Perfect destination for adventure, bird watching and wildlife enthusiasts
Here is a little practical information about the destination to help with your planning, but please do contact us with any questions that you might have.
The capital is Georgetown and Guyana is South America’s only English speaking country. Some Amerindian communities also speak their indigenous language. Creole, which is a Pidgin English, is also widely spoken.
Please consult your own doctor’s surgery for up to the minute advice. It is advisable to make sure that your inoculations particularly tetanus are up to date and vaccinations for Typhoid and Hepatitis A are also often advised.
Many of the areas you visit in Guyana’s interior will have no malaria. However, it is recommended to take malaria prophylactics as a precaution on trips to certain areas and it is always recommended to be protected from mosquito bites, so do use repellants.
No visas are required for UK, US, Canada or European passport holders but your passport must be valid for 6 months.
The currency is the Guyana dollar and the exchange rate is adjusted regularly. Cash and travellers cheques can be exchanged in hotels, banks and cambios. Cambios normally offer the best exchange rate. Holders of Cirrus cards can obtain cash from ATM machines in Georgetown only. Credit cards are not widely accepted by ATM's but most major hotels and some restaurants will accept credit cards.
There are two wet seasons in the north of the country, from May to June, and from December to January. The south and the Rupununi region receive one wet season from May to July. All wet seasons may extend into the months either side. Rainfall averages 2,300 mm a year in Georgetown.
The sun can be very hot, and it is recommended that you wear sun screen, sun glasses and a hat. The mean shade temperature is 27C; maximum is 31C and minimum is 24C.
It is not possible to fly directly to Guyana from the UK, the best routes being via one of the Caribbean islands. BA to Trinidad and then a 45 minute Caribbean Airlines connection is perhaps the easiest route, but it is also possible to connect in Barbados or another Caribbean island or to fly via the USA.