Land of Many Waters and Wild Forest
Guyana is a country on the north-east coast of South America, known for its enormous tracts of intact rainforest, its mighty rivers and its Caribbean character. Its name is widely said to come from an Indigenous word meaning land of many waters. English is the official language, the country is a member of the Caribbean Community, and independence from Britain came on 26 May 1966, which makes Guyana a natural bridge between the Caribbean and the Amazon region.
The coast is home to most of the population, with Georgetown the capital, a city of canals, tall wooden buildings and the Stabroek Market with its cast-iron clock tower. St George's Cathedral is often cited as one of the tallest wooden buildings in the world. Inland, the landscape changes dramatically: rainforest, savannah, mountains and rivers run for hundreds of miles, and the nation's food reflects Indian, African, Indigenous and Chinese traditions in dishes such as pepperpot and roti.
Kaieteur Falls, Rupununi and Wild Encounters
Kaieteur Falls is the headline, a single-drop waterfall in Kaieteur National Park that plunges roughly 226 metres in one unbroken sweep, among the most powerful single-drop falls in the world by volume. Most visitors arrive by light aircraft, and the flight over unbroken forest is an experience in itself. Orinduik Falls, a cascading series of terraces, makes a gentler companion stop on the same circuit.
The Rupununi savannah and the Iwokrama rainforest are where wildlife thrives: giant otters, jaguars, harpy eagles, giant anteaters and the arapaima, among the largest freshwater fish. Working ranches and community-run lodges offer birdwatching, river trips and guiding led by local Makushi communities. For a tourist board, Guyana is a story of authentic eco-adventure, with the added draw of Shell Beach, where marine turtles nest on the Atlantic coast.
Read the full Guyana guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitGuyana.nl on Visit Travel Group.