17-day trip of Guyana’s highlights

Day 3 | Georgetown

You will be collected from your hotel early in the morning for a drive eastwards, along the Atlantic coast to the Mahaica River. The road passes through agricultural land where rice and other crops are grown. Along the river, the landscape remains unspoilt and provides a habitat for countless bird species, including herons, ibises, waders and Guyana’s national bird: the Hoatzin. Howler monkeys and giant otters are also regularly spotted here. You’ll explore the river by boat, one of the best places to spot the rare blood-coloured woodpecker. This is also where you’ll have the best chance of seeing the remarkable hoatzin – a striking, almost prehistoric-looking bird found exclusively in this part of South America. After the boat trip, you’ll enjoy breakfast and, on the way back to Georgetown, make a short stop at the mudflats along the coast. Here you’ll often see large flocks of red ibises and herons and, with a bit of luck, the rare Rufous Crab-Hawk.
Overnight: Cara Lodge | bed and breakfast

Day 4 | Georgetown

You will be picked up for your flight over the Demerara and Essequibo rivers and hundreds of kilometres of unspoilt tropical rainforest, eventually landing at Kaieteur Falls – the world’s highest free-falling waterfall. Kaieteur is situated in the interior of Guyana, on the Potaro River, a tributary of the Essequibo. Here, the water plunges 226 metres in a single free fall – five times as high as Niagara Falls. The waterfall is situated in a remote area with a unique microclimate, home to unusual species such as the rare rock partridge and the tiny golden frog, which spends its entire life in the enormous tank bromeliads surrounding the waterfall. After visiting the waterfall, you will fly back to Georgetown, where you will be taken back to your hotel.
Overnight stay: Cara Lodge | bed and breakfast

© Sabrina Gaudio

Day 5 | Georgetown – Iwokrama Rainforest

You will be collected and taken to Georgetown Airport, where you will check in for your flight to the interior. After an impressive flight, you will land at Fair View Airstrip, where you will be met and taken along a picturesque route to the Iwokrama River Lodge. Once you have settled in, you will set off with an Iwokrama ranger to explore the walking trails around the lodge. This area is a true paradise for birdwatchers. There’s a good chance you’ll spot rare species here, such as the Capuchin Bird, Guiana Toucanolet, Pompadour Cotinga, Green Aracari and various species of woodpeckers, anteaters and antwren. With a bit of luck, you might even spot rarities such as the White-winged or Rusty-backed Potoo, or the Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo. The surrounding jungle is also home to mammals such as the red-rumped agouti and various species of monkey, including the red howler monkey and the black spider monkey. After sunset, you’ll head out onto the river by boat in search of one of the four species of caiman that live here. Along the way, you’ll listen to the sounds of nocturnal birds and scan the water with torches for the glint of eyes – from snakes, tree frogs and, who knows, perhaps even a larger nocturnal creature that might make an appearance.
Overnight stay at Iwokrama River Lodge | full board

Day 6 | Iwokrama Rainforest

You’ll start the day early with a boat trip along the Essequibo River, sailing around Indian House Island. After breakfast at the lodge, you’ll set off by boat once more, this time heading for Turtle Mountain. Along the way, keep an eye out for rare bird species. The walk to the summit takes about an hour and a half and leads through dense rainforest. Once at the top, you’ll be rewarded with a breathtaking view over the treetops and may spot monkeys and impressive birds, such as the Green Aracari and the White Bellbird. Is the climb too strenuous? Then you can opt for a more leisurely boat trip to Stanley Lake, where you can keep an eye out for giant otters and black caimans. At the end of the afternoon, you’ll sail to the Kurupukari Falls. At low water, you can admire ancient rock carvings made by the indigenous people – a lovely way to round off a varied day in nature.
Overnight stay at Iwokrama River Lodge | full board

Day 7 | Iwokrama Rainforest

Today you’ll continue your journey by 4x4 along one of the best routes in Guyana to spot the elusive jaguar. There’s no guarantee, but many have been lucky here. Along the way, you’ll keep an eye out for countless bird species and mammals such as agoutis, tayras, tapirs and the black hokko. Your final destination on the route is the Atta Rainforest Lodge, situated on the edge of the Iwokrama Reserve and home to the impressive Iwokrama Canopy Walkway. This consists of four suspension bridges and three viewing platforms, the highest of which is over 30 metres above the ground (please note: two bridges and one platform are currently closed for maintenance). Around the clearing near the lodge, you also have a good chance of spotting the rare Crimson Fruitcrow — one of Guyana’s top bird species. The Black Hokko is also a regular sight here; a now familiar visitor that often moves through the clearing with its family group.
Accommodation: Atta Rainforest Lodge | full board

Day 8 | Iwokrama Rainforest

Before sunrise, you’ll return to the canopy walkway, an excellent spot for birdwatching. Here you may spot the Green Aracari, the Rufous-throated Sapphire and, with a bit of luck, even the Pompadour Cotinga. Red howler monkeys and black spider monkeys also sometimes make an appearance here. In the area around the lodge, you can go on lovely walks, during which you may encounter various bird species, insects, monkeys and mammals such as tapirs, deer and agoutis. Avid birdwatchers can search here for the rare Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo. In the evening, the forest really comes to life. On the canopy walkway or during a night walk, you’ll have the chance to see nocturnal species, such as the White-winged Potoo – and who knows, perhaps even one of the big cats that roam this region.
Accommodation: Atta Rainforest Lodge | full board

Day 9 | Iwokrama Rainforest – Surama

You’ll start the day with the rainforest’s morning concert from the canopy walkway, after which you’ll return to the lodge for breakfast. You will then continue through the Iwokrama Forest to Corkwood, where a short walk will hopefully lead you to the colourful Guianan Cock-of-the-rock. Along the way, your guide will tell you about the plants and their traditional uses. You will then arrive in Surama, an indigenous community in the heart of the savannah, surrounded by the rainforest-covered Pakaraima Mountains. You’ll be staying at the village-run Surama Eco Lodge. Upon arrival, you’ll explore the surroundings with a local guide and observe the rich birdlife. Towards the end of the afternoon, you’ll take a walk towards the Burro Burro River. Along the way, you’ll have the chance to spot various animal species, after which you’ll continue by canoe in search of giant otters, tapirs and spider monkeys. In the evening, you’ll round off the day with an exciting night walk, searching for the mysterious sounds and lights of the forest in the dark.
Accommodation: Surama Eco-lodge | full board

Day 10 | Surama – Annai

Before sunrise, you’ll take a walk across the savannah and, for those who wish, climb Surama Mountain. It’s a challenging hike, especially after rain, but the view over the village, the savannah and the Pakaraima Mountains is well worth the effort. Prefer something a little less strenuous? Your guide will help you find a suitable alternative. Afterwards, you’ll travel on to Rock View Lodge in Annai, where the savannah gives way to the foothills of the rainforest. The tropical garden is an oasis for birds and teeming with life, from hummingbirds to fruit-eaters. Depending on the season, you can watch cashew nuts being roasted in the traditional way – a spectacular process in which the nuts spontaneously catch fire. You’re welcome to have a taste, of course. Local craftspeople are happy to demonstrate their work, and anyone who wishes can have a go themselves.
You’ll stay in a comfortable room with its own veranda and hammock. Meals are served in the shade of mango trees, using ingredients grown on the estate. And on hot days, the swimming pool offers a refreshing way to round off the day.
Overnight stay at Rock View Lodge | full board

Day 11 | Annai – Karanambu

Before dawn, you’ll walk along the Panorama Trail in the foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains. With stunning views over the savannah and the chance to spot colourful birds, this is a special way to start the day. After breakfast, you’ll travel on to Ginep Landing, where you’ll take a boat across the Rupununi River to Karanambu Lodge. Along the way, you’ll keep an eye out for giant otters, which are often seen along the riverbank. Karanambu is situated in a unique nature reserve comprising savannahs, marshes and forests, and is rich in biodiversity. You’ll stay in a charming lodge with traditionally built cottages and go on two guided excursions each day. These might include a boat trip along the river, a safari across the savannah or a walk to the nearby pools. In the evening, you’ll sail out to the giant water lily, which opens at sunset, and use a spotlight to search for nocturnal animals such as caimans.
Overnight stay at Karanambu Lodge | full board

Day 12 | Karanambu

Early in the morning, you’ll set off for a vast area of rolling grasslands, the habitat of the giant anteater. With a bit of luck, you’ll spot this impressive animal – up to two metres long – as it breaks open a termite mound in search of food. Giant anteaters usually live alone; mothers carry their young on their backs until they are independent.In the evening, you can take a boat trip along the river or opt for a walk along the wooded banks. This is an excellent spot for birdwatching, with a chance of spotting the colourful Agami heron. During an evening walk along the airstrip, you may encounter various species of nightjars, and on the grasslands we’ll keep an eye out for the striking double-crested lark.
Overnight stay at Karanambu Lodge | full board

Day 13 | Karanambu – Yupukari

In the morning, if you didn’t spot the giant anteater yesterday, you’ll have another chance to explore the savannah once more. You can also choose to travel up the Rupununi River by boat, in search of wild giant otters, black caimans and the impressive arapaima, one of the world’s largest freshwater fish. Afterwards, you’ll return to the lodge for breakfast.
We will then say our goodbyes and travel upstream by motorboat to the nearby indigenous village of Yupukari. On the outskirts of the village of Yupukari, in the heart of the Rupununi, lies Caiman House Field Station – a unique combination of guesthouse and research centre dedicated to conservation and education. Caiman House also plays an important role in the conservation of river turtles. As the rains now start earlier, eggs on sandbanks are sometimes threatened by flooding. Rangers dig up these eggs, take them to the centre, and reburied them there. After hatching, the young turtles are raised in protected ponds. During an annual celebration, they are released back into the river together with the children from the wildlife club. The yellow-spotted river turtle benefits from this in particular, but the rare giant turtle also receives special attention. You can visit the ponds with the young turtles yourself.
As a guest, you also have the unique opportunity to take part in research into the rare black caiman, the largest species in the alligator family. In the evening, you’ll join the local research team on a separate boat to observe how caimans are caught, measured and released back into the wild. This scientific contribution directly supports the conservation of this impressive species.
Accommodation: Caiman House | full board

Day 13 | Yupukari – Georgetown

In the morning, you’ll travel from Caiman House to Lethem, from where you’ll take a domestic flight to Georgetown Airport. On arrival, you’ll be met and taken to your accommodation in the city. You’ll have the rest of the day at your leisure.
Overnight: Cara Lodge | bed and breakfast

Day 15 | Georgetown

Today, you’ll be introduced to a much-loved Guyanese tradition in a truly flavourful way: 7 curry. This colourful, vegetarian dish consists of seven different curries and is served on special occasions – traditionally on a freshly picked water lily leaf, and eaten with your hands. You’ll start the day with a brief introduction and then pick a lotus leaf yourself to serve your meal on later. Afterwards, you’ll visit the Bourda market, where you’ll gather the fresh ingredients for the curry together with your guide. Along the way, you’ll enjoy a refreshing coconut. A stop at Tony’s famous puri shop will show you how these delicious buns are prepared in the traditional way. Naturally, you’ll sample a fresh puri on the spot, filled with your choice of filling, accompanied by local fruit juice. You’ll then head to Jessica and Eon’s secret garden, where the curries are cooked al fresco – just as they should be. Eon John, also known as the ‘Singing Chef’, will guide you through the cooking process and share his techniques and stories. When everything is ready, you’ll enjoy the meal together under the arbour, on a water lily leaf you’ve picked yourself – a truly Guyanese experience. To round off the evening, you’ll be treated to a private concert by Eon John, featuring his heartfelt and authentic Guyanese music. A perfect way to end your wonderful trip of Guyana.
Accommodation: Cara Lodge | bed and breakfast

Day 16 | Georgetown – Amsterdam

Unfortunately, your unique journey through Guyana comes to an end today. You will be collected from your hotel and taken to Georgetown Airport, where you will board your intercontinental flight to Amsterdam.

Day 17 | Amsterdam

You will arrive in Amsterdam today.