Visit Guyana Now
South America's Last Frontier

The only English speaking country in South America, little known Guyana is ready to be discovered. Currently receiving only 2000 recreational visitors a year, that number is set to increase dramatically as the USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and the Guyana Tourism Authority combine efforts to tell the world about the natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural treasures of Guyana. Even the best lodges there may receive on average less than one guest per day during the year. You can be one of the first to visit this country before it is 'discovered' by the rest of the world.

Approximately the size of Great Britain, Guyana has a population of only about 780,000 people, most of whom live along the coast. Many ethnic groups are represented here including Amerindians from 9 remaining tribes, Europeans of British and Dutch descent, and the descendants of East Indian, Chinese, and African workers brought here either as slaves or indentured servants to work the sugar cane fields in the 1800's.

Cultures and customs change markedly as you travel around the country. The northern coastal region has a distinctive Carribbean flavor. The western regions comprise vast savannah grasslands with birds and wildlife such as the giant anteater that are characteristic of that habitat. Here also vaqueros herd cattle on ranches that can extend over 1000 square miles. Much of the southeastern rainforests are untouched and uninhabited. It is estimated that only 200 people, mostly AmerIndians with their traditional lifestyle live in this region. It is not unusual for river trips through this region to encounter the predators at the top of the food chain in the air, water, and on land: the Harpy Eagle, the Jaguar, and the Araupaina, largest freshwater fish in the world.

The name Guyana means 'Land of Many Rivers' and transport in the interior of the country is still largely by boat. There are only a few dirt tracks locally, and only one main dirt road, often impassable in the rainy season, between the capital Georgetown and the border with Brazil. Small aircraft provide service to airstrips near settlements and lodges in some remote areas.

There are a limited number of lodges suitable for the average international traveler. These offer excellent service with delicious and plentiful local foods. Fish, chicken and cassava in its many forms are staples in the interior. Indian curries and roti are very popular around Georgetown. Our chosen lodges generally have generators for light and charging batteries from dusk until 10 pm. The stars are brilliant in the sky when there are no artificial lights for a hundred miles.

There are some excellent local guides, mostly AmerIndians who have always lived in the forests and savannahs, and have an intimate knowledge of these areas. For centuries the natural world has provided them with the food, shelter, and medicines necessary for survival. These guides have a first hand knowledge of the forests and savannahs, their birds, plants, and wildlife, and they have a passion to share that knowledge. Some of the guides have been chosen to receive additional training so that they can take their natural abilities and extensive knowledge to the next level of professionalism. Let them help you unlock the secrets of Guyana.