors did, with bows and arrows or dart guns. For tapirs, peccaries (Old World pigs), pacas, and agoutis (both small, dog-sized members of the rodent family) and marudies (wild turkeys). We reflect on our first evening’s supper of savory tapir with rice and yucca; Gustavo and I kept trying to decide if it tasted like pork or beef. Neither, as it turned out. But it was delicious.

In Search of Wildlife on the Savanna

The three of us have been ‘birding’ along the riverine forests, sometimes venturing in our john-boat right amongst the thorny ‘ kongo-pong ’ trees and thickets of ferns. We chase iridescent blue morpho butterflies as they flitter in ité palms and mukka-mukka (wild arum) bushes. Searching for that elusive Guyanese national bird—the hoatzin. With bright red eyes, a bare blue face, and a frizzled crest, this tropicbird is quite ‘prehistoric’ looking, and may just be. Its downy chicks, until maturity, have a pair of tiny claws on each wing, for clambering, much like those on the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx, believed to be an extinct Jurassic-era predecessor to the modern bird.

The Amerindians call it the Canje pheasant, but once we get close enough to catch a whiff of its rather-odorous, manure-like stench, we understand why it is often shamefully nicknamed the ‘Stink Bird’. A result of gastric belching, this fetid attack on our olfactory system lingers only momentarily. A rustle of wind through the red mangroves brings a breath of fresh air with it, and we retreat from the hoatzin’s nesting area—the buttonwood bushes—just as noiselessly as we eased in. Raunchy or not, this avian oddity is still my favorite, weighing in higher than the twittering hummingbirds, the Black-billed Anis, or the Yellow-bellied Kiskadees that we see all along the Mahaica.

On an early morning before the rains, we head off the Eco-Lodge grounds, down the winding reservation road, turned from dirt to soft loam from the overnight deluge. Backpack strapped to his back, our son Nicolas has already caught up with ‘Ducky’ and Tecumseh, Damon’s son, while we still lag behind. At the towering breadfruit tree on the right flank, we abruptly turn left and climb up a steep embankment, where a sandy patch of Savannah, dappled by tall grasses, monkey cutlass, and occasional Dakama trees, stretches before us. Leading directly into the Amazonian rainforest.

Trekking on the Reservation Road near the Ayonto Hororo Eco-Lodge in Guyana. Photo by Vickie Lillo

We are ‘field herping’, on a quest for snakes and lizards, amphibians, and invertebrates. I’m excited—and nervous—at the same time. I feel rather fearless in the knee-high wading boots that Damon has provided…until the narrow footpath in the forest disappears into a watery morass, fringed on both sides by almost-impenetrable brush. Down I go, on all fours, into the tannic overflow, as I kick a stump and lose my balance. That ‘fearless’ feeling leaves me rather abruptly as my hands slime across the gooey, decaying leaves that are nicely camouflaged in the muck.

Seeing that we can venture no further on the swampy trail, Buddy ushers us back to the savanna. Two rest stops later—one under a ripe cashew tree with juicy ‘apples’ for thirst-quenching and the other flopped on an outcropping of dirt in the shade of overhanging clouds—and we make it back to Ayonto Hororo Eco-lodge just as it begins to drizzle.

The author’s son hiking on the village trail during the rainy season. Photo by Vickie Lillo

We eat traditional foods, like pepperpot, prepared from the carcasses of animals still hunted on territorial lands. Our last evening, we attend a BBQ especially for us and many of the tribes-members, most of whom are related to Damon or his wife. The teenagers—indigenous and non (Nicolas)—engage in a game of soccer like long-lost friends and we all have a chance to show off our skill at archery, using primitive, handcrafted bows and arrows. Turns out, our son is gifted, while Gustavo and I are not. I can barely hit the target and Gustavo misses entirely, sailing his arrow like a missile halfway down the path to the river, past the soursop tree.

Tribal Philosophies at the Heart of Eco-Lodge Success

As for me, I happen to be tattooed in temporary tribal art. “We paint ourselves to be like the parrot/macaw…it is a bird we admire and respect. We highly prize and value its feathers,” Damon says, sharing some of the Lokono philosophies.

A true conservationist at his core, dedicated to preserving the Arawak homelands at all cost, our Amerindian proprietor helped pen the 2003 Nancy Lewis Cullity Parrot Protection Act. Pakuri became the first indigenous reservation in all of Latin America to safeguard its dwindling populations of psittacines from capture and being sold into the foreign pet trade markets. Even now, the tribal law dictates that parrots/macaws kept as pets must be allowed the freedom to forage in the forests and the village.

The 2003 Nancy Lewis Cullity Parrot Protection Act protects the dwindling parrot and macaw population in Guyana. Photo courtesy Creative Commons

Eco-tourism truly is the beating heart of the Arawak’s new entrepreneurial venture – to offer visitors from around the world a genuine Amazonian ‘experience’, where nature speaks for itself. In an outdoor classroom set in the ‘wild soul of Guyana’, we examine a red-tailed boa constrictor caught on the savannah just days before our visit, and manipulate yellow- and red-footed land tortoises breeding in a pen of low-growing papaya bushes behind the Eco-lodge. We enjoy the antics of a squirrel monkey and meet Ashton, the Yellow-crested companion Parrot living with our Amerindian guide ‘Ducky’. On our final night, in the darkness of sundown, we photograph an exquisite Green-winged Macaw, enormous beak and all.

The success of the Ayonto Hororo Eco-Lodge has other far-reaching impacts: the salvation of a Lokono-Arawak culture on the decline, as well as financial freedom for the 2000 indigenous men, women and children who make their home here in northern Amazonia. With 60%-70% unemployment on the reservation, many of the tribesmen contract out 3-4 months at a time with the logging and mining firms, the same companies depleting their rainforests of timber and leaving ugly scars on the land. “These foreign companies are only interested in making money,” Damon affirms. “They don’t care what they destroy. They reduce ‘nature’ to its worth in [dollars].”

Guests of the Eco-Lodge will help fill the community’s coffers with much-needed monies for improving education, health care, and helping the Amerindians create an ‘online presence’ in the new millennium. And a ‘home-stay’ with the Arawaks will offer an intriguing glimpse of Guyana’s true biodiversity. A biodiversity of not only its prolific wildlife but also its wide range of cultures: a whole lot Caribbean (descended from African slaves), equal part Hindu, a little bit Amerindian, and 100% all Amazon.

If You Go to Ayonto Hororo Eco-Lodge in Guyana

Ayonto Hororo combined homestay Eco-Lodge and Wildlife Sanctuary   is located on the Upper Mahaica River, Region 4 in Guyana, South America. Visit the Ayonto Hororo website for more information on this Eco-Lodge in Guyana. Enjoy more articles on South America from our Wander writers.

Amazon River | Eco-Tourism | Fishing | Green Hotels

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THE 5 BEST Guyana Eco Tours

Eco tours in guyana.

• Nature & Wildlife Tours
• Hiking & Camping Tours
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• Good for Couples
• Adventurous
• Good for Big Groups
• Good for Kids
• Budget-friendly
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Hidden Gems
• Honeymoon spot
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Wanderlust Adventures GY

2. Singing Chef Adventures

3. Touring Guyana

4. Adventure Guianas

5. Bushmasters

6. Evergreen Adventures

7. Opatrip.com Guyana

8. Iwokrama Canopy Walkway

9. Explore Guyana

What travelers are saying.

Guyana Eco-Tour

Guyana eco-tour brings visitors to the breathtaking waterfalls, with a splash of the cool spray on their faces. Sloth Island Nature Resort is nestled among 160 acres of lush, verdant rainforest alongside the tranquil Essequibo River. Sloth Island Nature Resort is a haven for wildlife, with a variety of birds singing in the trees and wildlife scurrying around the grounds, making it an ideal destination for birders and holidaymakers of all levels. The recent sighting of the majestic Harpy Eagle has sparked international attention and put Sloth Island firmly on the bird-watching map.

• Trip Type Short Stays
• Activities Falls Visits , Jungle Walk
• Group Size 2 Min - No size limit
• Reviews 0 Reviews
• Locations Guyana
• Trip Duration N/A
• Trip Outline
• Trip Includes
• Trip Excludes

Guyana eco-tour focuses on wildlife and nature with impressive waterfalls and a trip to Sloth Island. Sloth Island Nature Resort is on 160 acres of pristine rainforest along the Essequibo River. An array of birds and wildlife make Sloth Island Nature Resort an ideal destination for birders and holidaymakers. The recent spotting of the Harpy Eagle has catapulted Sloth Island onto the international bird-watching calendar.

From the island, one can access exciting excursions to the Amerindian village of Falmouth, Bartica, Fort Kykoveral (the oldest Dutch fort in Guyana), Baracara Waterfalls, and the rapids of Marshall Falls, among others. Choose from bird watching, nature walks, wildlife viewing, swimming, canoeing, fishing, or just relaxing in a hammock in the shade of the trees.

Sloth Island caters to discerning guests with well-appointed and comfortable rooms and private bathrooms. However, anyone who loves nature will love Sloth Island. Wake up in the mornings to the sounds of nature — parrots, howler monkeys, toucans, Harpy Eagles, and more.

No details found.

Itineraries

Arrive in guyana.

Upon arrival at Cheddie Jagan International Airport (CJIA), we will meet you and transfer you to Sleep Inn International Hotel. This is a spacious, budget hotel in the heart of the city located near the Stabroek Market and the Brickdam Cathedral. Rooms are modern, beautifully furnished and feature a balcony. The hotel has a bar and a pool, as well as a restaurant. Overnight at Sleep Inn International Hotel

Sloth Island

Transfer to the town of Parika and drive over the Harbour Bridge, the longest floating bridge in the world, which spans across the Demerara River, the second largest river in Guyana. Continue your journey by boat along the Essequibo River, Guyana's largest River, which is 20 miles wide at its widest point. Continue to Sloth Island. Sloth Island is a beautiful and comfortable retreat where nature is untouched and pristine rainforests create a magical setting. The eight well-appointed rooms are spacious and tastefully furnished. The cuisine is excellent.

The recent spotting of the Harpy Eagle has catapulted Sloth Island onto the international bird watching calendar. From the island one can access exciting excursions to the Amerindian village of Falmouth, the town of Bartica, Fort Kykoveral (the oldest Dutch Fort in Guyana), Baracara Waterfalls, and the rapids of Marshall Falls, among others. Choose from: bird watching, nature walks, wildlife viewing, swimming, canoeing, fishing or just relaxing in a hammock in the shade of the trees.

After settling into your accommodation we will walk the nearby trails and once the water levels are low, we will take the trail leading to Jerry's farm.

This evening, as the sun sets, we take an excursion up the Essequibo River by motor boat for a spectacular and unforgettable tour at Parrot Island where thousands of parrots come to roost. Return to Sloth Island Resort for dinner (Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner). Overnight at Sloth Island Nature Resort

Birding, Wildlife Viewing, Amerindian Village Tour & Dutch Forts

This morning we will paddle or kayak to the nearby Amerindian Village of Falmouth where we will learn about the Amerindian way of life. We might also be lucky to see the villagers making cassava bread. Once the tide is low we will walk along the logging trail in search of birds, including the Harpy Eagle, and other wildlife. We continue to the Mazaruni river for a visit to the Kykoveral Dutch Fort and learn about the earliest Dutch occupation in Guyana. (Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner) Overnight at Sloth Island Nature Resort

Return to Georgetown

Early morning eco tour navigating the water and nature trails at Sloth Island Nature Resort. After breakfast transfer to Georgetown or continue on your onward journey. Overnight at Sleep Inn International Hotel

Transfer to airport for your departing flight.

No Details Found

Related Trips

Rupununi Rainforest Wildlife Tour

Rupununi Adventure

Apoteri Sport Fishing Guyana

Naturalist Journeys is thrilled to offer Guyana nature tours. Truly the gem of South America, Guyana’s original tropical forest, incredible wildlife, and unique approach to eco-tourism make it a destination that can’t be missed. From monkeys to motmots, wild cats to river otters, and butterflies to hummingbirds, Guyana teems with life and beckons to be explored. Our Guyana wildlife tours are growing in popularity ... the secret's out! If one of our Guyana tours or any of our other South American birding tours interests you, let us know !

Guided Group Tours

Group travel is rewarding and fun! With more eyes you see more species. Travel Planners of Naturalist Journeys and Caligo Ventures have been creating memorable journeys for 40+ years. We offer you small-group birding and nature tours, limited to just 8-10 persons led by expert guides. Learn and explore with like-minded people, enjoy local food and culture, and immerse yourself in birding and nature.

Conservation Corner

We value conservation – it is at the heart of our work. All Naturalist Journeys’ tours support local conservation projects. Browse the links below to learn more about positive local work to save and conserve the wildlife and landscapes we visit.

Mercury Abatement Mercury contamination resulting from small-scale gold mining continues to be a critical environmental threat in Guyana. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Guianas works to abate the impact of gold mining , along with promoting sustainable fisheries, marine turtle conservation, protected areas planning, and land acquisition. Makushi People Amerindian communities of Makushi people are found throughout North Rupununi, where their ancestors lived for at least 7,000 years. Forest Conservation Increasing threats from forest logging are being fiercely opposed by coalitions of indigenous peoples and non-profit organizations like the Rainforest Foundation US .

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Guyana, The World’s Number One Eco Tourism Destination!

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Guyana has been named the #1 “Best of Ecotourism” destination in the world. The award was presented to Guyana at the ITB Berlin, the world’s leading travel and trade show, which was held March 2019. The newly created “Best of Ecotourism” category was added in 2019 and placed Guyana ahead of very well-known and experienced ecotourism destinations like the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador and Sierra Gorda in Mexico.  

Largely unknown to the world, Guyana is a small South American country that represents six ethnicities and a rich Amerindian culture. Bordered by Brazil, Suriname and Venezuela, Guyana is part of the revered Guiana Shield, one of the world’s most biodiverse regions that include many endemic species and South America’s ‘Land of the Giants.’ Guyana possesses Atlantic beaches to the north, staggering mountain ranges to the west, never-ending savannahs to the south and 18% of the world’s tropical rainforests. It’s an untapped playground for explorers and adventure seekers.

This emerging Latin America destination is full of surprises and boasts an impressive repertoire of unique sights, experiences, and culture. This is one place that will be added to your friend’s bucket lists once they see your social media feed full of Insta worthy moments. Guyana is one of the world’s best kept ecotourism destination secrets, come with us as we explore what makes this destination so special…

Guyana was awarded the ‘Number One Eco-tourism Destination of the World’ because of its holistic approach to sustainable destination management and development from their now world-renowned tourism enterprise.  The awards jury was particularly impressed by the success story of the Surama Eco Lodge, which Crooked Compass supports by staying for two nights as part of our Lost World of 3 Guyanas small group tour.  Cited as having “ambitious and admirable goals,” this community-led and owned social enterprise’s aim is to preserve Guyana’s ecosystems and indigenous traditions. 

Guyana also took the 1 st place award for its nature destination video in a worldwide media competition that has been running for 19 years at ITB Berlin. Guyana’s winning entry was presented at the 19th Multimedia Award “The Golden City Gate” with the first star in the “Destinations” category. Check out the award-winning video for yourself…

Community-based tourism initiatives offer the best of grass-roots experiences in Guyana. Villages like Santa Mission, Yupukari, Surama and Rewa amongst others have pooled their resources and come together to invest in tourism as one of their main sources of income. This has made Guyana a pioneer in community driven, owned and led tourism globally but particularly in the Caribbean and South American regions. They offer village eco-lodges and meaningful interactions during hikes and river trips with trained naturalists. This has a direct impact on the lives of all community members in many cases. Your travel has a direct and positive impact on these regions – what’s not to love about that!

Untamed wildlife and pristine wilderness are the hallmarks of the protected areas of Guyana. This includes Kaieteur National Park, Iwokrama Forest, Kanuku Mountains, Shell Beach, and Konashen. Millions of acres of Guyana are covered in continuous woodland area and are home to the best of nature – animals, birds, amphibians and plant life. A prolific amount of wildlife exists in the form of 900 plus birds, 225 species of mammals, 880 species of reptiles and more than 6500 plants.

Responsible Traveller Tips:

• Respect the environment and don’t destroy it. 
• Do not pick up ‘souvenirs’ from national parks, reserves or archaeological sites.
• Don’t abandon your garbage: Keep it with you until you find a trash can.
• Recycle where possible.
• Respect the customs and local traditions. Expect ‘the real deal’ – you are in for a rustic and unique experience, be respectful of the local indigenous peoples.
• Contribute to the country’s economy by buying some gifts for friends and family by choosing handmade goods made by local artisans.
• During your travels you will want to capture a moment or a smile with your camera. Do it, but always remember that locals aren’t an attraction or a landmark – before snapping the picture ask for permission.

Few places offer such raw and authentic adventure as the three Guyanas. An eclectic mix of colourful cultures that any adventure traveller will relish in the delight of experiencing a region so untouched. The three Guyana’s are well worth the mud, sweat and minor discomforts of uncovering a lesser explored gem. If you would like to make this experience yours then contact us today!

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This category of tours involves light trekking, walking, cycling, rafting or kayaking for a few hours each day with a small amount of inclines and declines. You will require a reasonable level of fitness and good health to participate. It is important to note that due to the nature of some of our trips, they may take place in remote areas (with basic facilities) and can involve long travelling days on various modes of transport.

Suggested preparation : At least 3 months prior to departure, it is recommended that you undertake aerobic exercise (this may include jogging, cycling or fast walking) for 30 minutes, three times a week. It is also advised to walk on variable terrain and in variable weather conditions. For a cycling adventure, road cycling twice a week is recommended and for adventures which involve paddling and kayaking, it is important to gain confidence and rhythm rather than speed prior to departure.

This category of tours involve trekking, kayaking and cycling for period of 6 to 8 hours a day at a fairly consistent pace. Ideal for people looking to slightly increase the heart rate. For our moderately rated tours, you must have a good level of fitness and also be in good health. It is also important to be prepared for variable weather conditions. Altitude may also come into play. This category of tours may involve visiting remote areas where facilities can be quite basic. Accommodation may also involve camping, homestays or basic accommodation where facilities may not be considered of western standards. To enjoy this style of travel, it is suggested for travellers to have a reasonable level of fitness and health, a positive attitude, as well as a fairly active lifestyle. An open mind is also required.

Suggested preparation: At least 3 months prior to departure, it is recommended that you undertake 45mins – 1 hour of aerobic exercise, three to four times a week. Some potential exercises that could be beneficial include hill walking with a backpack on over variable terrain and weather conditions, as well as running and cycling dependent on the activity you plan on undertaking.

Challenging

This category of tours involves trekking, kayaking, cycling or other adventure activities in remote areas for up to 8 to 10 hours a day. It is important to note that with the remoteness of some regions comes a variety of other challenges such as variable weather conditions, accommodation as well as facilities. You must have an excellent level of fitness and good health to be able to partake in this category of tour. You must have confidence in your own ability and be in good physical condition. Includes extended periods of endurance.

Suggested preparation: At least 3 to 4 months of strenuous exercise, four times a week. When preparing for treks it would be beneficial to participate in hill walks with a weighted day pack (approximately 5-8 kg) once a week for aerobic fitness and strengthening of leg muscles. It is also important to do this on variable terrain to prepare for challenging adventures. When preparing for cycling adventures, regular bike riding (at least 4 to 5 times a week for 1-4 hours is essential). It is also important to cycle on uneven surfaces or even participate in other aerobic exercises such as running or swimming to build up strength and stamina. Altitude may also be a factor in these tours.

This category of tour often involves extreme trekking, cycling or other extreme adventure activities. It is important to expect remote and poorly defined tracks and to be prepared for variable weather conditions for 10 to 12 hours per day (may sometimes be more depending on weather and altitude). These adventures are suitable for travellers who have prior experience in strenuous travel and activities, are extremely fit and have excellent health. It is also important to note that some of the terrain on these adventures will involve trekking in snow, at high attitude levels and may require technical equipment.

Suggested preparation: It is important to note that physical fitness should be an ongoing activity, commencing around 5-6 months prior to departure, or even before if you have no prior fitness. Exercise should focus on building maximum endurance and stamina. Four to five hard sessions of 40-60 mins per week should be completed and can include exercises such as going to the gym, running, swimming or cycling to focus on building aerobic stamina. It could also be beneficial to prepare by hiking on rough terrain, in extreme weather conditions or partake in altitude training.

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Guyana’s New Eco Tours Are Giving Indigenous People a Say

Selene Brophy , Skift

December 20th, 2022 at 2:30 AM EST

It's one thing to create off-the-beaten-track adventures, but just how sustainable these multi-day experiences are needs careful consideration from the remote locals. After all, they're expected to drip-feed off those offerings by showcasing their everyday existence.

Selene Brophy

South America’s Guyana, one of the most densely forested areas in the world, has piqued the interest of U.S. adventure seekers with its remote expedition appeal. 

At a time when local populations are getting a larger and long-awaited say around the world in charting tourism plans, rising demand for Guyana’s hard-to-reach natural attractions is offering Indigenous communities the ability to choose the adventure-trekking path of ecotourism to build the economy. The alternative: a deforested, oil-slicked road to unsustainable hell.

In essence, ecotourism sees tourists opt for nature-based experiences, preferably in small groups, with the intention to observe and appreciate nature, along with the traditional cultures who live in that particular area.

In Guyana, a country rich in gold and oil, its Indigenous people have looked to eco tours as business models to stem any negative impact on its environment.

With tourism only generating some $215 million a year or less than 3 percent of Guyana’s total gross domestic product in 2021 (2 percent shy of its pre-pandemic level), it certainly pales in comparison to the more profitable commodities of oil and agriculture, with its unwanted side-effect of deforestation.

The discovery of oil off Guyana’s coast in recent years has turned the small Caribbean country into an emerging oil powerhouse, with an estimated 11 billion barrels of recoverable oil discovered so far. The International Monetary Fund says it is one of the highest levels per capita worldwide.  

But the troubled waters of neighboring Venezuela , largely a blueprint of how not to approach sustainability, swayed Indigenous communities of Guyana to explore the economic viability of ecotourism.

Guyana occupies a land mass 73,000 square miles (slightly smaller than the state of Idaho), with a population of just 750,000 people. 

The tiny village of Paruima had been thinking about creating a multi-day experience for a while. However, concerns about the negative social impact saw the older generation remain skeptical — keeping in mind this is the only settlement of Pemon Amerindians, one of nine indigenous groups in Guyana. However, they were forced to take notice when the younger community started leaving.

Films crews scouting for film locations in Guyana gave Paruima the perfect test case to see if tourism was viable for its 1,000 or so inhabitants, according to Carla Vantull, general manager of Wilderness Explorer.

Guyana Indigenous communities are governed by a village council, with a chief, also known as a Toshao, elected every two years. Therefore, there had to be a consensus when voting to bring in the tourism model.

The production of a six-part documentary unfolded successfully, and they found it could be a better solution to extractive industries.

“They didn’t want to cut down their trees or do mining. Tourism was the answer to bring economic standing and benefits to their community,” said Vantull. 

‘ Nothing Like The Rest of South America ‘

Guyana’s natural beauty and adventure trekking are typical fodder for somebody like adventure travel blogger, Tom Grond .

He said Paruima is nothing like the rest of South America, having visited 147 countries over the past decade, including most of the continent. 

“Mentally, it’s a hard trip. You have one day where you walk seven hours straight through the jungle.” 

He added that digging into the community’s customs, as they all spoke English, was remarkable during his six-day trek experience.  

He shared how some locals told him they’ve chosen tourism over illegal oil smuggling across the river, which would make them “slaves to the system.” Moreover, it carried heavy pollution risks, with life-threatening explosions. 

“The tribe has lived there in this pristine area for generations and generations. Nature is very precious to them.” 

Wilderness Explorers , operating in Guyana for over two decades, launched the six-day Guyana Highlands Trekking Adventure in November, from $3,245 per person. The tour starts and ends with an overnight in Georgetown. Grond was part of a hosted group to test the product in October this year, before its launch. 

Wilderness Explorers are the dominant multi-day operator in the region, with only single-day tour options coming up in an online search. Neither Intrepid Travel or G-Adventures offered any similar multi-day experience. Although, Intrepid recently announced it would be launching 100 new Indigenous Tourism experiences 2023, in a bid to “expand perspectives, fight racial discrimination and support first people communities ” through a more diverse offering.

When competing with destinations like Peru and Brazil, Grond questioned the trekking tour’s high price points.

“It’s a tour where you sleep in a hammock in the jungle. It’s not like you sleep in a nice place. It’s agreed suffering,” said Grond. 

Discussing the trek’s cost Vantull said, “It’s like you’re renting out a national park, and it’s just you and your group. You don’t have to compete with thousands of other people to get that Instagram photo.”

In this regard, the impact of overtourism on Peru’s Machu Pichu , or the bustling beaches of Brazil’s Rio quickly spring to mind – but would this product appeal to the same crowd?

Vantull believes this complete solitude redefines what the five-star experience is all about. 

‘Guests to Guyana Buy the Multiplier Effect’

This latest “hard adventure” product is designed so travelers can get up close and personal with Guyana’s exquisite waterfalls, nature and remote communities.

“It puts local people at the centre of the tour offering, as guests buy the multiplier effect,” she said.

“We helped shape their tourism offering and draft visitor guidelines respectful of their culture and tradition.’

As practicing Seventh Day Adventists, they are very strict in terms of worshipping on a Saturday — which means itineraries can only start on a Sunday and end on a Friday. Also, no alcohol is offered on this village tour because of the impact it can have on the community.  

In hindsight, Vantull said the buy-in has been much quicker with Paruima compared to Guyana’s other communities.

This kind of product usually takes three to four years to launch, with the community agreement and feedback to refine the process key to its success. 

Showcase Culture in a Respectful and Meaningful Way 

“In everything, there are positive and negative impacts,” said Calio Miguel Nunez Elliman, born and raised in Paruima. He has been leading expeditions in this remote region for over 30 years. 

“When I started to work at the age of 21, there was no established tourism activity, only some researchers coming to study the plants and mammals.”

Elliman, now 56, said without guiding that his daily means of living involved gardening, hunting and fishing. He added that changing to a modern way of life has challenged his village.

Elliman agreed that the trips are expensive, but he’s satisfied with earning $350 per tour. The problem for him is that they’re just too few of them.

“I get to meet people of different nationalities and ensure they have fruitful experiences. It’s the best part of my job. But that’s once in a blue moon. I’d much prefer if these trips were at least once a week.”  

A huge cost factor for these adventure tours remains transport, said Kamrul Baksh, director of Guyana Tourism Authority, with each transfer anywhere from $200 to $400.

With a focus on a community-driven model, he said, “the only thing that the communities are not producing is fuel.” 

Baksh said the tourism authority’s focus is to grow direct bookings for local tour operators through its marketing efforts, with a direct booking website also in the pipeline. 

It goes without saying, this would spur competitive pricing and increase the frequency and number of trekking groups.

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Tags: adventure travel , ecotourism , Guyana , south america , tour operators , Travel Experiences

Photo credit: Paruima, the only Arecuna settlement in Guyana, offers a challenging but thrilling adventure trek experience. Wilderness Explorers / Waterfall trekking

Welcome to the Online Edition of our 2024 EXPLORE GUYANA MAGAZINE – The Official Tourist Magazine of Guyana.

EXPLORE GUYANA , the premier magazine of its kind in Guyana serves as our primary marketing tool and comprehensive guide for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers visiting eco-friendly Guyana.

Crafted by the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) and fully supported by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), it not only delivers essential industry updates but also raises awareness about local sustainable development projects that positively impact communities, culture, and the economy.

Moreover, it champions environmental conservation while showcasing the diverse attractions throughout the destination.

Distributed freely across the nation and through domestic, regional, and international tourism stakeholders and travel partners in Europe and North America, EXPLORE GUYANA is an essential resource for travellers. 

Published annually through a longstanding partnership with Advertising & Marketing Services (AMS), a renowned leader in Caribbean destination and investment publications, it ensures quality and reliability in every edition.

Discover an uncharted journey and immerse yourself in nature’s finest offerings.

Embark on an Exploration of Guyana!

Guyana Travel: Our 2 Week Itinerary + Everything You Should Know!

Guyana Travel

If you asked me about some of my favorite places in the world, I’d rattle off, “Paris, London, Shanghai, Copenhagen..”

Notice a pattern? They’re all cities (ha).

I dislike hiking, I avoid the sun like the plague, and shriek at the immediate sight of a bug. So what was I doing, hundreds of miles deep in the jungle of Guyana ?

On our 2 week trip in the country, we had frogs jumping out of our shower drain, a tarantula roommate and a friendly bird who popped on my cot not once, but twice.

And yet, Guyana remains one of the most memorable places that I’ve visited. While I still wouldn’t classify myself as ‘hard core’ or ‘extra adventurous’, I think anyone willing to brave the outdoors should add Guyana to their travel bucket list – especially its jungle interior.

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Guyana is one of the world’s last remote places. Steamier than a sauna and with more critters than humans, this small South American country offers more adventures in one week than most people will experience in a lifetime.

And let’s face it, if I could brave its wilderness… anyone can!

Today I’m sharing our Guyana itinerary – covering everything we saw, did and experienced throughout our time in Georgetown and the jungle. There’s not much info out there about Guyana in travel books so hopefully this will serve as a planning guide for any curious travelers out there craving somewhere new!

Keep reading or pin this article for later ⇟ 

The Guiana Shield

Guyana lies sandwiched between Venezuela, Brazil and French Guiana, in what’s known as the Guiana Shield.

The Guiana Shield was formed more than 2 billion years ago as the last plateau on Pangea, the world’s original supercontinent. Thanks to its ancient history and unique geology, the Guiana Shield is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world.

What does that mean exactly?

Well, expect mammals, fish, birds, plants and reptiles that you’ve never seen anywhere else! Forget roosters waking you up – try howler monkeys. Sharp toothed caiman lurk in the rivers while jaguars roam free at night.

Even animals you think you’re familiar with exist in Guyana…on another level . River otters are gigantic (officially called Giant River Otters) and anteaters are supersized (Giant Anteaters).

With more than 850 species of birds and some of the globe’s most exotic fish, visiting Guyana is a paradise for bird lovers and anglers. Its highlands, sandstone plateaus and thick jungle are also a beacon to hardcore survivalists looking to test their skills.

I’m actually not kidding – Naked and Afraid has filmed in Guyana’s interior more than once! So it’s safe to say that visiting Guyana’s interior requires a bit of planning.

Here’s what to expect.

Guyana Itinerary

Our Guyana itinerary took us to some of the most remote and pristine rain forest left on earth – and it did so sustainably.

One of the great things about visiting Guyana is its sustainable tourism model. All the hotels we stayed at were owned and operated by Amerindian villages and the lodges themselves were eco-friendly. Our guides grew up swimming in the rivers and navigating the forest trails by memory so they were incredible at introducing us to local plants, animals and Amerindian traditions.

I’m not going to lie – the accommodation was an adjustment for me. But I loved seeing how the architecture differed from hotel to hotel and appreciated the low environmental impact.

One thing that is easy?

Guyana is English speaking! No need to brush up on your Spanish; Guyana’s history as a British colony distinguishes it as the only English speaking country in South America.

Highlights of Visiting Guyana

Now that I’ve properly prepared you… here’s what you can look forward to experiencing in Guyana!

• Colorful Georgetown, a lively capital with a Caribbean feel
• Learning to live off the land (piranha fishing, archery, camping & more!)
• Spectacular birds, like the eerie Harpy Eagle and hidden Great Potoo
• Kaieteur Falls, the world’s highest single drop waterfall
• Night safaris to catch a glimpse of black caiman and jaguars 
• Getting to know the indigenous Macushi tribes

2 Weeks in Guyana

Days 1-2: Arrive to Georgetown

From New York, we flew directly into Chedi Jagan International Airport and hopped into a cab. 

The airport is a bit far from the capital, so budget at least an hour to transfer to your Georgetown hotel. On our first day, we settled in to our rooms at the charming Cara Lodge , originally home to the first Lord Mayor of Georgetown. It had beautiful colonial style architecture, a central courtyard and charming wooden beams. 

We sprayed our clothing with Sawyers for mosquito protection, let them air out, and grabbed our first dinner of local Guyanese curries and stir fries before getting some rest.

On day 2, we explored Georgetown!

Where to Stay in Georgetown

Cara Lodge – A great place in town for comfortable, air conditioned rooms. The hotel is located in a Victorian style colonial house, with a gorgeous courtyard and great location convenient to downtown.

Book rooms: Booking.com , Hotels.com | Check rates: TripAdvisor

Days 3-6: Rupununi River

In the morning, we headed to OGL airport.

Our guides had chartered a cessna for our group of 7 and it was the smallest plane I think I’ve ever been on! It’s easiest to visit Guyana with a small group. Sometimes solo or couple travelers find that charters won’t take off unless the flight is full (due to the cost). The cessna seats 13 if I remember correctly.

For the flights, they carefully weighed not only our bags, but us individually and our supplies. It was such a cool experience to fly over the rain forest and see the winding river through all the greenery.

Over the next 4 nights, we stayed at Rewa , an eco lodge on the Rupununi river.

Rewa is pretty isolated, surrounded by unbroken rainforest, small mountains and deep rivers. As a result, the lodge remains virtually unknown and the wildlife opportunities are endless.

Things to Do in the Rupununi

This was our favorite eco-lodge of the entire trip, with two bedroom huts, hammocks for relaxing and lots of activities to try out. Our local guides are Macushi Amerindians, and getting to learn survival skills from them was fun and unforgettable.

We spot spider monkeys and wake up to the call of active howler monkeys . At night we see snakes and glimpses of black caiman . Breakfast in the morning is on a flat viewing balcony overlooking the lake and one morning we get lucky and spot a family of giant river otters !

Another day, we hike Awarmie mountain , a twisty one hour climb up. The pace was heart pumping, especially for someone out of shape like me, but doable. The guides? They could race up in flip flops, carrying coolers of water and reach the peak in 15 minutes (LOL). Some had gone ahead to set up comfortable hammocks for us and organize dinner and supplies. Once we reached the top, the view was incredible. 

We also canoe on a peaceful lake covered with giant water lilies . This is the national flower of Guyana and its impressive surface area can actually hold the weight of a baby! It’s also where the elusive Arapaima fish live, the world’s largest fresh water fish. We only see glimpses of their silvery scales when they come up for air but serious anglers can actually apply for a license to catch and release.

My favorite activity? Hands down it’s our afternoon competitively trying to catch piranha . We enjoyed it so much I wrote about it in depth in a separate post!

Where to Stay on the Rupununi

Rewa Lodge : This quaint lodge is deep in the jungle right on the riverbanks of the Rupununi. Thatched huts were comfortable and clean, with attached outdoor showers out back. The food here was delicious – we especially loved breakfast overlooking the water and the locally made peanut butter! 

Rewa is quite popular for catch and release fishing and arapaima spotting.

Days 7-8: Iwokrama Forest 

On the morning of our 4th day, we’re sad to depart Rewa. Our trusty guides take us down the river one final time, to Kwatamang landing, about 2 hours away by boat.

It’s a 50 mile journey and our butts are sore from the metal canoes by the end of it. Then we hear that sometimes the journey can take up to 4 hours (depending on water levels) and we’re grateful, ha!

From there we hop into rugged jeeps and make our way to Iwokrama.

Things to do in Iwokrama

The Iwokrama Rainforest is incredibly special. Over 1 million acres are protected by conservation and the tropical forest is a living laboratory for researchers. What makes it even more special is that the local Macushi tribe are involved in every aspect of the work.

We check in to Atta Rainforest Lodge , a lush hotel with more traditional style accommodation. The huts are comfortable and airy, and we love these ensuite bathrooms the best (haha).

Even better, the property is a short walk from the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway , where you can climb 750 meters high into the rain forest! There are 4 platforms that allow you to get up close to canopy species like golden winged parakeets and Guianan puffbirds. Unfortunately we didn’t see much as we got caught in a torrential downpour minutes into making it to the top, but we did have a lot of fun. 

Once the sun sets, we go on a night safari looking for jaguars .

Iwokrama forest has a healthy jaguar population due to its vast wilderness and protected status. We do spot one, but it’s a healthy distance away so pack binoculars if you want the best view :)

Days 9-10: Surama

Our third and final stop in the Guiana Shield is to Surama, a small Amerindian community.

The inhabitants here are also from the Macushi tribe and it is actually Surama that pioneered the first entirely community run eco lodge. Accommodation here is in large round huts with airy ceilings. 

Things to do in Surama

We visit the village school and learn more about the Amerindian culture, traditional dress and stories from the tribe at dusk.

The next day, we walk through the dense rainforest to the Burro Burro River and board local canoes on the lookout for more wildlife. Low water levels mean we get stuck on tree roots a couple times, but our trusty local guides navigate the river like experts.

The ride is incredibly peaceful. Parrots and other birds swoop ahead of us, pausing at intervals as if to say, ‘come along now!’ It feels like a scene out of Jurassic Park. 

We even spot a Harpy Eagle nest with a baby eagle in it. Bring along a powerful zoom lens if you want to capture some incredible bird shots.

Day 11: Annai

On our last day in Guyana’s interior, we arrived to Rock View Lodge , the perfect place to relax and unwind.

Lodging is basic, but comfortable and again eco-friendly. The property is very lush, with flowering trees, inquisitive monkeys and a refreshing pool out back. Maybe it’s because of the wet humidity, but we discover a family of tiny frogs living in our bathroom shower drain!

My favorite part of the property is the old ranch house.

A mix of library, art collection, breakfast spot and after hours hangout, it’s the perfect spot to get together for rum-and-lime-juice cocktails and our last group dinner in the jungle.

The lodge is a short drive from Iwokrama and is also handy as a departure point. Just behind the lodge is an open grassy field – the perfect spot to catch a flight :)

After a good nights rest, we pack our bags the next morning to catch our charter flight. Some adorable school children wait with us for a cute send off!

Day 12: Kaieteur Falls

Kaieteur Falls is Guyana’s most iconic and well known attraction. A natural wonder, the waterfall is situated in the heart of the country on the Potaro River, a tributary of the Essequibo.

Kaieteur Waterfall flows over a sandstone base into a deep gorge 741 feet below – that’s 5x the height of Niagara! So if you’ve ever wanted to see the world’s longest free falling waterfall, head to Guyana.

Tips for Visiting Kaieteur Falls

Kaieteur can be visited in a day trip and round trip tour packages are common from the capital.

The best thing about visiting Kaieteur is how isolated the visit is. Since Cessna planes must be chartered, each visit is taken by a small group, who has pretty much the only access for a 2 hour period.

Our guide took us to 3 viewpoints (which I cover in depth in this post ) and explains more about the unique micro environment of Kaieteur. Not only is there the impressive waterfall, there’s also Tank Bromeliad plants, vibrant red Cock of the Rock birds and teeny tiny Golden frogs.

It’s yet another pinch-me moment on our Guyana trip and as our tiny plane departs, all of us have our faces pressed up against the windows for a last look.

Day 13: Back to Georgetown

I definitely recommend a full day in Georgetown at the tail end of your trip. For one thing, it was heaven  to have air conditioning and a hot shower. 

For another, there’s always more to explore! 

Things to do in Georgetown

Our last day was spent visiting some of the local markets. We signed up for a fun day with a local restaurant, Backyard Cafe, where the owner guided us through a fruit and vegetable market, showed us some of the grocery staples and then cooked us a phenomenal meal at his backyard restaurant. 

And of course, if you haven’t yet make sure to take a city tour.

You can explore iconic Stabroek Market , see St George’s Cathedral and sample rum at the El Dorado factory. One reason the rum is so delicious in Guyana? Demerara sugar, which you can learn all about at the rum factory.

Day 14: Departure

With just about 2 weeks in Guyana, we felt like we saw and did so much. But, there’s even more to see! If you have more time, consider:

• Visiting Caiman House to search for caiman
• See Orinduik Falls
• Explore Lethem, famous for local vaqueros (cowboys) and annual rodeo
• Drive ATVs and Camp in the savannahs of the South Rupununi
• Spend time on the Essequibo, Guyana’s longest river and see the old Dutch forts

A Final Caveat

Amenities in Guyana’s jungle interior are limited. Expect clean and comfortable eco lodges made from traditional raw materials. Pack lots of bug spray and shower flip flops, as the bathrooms are open air and there’s definitely no air conditioning. For more packing tips, check out our extensive rain forest packing list .

Getting around requires advanced booking so arrange a tour package to handle everything for you. Since Guyana’s interior is sparsely populated, we took a mixture of small planes, canoes on the river and 4×4 trucks to get around.

If you ditch any expectations of luxury and open yourself up to nature, you’ll have a great time in Guyana!

Visiting Guyana – Trip Planning Checklist

Flight Deals |  Caribbean Airlines offers nonstop flights from New York and Miami to Georgetown. You can set a fare alert here to be notified of discounts.

Getting Around |  Book a driver for Georgetown or a tour to handle transportation in the Amazon basin. Most arrangements must be set up in advance, for minimum parties of 4, due to the high cost of gas and overland vehicles as well as the limited internet communication in the jungle.

Accommodation |  In Guyana's interior, accommodation is remote and consists of comfortable but simple eco-lodges run by local communities. Many do not have internet access, so it's best to book a tour package that will handle transportation, activities and accommodation for you. Or, you can call to make reservations online. In Georgetown , there are plenty of boutique and international hotels to choose from. 

Insurance | Lastly, be sure to visit Guyana with  travel insurance . Hospitals and medical assistance are scarce in the jungle interior and yellow fever vaccinations are strongly recommended. Whether you get injured and need to be hospitalized, or your phone gets stolen, travel insurance will help when you need it most. Get a  quote for your trip here .

  You Might Also Enjoy:  

Guyana Vacation Planning Articles

Quick Guide to Guyana

What to Pack for the Amazon Jungle Clothes + Recommended Gear

2 Weeks in the Guiana Shield: Our Guyana Itinerary

Explore All the Best Things to Do in Guyana

Visiting Georgetown: What to See & Do in Guyana's Capital!

Guyana's Interior: The Amazon Basin

Day Trip to Kaieteur, the World's Longest Free Falling Waterfall

Day Tour: Learning How to Fish for Piranha in the Amazon

Guyanese Food : What to Expect, Where to Eat & More!

Guyanese Culture & It's Amerindians

Photos of Guyana from our trip!

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24 hours in zagreb, croatia, grand central market, sailing on the river seine from paris ….

What travel companies or guides did you use for this trip?

Hi Adrieana, We used Leon Moore. He was recommended by the tourism board of Guyana and did a great job! He specializes in birding and wildlife tours. There are a couple great operators, depending on the type of trip you’re going for. Some other ones specialize in more ‘hard’ adventure type itineraries.

Such beautiful views. All I can think off is hiking in Guyana. It looks amazing!

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© Getty Images/iStockphoto

Few places on the planet offer raw adventure as authentic as densely forested Guyana. Although the country has a troubled history of political instability and interethnic tension, underneath the headlines of corruption and economic mismanagement is a joyful and motivated mix of people who are slowly turning the country into the continent's best-kept ecotourism secret.

Best Things to Do

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Experience the real Guyana. Let a local expert handle the planning for you.

Attractions

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Kaieteur Falls

You may have been to Salto Ángel or Iguazú Falls, seen Niagara or not even be particularly interested in waterfalls, but it doesn't matter: go to Kaieteur…

St George's Cathedral

The most impressive building in town is the white-painted, Gothic-style St George's Cathedral, said to be the world's tallest wooden building. It was…

Canopy Walkway

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Marshall Falls

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Orinduik Falls

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Shell Beach

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Promenade Garden

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Guyana Travel Guide

Table of Contents

Introduction

Welcome to guyana.

Guyana, a small South American nation, might not be on everyone’s bucket list, but it offers a unique and authentic travel experience for those who dare to venture off the beaten path. Despite its troubled history of political instability and interethnic tension, Guyana is slowly transforming into a hidden gem of ecotourism. The country is known for its dense rainforests, golden beaches, vast savannahs, and winding rivers.

Why visit Guyana?

There are several compelling reasons to visit Guyana:

1. Unspoiled Nature: Guyana is home to some of the most pristine rainforests in the world, with an abundance of rare and exotic wildlife. The untouched wilderness offers opportunities for nature lovers, birdwatchers, and wildlife enthusiasts to explore and discover unique species.

2. Golden Beaches: Guyana’s coastline stretches for over 430 kilometers, adorned with beautiful white sandy beaches. Whether you fancy a relaxing day on the beach or exciting water sports activities such as swimming or surfing, Guyana’s beaches won’t disappoint.

3. Cultural Diversity: Guyana is a melting pot of cultures, with influences from Africa, India, Europe, and the Caribbean. The diverse population contributes to a vibrant atmosphere, rich traditions, and a unique blend of cuisines. Visitors can immerse themselves in the local culture and traditions through music, dance, and festivals.

4. Adventure and Outdoor Activities: With its vast landscapes and natural wonders, Guyana offers endless opportunities for outdoor adventures. From trekking through the rainforests and climbing mountains to kayaking down mighty rivers and exploring hidden waterfalls, there is something for everyone seeking an adrenaline rush.

5. Sustainable Tourism: Guyana is committed to sustainable tourism and conservation efforts. The country has established several protected areas and community-led initiatives to preserve the environment and support local communities. Traveling to Guyana provides an opportunity to contribute to these efforts and ensure the long-term sustainability of the region.

In conclusion, Guyana may not be a mainstream tourist destination, but it offers a wealth of natural beauty, cultural diversity, and adventure for those who venture off the beaten path. The country’s commitment to sustainable tourism adds an extra layer of appeal, as visitors can not only enjoy the treasures of Guyana but also contribute to its preservation. So, if you’re seeking an authentic and off-the-beaten-track travel experience, consider exploring the hidden gem of Guyana.

Getting to Know Guyana

Geography and climate.

Guyana is a hidden gem nestled on the northeastern coast of South America. It is bordered by Venezuela to the west, Suriname to the east, Brazil to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the north. The country’s landscape is characterized by lush rainforests, pristine beaches, vast savannahs, and winding rivers. With over 80% of its land covered in forests, Guyana is an ecotourism paradise.

The climate in Guyana is tropical, with two distinct seasons – a wet season from May to August and a dry season from September to April. The country experiences high levels of rainfall, especially in the interior regions, which contribute to its rich biodiversity. It is important to plan your visit accordingly to make the most of the weather and outdoor activities.

History and Culture

Guyana’s history is marked by a mix of indigenous, European, African, and Asian influences. The country was colonized by the Dutch in the 17th century and later became a British colony. It gained independence in 1966, but its journey towards stability and development has been marred by political instability and interethnic tensions.

Despite these challenges, Guyana is home to a resilient and vibrant population. The people of Guyana are known for their warmth, friendliness, and cultural diversity. The country’s population consists of several ethnic groups, including Afro-Guyanese, Indo-Guyanese, Amerindians, and others. This multicultural mix is reflected in the cuisine, music, and festivals of the nation.

Guyana is also renowned for its rich biodiversity and commitment to conservation. It is home to an incredible array of wildlife, including jaguars, giant otters, and toucans. The country has established numerous protected areas, such as Kaieteur National Park and Iwokrama Forest, to preserve its unique ecosystems. Exploring these natural wonders is a must for any visitor seeking an authentic and unforgettable experience.

In conclusion, Guyana may not be on everyone’s travel radar, but its unspoiled landscapes, diverse culture, and commitment to ecotourism make it a true hidden gem. Despite its troubled history, the country offers incredible adventures for those willing to explore its rainforests, savannahs, and rivers. From wildlife spotting to cultural immersion, Guyana has something for every adventurous traveler. So, why not add this fascinating destination to your bucket list?

Top Destinations in Guyana

Kaieteur falls.

Kaieteur Falls is a must-visit destination for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts alike. It is one of the world’s tallest waterfalls, standing at a staggering height of 741 feet. Located in the heart of Guyana’s rainforest, Kaieteur Falls offers a breathtaking spectacle as the waters plunge into the gorge below. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the falls from various viewing points, and if you’re lucky, you might even spot the colorful Guianan cock-of-the-rock bird flying around the area. It is a truly awe-inspiring sight and a photographer’s dream.

Iwokrama Forest

If you’re looking to immerse yourself in Guyana’s pristine wilderness, a visit to the Iwokrama Forest is a must. This vast protected area covers over 1 million acres of pristine rainforest and is home to an incredible variety of plant and animal species. The forest boasts several eco-lodges, where visitors can stay and embark on guided tours to explore the diverse ecosystems. Be prepared to encounter exotic wildlife such as monkeys, colorful birds, and even the elusive jaguar. The Iwokrama Forest is a paradise for nature enthusiasts and offers endless opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, and wildlife spotting.

Other Notable Destinations

Aside from Kaieteur Falls and Iwokrama Forest, Guyana has many other hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Here are a few notable destinations to consider:

– Shell Beach: Located on Guyana’s northern coast, Shell Beach is a remote and untouched paradise. It is a nesting ground for four species of marine turtles and offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean.

– Rupununi Savannah: This vast stretch of grassland in southern Guyana is a haven for wildlife. Visitors can spot giant anteaters, capybaras, and hundreds of bird species while exploring the savannah.

– Georgetown: As the capital city of Guyana, Georgetown offers a blend of colonial architecture, bustling markets, and a vibrant street food scene. Don’t miss the Stabroek Market, known for its vibrant colors and fresh produce.

– Essequibo River: The longest river in Guyana, the Essequibo River is a popular destination for river cruises and fishing trips. Explore the river’s peaceful waters, dotted with islands and flowing through untouched rainforest.

– Kanuku Mountains: For adventure seekers, the Kanuku Mountains offer opportunities for hiking, camping, and birdwatching. It is home to several indigenous communities and boasts stunning vistas of the surrounding rainforest.

In conclusion, Guyana is a country filled with hidden treasures and natural wonders. From the majestic Kaieteur Falls to the pristine Iwokrama Forest, there is something for every traveler looking to explore off the beaten path. Whether you’re seeking adventure, wildlife encounters, or cultural immersion, Guyana promises an unforgettable experience. So pack your bags, and get ready to discover the secrets of this enchanting South American nation.

Practical Information for Travelers

Visas and entry requirements.

Travelers planning a trip to Guyana should ensure they have the necessary visas and entry requirements in place before their visit. Here are some important points to note:

– Visitors from many countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and many European countries, do not require a visa for stays of up to 90 days. However, it is essential to check the specific requirements based on your nationality.

– Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the intended departure date from Guyana.

– It is advisable to check with the nearest Guyanese embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and entry regulations.

Health and Safety Tips

Ensuring your health and safety during your trip to Guyana is crucial. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

– Vaccinations: It is recommended to consult a healthcare professional or travel clinic prior to your trip to determine the necessary vaccinations for Guyana. Vaccinations for diseases like yellow fever, typhoid, and hepatitis A are often recommended.

– Malaria: Guyana is located in a malaria risk zone, especially in the interior regions. It is essential to take appropriate precautions, such as using mosquito repellent, wearing long-sleeved clothing, and sleeping under mosquito nets.

– Safety Precautions: While Guyana offers incredible experiences, it is important to be aware of your surroundings and take precautions to ensure your safety. Travelers should be cautious when exploring remote areas and avoid walking alone at night in urban areas. It is also advisable to keep important documents and valuables secure.

– Travel Insurance: It is highly recommended to have travel insurance that covers any unexpected medical emergencies, trip cancellation, or lost luggage. Ensure that the insurance policy includes coverage for activities like adventure sports, as Guyana offers a range of thrilling outdoor experiences.

By keeping these practical tips in mind, travelers can have a safe and enjoyable experience exploring the hidden gems of Guyana.

In conclusion, Guyana’s unspoiled rainforests, golden beaches, and vibrant culture make it a unique destination for adventurous travelers. With its rich biodiversity, commitment to conservation, and warm hospitality, Guyana offers an authentic and unforgettable experience. By taking into account the practical information and following necessary health and safety precautions, travelers can embark on a journey filled with raw adventure and discover the continent’s best-kept ecotourism secret. So, start planning your trip to Guyana and get ready to be captivated by its natural beauty and cultural richness.

Exploring Guyana’s Wildlife

Birdwatching.

One of the highlights of visiting Guyana is the opportunity to experience its incredible birdlife. With over 800 species of birds, including several rare and endemic species, Guyana is a paradise for birdwatchers. Some of the popular birdwatching sites in Guyana include the Iwokrama Rainforest, which is home to the elusive harpy eagle, and the Kaieteur National Park, where you can spot the iconic Kaieteur Falls along with a variety of bird species. Whether you are an avid birder or a beginner, exploring Guyana’s diverse avian population is a must-do during your visit.

Wildlife Reserves

In addition to its impressive birdlife, Guyana is also home to a rich diversity of wildlife. To experience the country’s natural wonders up close, make sure to visit some of its wildlife reserves. The Kanuku Mountains in the Rupununi region provide a habitat for a wide range of species, including giant river otters, jaguars, and a variety of bird species. Guyana’s rainforests are also home to numerous primates, such as the black spider monkey and the golden-handed tamarin. The Iwokrama Forest is a particularly popular destination for wildlife enthusiasts, offering opportunities to spot monkeys, tapirs, and even elusive cats like the jaguar.

Eco-Tourism

Exploring Guyana’s wildlife goes hand in hand with supporting the country’s commitment to eco-tourism. With its emphasis on sustainable practices and community involvement, eco-tourism in Guyana strives to protect and conserve the country’s natural resources while providing visitors with unique and authentic experiences. Many lodges and tour operators in Guyana have adopted eco-friendly practices, such as using renewable energy sources, promoting local biodiversity, and supporting local communities. By choosing eco-tourism options, travelers can contribute to the conservation efforts and help protect Guyana’s incredible wildlife for future generations to enjoy.

Guided Tours and Local Knowledge

To make the most of your wildlife exploration in Guyana, consider joining guided tours led by experienced local guides. These guides have in-depth knowledge of the country’s wildlife, including their behaviors, habitats, and identification. They can take you to the best spots for birdwatching and help you spot elusive animals in their natural habitats. In addition to their expertise, these guides often have a deep connection to the local communities and can provide insights into the cultural significance of the wildlife and conservation efforts. By joining a guided tour, you can enhance your wildlife experience while supporting local livelihoods.

In conclusion, Guyana offers a wealth of opportunities for wildlife enthusiasts. From birdwatching to exploring wildlife reserves, the country’s diverse ecosystems are a haven for nature lovers. By embracing eco-tourism and supporting local guides, travelers can not only have a memorable wildlife experience but also contribute to the preservation of Guyana’s precious natural heritage. So, pack your binoculars, put on your hiking boots, and get ready for an unforgettable adventure in Guyana’s wild side.

Adventure Activities in Guyana

Trekking and hiking.

Exploring the dense rainforests and pristine wilderness of Guyana is a must for adventurous travelers. With numerous national parks and protected areas, the country offers endless opportunities for trekking and hiking adventures. Here are some popular trekking and hiking destinations in Guyana:

– Kaieteur National Park: Home to the iconic Kaieteur Falls, this national park is a paradise for nature enthusiasts. Trek through lush rainforest trails and witness the awe-inspiring beauty of the tallest single-drop waterfall in the world.

– Iwokrama Rainforest: Located in central Guyana, this vast rainforest reserve is a haven for wildlife and offers extensive hiking trails. Immerse yourself in the rich biodiversity as you hike through towering trees and encounter rare species of flora and fauna.

– Kanuku Mountains: These majestic mountains in the southern part of the country offer challenging treks and breathtaking views. Explore remote trails, encounter indigenous communities, and get a glimpse of Guyana’s diverse landscapes.

River Expeditions

Guyana is renowned for its meandering rivers and pristine waterways, making it ideal for thrilling river expeditions. Whether you prefer gentle river cruises or adrenaline-pumping whitewater rafting, Guyana has something to offer. Here are some exciting river expeditions to consider:

– Essequibo River: The longest river in Guyana, the Essequibo offers a range of experiences. Take a leisurely boat trip to explore the tranquil beauty of the rainforest along its banks or embark on a multi-day expedition to reach remote indigenous communities and hidden waterfalls.

– Rupununi River: This river, flowing through the vast Rupununi savannah, provides opportunities for both leisurely and adventurous experiences. Enjoy a peaceful boat ride to spot wildlife, or challenge yourself with kayaking or paddleboarding through its clear waters.

– Rewa River: For those seeking an off-the-beaten-path adventure, the Rewa River is an excellent choice. Navigate its pristine waters, surrounded by untouched rainforest, and encounter rare flora and fauna, including giant river otters and giant river turtles.

Whether you choose to embark on a challenging trek through the rainforest or navigate the rivers for an adrenaline rush, Guyana offers unparalleled adventure opportunities. Immerse yourself in the untouched wilderness and discover the hidden gems of this South American nation.

By incorporating these exciting adventure activities into your trip to Guyana, you can create unforgettable memories and truly experience the raw and authentic beauty of this ecotourism destination. Remember to adhere to safety guidelines and regulations, and always respect the environment and local communities.

So, pack your bags, put on your hiking boots, and get ready to embark on a thrilling adventure in Guyana – a hidden paradise waiting to be explored.

Guyanese Cuisine and Local Delicacies

Traditional dishes.

When visiting Guyana, one cannot miss the opportunity to indulge in the country’s flavorful and diverse cuisine. Guyanese dishes are a delightful fusion of indigenous, African, Indian, and European influences, resulting in a unique culinary experience that will tantalize your taste buds. Here are some traditional dishes that you must try:

– Pepperpot: This hearty stew is a staple in Guyanese households, especially during special occasions like Christmas. It is made with a combination of meats, including beef, pork, and sometimes chicken, slow-cooked with cassareep (a syrup made from the cassava plant) and flavored with spices like cinnamon and cloves.

– Cook-up Rice: A one-pot dish made with rice, meat (often salted beef or chicken), and a variety of vegetables, cook-up rice is a popular comfort food in Guyana. It is often seasoned with thyme, garlic, and hot pepper for an extra kick of flavor.

– Metemgee: This thick and creamy soup is a delightful blend of flavors and textures. It is made with a combination of ground provision vegetables, like cassava, yam, and plantains, cooked with coconut milk and flavored with salted meat or fish.

Unique Food Experiences

In addition to traditional dishes, Guyana offers some unique culinary experiences that will elevate your gastronomic adventure. Here are a few notable food experiences to add to your itinerary:

– Seafood Feast in Shell Beach: Head to Shell Beach in the northwest region of Guyana and indulge in a feast of fresh seafood. Sample delicious dishes like crab curry, grilled snapper, and shrimp cooked in flavorful sauces, while enjoying the picturesque beach setting.

– Market Tour in Georgetown: Explore the vibrant markets of Georgetown and immerse yourself in the bustling atmosphere. Sample a variety of tropical fruits, like mangoes and passion fruit, and experience the vibrant mix of aromas and flavors from the local produce, spices, and street food stalls.

– Street Food Tasting: Take a culinary tour of the streets in Guyana and savor the flavors of the local street food scene. Try popular snacks like pholourie (deep-fried split pea dough), plantain chips, and bakes (fried bread) stuffed with savory fillings like saltfish or chicken.

Guyanese cuisine offers a delightful blend of flavors, textures, and cultural influences. From traditional dishes to unique food experiences, there is something to satisfy every palate. So, don’t miss the opportunity to indulge in the local delicacies and explore the culinary treasures of this ecotourism destination.

Remember to engage with local vendors and chefs to learn more about the history and ingredients that make each dish special. Embrace the flavors, aromas, and stories behind Guyana’s rich culinary heritage, and create mouth-watering memories that will last a lifetime.

It’s time to embark on a gastronomic journey through the flavors of Guyana. Pack your appetite and get ready to experience the vibrant and tantalizing world of Guyanese cuisine.

Cultural Experiences in Guyana

Indigenous communities.

Discover the rich cultural heritage of Guyana by immersing yourself in the vibrant indigenous communities scattered throughout the country. Interact with the local tribes and learn about their traditions, languages, and way of life. Some of the prominent indigenous communities to visit include:

– Wai-Wai: Located in the southern part of Guyana, the Wai-Wai community offers a unique opportunity to witness their traditional way of life. Engage in traditional dances, learn about their spiritual beliefs, and try your hand at crafts such as weaving and basketry.

– Makushi: Encounter the Makushi people in the North Rupununi region and gain insights into their agricultural practices and language. Explore their villages, listen to captivating stories passed down through generations, and savor traditional meals prepared with local ingredients.

– Arawak: Visit the Arawak communities along the Essequibo River and immerse yourself in their cultural rituals and ceremonies. Witness their vibrant artwork, intricate pottery, and traditional music, which reflect their deep connection to nature and ancestral spirits.

Festivals and Events

Experience the vibrant atmosphere of Guyana’s festivals and events, which showcase the country’s rich cultural diversity and celebrate its history and traditions. Plan your visit around these lively gatherings to immerse yourself in the local culture and join in the festivities. Some notable festivals and events include:

– Mashramani: Held in February, Mashramani is Guyana’s grandest and most colorful festival. Join the energetic parades, enjoy vibrant music and dance performances, and indulge in traditional Guyanese cuisine.

– Rupununi Rodeo: Witness the thrilling Rupununi Rodeo, a three-day event where local cowboys and cowgirls showcase their skills in bull riding, barrel racing, and other rodeo competitions. Experience the lively atmosphere filled with cheering crowds, live music, and traditional rodeo food.

– Phagwah/Holi: Celebrated by the Guyanese Indo-Caribbean community, Phagwah, or Holi, is a joyous festival of color and love. Take part in the traditional throwing of colored powders, enjoy delicious Indian sweets, and dance to lively music.

– Guyana Carnival: Experience the spectacle of Guyana Carnival, a vibrant extravaganza featuring colorful costumes, elaborate floats, and pulsating Soca music. Join the energetic street parades, attend parties and concerts, and embrace the carnival spirit.

Immerse yourself in the cultural tapestry of Guyana by visiting indigenous communities and participating in lively festivals. These experiences will not only deepen your understanding of the country’s heritage but also create lasting memories of your time in this enchanting South American nation. Respect the customs and traditions of the local communities and contribute positively to the local economy by purchasing authentic arts and crafts.

Embrace the warm hospitality and embrace the diversity of Guyana’s cultural experiences while creating meaningful connections with its people.

Why Guyana is a Must-Visit Destination

With its unspoiled rainforests, golden beaches, sweeping savannahs, and meandering rivers, Guyana offers a unique and authentic travel experience. The country’s rich cultural heritage, vibrant indigenous communities, and lively festivals make it a must-visit destination for adventurous travelers. Guyana’s ecotourism potential is still relatively undiscovered, providing an opportunity to explore untouched landscapes and contribute to sustainable travel practices. Despite its troubled history, the people of Guyana are determined to showcase their country’s natural beauty and share their traditions with visitors.

Inspiring Travel Stories and Tips

Listening to inspiring travel stories and tips from those who have experienced Guyana firsthand can help you plan your own adventure. Connect with fellow travelers, read travel blogs, and join online forums to gather insights and recommendations. Consider visiting during festivals such as Mashramani, Rupununi Rodeo, Phagwah/Holi, or Guyana Carnival to immerse yourself in the vibrant culture and create unforgettable memories. When interacting with indigenous communities, be respectful of their customs and traditions, and support their local economy by purchasing authentic arts and crafts.

Guyana offers a diverse range of cultural experiences that showcase the country’s heritage and provide opportunities for meaningful connections with its people. Whether you choose to visit indigenous communities, participate in festivals, or explore the country’s natural wonders, you are sure to be captivated by Guyana’s authentic charm and warm hospitality. Embrace the adventure, uncover the hidden gems, and create your own travel stories in this enchanting South American nation.

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Guyana Travel Guide – Everything You Need to Know

Nestled on the northern coast of South America, Guyana is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered by intrepid travelers. Boasting a rich tapestry of cultures, diverse landscapes, and an abundance of wildlife, this English-speaking nation offers a unique and off-the-beaten-path experience. From the dense rainforests of the interior to the coastal plains and the mighty Kaieteur Falls, one of the world’s tallest single-drop waterfalls, Guyana’s natural beauty is unparalleled. Immerse yourself in the warmth of the locals, explore the colonial architecture of Georgetown, and embark on eco-adventures through pristine ecosystems. Guyana invites those seeking authentic cultural encounters and a deep connection with nature to explore its uncharted wonders.

What’s the Best Time to Visit? 📅

The best time to visit Guyana for tourism is during the dry season, which typically spans from mid-September to mid-November and from mid-February to the end of April. This period offers more favorable weather conditions for outdoor activities and exploration. The dry season provides clearer skies, making it an ideal time to visit natural attractions, such as the famous Kaieteur Falls and the lush rainforests of the interior.

However, it’s important to note that Guyana has a tropical climate, and temperatures remain relatively consistent throughout the year. The wet season, occurring from mid-November to mid-January and mid-April to mid-August, brings increased rainfall and higher humidity. While the wet season can make some areas challenging to access due to muddy roads, it is also a time of vibrant greenery and blooming flora.

Ultimately, the choice of when to visit Guyana depends on individual preferences and the specific experiences you seek. If you prefer drier conditions for outdoor activities, the dry season is recommended. However, travelers interested in the unique landscapes and wildlife of Guyana may find the wet season equally rewarding for its lush and vibrant scenery. Always check weather conditions and plan accordingly based on your intended activities.

What’s the Best Way to Get Around? 🚌

Getting around Guyana as a tourist involves a combination of transportation options, depending on your destination and the nature of your travel. Here are some common ways to get around in Guyana:

• Given the vast and relatively undeveloped interior of Guyana, domestic flights are a practical way to reach remote destinations and explore the country’s diverse landscapes. Air services operate between major towns and airstrips, and flights offer stunning views of the natural terrain.
• Buses and minibuses provide affordable and commonly used transportation for shorter distances, particularly within and between towns. They operate on established routes, but schedules may vary. Minibuses are a popular mode of transport, offering a chance to interact with locals and experience the culture.
• Taxis are available in urban areas like Georgetown and can be hired for short trips within the city or for longer journeys. It’s advisable to negotiate fares before starting the journey, as taxis may not always use meters.
• Renting a car can provide flexibility for exploring Guyana, especially if you plan to visit multiple destinations. However, it’s essential to consider road conditions, particularly in the interior where some roads may be less developed. Driving is on the left side of the road.
• In regions with extensive river systems, boats and ferries are common means of transportation. These are especially relevant when exploring the interior or traveling to riverine communities.
• In smaller towns or local neighborhoods, walking can be a pleasant way to explore and experience the local culture. Ensure you have comfortable footwear, especially if walking on uneven terrain.
• For certain excursions, especially those involving nature reserves, wildlife, or cultural experiences, guided tours may be the most practical option. Local guides can provide insights into the surroundings and ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.

It’s important to note that while some transportation options are readily available in urban areas, infrastructure in more remote regions may be limited. Additionally, weather conditions, especially during the wet season, can affect road travel. Planning ahead and checking transportation options based on your itinerary will help ensure a smoother journey in Guyana.

What’s the Official Language?

The official language of Guyana is English. English is used in government, education, and official communication, making it the primary language for most interactions in the country. As a result, tourists will find it relatively easy to communicate in English during their visit to Guyana.

While English is the main language, Guyana is a culturally diverse nation with various ethnic groups, each contributing to the linguistic landscape. As you explore the country, you may encounter Guyanese Creole (also known as Guyanese English Creole or Guyanese Creolese). This Creole language has influences from African, East Indian, and Indigenous languages and is spoken colloquially among locals.

Here are a few basic phrases in English that may be helpful for tourists in Guyana:

• Hello: Hi or Hello
• Goodbye: Goodbye
• Please: Please
• Thank you: Thank you
• Excuse me/ Sorry: Excuse me or Sorry
• How are you?: How are you?
• What is your name?: What is your name?
• Where is…?: Where is…?

It’s always appreciated when travelers make an effort to learn a few local phrases, and the friendly locals in Guyana may be happy to assist you in navigating the cultural and linguistic landscape.

Where to Stay? 🏨

Guyana offers a range of accommodation options for tourists, ranging from budget-friendly guesthouses to more luxurious hotels. The choice of where to stay often depends on your preferences, budget, and the specific region you plan to visit. Here are some recommended areas and types of accommodation in Guyana:

• As the capital city, Georgetown provides a variety of accommodation options, including hotels, guesthouses, and bed and breakfasts. Many of these establishments cater to both business and leisure travelers. Popular neighborhoods within Georgetown include the city center and areas near the coastline.
• If you’re planning to explore the southern part of Guyana, particularly the Rupununi region, Lethem is a key town. Accommodations in this area may include guesthouses and lodges, providing a comfortable base for exploring the savannahs and natural wonders.
• Situated along the Essequibo River, Bartica serves as a gateway to the interior of Guyana. Accommodations in Bartica may range from riverside lodges to guesthouses, offering access to river excursions and nearby attractions.
• For those interested in experiencing the rainforest, the Iwokrama Rainforest Reserve offers eco-friendly lodges and research stations. Staying within the reserve provides an immersive experience in the heart of Guyana’s pristine wilderness.
• If your itinerary includes a visit to Kaieteur Falls, consider accommodations near Kaieteur National Park. Some lodges and guesthouses cater specifically to visitors exploring this iconic natural attraction.
• The North Rupununi region offers a mix of accommodations, including eco-lodges and guesthouses. This area is known for its indigenous communities, savannahs, and wildlife.
• For a unique experience, consider staying on one of the Essequibo Islands, such as Leguan or Wakenaam. Accommodations may include guesthouses or locally owned lodges.

When choosing where to stay in Guyana, it’s advisable to consider the specific activities and attractions you plan to explore. Additionally, make reservations in advance, especially during peak tourist seasons, to secure your preferred accommodation. Always check reviews, amenities, and location to ensure your chosen lodging aligns with your travel preferences.

What to Eat? 🍽️

Guyana’s culinary scene is a delightful fusion of diverse influences, reflecting the country’s multicultural population. Here are some must-try foods for tourists in Guyana:

• A traditional Amerindian dish, Pepper Pot is a flavorful stew made with cassareep (cassava juice), meat (usually beef or pork), and a blend of spices. It’s often enjoyed during special occasions and is a staple during Guyana’s Christmas celebrations.
• Introduced by the Indo-Guyanese community, roti is a popular flatbread served with various curries. You can find different types of roti, including dhalpuri (stuffed with seasoned split peas) and paratha (layered and flaky).
• Metemgee is a hearty and savory dish featuring a mix of ground provisions (root vegetables like yams and cassava), dumplings, plantains, and various meats, all cooked in coconut milk.
• Guyana’s Indian influence is evident in its delicious curries. Curry dishes, whether featuring chicken, beef, or goat, are commonly served with rice and often accompanied by dhal (lentil soup) and fried plantains.
• Guyana’s take on chow mein includes stir-fried noodles with a medley of vegetables, meats (chicken, beef, or shrimp), and a flavorful soy-based sauce.
• Similar to traditional Pepper Pot, Pepper Pot Soup is a soup version of the dish. It typically includes cassareep, meat, and a variety of vegetables, creating a comforting and flavorful soup.
• Cook-up Rice is a one-pot dish made with rice, peas or beans, and various meats, such as chicken, pork, or saltfish. It’s seasoned with herbs and spices, creating a delicious and filling meal.
• A popular breakfast option, Bake and Saltfish features fried dough (bake) served with salted codfish. It’s often accompanied by various chutneys or sauces.
• Black Cake is a rich and moist fruitcake traditionally enjoyed during Christmas and other festive occasions. It is soaked in rum or wine, giving it a distinctive flavor.
• Acaraje is a popular street food influenced by Afro-Brazilian traditions. It consists of deep-fried balls made from black-eyed pea flour, filled with shrimp and topped with spicy condiments.
• Mauby is a refreshing drink made from the bark of the Cola acuminata tree. It is sweetened and spiced, often enjoyed as a traditional beverage.

Exploring the diverse and flavorful cuisine of Guyana is an integral part of the cultural experience for tourists. Don’t hesitate to try these dishes at local eateries, markets, and restaurants to savor the authentic flavors of the country.

What to See? 🔍

Guyana boasts a wealth of natural wonders, cultural sites, and unique landscapes waiting to be explored. Here are some must-see places for tourists in Guyana:

• Kaieteur Falls is one of the world’s tallest single-drop waterfalls, surrounded by pristine rainforest. The sheer beauty and power of Kaieteur make it a top attraction for nature lovers and photographers.
• Immerse yourself in the biodiversity of the Iwokrama Rainforest Reserve, home to diverse wildlife, including jaguars, giant river otters, and an array of bird species. Explore walking trails and canopy walkways for a unique rainforest experience.
• Located along Guyana’s Atlantic coastline, Shell Beach is known for its abundance of seashells. It is a nesting ground for four species of sea turtles, making it a fascinating destination for wildlife enthusiasts.
• The expansive Rupununi Savannahs offer a breathtaking landscape with wide-open grasslands and scattered hills. Visit indigenous communities, such as Annai and Surama, to experience local culture and traditions.
• Orinduik Falls, situated on the Ireng River on the border with Brazil, is known for its stepped cascades and unique rock formations. It’s a serene and less-visited natural attraction.
• Located at the confluence of the Essequibo, Mazaruni, and Cuyuni Rivers, Bartica serves as a gateway to the interior. Explore the riverbanks, visit the Potaro-Siparuni region, and experience the town’s laid-back atmosphere.
• While the majority of Mount Roraima is in Venezuela, a portion of this spectacular tabletop mountain is accessible from Guyana. The trek to the summit offers mesmerizing views and a unique landscape.
• Guyana’s capital city, Georgetown, is rich in colonial architecture, markets, and cultural sites. Visit St. George’s Cathedral, the Georgetown Lighthouse, and the Stabroek Market for a taste of urban life.
• St. George’s Cathedral in Georgetown is one of the tallest wooden buildings in the world. Explore its impressive architecture and learn about its historical significance.
• This nature resort near the Mahaica River provides a tranquil escape into nature. Enjoy activities like birdwatching, canoeing, and hiking while surrounded by the beauty of the rainforest.
• Located near Georgetown, these gardens showcase the influence of Chinese culture in Guyana. Explore the traditional architecture, pagodas, and lush greenery.
• The Pakaraima Mountains, situated in the western part of Guyana, offer stunning landscapes and opportunities for trekking. Explore the remote villages and engage with indigenous communities.

These must-see places in Guyana provide a diverse range of experiences, from the awe-inspiring natural wonders to cultural immersion in indigenous communities and urban exploration in Georgetown. Each destination offers a unique perspective on Guyana’s rich and varied tapestry.

What to Do? 📸

To make the most of your visit to Guyana, here are some must-do activities and experiences for tourists:

• A trip to Guyana wouldn’t be complete without witnessing the awe-inspiring Kaieteur Falls. Take a scenic flight or trek to this natural wonder and marvel at the world’s tallest single-drop waterfall.
• Immerse yourself in the rich biodiversity of the Iwokrama Rainforest Reserve. Take guided walks, canopy tours, and river trips to encounter diverse wildlife and experience the unique ecosystems.
• Guyana’s extensive river systems offer opportunities for unforgettable boat trips. Explore the Essequibo, Mazaruni, and Cuyuni Rivers, visiting islands, indigenous communities, and natural attractions.
• Engage with indigenous communities in the Rupununi region. Learn about their traditions, participate in cultural activities, and gain insights into their way of life.
• Embark on a trek to the summit of Mount Roraima, a surreal tabletop mountain. The journey offers stunning landscapes and a unique adventure.
• Guyana is a paradise for birdwatchers. Grab your binoculars and explore the diverse habitats to spot a wide variety of bird species, including the elusive harpy eagle.
• Head to Shell Beach to witness the spectacle of sea turtles nesting. This unique coastal area is known for its pristine beaches and abundant seashells.
• If you visit during the Rupununi Rodeo in Lethem, immerse yourself in this lively and culturally rich event featuring traditional rodeo activities, music, and dance.
• Opt for a river safari to explore the wildlife-rich waterways. Look out for caimans, capybaras, and a variety of bird species while enjoying the tranquility of the river.
• Discover the historical and architectural gems of Georgetown. Visit St. George’s Cathedral, the Walter Roth Museum, and the iconic Stabroek Market.
• Don’t miss the chance to savor Guyanese dishes. Try Pepper Pot, roti, cook-up rice, and other local specialties for an authentic culinary experience.
• Support community-based tourism initiatives in indigenous villages. Engage in cultural exchanges, participate in traditional activities, and purchase local crafts to contribute to sustainable tourism.
• Check the local calendar for festivals and events. Attend celebrations like Mashramani or Phagwah to experience the vibrant cultural tapestry of Guyana.
• Choose eco-friendly lodges and resorts that prioritize sustainable tourism. Enjoy comfortable accommodations while minimizing your impact on the environment.
• Capture the beauty of Guyana’s landscapes and wildlife. Whether it’s the lush rainforest, Kaieteur Falls, or the savannahs, the country offers incredible photo opportunities.

By incorporating these activities into your itinerary, you’ll have a well-rounded and immersive experience of Guyana, combining adventure, cultural exploration, and appreciation for its natural wonders.

Culture and Safety 🦺

Understanding the local culture and prioritizing safety are crucial when traveling to Guyana. Here are some key points regarding culture and safety for tourists in Guyana:

• Guyana is known for its diverse population, with influences from African, Indian, Indigenous, European, and Chinese cultures. Embrace the cultural richness by engaging with locals, participating in cultural events, and trying traditional foods.
• Show respect for local customs and traditions, especially in indigenous communities. Seek permission before taking photographs, and be mindful of cultural practices.
• English is the official language, but Guyanese Creole (Guyanese English Creolese) is also spoken. Learning a few basic phrases in Creole can enhance your interactions with locals.
• Guyanese people are generally friendly and welcoming. Don’t hesitate to strike up conversations, ask for directions, and learn about the local way of life.
• Check the local calendar for festivals and events. Attending celebrations like Mashramani or Diwali can provide insights into the vibrant cultural tapestry of the country.
• Consult a healthcare professional for advice on vaccinations and health precautions before traveling to Guyana. Carry any necessary medications and be cautious about food and water hygiene.
• While overall crime rates are relatively low, it’s essential to be vigilant in urban areas, especially in Georgetown. Avoid displaying expensive items, be cautious with valuables, and stay informed about the safety of specific neighborhoods.
• Use reputable transportation services and exercise caution, especially when traveling at night. If taking taxis, use official services or those recommended by your accommodation.
• If engaging in nature activities, follow safety guidelines provided by tour operators. Be cautious of wildlife, and avoid approaching or feeding animals.
• Keep emergency contact information, including the contact details of your country’s embassy or consulate in Georgetown. Familiarize yourself with local emergency services.
• Be aware of weather conditions, especially during the rainy season. Some areas may become impassable due to flooding, and roads may be challenging to navigate.
• If engaging in community-based tourism in indigenous villages, follow local guidelines, respect community rules, and contribute positively to the local economy.
• Obtain comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and other unforeseen events.

By respecting local customs, staying informed about safety considerations, and being mindful of health precautions, you can have a rewarding and safe experience while exploring the cultural and natural wonders of Guyana. Always stay informed, be aware of your surroundings, and take necessary precautions to ensure a positive travel experience.

In conclusion, a visit to Guyana promises an unforgettable adventure that seamlessly blends natural wonders, cultural diversity, and warm hospitality. From the mesmerizing Kaieteur Falls to the rich biodiversity of the Iwokrama Rainforest, every corner of the country offers a unique experience. Engage with the friendly locals, savor the flavors of Guyanese cuisine, and immerse yourself in the vibrant festivals that showcase the nation’s cultural tapestry. While being captivated by the breathtaking landscapes, do prioritize safety by staying informed, respecting local customs, and embracing the spirit of exploration. Guyana, with its diverse heritage and untouched beauty, invites travelers to discover a truly authentic and enriching destination.

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Evergreen Adventure Guyana

Your Gateway to Unforgettable Guyana Tours

Welcome to EVERGREEN ADVENTURES

Your travel concierge.

We don’t just do travel, we create personalised experiences that satisfy your interests. As Guyana’s premier travel concierge, we redefine the art of travel, elevating every experience.

Your partner in travel

Evergreen Adventures, is dedicated to crafting experiences that surpass your expectations. We are your trusted travel concierge, committed to bringing your ideas to life. Whether you seek private charters around the Caribbean or aim to explore the diverse cultural and natural landscapes of the Guianas, we are your one-stop-shop for all things travel. We cater to all types of travelers, from those seeking high-end luxury travel to those yearning for adventurous experiences that push their limits. At Evergreen Adventures, your imagination is the only limit.

Elevate your experience

Elevate your experience with us and embark on an unparalleled journey. Our commitment to excellence promises a seamless and unforgettable adventure. Choose luxury and authenticity for a truly exceptional experience.

Luxury redefined

We provide high-end travel experiences in Guyana and beyond, emphasizing cultural immersion, meticulous attention to detail, and exceptional service. Allow us to transform your travel dreams into an unforgettable reality.

Transcend boundries

Transcend boundaries with our private charters. Experience the world of travel with us as your compass. Your journey to unforgettable memories starts here.

Your one stop shop

With a customized experience at the heart of what we do, no request is too big or too small. Our team of experienced travel concierges is ready to handle the hassle of planning your adventure, so you don’t have to.

Destinations

Our mission is to take you on a journey of exploration without boundaries. Our itinerary includes a range of destinations, including Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and the Caribbean. We specialize in crafting fully customized itineraries that transcend borders, allowing you to immerse yourself in diverse cultures, landscapes, and experiences in these remarkable places. With us, you can embark on an adventure of a lifetime and discover the hidden treasures of the region.

A diverse tropical paradise blending Caribbean and South American influences, where vast natural beauty, rich biodiversity, warm hospitality, and unique cultural richness await exploration.

Explore Paramaribo, a UNESCO heritage site with a rich Dutch history. Discover its lush rainforests and the rich cultural blend, including the Maroons—escaped slaves who made the jungles of Suriname their home.

Discover the island paradise of Barbados with us and experience a seamless blend of relaxation, culture, and adventure. Our fully customized itineraries ensure every activity is tailored to you.

Create Your Own Journey

Evergreen Adventures is dedicated to crafting experiences that surpass your expectations. We are your trusted travel concierge, committed to bringing your ideas to life. Whether you seek private charters around the Caribbean or aim to explore the diverse cultural and natural landscapes of the Guianas, we are your one-stop-shop for all things travel. We cater to all types of travelers, from those seeking high-end luxury travel to those yearning for adventurous experiences that push their limits. At Evergreen Adventures, your imagination is the only limit.

Embark on a journey of wonder and exploration with Evergreen Adventures’ most sought-after tours. Our carefully curated itineraries blend cultural immersion, breathtaking landscapes, and thrilling experiences for an unforgettable adventure. Whether you’re captivated by the historical charm of Paramaribo, enchanted by the serenity of Kaieteur Falls, or yearning for an adventure, our popular tours promise to transport you to the heart of each destination.

Kaieteur Falls Day Tour

Discover Guyana’s iconic Kaieteur Falls with our most popular day trip. Our knowledgeable guides will ensure you have an unforgettable experience exploring this natural wonder of the world.

Suriname 5 Days / 4 Nights

Explore Paramaribo, a UNESCO heritage site with a rich Dutch history, before venturing upriver to Kinini Pati for an unforgettable jungle lodge experience. It’s the perfect getaway for culture and adventure seeker.

Suriname 4 Days / 3 Nights

Discover the hidden gems of Paramaribo with this handcrafted itinerary that explores the rich history, culture, and biodiversity of Paramaribo, a UNESCO heritage site.

Visit Our Baganara Island Resort

Escape to this exotic island paradise and experience one of Guyana’s true gems. Peaceful, exotic & spectacular are some words used to describe Baganara, a rainforest resort five miles from Bartica in the Essequibo River. This 187-acre private island effortlessly blends the comforts of a scenic retreat with all the fun of an elegant, full-service resort where you can explore the wonders on our nature walk or a kayak meandering silently through the creeks under the majestic canopy of the forest.

Whether you are a tourist visiting the rainforest or an executive flying in for the day, we invite you to discover our resort’s unique character and casual luxury. 

Testimonial

We hadn’t realized before traveling how much of the trip would be on a completely private basis (other than the charter flight) – the road transfers, boat transfers, all activities, the whole Mapari experience - so the value became more evident as the trip unfolded. It was a fantastic memorable trip with some really magical moments so thank you again for all your efforts in organizing it all for us.

Gillian Beath

I can’t thank you enough for all your help in planning this trip, Shebana. And, success! Kevin and I saw not just one but three anteaters (including one baby!)!! We had bonus moments with giant river otters, arapaima, caiman, capuchin monkeys and loads of birds! The best part was spending time with Melanie and learning more about Karanambu! So, thank you once again - we could not have planned this trip without you!

Former Ambassador

Everything went very well.🙂 We’re just sad that we left Guyana, we had a great time there. Thank you so much for your support with all. Have a good one!

Agatha and Rene Wollenschein

Great experience for your family with Evergreen tours. Right from booking months in advance to actual tours. We did Georgetown City Tour, and Kaieteur falls and Ordinuik falls tour with them. The guides were very good. Guyana is a fascinating country with very friendly people.

Gaurav Mathur

Share your experience with us.

Join our community of explorers by sharing your Evergreen Adventure experience. Thank you for being a part of our journey.

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• Visit Kaieteur & Orinduik Falls
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