"The English portion of the Guianas" Top 5 Page for this destination Guyana by DSwede

Guyana Travel Guide: 390 reviews and 608 photos

Guyana has often been credited for being the inspiration of The Lost World, a 1912 novel by Arthur Conan Doyle, which involves an expedition into the plateaus of South America where prehistoric animals still roam free.

That had always caught my imagination and wanted to see for myself the primitive jungles that brought this tale to life. So here I am, on the fringes of the jungle in Guyana about to hold my breath and venture inwards tomorrow.

Strangely most family and friends I spoke to asked me why I'd want to come here. And not only that, but most asked why I'd want to travel all the way to Africa for a short holiday. My answers were simple, but might not have been what they were hoping. I told them that Guyana is not Ghana. And I wanted to come here because nobody else does.

The Savannahs of the South

My opinions have not yet been completely set, but I can say that it is a rather untouched place. It is full of beautiful scenery and endless jungles and savannas. Problem is that there is no infrastructure, and even less information on what infrastructure there is.

(British) Guyana is the western most country of the “The Guianas”, with Suriname (formerly Dutch Guiana) and French Guiana to the east. Guiana means ‘land of water’ in Occitan (similar to Catalan, a language of the first French explorers), so it sometimes includes the boarder areas of Venezuela and Brazil that drain into the basin. However, Guyana is generally accepted to be a Caribbean culture and shares stronger ties to the islands than to the South American mainland. It is one of only four non-Spanish speaking countries in South America.

Building styles of Georgetown

When the Guianas were being colonized and exploited for the prosperous plantations they could support, the British, Dutch and French took turns with disputes and fighting over the lands. Ultimately they settled more or less the way the boarders are drawn up now. Originally they brought in African slaves to build the infrastructure and work the plantations. When slavery was abolished (by the English in 1833, the French in 1848 and the Dutch in 1863), each nation took turns importing indentured servants and contract labor from India, China and Indonesia. With this and the indigenous Amerindians, the countries have evolved to have a very diverse ethnic mixture or cultures, religions, foods, etc. Thankfully they have fused into an amicable new culture of their own.

After surviving a rather long week and an even longer journey from Asia via New York, I finally arrived in Georgetown as the sun was rising. After an adventure of finding and navigating an hour ride in a rasta-music-blaring-communal-shuttlevan thing from the airport, I wondered the streets for a while with backpack on, looking for an internet cafe. Finally found one so I could access the addresses of the hotels/hostels that wouldn't print for me the before I left.

I ultimately spent the better part of a week in and around Georgetown. I also went into the interior, all the way to the Brazilian board at the town of Lethem. On the return, I stopped in the jungles in Iwokrama.

(for more pictures, feel free to visit my Guyana Gallery. If you enjoy the pictures, please leave a comment.)

Pros and Cons

Pros:Beautiful canopies of jungle, endless savannas and no tourists.
Cons:Unfortunately when the British left, the infrastructure never stood a chance and has remained below par.
In a nutshell:An untrodden corner of South America worth visiting. You must have either patience and/or money to travel Guyana.

Intro Updated Mar 13, 2011
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Reviews (6)

Guyana to/from Suriname (overland) Transportation (1)

First, do you have a Visa for Suriname?! See my Georgetown tip for the Suriname Embassy. To reach Paramaribo the same... more travel advice

Atta Rainforest Camp (Iwokrama Canopy... Off The Beaten Path (2)

Please note that this tip should be used in conjunction with my other off-the-beaten-path tip for the Iwokrama Canopy... more travel advice

Iwokrama Canopy Walkways - Birdwatchers... Off The Beaten Path (2)

Located about 750m walk behind the Atta Lodge / Rainforest Camp (which in itself is about 1km from the main road). The... more travel advice

Adaptor plugs in Guyana Favorites (3)

Voltage in Guyana varies between 120~240V. Frequency fluctuates between 50~60Hz. It is best that your electronics are... more travel advice

Comments (3)

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starship May 30, 2012 at 7:13 AM

Wow! Great intro., and excellent info. for the serious traveler! When you said in the intro. there was no infrastructure, I almost expected you would get from place to place on horseback, LOL!! It must seem amazing to travel in a country which so few people visit -- almost like being an early explorer!
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glabah Nov 19, 2009 at 12:36 PM

Wish they had a walkway through the trees like that somewhere in the redwoods! I tmight help get people educated about the higher level of that ecosystem.
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SLLiew Dec 1, 2008 at 5:23 PM

Useful tips for any first time visitors to Guyana. That will include me if I get to go to South America one day. SL :)