Guyana
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Guyana |
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Most visitors that come to Guyana for a holiday or vacation do so for Guyana's natural attractions that are spectacular and. While lingering effects of Dutch and British colonization make for an unpredictable political and demographic climate, the Guyanese are doing what they can to make their country an tourism haven. It is becoming especially popular for ecotourism. Guyana has immense waterfalls, vast tropical rainforests and grasslands that are filled with interesting wildlife. There's still a hint of frontier wildness about the country that are not only apparent in the interior, but also in the capital of Georgetown. But still, for the discriminating traveler, there are several interesting treasures that await them.
Travel Etiquette |
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History
Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815
Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to black
settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured servants from India
to work the sugar plantations. This ethnocultural divide has persisted and has
led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and
since then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992,
Cheddi JAGAN was elected president in what is considered the country's first
free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his
wife, Janet JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her
successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001 and again in 2006.
Travel
Etiquette
Behavior and customs vary greatly from country to country. We
discuss the correct travel etiquette so that you won't be caught out.
TravelEtiquette was formed to offer a unique reference
point on essential etiquette advice and information for worldwide
travel. Our features and articles are written by professional
journalists and experts - who have a particular interest, or a
background in this area. So – know before you go. Visit
TravelEtiquette so you will know how to, as the old adage states, “When in Rome,
do as the Romans do.”
Learn the
Language
The official language is English.
| You will enjoy your visit to Guyana if you know the language - or at least, some of the language. Visit the Getting Away Language Learning Center to find out how you can make your visit more meaningful. The Getting Away Language Learning Center will give you all of the information you will need to begin learning today! |
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Best Time to Go
Guyana has two distinct rainy seasons: May to mid-August and
mid-November to mid-January. August through October are the hottest months. This
makes the best time to visit at the end of either rainy season,
in late January or late August. This is also the time when the discharge of water over
Kaieteur Falls is at its fullest. Mid-October to
mid-May, which may be wet, but not as hot, is also a good time to
visit. If you want to travel
overland to the interior, come during the dry seasons (Jan-Apr and
Aug-Oct). While Atlantic sea breezes bring some relief during the day. Guyana's climate hardly budges from
25-30°C (75-85°F) with on-and-off rain, mostly in September and
October. Nevertheless, sunshine is still regular and conditions are
overall more comfortable on the plateau if the coast and lowlands
get a bit much.
Money and Costs
If you are traveling on a budget, you can get by on as little as US$10.00 per day.
However, for most travelers who like to stay in more comfortable hotels and
enjoy dining at restaurants
should expect to spend around US$30 to $50 per day.
Credit cards are accepted at Georgetown's better hotels and
restaurants and that is about it. Credit card advances can be made only at the Scotiabank.
Currency Exchange - Get your currency needs managed in advance! Many airports, railroad stations, bus depots, and other points of entry have no currency exchange. When currency exchange is available in airports, lines can be long and rates can be "sky high". These long waits and usurious fees can be a nightmare. Order in advance from All Foreign Currency right online. It's fast, easy, and you save time and money! The can also provide you with Travelers' checks, bank drafts, and transfers. U.S. dollars are not accepted everywhere and rates can be atrocious! Current Exchange Rate: Check Today's Exchange Rate
Travel
Warnings
Tourists need to travel carefully while in Guyana. Home invasions, carjacking,
kidnappings and shootings are not uncommon in Guyana. And, the violence is not
limited to the interior. in fact, these types of crimes are particularly common
in Georgetown and New Amsterdam. Georgetown's Tiger Bay and Stabroek Market
areas and all of the city's south should be avoided after dark. The east coast
of the Demerara river is also a high-risk area, particularly the villages of
Buxton, Friendship and Annadale, as is the highway from Timerhi to Linden. Go to
the United States Department of State (http://travel.state.gov)
and click on Travel Warnings.
If you have something you believe should be added to this section of Getting Away, please send the information to Jim at Getting Away. mailto: jimbruner@gettingaway.com
Getting To and Around in
Guyana
Passport Information
Visa Information
Getting To
Guyana
Getting
Around in Guyana
Check this chart to see what you need for entry into Guyana
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Country of Citizenship |
Passport? |
Visa? | Return Ticket Required? |
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Australian |
Yes |
No | Yes |
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British |
Yes | No | Yes |
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Canadian |
Yes | No | Yes |
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Japanese |
Yes | No | Yes |
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United States |
Yes | No | Yes |
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Other EU |
Yes | No-1 | Yes |
A passport that is valid for at
least six months beyond intended stay required by all visitors to Guyana.
Visa Information
Required by all except the
following:
►1. nationals mentioned in the
chart above for stays of up to 90 days (except nationals of Austria, Cyprus, the
Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovak
Republic and Slovenia who do need a visa);
►persons of Guyanese birth with
foreign passports provided their passports clearly indicate place of birth or
they have other satisfactory documentary evidence;
►nationals of Antigua & Barbuda, The
Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Korea (Dem Rep), Korea
(Rep), Montserrat, New Zealand, Norway, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent &
the Grenadines, South Africa, Surinam, Switzerland and Trinidad & Tobago,
provided they hold onward or return tickets and sufficient funds for the
duration of stay;
►transit passengers continuing their
journey to a third country by the same aircraft or by first connecting aircraft
within seven hours, without leaving the airport.
Further, more detailed information can be found
on the
E-World Guide.
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Passport Visa Express specializes in obtaining Passports for United States Citizens who wish to travel internationally within the next 30 days. We work directly with the U.S. Passport Agency assisting you in expediting your passport application in as fast as the same day! Our passport consultants have many years of direct experience working with the Passport Agency. |
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Overland crossings can be made to/from Brazil at the Lethem-Bomfin crossing point. The border crossing between Guyana and Venezuela is closed. A passenger ferry crosses the Courantyne River at Corriverton (Springlands) to the Surinamese town of Nieuw Nickerie.
In the northeast, a ferry connects Corriverton (Springlands) via
Moleson Creek to the Surinamese border town of Nieuw Nickerie via
South Drain, from where you can 4WD to Paramaribo and French Guiana.
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Jungles & Jaguars - 14 days -
Flight inclusive
|
Click on The Adventure Company link
below for additional information and current pricing. |
Minibuses and collective taxis link Georgetown and most towns on the coastal belt. Bus services are mainly confined to the maintained roads of the eastern coastal areas. he roads are pretty bad, apart from a paved two-lane stretch from the capital to Linden. With almost 620 miles of navigable river, Guyana has an extensive ferry service. Car hire is available in Georgetown and taxis are a must if crossing the city at night.
If you have something you believe should be added to this section of Getting Away, please send the information to Jim at Getting Away. mailto: jimbruner@gettingaway.com
Cities, Towns and Areas of Guyana
Bartica
The mining town of Bartica gives tourists a nice break from Georgetown. While
the population of miners and forest workers may be rambunctious, you will find
that they are generally Guyanese friendly. Easy excursions from the town include
Marshall Falls and the ruins of the Dutch fort Kyk-Over-Al.
Coming Soon. In the meantime, if you have something you believe should be added to this sectuib of Getting Away, please send the information to Jim at Getting Away. mailto: jimbruner@gettingaway.com
| Book Hostels in Guyana Online You can also find a hostel almost anywhere in the world through Experience Paradise, a partner of Getting Away. |
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Coming Soon. In the meantime, if you have something you believe should be added to this section of Getting Away, please send the information to Jim at Getting Away. mailto: jimbruner@gettingaway.com
Coming Soon. In the meantime, if you have something you believe should be added to this section of Getting Away, please send the information to Jim at Getting Away. mailto: jimbruner@gettingaway.com
Iwokrama Rain Forest
Established in 1996, Iwokrama is a living laboratory for
tropical forest management and socio-economic development. With over 916,760 acres of virgin rainforest,
this exceptional region is home to the highest recorded number of
fish and bat species in the world. It is also home to South America's largest cat (the jaguar), the
world's largest scaled fresh water fish (the arapaima), and the
world's largest otters, river turtles, anteaters, snakes, rodents,
eagles and caimans. It seems as though everything is bigger here.
Kaieteur Falls
This falls is nothing but spectacular. Watching 30,000 gallons of water per
second fall from an over 800 foot cliff in the middle of an ancient jungle
is really something. And, as there are normally few tourists here, it is nothing
like standing in a mob of tourists at Niagara Falls in Canada. Even if you have
been to Angel or Iguazú falls, it is still worth the time and effort to go to
Kaieteur Falls. Depending on the season, the
falls are from 250 to 400 feet wide. Swifts nest under
the falls' overhang and dart in and out of the waters around sunset
each night. The walk to the falls is also interesting as you look for
the showy
scarlet cock-of-the-rock birds.
Jungles & Jaguars - 14 days -
Flight inclusive
|
Click on The Adventure Company link
below for additional information and current pricing. |
If you have something you believe should be added to this section of Getting Away, please send the information to Jim at Getting Away. mailto: jimbruner@gettingaway.com
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