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Guyana General Tips


Tips and photos for Guyana vacations and tourism, posted by real travelers and Guyana locals.
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Make sure you have cash!
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  • DSwede
  • By DSwede on September 30, 2008
  • Guyana Page by DSwede
  • Guyana is a cash dependent country. With the exception of large purchases (for example at electronics store, major hotel or travel agent), everything is cash only.

    Make sure you have enough on hand, particularly when you head into the interior of the country. "Scotia Bank" has now a few branch offices in Georgetown. This is possibly the only place for people with foreign cards to use the ATM for withdrawals. They also honor American Express Travelers Checks. Main branch location is 62 Robb Street, near the corner of the Ave of the Republic.

    Other banks are available, but they do not always accept foreign cards in their teller machines.

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    What to know when you arrive
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  • DSwede
  • Updated By DSwede on September 30, 2008
  • Guyana Page by DSwede
  • Tourism and related infrastructure is not developed in Guyana. People who come here either already know what they are doing, or have the luxury of time and economics to figure it out.

    The first things to note is that there should be tourist maps of Georgetown and area available in the airport, "before" you get to the immigration desk. After you exit immigration/customs, there is a tourist information office, but all the ex-pats the I've met here say it is never open.

    Second thing to note is my Georgetown tip for getting from the airport to the town center. Third is my tip for getting cash if you do not already have Guyanese Dollars.

    And lastly, while they might not be all the helpful, the Tourism & Hospitality Association of Guyana office definitely has some friendly people... Located on Waterloo St (between New Market & Lamaha St), they will share contact information with all travel and excursion activity businesses.

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    Take a tour of Georgetown the...
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  • Bgem
  • By Bgem on September 8, 2002
  • Guyana Page by Bgem
  • Guyana General Tips
    by Bgem
    Take a tour of Georgetown the capital city, there are a number of interesting sights that should not be missed: the most famous being St. George's Cathedral (See attached photo). The Cathedral is one of the world's tallest free standing wooden buildings and was consecrated on 1892.
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    No trip to Georgetown would be complete without a visit to the Botanical Gardens and zoo. The Botanical Gardens houses one of the most extensive collection of tropical flora in the Caribbean and are laid out with ponds, canals, kissing bridges and bandstand. Over 100 species of Guyanese wildlife can be observed at the Zoo including a wide variety of tropical fishes and birds.
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    The Famous Stabroek Market, once described as a 'bizarre bazaar', contains every conceivable item from house hold goods and gold jewellery to fresh meat and vegetables brought to town on the river daily. The clock tower can be seen for miles around and is a famous landmark
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    The National Museum which contains a broad selection of our animal life and heritage should not be missed, nor the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, which explains Amerindian history and life style. The Demerar Harbour Bridge is the longest floating bridge in the world and connects the east and west banks of the Demerara River

    When I am not home in Guyana, I miss the tropical fruits like the genip, the awara and the mangoes. I have not even start to mention the Cookup Rice, the Shine Rice and The Black or White Pudding. At Christmas, there is nothing like the smell of the Pepperpot in the air on Christmas Eve night, nor can you miss the smell of the Guyana Black Cake baking in oven!!!

    Make sure that you get a taste of these other special dishes in Guyana like the Metem-me-gee or 'Dry Food' as the locals call it - a dish of ground provision served with fried fish - and the Garlic Pork, the Cassava Bread and the Cassava Pone.
    .......................................................................... .......................

    And if you are in for desert, nothing beats a taste of the local Fruits Salad, complete with mangoes, pineapple slices, pawpaw and banana as well as what other fruits may be in season. There are Indian sweet meats that will make your mouth water like the Parashad, the Vermacelli Cake and the Polurie.
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    So get ready, steady and get that flight, get on board and come to Guyana let us pamper you in our tropical paradise!!!!!!

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    Guyanese are very warm and...
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  • simbac2001
  • By simbac2001 on September 8, 2002
  • Guyana Page by simbac2001
  • Guyanese are very warm and welcoming and if you are looking for elegant, romantic dining and accommodation then look no further, the Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel, 132 air conditioned rooms is the ideal place, located in Central Georgetown. The atmosphere is a unique combination of tropical, elegant and casual with an enchanting view of the Demerara River and the Atlantic Ocean. Yes!!! you must enjoy choosing from an impressive variety of wines, liqueurs and local fruit punches and a variety of creole cuisine.
    Why not step into a cool and relaxing atmosphere at Hotel Tower, Plaza Hotel, Cara Lodge, Cara Inn and Georgetown Club they sure can accommodate you in an spendid way, the drinks are tropical too and the food is just sizzling...prepared with the freshest ingredients with an accent on light and healthy dishes

    The seawalls is my favourite place for the relaxation of the mine, body and soul.....sitting on the walls of Guyana seashores is a very refreshing experience.

    From the top of the seawall...... it is possible to see the vehicles go by on there way to and from Guyana's East Coast, and ships coming into the Demerara River and leaving the Demerara River for the Atlantic Ocean.

    The Guyana Seawall is also a place where people from all walks of life exercise in the mornings and evenings....... it is also an ideal lovers lane watching the beautiful sun set in the evenings.

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    Land of many waters
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  • bianchis
  • By bianchis on October 16, 2003
  • Guyana Page by bianchis
  • Guyana General Tips
    by bianchis
    Esequibo river, 21 miles across at its mouth and reputed to contain 365 islands. Take a ferry to Adventure on the western bank. Then by road to Charity and again by boat. West of the Pomeroon River, the coast is almost uninhabited. Called Shell Beach it is a protected area and a nesting ground for four species of sea turtles. Leatherback, hawksbill, green and olive ridley turtles lay their eggs from March to June.
    Most of the region consists of mudflats and mangrove forests. Best explored by canoe. Parrots, toucans, ibises and flamingoes can be seen . Also manatees and river dolphins

    Has not be spoiled because it is not easily acceccable.
    Places like Shell Beach
    Accommodation is limited to a single camp run by an Arawak family. Facilities are tents with mosquito nets and central thatched dining hut. Wild life as far as you can see.

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    Suriname Embassy
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  • K1W1
  • By K1W1 on August 25, 2002
  • Guyana Page by K1W1
  • No real place for this so I'll put it here.
    The Surinam Embassy has moved and is now at the corner of Peter Rose and Crown streets. Kiwi's do need a visa - USD40.00

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    Travel quiz: Where is the...
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  • By ted_sabat on August 25, 2002
  • Guyana Page by ted_sabat
  • Travel quiz: Where is the world's longest floating bridge? At one & 1/4 miles long.
    Where is the world's tallest wooden building?
    Were is the world's highest SINGLE drop Water Fall?
    Which river in Guyana is 18 miles wide at it's mouth?
    Which country has rivers of drinkable water that also have 365 islands most uninhabited?
    Which coutry in the Caribbean has UNCHARTED Rain Forests?
    Which country in South America speaks English?
    O.K. that's enough for now, read on about GUYANA, Check the links and see the answers.

    Some of the best things about Guyana, are 1/ The fresh taste food. No chemicals in them. 2/ The fresh air, by the seawall in Georgetown or along the hundreds of miles of rivers or trails. 3/ The wildlife in the interior, and the birds. 4/ The night life in Georgetown, so cheap and a good standard.

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    Kaiteur Falls Guyana's number...
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  • bianchis
  • Updated By bianchis on October 16, 2003
  • Guyana Page by bianchis
  • Kaiteur Falls - Guyana
    Kaiteur Falls
    by bianchis
    Kaiteur Falls
    Guyana's number one attraction ranks alongside the Niagara, Victoria and Iguaz? falls in power and majesty - with the added bonus of being surrounded by virgin forest. Its waters drop 250 precipitous meters (820ft) from a sandstone tableland and, depending on the season, are nearly 100m (328ft) wide. Its isolated location means wildlife thrives in the area, but it also requires determination to reach. Small planes fly to the falls from Georgetown but seats can be difficult to secure. Otherwise, it's a rugged two-day walk with a guide from Bartica (see Off the Beaten Track). Orinduik Falls, southwest of here, on the Brazilian border, is another popular destination.

    Speaking of Guyanese travel opportunities, there are wonderful jungle lodges where you can pig out on wild game, jumbo shrimp and tropical fruits and veggies. For the adventurous soul seeking the ultimate different vacation, it would be hard to top Guyana.

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    the zoo is cool never seen so...
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  • d1955q
  • By d1955q on August 24, 2002
  • Guyana Page by d1955q
  • Guyana General Tips
    by d1955q
    the zoo is cool never seen so many strange animals and birds in real life

    the people are so friendly but watch out for the beggars but i felt sorry for them and helped them out anyway

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    The featured picture is the...
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  • pjallittle
  • By pjallittle on August 24, 2002
  • Guyana Page by pjallittle
  • Guyana General Tips
    by pjallittle

    The featured picture is the City Hall located in Georgetown. It has an almost Disneyesque quality to it, reminded me of the


    Our guide was a very well educated man who found that he could make more money as a taxi/tour driver than as a school teacher. He was well acquainted with the sites and the History of this Country, a land that has been under the influence of several countries in the past, the last being England.

    Sometime I'll have to figure out how many cities and.or towns there are in this world named GEORGETOWN which is the Capital city of Guyana. This country is, as mentioned earlier, the only English speaking South American country which makes for an even more interesting trip for the English speaking people who visit. There are still smatterings of Dutch and French undertones there, and they are located relatively close to both SURINAME & FRENCH GUIANA. the subjects of my last two pages.

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    Hotels and Accommodations
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    Things To Do
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    Nightlife
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    Transportation
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