Guyana

Key facts

• Region: South America — Sovereign states
• Capital: Georgetown
• Currency: Guyanese dollar (GYD)
• Languages: English
• Main airport: GEO — Cheddi Jagan International Airport, about 40 km from Georgetown
• Best time to visit: February to April and September to October are the driest windows; Guyana is a rainforest country and rains year-round

Overview

Guyana is the only English-speaking country in South America and is culturally tied to the Caribbean rather than to the Spanish-speaking republics around it. Most of its population lives on the narrow Atlantic coastal plain, leaving the vast interior covered in rainforest and savannah. Its main draws are large waterfalls, intact forest and wildlife rather than cities or colonial architecture.

Airports

Cheddi Jagan International Airport (GEO), about 40 km south of Georgetown at Timehri, is the main international gateway. Eugene F. Correia International Airport (OGL), also called Ogle, is the smaller airfield closer to Georgetown and handles regional and domestic flights to the interior. Airstrips at Kaieteur, Annai, Lethem and other interior locations connect the coast to the rainforest and Rupununi. There is no regular passenger rail service, so the interior is reached by light aircraft, road or river.

Main cities

Georgetown is the capital and by far the largest city, with a colonial-era centre, markets and St. George's Cathedral, one of the tallest wooden churches in the world. Anna Regina and New Amsterdam are the main towns of the coastal regions. Beyond the coast, Lethem is the main town of the Rupununi savannah on the Brazilian border. Most visitors use Georgetown as a base and fly or drive into the interior.

Places to go

Kaieteur Falls on the Potaro River is one of the world's tallest single-drop waterfalls and the country's headline attraction. The Iwokrama Forest and the adjoining Rupununi savannah support jaguars, giant river otters and a large bird list, reached by road or light aircraft. The Essequibo River and its islands offer boat trips through forest, and Amerindian villages such as Surama and Annai run community tourism. Shell Beach on the northwest coast is a nesting site for sea turtles between March and August.

Getting there

Cheapest cached round-trip fare into Guyana, refreshed every 6 hours:

Where to stay

Practical information

Frequently asked