Guyana is sought out mostly by major nature travelers. It is located in northeastern South America and is roughly 85% tropical rainforest, which is one of the highest percentages of forest cover in the world. There are no massive high-rise beach resorts or commercial cruise terminals here. Guyana offers a different kind of trip that is increasingly rare anywhere on Earth.
Kaieteur Falls
Kaieteur Falls is the crown jewel of Guyana. At its full flow, the Potaro River drops 740 feet or 226 meters and is roughly five times the height of Niagara Falls before cascading into an ancient gorge carved through the Guiana Shield.
Kaieteur remains completely wild and it is primarily accessible via a one-hour flight from Georgetown aboard a small aircraft or via a challenging multi-day overland trek through the rainforest.
The Rupununi Savannah
In Guyana's southwest, the dense rainforest opens into the Rupununi Savannah which is a tropical grassland divided by the forested Kanuku Mountains and covered with rivers that flood during the rainy season to form expansive wetlands. The Rupununi connects the hydrological basins of the Amazon and Essequibo rivers, creating vital biological corridors for continental wildlife movement.
This area is home to Amazonian megafauna, including giant river otters, giant anteaters, black caimans, tapirs, jaguars, and over 800 recorded species of birds. The Iwokrama Forest, a 371,000-hectare protected reserve in the northern Rupununi, serves as a world-class center for sustainable rainforest management and ecotourism.
Where to Stay
- The Iwokrama River Lodge: Located on the Essequibo River in the Iwokrama Forest and features canopy walkways, boat trips, and guided night drives with the potential for jaguar encounters and birding.
- Caiman House: A community-run eco-lodge in Yupukari village operated in partnership with the Makushi Amerindian community. Guests can participate in ongoing black caiman field research and nocturnal river surveys.
- Dadanawa Ranch: A historic working cattle ranch set in the deep southern Rupununi, offering horseback expeditions across open savannah and access to extremely remote ecosystems.
Getting There & Around
Georgetown (Cheddi Jagan International Airport) is the primary gateway, connected by direct flights from New York, Miami, Toronto, and the Port of Spain. From Georgetown, domestic charter flights connect to Lethem (the Rupununi border town) and airstrips near Kaieteur.
The overland Linden-Lethem corridor is an unpaved rainforest road crossing major rivers by barge. Most overland travel typically takes 12 to 16 hours during the dry season and significantly longer during heavy rains.
Practical Notes
- Language: Guyana is the only official English-speaking country in South America, making communication easy for English speakers.
- Health: Yellow fever vaccination and malaria prophylaxis are recommended for travel into the interior regions. Please consult your physician or a travel medicine clinic before departure.
- Logistics: Any interior travel requires booking in advance and experienced local guides due to the limited infrastructure and the strict conservation guidelines.