Highlights
Kaieteur Falls is Guyana's crown jewel and one of the world's most spectacular waterfalls — a single, thundering drop of around 226 metres (nearly five times the height of Niagara) plunging into a rainforest gorge, all the more astonishing for its remote, pristine, crowd-free setting, usually reached by a small charter flight over unbroken jungle.
Guyana's interior is a vast, pristine wilderness — the Iwokrama rainforest reserve (with its canopy walkway and community eco-lodges) and the Rupununi savannahs offer some of the world's best chances to spot jaguars, giant river otters, giant anteaters, harpy eagles, black caiman and the world's largest lily pads, staying at ranches and Amerindian community lodges.
Georgetown, the faded-charming capital, showcases distinctive Dutch-influenced wooden colonial architecture (the towering St George's Cathedral, one of the world's tallest wooden buildings), a lively market and a Caribbean-Creole culture. This is genuine ecotourism — remote, community-based and pristine — rewarding the adventurous with wildlife encounters among the finest in the Amazon.
When to go
The two dry seasons — roughly mid-August to November and February to April — are the best times to visit, with easier travel on the rough interior routes and good wildlife viewing in the rainforest and savannah. Kaieteur Falls is spectacular year-round but especially powerful after the rains.
The wet seasons (May to mid-August, and December to January) bring heavy rain that can flood roads and rivers, complicating overland travel though feeding the falls. Guyana is hot and humid year-round. For the most practical interior travel and wildlife, aim for one of the dry windows, especially September to November.
Visa & entry
Many nationalities (including the EU, UK, US, Canada, Australia and Caribbean/Commonwealth countries) can enter Guyana visa-free for tourist stays (commonly up to 30-90 days), while others need a visa. A passport valid six months, proof of onward travel and often a yellow-fever vaccination certificate are required.
Confirm the current visa-free allowance and health requirements for your nationality with a Guyanese mission or official sources before you travel, as rules can change.
Health & safety
Guyana is generally welcoming, and the interior eco-lodges and community areas are safe and remote, but Georgetown has a notable crime rate, so take real care in the capital — avoid displaying valuables, don't walk around at night, use trusted taxis and hotel transfers, and avoid certain areas.
The interior's genuine challenges are practical and natural: remote rainforest, rough roads, river travel, tropical disease (malaria and a mandatory-in-some-cases yellow-fever certificate — take precautions), and wildlife safety. Most interior travel is via organised eco-tours that handle logistics and safety. Comprehensive insurance with evacuation cover is essential given the remoteness. Check your government's current travel advisory before departure.
Getting around
Getting into Guyana's interior means flying — small charter flights are the standard way to reach Kaieteur Falls and remote lodges over the roadless rainforest, often included in tour packages. Overland travel to the Rupununi is possible on rough roads (4x4, long and slow, seasonal), and river boats reach many areas. Most interior travel is arranged through eco-tour operators who handle the complex logistics.
Around Georgetown and the coast, shared minibuses and taxis operate (use trusted or hotel-arranged taxis for safety), and the main coastal road links the towns. Given the remoteness and safety considerations, most visitors travel with reputable operators for the interior and use careful transport in the capital.
Money
The Guyanese Dollar is the local currency; Guyana is largely a cash economy, especially in the interior, so carry plenty of cash for lodges, villages, transport and tips, as card acceptance is limited to some Georgetown hotels and establishments. ATMs are available in Georgetown and coastal towns but essentially absent in the interior, so withdraw everything you'll need before heading inland.
US dollars are widely accepted and easily exchanged (bring clean notes). Guyana is moderately priced, though charter flights and eco-lodges are a significant cost. Tipping is customary — around 10% in restaurants, and small tips for guides (superb wildlife spotters), lodge staff, drivers and boat crews.
Guyana