Guyana

Guyana is the third smallest country in South America, with its capital and largest city in Georgetown. Guyana has a tropical weather, with the dry and wet season being its two distinct seasons. The peak travel time to visit Guyana is during the dry months of September to April, which is perfect for exploring the rainforests, wildlife spotting, jungle treks, bird watching and experiencing festivals. Guyana’s population is home to six main ethnic groups of the Amerindians, Africans, Indians, Europeans and Chinese. Its most popular foods are cassava bread, rice curry, Guyanese pepperpot and Chow Mein, religion is split between the Christians, Muslims and Hindus. The English is the official language while English Creolese is the commonly spoken language here, with a bit of Hindi and Chinese.

 Air travel is the fastest and most convenient way of getting around the country; the Georgetown’s Eugene F. Correia International Airport is the main gateway to get flights to different parts of the country. For intra city travel, you can use the buses, taxis, car rentals or river taxis. Guyana is a relatively safe place for travelers to visit, however it is recommended that you are cautious in crowded or remote areas in the capital city and other coastal urban areas.

Some festivals you can attend while in Guyana include the Easter International Food and Drink Fest, Mashramani, Divali and Paghwa festivals.

Guyana is rich with historical monuments from colonial artifacts and indigenous relics, a leading wildlife and bird watching destination, which offers any traveler with a vast opportunity to see and experience various places of attractions in the country. These places of interest include:

·         National Museum, Georgetown: this museum houses an extensive collection of beautifully preserved animals representing most of Guyana’s diverse fauna. Taking a look through the exhibits on display gives you a peek into what you would expect deep in the rainforests of Guyana.

·         National Art Gallery, Georgetown: there is a grand collection of Guyanese art and the work of local artists in the National Art Gallery. It also has the fascinating history of being the house of the country’s former Prime Minister, Forbes Burnham.

·          Botanical Park and Zoological Park, Georgetown: this zoo gives you the opportunity to get up close to animals like the jaguar, boa constrictor, sloth and a harpy eagle. You could also spot about 50 species of birds at the botanical gardens.

·          Shell Beach: during the months of March to August, this beach becomes the nestling ground to droves of prehistoric looking marine turtles. These turtles make up four different species of the world’s eight most endangered turtles.

·          Iwokrama Rainforest: this is recognized as one of the last pristine rainforests in the world. There are camps throughout the forest for visitors to explore the rainforest, you can spot jungle wildlife or walk the Iwokrama walkway for those who aren’t scared of heights.

There are over 10,000 hotels and apartments to stay in Guyana, so you will be spoiled for choice especially when in Georgetown.