Things to do in Guyana

What to see and do in Guyana: a shorter list of 25 experiences, not yet checked against sources.

25 things to do in Guyana

Nature

Witness the mighty Kaieteur Falls

Kaieteur National Park, Region 8

Stand at the edge of Kaieteur Falls, where the Potaro River plunges 226 meters into a misty gorge, often with no one else around.

Adventure

Trek to the base of Mount Roraima

Region 7, Cuyuni-Mazaruni

Embark on a multi-day expedition from Paruima through pristine rainforest to reach the base of Mount Roraima, Guyana's highest tepui, camping beside ancient rock formations.

Nature

Walk the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway

Iwokrama Rainforest, Region 8

Walk among the treetops on the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, spotting howler monkeys, macaws, and the elusive jaguar in one of the world's last pristine rainforests.

History

Explore Stabroek Market

Georgetown

Lose yourself in Stabroek Market, a 19th-century cast-iron structure where vendors sell fresh produce, spices, handcrafted jewellery, and exotic fruits.

Culture

Join the Mashramani street parade

Georgetown

Join the vibrant Mashramani street parade with colourful floats, steel bands, and costumed revellers celebrating Guyana's Republic Day.

Food

Taste authentic pepperpot at Cara Lodge

Georgetown

Sample authentic pepperpot, a slow-cooked Amerindian stew of cassareep and meat, at the historic Cara Lodge in Georgetown.

Nature

Float among Victoria Amazonica lilies at Karanambu

Karanambu, Region 9

Float past dinner-plate-sized Victoria Amazonica lily pads at Karanambu Ranch in the Rupununi, home to a renowned river ecology research center.

History

Visit Fort Zeelandia on Fort Island

Fort Island, Essequibo Islands

Explore the crumbling 18th-century Dutch fort on Fort Island, complete with a brick stronghold, cannons, and dramatic views of the Essequibo River.

Nature

Witness sea turtles nesting at Shell Beach

Shell Beach, Region 1

Witness leatherback, green, and hawksbill turtles nesting on a moonlit night at Shell Beach, a remote coastal wilderness only accessible by boat.

Hidden gem

Decode the Timehri petroglyphs

Timehri, Demerara-Mahaica

Examine mysterious pre-Columbian petroglyphs carved into boulders along the Timehri River, believed to be 3,000–5,000 years old.

Adventure

Spot black caiman at Caiman House

Yupukari, Region 9

Drift silently on the Rupununi River by moonlight, shining a spotlight to catch the red glowing eyes of black caiman, some up to five meters long.

Adventure

Canoe to Kyk-Over-Al

Fort Island, Essequibo Islands

Canoe through the narrow Fort Island channel to the haunting Kyk-Over-Al, a tiny Dutch fort ruin on a river island surrounded by dense jungle.

Adventure

Hike the Kanuku Mountains from Surama

Surama, Region 9

Join an indigenous guide from Surama Village for a dawn hike into the Kanuku Mountains, listening for the roaring calls of howler monkeys as the mist lifts.

Culture

Visit the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology

Georgetown

Delve into Guyana's nine Amerindian cultures through ancient pottery, woven hammocks, and shamanic artifacts at the Walter Roth Museum.

Hidden gem

Swim in the pools of Orinduik Falls

Region 8, Potaro-Siparuni

Bathe in the terraced pools of Orinduik Falls, where the Ireng River cascades over smooth jasper steps on the Brazil border.

Food

Tour the El Dorado Rum Heritage Centre

Diamond, East Bank Demerara

Tour the El Dorado Rum Heritage Centre to see centuries-old wooden stills and taste 15-year-old rums directly from the cask.

City

Stroll the Georgetown Seawall at sunset

Georgetown

Walk or jog along the Georgetown Seawall at sunset, watching fishing boats bob on the Atlantic while locals gather to enjoy the cool breeze.

History

Marvel at St. George's Cathedral

Georgetown

Marvel at the soaring wooden ceiling of St. George's Cathedral, an Anglican architectural marvel built in 1892 entirely of greenheart timber.

Nature

Birdwatch at Rewa Eco-Lodge

Rewa, Region 9

Spot harpy eagles, scarlet macaws, and Guianan cock-of-the-rock at Rewa Eco-Lodge, set where the Rupununi and Rewa rivers meet.

Culture

See cassava bread-making at Santa Mission

St. Cuthbert's Mission, Demerara-Mahaica

Visit the indigenous village of Santa Mission (St. Cuthberts) to see traditional cassava bread-making and weave with ite palm.

Adventure

Canoe safari on the Burro Burro River

Surama, Region 9

Take a canoe safari from Surama on the Burro Burro River, gliding past giant river otters and tapir tracks in the heart of the rainforest.

Food

Eat cook-up rice and pepper shrimp at Bourda Market

Georgetown

Sample fiery pepper shrimp and one-pot cook-up rice, a Creole staple of rice cooked in coconut milk with black-eyed peas and meat.

Nightlife

Dance to chutney-soca at Palm Court

Georgetown

Dance to live chutney-soca at the Palm Court in Georgetown, a popular nightspot where DJs spin until dawn.

History

Step inside the Umana Yana

Georgetown

Step inside the towering Umana Yana, an Indigenous benab built with local materials for the 1972 Non-Aligned Movement conference.

Nature

Spot pink river dolphins near Bartica

Bartica, Region 7

Join a guided boat trip from Bartica to find playful pink river dolphins in the deep brown waters of the Essequibo.

Nearby destinations

All destinations