Guyana Tours & Holidays

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.

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.

Intrepid takes the health and safety of its travellers seriously, and takes every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and enjoyable for everyone. We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure:

www.lonelyplanet.com/the-guianas/guyana

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.

Can of soft drink = 100-150 GYD
A bottle of beer = 200-300 GYD
Simple lunch at a city café = 2000-3000 GYD
Dinner at a nice city restaurant = 5000 GYD

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.

Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of your 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

• 1 Jan New Year's Day
• 2 Jan New Year Holiday
• 23 Feb Republic Day
• 12 Mar Holi
• 13 Mar Holi Holiday
• 14 Apr Good Friday
• 17 Apr 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

Please note these dates are for 2017. For a current list of public holidays in Guyana go to: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/guyana/public-holidays