Country Information

• The 19th-century wooden houses supported on stilts and charming green boulevards laid out along the lines of the old Dutch canals give Georgetown, the capital, a unique character. Some of the more impressive wooden buildings dating from the colonial past include the city hall, St George’s Cathedral, the Law Courts and the State House. The Botanical Gardens and Zoo, covering 120 acres (49 hectares), have a fine collection of palms, orchids and lotus lilies; nearby is the Cultural Centre, which contains what is probably the best theatre in the Caribbean. Also worth visiting are the Natural History Museum, which contains an up-to-date display of all aspects of Guyanese life and culture, and the Walter Roth Anthropological Museum.

• At the junction of the Essequibo and Mazaruni rivers, Bartica is the ‘take-off’ town for the gold and diamond fields, Kaieteur Falls and the rest of the interior. A visit to Kaieteur Falls in the Kaieteur National Park is particularly recommended; situated on the Potaro River, it ranks with Iguazú, Niagara and Victoria in majesty and beauty. The national park is situated on the Guiana Shield, a plateau that is one of the world’s oldest and most remote geological formations located in a biodiverse rainforest. There are numerous beaches in Guyana; these include Almond Beach, Shell Beach, No 63 Beach and Saxacalli Beach. There are rainforests in Iwokrama with a Canopy Walkway and the Pakaraima mountains. Surama, set in savannah surrounded by forest-covered mountains, is home to the Amerindian community of the Macushi tribe, which welcomes tourists. Rupununi is the oasis in the desert with the Rockview Nature Resort and the ranches of North and South Rupunini, Karanambo and Dadanawa.

• The rivers and the interior abound in game fish, the best known of which is the man-eating piranha (locally called perai). The most sought after by the sportsman is the lucanni, a fish similar to the large-mouth bass. Most of the interior rivers are difficult for the more casual visitor to get to, but those who book in advance can reach them by air. Some of the coastal rivers within reach of Georgetown are also good for fishing, although it is wise to stay overnight in the fishing grounds, as the best are four to five hours’ drive from the city.

• Camping treks, hiking and white-water rafting have become increasingly popular over recent years. Horse riding is available at Manari Ranch in the Rupununi Savannahs. Cricket and hockey are both popular. Birdwatching is also very good in some parts of the country.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.