Guyana Vacation and Trip Information

Guyana, the third smallest country in South America after Suriname and Uruguay, sits on the North Atlantic coast between Venezuela and Suriname. Before Dutch settlers arrived in the 16th century, both the Carib and Arawak tribes lived in the region. They gave it the name Guiana, meaning “land of many waters.” The British gained control of the area in 1796 and consolidated several colonies into British Guiana. After independence in 1966, political troubles, ethnic tension and mismanagement have led to one of the poorest economies in South America. 

Despite these troubles, Guyana, the only English-speaking country on the continent, has everything an eco-tourist could desire, with unusual creatures, natural wonders and few other visitors. The tropical rainforest offers an abundance of exotic plants and animals like harpy eagles, spider monkeys and scarlet macaws. Kaieteur Falls in the heart of the country in Kaieteur National Park, stands five times higher than Niagara. However, beyond hotels in the capital of Georgetown and several eco-resorts, tourist facilities are not yet developed. Most of the population lives on the coast, leaving travel in the sparsely populated and undeveloped interior difficult; many inland regions are only accessible by plane or boat and the few roads often become impassable in the rainy seasons.