A little more
Guyana.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Guyana: what to know before you go

Guyana, on the north-east coast of South America, is mostly rainforest and savannah, with a Caribbean-style capital on the coast and a population of under a million. It suits nature lovers, birdwatchers and travellers looking for waterfalls, wildlife and community-run lodges, with English as the official language.

Where to go

• Kaieteur Falls. One of the world's most powerful single-drop waterfalls, where the Potaro River plunges about 226 metres into a forested gorge.
• Iwokrama Forest. A large protected rainforest in the centre of the country, with a canopy walkway, river trips, jaguar sightings for the lucky and research-led conservation that involves local communities.
• The Rupununi. Wide savannah in the south-west, dotted with Indigenous villages, ranches and wetlands.
• Georgetown. The capital has Dutch-planned canals, wide avenues and wooden colonial buildings, including St George's Cathedral, one of the tallest wooden churches in the world.

Best time to visit

Guyana is hot and humid all year. It has two dry periods, roughly from mid-August to November and from February to April, which are the best times for travel to the interior.

Staying online in Guyana

4G coverage is generally good in Georgetown and along the coastal strip. In the interior, coverage is limited to some towns and villages, and large parts of the rainforest, rivers and savannah have no signal at all. Some lodges offer Wi-Fi, often via satellite and limited in speed. Download offline maps and bird guides before you travel. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.