Guyana

Eighty percent of Guyana is rainforest.  Travelling here is not for the faint hearted.  Journeys are long, accommodation simple but the rewards of pristine rainforest, a chance to see rare wildlife and contribute to the burgeoning community based tourism industry are well worth it.  If you travel here you will be one of only a few thousand annual visitors to what is said by some to be one of the last wildernesses on the planet. Guyana combines well with nearby Suriname and French Guiana. English is the national language so communication with indigenous people is straightforward and rewarding.  Highlights include:

• A chance to see the reason why Guyana is sometimes called the land of the giants.  You can see giant river otter, giant anteaters and the giant water lily Victoria Amazonica which sometimes grows to three metres diameter.  
• Travelling to visit indigenous villages and stay in community run guesthouses established to help communities stop trapping and poaching wildlife
• Take a day trip to see the thunderous Kaietur Falls, five times higher than Niagra Falls.
• Stay at the Karanambo Lodge where giant river otters are rescued and rehabilitated.  A great place to spot other wildlife and walk nature trails.  
• View incredible birdlife including the famous Cock of the Rock and giant harpy eagles.

Walking in Guyana

Lots of the activities in Guyana involve travelling on water by canoe or other boat.  Equally many of the activities involve walking – whether on a canopy walking trail or on a trail to see the Cock of the Rock.  But there are a number of hiking trails set up specifically for hiking, often taking you to the top of mountains for incredible views over the landscape.  Some of them can be pretty strenuous and may involve a night in the jungle – for example the Iwokrama Mountain Trail.  Others can be done as day walks and combine gentle walking often followed by a scramble to get to the top – for example a walk across the savannah followed by an ascent of Surama Mountain.  Guides are nearly always needed – often to chop back vegetation on overgrown paths.  And these can be booked at your lodge or organised beforehand.