Guyana tours & vacations
At this stage we don't have any organized trips to Guyana.
That said, Intrepid can create tailor-made tours to many destinations, including Guyana. Our fully customized trips still offer the same small group experiences with local leaders but made just the way you want them. Simply fill out your details on our Tailor-Made page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch. Or why not check out our other South America tours?
Our Guyana trips
Let's create an exclusive trip for your group.
Explore Tailor-Made tripsGuyana at a glance
CAPITAL CITY
Georgetown (population 250,000)
POPULATION
805,000
CURRENCY
GYD
LANGUAGE
English, Urdu, Creole
TIME ZONE
(GMT-04:00) Manaus
CALLING CODE
+592
ELECTRICITY
Type A (North American/Japanese 2-pin) Type B (American 3-pin) Type D (Old British 3-pin) Type G (Irish/British 3-pin)
Learn more about Guyana
Best time to visit Guyana
Guyana's tropical climate ensures warm temperatures and high humidity all year round. May, June, July, December and January typically see the most rainfall, with storms and downpours of heavy rain more prevalent in the afternoon. Coastal regions tend to catch cool sea breezes, which bring the temperature down and provide respite from the heat. Generally, a great variety of birds, mammals and amphibians can be found in Guyana at any time of year.
Geography and environment
Bordered by Brazil, Suriname and Venezuela, Guyana also has a long stretch of coastline along the North Atlantic Ocean. Dense tropical rainforest occupies more than 80% of Guyana's environment, with most inhabitants choosing to live near the coast, where arable land is available for farming and coastal breezes provide more temperate weather. Home to some of the world's most spectacular waterfalls, Guyana's vast landscapes and mighty rivers are largely untouched, leaving sizeable natural environments for hundreds of species of mammals, birds, butterflies, insects and marine life.
Top 3 cultural experiences in Guyana
1. Village visit
Guyana is home to many Amerindian people, who typically live in small villages and pursue a traditional way of life. Visiting a village is a privilege not to be missed when travelling through Guyana. Gain valuable insights into local customs, watch handicrafts being created and listen to the stories of the villagers who strive to retain a connection to their ancestors and natural world.
2. To market… to market
As a significant meeting and trading point for locals, Guyana's markets are a great way to observe local daily life in action. Admire traditional handicrafts, barter for fresh fruit and snack on some street food while picking up some local lingo and absorbing the atmosphere.
3. After dark
Renowned for its vibrant nightlife, Guyana's capital Georgetown is the ultimate place to experience the melange of cultures present in this modern day melting pot. Listen to Caribbean classics, dancehall, reggae and dub in clubs, watch a game of cricket at a sports club, or tuck into spicy Creole food in restaurants and cafes - either way, you'll see Georgetown truly comes alive at night.
Top responsible travel tips for Guyana
1. Be considerate of Guyana’s customs, traditions, religion and culture.
2. Dress modestly and respectfully. Shoulders to knees should be covered, especially when entering places of worship.
3. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water.
4. Always dispose of litter thoughtfully, including cigarette butts.
5. When bargaining at markets, stay calm, be reasonable and keep a smile on your face. It's meant to be fun!
6. Shop for locally made products. Supporting local artisans helps keep traditional crafts alive.
7. Refrain from supporting businesses that exploit or abuse endangered animals.
8. Please ask and receive permission before taking photos of people, including children.
9. When on community visits or homestays, refrain from giving gifts or money to locals.
10. Ramadan is the fasting month for all Muslims, and is observed by some parts of the Guyanese population. During this month no food, drink or smoking is permitted during daylight hours. While non-Muslims aren't expected to fast, it's important to be mindful of Ramadan while travelling in Guyana.
Further reading
| Title | Author |
| The Sly Company of People Who Care | Rahul Bhattacharya |
| Wild Coast: Travels on South America's Untamed Edge | John Gimlette |
| The Coloured Girl in the Ring: A Guyanese Woman Remembers | Brenda Chester DoHarris |
| Heartland | Wilson Harris |
Guyana travel FAQs
Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards
From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).
However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.
Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.
GUYANA:
Australia: Not required
Belgium: Not required
Canada: Not required
Germany: Not required
Ireland: Not required
Netherlands: Not required
New Zealand: Not required
South Africa: Not required
Switzerland: Not required
United Kingdom: Not required
USA: Not required
Tipping is up to the individual when travelling in Guyana. It isn’t expected but will be happily received by service workers like taxi drivers and waiters. Feel free to leave spare change or tip extra if the service is particularly good.
Internet availability is quite low in Guyana (in comparison to other South American countries). Hotels and cafes with internet facilities can be found in Georgetown, but keep in mind that the internet may not be available elsewhere in Guyana.
It's possible to use your mobile phone in most urban areas of Guyana depending on your provider. Remote and rural areas may not have network coverage. Ensure you have global roaming activated with your mobile carrier before you leave home if you wish to use your mobile while in Guyana.
Toilets in Guyana will vary depending on what area you are travelling in. Flushable, western-style toilets are common in the cities, large hotels, malls and clubs but more modest squat toilets are the standard in rural areas and while camping. Either way, carrying a supply of toilet paper and soap is a good idea, as these aren’t always available in public toilets.
Drinking tap water isn't recommended in Guyana. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water and fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water instead. It's also advisable to avoid ice in drinks and peel fruit and vegetables before eating.
While credit card usage is growing in Guyana, cards typically won't be accepted everywhere. Large hotels, shops and tourist operators may accept credit, while smaller vendors such as small family restaurants and market stalls probably won't. Make sure you carry enough cash for purchases, since credit cards aren't always an option everywhere in Guyana.
ATMs which accept foreign cards are available, but aren't widespread. Guyana's airport and capital city (Georgetown) are the best places to access ATMs, so do so while travelling through urban centres, as rural and remote areas will have little to no ATM access.
- 1 Jan New Year's Day
- 2 Jan New Year Holiday
- 23 Feb Republic Day
- 12 Mar Holi
- 13 Mar Holi Holiday
- *Good Friday
- *Easter Monday
- 1 May Labour Day
- 5 May Arrival Day
- 26 May Independence Day
- 3 Jul CARICOM Day
- 1 Aug Emancipation Day
- 1 Sep Eid-Ul-Azha(Feast of Sacrifice)
- 19 Oct Deepavali (Festival of Lights)
- 1 Dec Youman Nabi
- 25 Dec Christmas Day
- 26 Dec Boxing Day
See a current list of public holidays in Guyana.
Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.
For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance
From Australia?
Go to: Smart Traveller
From Canada?
Go to: Canada Travel Information
From the UK?
Go to: UK Foreign Travel Advice
From New Zealand?
Go to: Safe Travel
From the US?
Go to: US Department of State
The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.