Why Visit Guyana
Guyana, the ‘land of many waters’, may not be the first place you think of when looking for your next adventure, but read on and let us convince you that this neglected little corner of South American is more than worth a visit.
where is guyana?
Located on the northeastern tip of the continent of South America, the long thin country of Guyana is sandwiched between Suriname to the east, another forgotten country, Venezuela to the west, Brazil to the south and has 456km or 285m of Atlantic Ocean coastline to the north.
Despite being located on the continent of South America, Guyana is only a short distance from the Caribbean and this proximity has influenced life in Guyana, from the culture and music and food and customs.
In other news, British Airways have announced a new direct flight schedule from London to Georgetown, the Capital city of Guyana. You can also get direct flights to Guyana from major airports in the US with American Airlines and Jet Blue or direct from Amsterdam in the Netherlands, making it easier than ever to get to this lesser-known destination.
what is guyana known for?
You may be familiar with Guyana for several reasons. Firstly, it is the only English speaking country in South America, thanks to its historical prominence within the British West Indies.
Another reason you might have heard of Guyana is that it is densely covered in rainforest, making it home to a huge number of endemic wildlife species and birdlife.
Lastly, crude oil was discovered in Guyana in 2017, and offshore drilling began in 2019. It is estimated that Guyana will be one of the worlds largest producers of oil per capita in the next few years, which has improved Guyana’s economy exponentially.
For more information about Guyana, check out our Ultimate Guide to Guyana blog.
10 reasons to visit Guyana
1. Incredible Wildlife
As mentioned above, Guyana is home to a vast array of wildlife, much of it endemic so not found anywhere else. The sprawling rainforest and vast savannah provide space, food, shelter and water for over 47,000 different species, many of which roam the Amazon Rainforest across the border into neighbouring Brazil, Suriname and Venezuela. As such, Guyana is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. From big cats such as puma and jaguar to the giant anteaters and giant otters, caiman, bird-eating spiders, anacondas as well as arapaima, the largest freshwater fish in the world, dolphins, turtles and over 800 species of bird including the vulnerable harpy eagle, one of the largest raptors in the world.
With so much wildlife to spot and very little tourism, the rainforest is an excellent place to spot some of these local residents and a huge perk to trekking through Guyana.
2. Trek to the largest waterfall in the world
Kaieteur Falls is the largest single-drop waterfall in the world with a drop of 226m or 741ft and one of the top visitor destinations in Guyana. It is double the heigh of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and more than four times the height of Niagara Falls, between the US and Canada. With an average flow rate of 663m3 per second, it is one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world and a truly magnificent sight to behold. Kaieteur Falls are almost slap bang in the middle of the country, and you can either trek there from Georgetown, which will take between 3-5 days, or get an internal flight from Cheddi Jagan International Airport which will take about an hour to get to Kaieteur Airstrip.
From the airstrip it is around a 15 minute walk to the top of the falls and often you’ll have the place more or less to yourself. The remote location and relatively unknown status of the falls make this breathtaking sight so much quieter than other, more famous, falls but visiting Kaieteur National Park can be easily organised as a day trip from Georgetown. Not to be missed!
3. A vibrant capital city
That brings us on to the capital city of Guyana – Georgetown. Located at the mouth of the Demerara River, Georgetown is the largest city in Guyana and the stretch of coast it sits along is home to around 90% of the population of Guyana. Georgetown is a wonderfully eclectic capital having been influenced by Dutch, French and British colonialisation, its close proximity to the Caribbean as well as residents from China, Africa, India, Europe, not to mention the indigenous Amerindians. This veritable hotchpotch of influence is evident across all corners of Georgetown making it a fascinating place to visit.
With colonial architecture and mouthwatering cuisine, Georgetown is home to a thriving arts and culture scene and has a number of remarkable places of interest including St. George’s Cathedral, Stabroek Market, the botanical gardens and zoo and the longest floating bridge in the world, The Demerara Harbour Bridge. Known as the ‘garden city of the Caribbean’ this attractive capital is a must-see place to spend a few days before or after your trek.
4. The mighty Guiana Shield
Whilst it might sound like a piece of defensive weaponry, the Guiana Shield is actually a massive area of untouched rainforest than spans six countries and stores approximately 20% of the worlds fresh water and around 18% of the worlds tropical forest carbon. Described by the Amazon Conservation Team as one of the last wild places on earth, the Guiana Sheild is vital to mitigating climate change, is home to a huge number of endemic species and is noted for being of ‘regional and global significance’ by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
By visiting Guyana and staying in one of the many eco lodges secreted away within the jungle, you’re positively contributing to ecotourism in Guyana and helping to conserve more and more of this precious natural habitat.
5. Unique public transport
Getting around by public transport means jumping on a bus or train to many of us. Not in Guyana. Here, in order to explore the untouched corners of this incredibly remote country you’ll need either a very small plane or a boat! The country is split almost in two by the mighty Essequibo River and her many tributaries. This provides a highway of water courses and is the easiest way to navigate through the various mountains and forests.
The waterways provide an invaluable connection for indigenous people and visitors of the interior both to each other and to supplies such as medicine, building materials and other essential items that cannot be made or traded from natural materials.
Passing through by water will give you a unique perspective of both the scale and variety of flora and fauna here, whilst flying over the rainforests and savannah will give you a glimpse at the vastness of this unexplored wilderness.
6. Sleep under the trees
You will probably find yourself sleeping comfortably in beds in the towns and cities of Guyana but step into the forest and the sleeping arrangements become a little less permanent and a little more flexible. Trekking in Guyana will take you to indigenous community guest houses, homestays, ecolodges and hammock camps. Yes, hammock camps. Hung beneath the forest canopy under a fixed roof structure, hammock camps in Guyana are a unique way to spend the night. Hammocks are either hung from a central pole which supports the roof and radiates outwards towards the circumference of the structure, like the spokes of a wheel, or are hung under individual tarps to provide shelter. Each will have a mosquito net and no matter the weather, rain or shine, you’ll be comfy, cosy, dry and warm.
7. Everything here is huge!
Not only is the rainforest vast, the rivers wide and the escarpments high, there are so many other super-sized things to love about Guyana. In terms of wildlife, Guyana is home to giant South American river turtles which live in the Amazon, giant anteaters which roam the savannah, giant rodents called capybara which are semi-aquatic and roam the riverbanks and wetlands, harpy eagles which can grow to a metre tall and giant otters that can grow up to 2m long.
In addition to this you have arapaima which are the largest freshwater fish in the world and can grow up to 3m in length and giant water lilies which can also grow up to 3m in diameter. As mentioned above, Kaieteur Falls are some of the highest in the world and Guyana is also home to the largest snake in the world, the green anaconda.
8. Country of many cultures
There are nine indigenous tribes that live in Guyana and collectively they make up around 10% of the total population. The largest ethnic group of Guyana is made up of Indo-Guyanese which accounts for around 40% of the population with the remaining Guyanese people either Afro-Guyanese, 30% or mostly mixed race Guyanese, 10%. This wide variety of cultural influence has created an eclectic vibe that draws inspiration from around the world. Whilst English is widely spoke and is the official language of Guyana, many people speak a version of Creole and Hindi and Urdu are also spoken although mostly by older generations.
Travelling around the country is highly recommended to fully explore the wonders that can be found here. Georgetown is an excellent place to start but don’t stop there as around 40% of visitors tend to do. Journey south, visit the rainforest, sleep in a hammock, visit the many, many falls and speak to those who make the jungle their home. Guyana is such a unique place to visit that you won’t regret scratching the surface to find the hidden gems beneath.
9. They speak the lingo
A leftover of colonisation by the British in Guyana is the English language. The official language of Guyana is English, making it the only English-speaking country in South America. This inevitably makes it much easy to explore and get to know the locals. A patois of Creole is spoken in addition to this, so make sure you learn a few phrases and you’ll be rewarded with delight and probably an invitation to dinner!
10. Conservation at its core
This well-kept secret country receives around 300,000 visitors each year which is around 5,700 visitors a week. In comparison, Machu Picchu permits 4,500 visitors a DAY, with 5,600 on some specific days! Of these visitors to Guyana many do not even leave the outskirts of Georgetown, however those that do venture into the jungle will find a network of hidden jungle lodges that provide accommodation for visitors. The revenue generated by these lodges goes toward conserving the surrounding rainforest from the threats of deforestation and mining.
This rainforest is vital for absorbing carbon dioxide and community-owned and run projects such as these lodges rely on visitors to enable them to fund supplies, buy more state-owned land and protect the plethora of endemic species that Guyana is home to.
Explore Guyana with Kandoo Adventures
You might have noticed a theme to many of our reasons to visit Guyana. Things here are BIG! From huge waterfalls to giant endemic animals, monster fish to enormous birds, Guyana is a small country that packs a big punch! Hopefully this article has whetted your appetite for an adventure to Guyana. We haven’t touched on ALL the amazing reasons to visit this country, but you can read more about mountains in Guyana and learn all about the unique landscapes here including why tepui have been in the news recently.
Check out our amazing trips below and choose between trekking in the Kanuka Mountains or chasing waterfalls with the Aracuna. Alternatively, we have a fantastic trek out-paddle back adventure which gives you a unique insight into this awesome landscape by both land and water. Whichever floats your boat, our friendly team of travel experts are always on hand to answer questions so get in touch and book your Guyanese adventure.