Sabbatical & Experiential Travel to Guyana

Holidays & Sabbaticals to Guyana – In a Nutshell

If you’re after raw, unpolished adventure and hardly any other tourists, Guyana is a nirvana. A former British colony, it’s the only English-speaking country in South America, interspersed with Creole and Amerindian dialects from 6 distinct ethnic groups. Over 80% of the country is rainforest and river – pristine, virgin jungle hiding indigenous communities and some thrilling wildlife, most of it oversized! Giant anteater, giant river otter, black caiman (the world’s largest alligator) and the green anaconda. Colourful capital Georgetown is famous for its 19thC wooden houses on stilts and old sugar estate, but it’s an entry point only; you’ll spend the rest of your time boating along the Rewa and Rupununi rivers or driving across vast savannah in a 4×4. Travel here can be very basic but it’s utterly unique, a wild frontier of travel, still thrillingly cut off from mainstream travel.

How to Get to Guyana

You can travel overland from neighbouring countries Suriname and Brazil. Travelling via Venezuela is not currently recommended. If you’re flying here, you’ll land in Georgetown, the country’s only international airport. There are now direct flights from both the UK and the USA. Once here, you’ll likely use a combination of light charter flights, minibuses and 4x4s to get around. This isn’t an easy country to explore independently.

When & Weather – Guyana

It’s always hot here. Sometimes dry, sometimes rainy, but always hot and humid! The Dry Season runs from Feb to April and August to November; the Rainy Seasons are May to July and late Dec to late January. Temperatures range between 23°C (73°F) and 34 °C (93°F).

Who will Guyana Appeal To?

The country’s untouched rainforests and giant wildlife make it a perfect destination for nature lovers and adventurous travellers. In particular, it’s suited to:

Adventure lovers
Wildlife enthusiasts
Keen birders
Active travellers
Keen photographers
Solo travellers

Accommodation

We can arrange stays in charming city hotels, rustic guesthouses and community-run eco lodges.

Off The Beaten Path – Guyana

Take a 4×4 safari through the Pakaraima Mountains and valleys, sleeping in a hammock and cooking over a campfire
Stay in a community-owned lodge in remote and beautiful Rewa, and the tiny indigenous village of Surama
Drive across the isolated Rupununi grasslands and plains, and swim in beautiful, natural creeks
Meet the Makushi tribespeople, who live along Guyana’s remote rivers

Wildlife

Harpy eagles can be spotted in the untouched Kanuku and Iwokrama mountains
The Iwokrama Forest is perhaps the easiest place in the world to spot a wild jaguar as well as Giant Anteaters and green anaconda
Fish for Giant Arapaimas in the southern rivers
Caiman are a popular sighting here; black caiman – the world’s largest alligators – a more thrilling one!
See Giant River Otter in their natural habitat around the Karanambu eco lodge
Placid capybara graze across the savannah
Shell Beach on the Atlantic coast is a protected nesting ground for Green, Hawksbill Leatherback and Olive Ridley turtles
Spot tiny golden frogs in virgin rainforest
There are over 900 species of bird here, including the striking orange cock of the rocks

Guyana Experiences you shouldn’t miss:

Flying over the Kaieteur Falls in a light aircraft which in our opinion is the most spectacular waterfall in the Americas
Or simply hiking through the stunning surrounding national park
Eating fresh fruits at Georgetown’s colourful markets – mango, coconut and several types of banana
Visiting the Gothic St George’s Cathedral in Georgetown
Sampling local rums at a distillery
Boating down the Rewa and Rupununi rivers and fishing for piranha and arapaima
Walk through the rainforest canopy of Iwokrama Forest, on a series of hanging bridges

Giving back

Caiman House in the central savannah of Guyana supports local community and conservation projects. A stay here helps the local NGO to sustain school libraries, cultural, wildlife and nature-inspired initiatives. See: Caiman House for more information.

Start Planning

Our experienced team will guide you through a number of ideas based on how you would like to experience Guyana.

Consider visiting Guyana in combination with neighbouring and nearby countries Suriname, French Guiana and Brazil or combine with a beach break in the Caribbean.

Browse our gallery for inspiration and read the sample itinerary below to whet your appetite.

No matter how long you wish to travel, we’ll guide you through the planning process to ensure a trip is carefully pieced together to suit your interests, pace of travel and budget.