Guyana holidays, jungles and jaguars
| country: | Guyana |
| departures: | 2010: 11 Feb, 14 Oct, 18 Nov 2011: 10 Feb, 7 Apr, 13 Oct, 17 Nov |
| price: | From £2999 - £3199 (18 days) including flights from the UK. From £2249 - £2349 excluding flights. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
The undiscovered country of Guyana is an exciting and dynamic destination which you can delve into and uncover magical natural wonders. The distinctive nature of this country will unfold before you, from the Amerindian population of Santa, to the summit of Surama and hopefully the elusive jaguar. The birds, animals and marine life that you see is an experience you never forget.
Visit the local communities
During your visit to Guyana you will have an abundance of experiences that will allow you to get closer to the heart of this vibrant country. From visiting the Amerindian population at Wowetta and learning about traditional crafts to staying in locally run eco-lodges you can really begin to understand the country.
Jungle, Indians and cowboys
After a day exploring the faded colonial capital of Georgetown continue up river by canoe to visit an Amerindian community - the forest is home to the elusive jaguar and tapirs, so keep your eyes and ears open. By contrast, in the savannah lands you can join vaqueros on horseback as they muster the cattle, or search for giant anteaters.
Visit the local communities
During your visit to Guyana you will have an abundance of experiences that will allow you to get closer to the heart of this vibrant country. From visiting the Amerindian population at Wowetta and learning about traditional crafts to staying in locally run eco-lodges you can really begin to understand the country.
Jungle, Indians and cowboys
After a day exploring the faded colonial capital of Georgetown continue up river by canoe to visit an Amerindian community - the forest is home to the elusive jaguar and tapirs, so keep your eyes and ears open. By contrast, in the savannah lands you can join vaqueros on horseback as they muster the cattle, or search for giant anteaters.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-2: | Depart London/ Arrive Georgetown Overnight flight to Georgetown. On arrival, transfer to your hotel. Hotel - 1 night. |
| Day 3: | Georgetown; Kaieteur Falls You will be free to explore colonial Geogetown or fly to the majestic Kaieteur Falls (additional charge). Five times higher than Niagara, Kaieteur Falls is one of the most powerul waterfalls on the planet. |
| Day 4: | Iwokrama This morning, depart at around 07:30 from Georgetown by 4WD for a trip through the rainforest into the heart of Guyana. Cross the Essequibo River to Iwokrama. The afternoon is free to explore the trails around the lodge with an Iwokrama Ranger. Enjoy a late afternoon boat trip to Michelle’s Island to swim and have a sundowner at the bar (drinks at own expense). On your return, you will be taken out on to the river to spot caiman and other nocturnal wildlife. Lodge - 2 nights. (BLD) |
| Day 5: | Kurupukari Falls; Fair View This morning you'll embark on an early morning boat ride near the lodge. After breakfast, you will leave the lodge for the journey to Turtle Mountain, and a leisurely stroll up the mountain to its summit at 935ft (approx. 360m). It takes an hour to walk up the mountain, but the effort is more than worth it for the breathtaking views over the forest canopy when you get there. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the forest (for those who may find the Turtle Mountain trek too strenuous they can take an alternative boat trip to Stanley Lake to search for giant river otters and black caiman or go birding along the trails near the lodge). On the return trip, visit Kurupukari Falls to see the Amerindian petroglyphs (dependent on the water level). Then visit the small Amerindian village of Fair View before returning to the lodge. (BLD) |
| Day 6: | Rainforest Lodge Before dawn you will transfer by 4WD along the trail that is one of the best places to see the elusive Jaguar. Iwokrama forest is rapidly gaining an international reputation for its healthy jaguar populations that seem not to be troubled by the appearance of curious humans. No promises, but many have been lucky! The journey ends at the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway which allows you to view the forest from 35 metres up in the canopy. Stay on the walkway until night falls and experience the canopy at night. Overnight in hammocks. Lodge - 1 night. (BLD) |
| Day 7: | Surama Welcome the dawn chorus from the tree-tops. After breakfast transfer to the Amerindian community of Surama. On arrival in Surama receive a welcome from a village counsellor and settle into your accommodation. A local guide will escort you for a short walk on trails to observe the forest and birdlife. As the afternoon cools your guide will take you on a tour of the village. Visit the local school, medical centre and church along with some of the village houses. Tonight enjoy an educational walk to observe wildlife and experience the mystique of the forest after dark. Eco-lodge - 1 night. (BLD) |
| Day 8: | Surama; savannah walk Rise before dawn for a walk across the savannah and then the gentle climb up Surama Mountain in the cool morning air. This is the best time to observe bird life along the trail. Breakfast will be served at a look out point which affords incredible views across the village and savannah to the Pakaraima Mountains. Return to village for lunch and then in the cool of late afternoon explore the surrounding forest. (BLD) |
| Day 9: | Burro Burro River Rise at dawn for an early breakfast, and then take a 3 mile hike across the savannah and through the rainforest to the Burro Burro River where you begin your canoe trip with opportunities to observe wildlife and birdlife. Along the way you can stop to swim, fish or take walks into the forest. Tonight the meals are cooked over an open fire and you will be sleeping in hammocks and mosquito nets to the sound of the forests under a tarp. Wild hammock camp - 2 nights. (BLD) |
| Day 10: | Burro Burro Continue to paddle and explore the Burro Burro River, here is where you will try your luck at catching the famous Haimara fish that is common to the Burro Burro waters. Tonight you will also try your hand at smoking, boiling or barbequing your catch. Spend the night in your hammock camp. (BLD) |
| Day 11: | Surama Today paddle back upriver to Carahaa Landing Camp and then walk back to Surama. Eco-lodge - 1 night. (BLD) |
| Day 12: | Amerindian Village After breakfast transfer for a trip with Amerindian guides from the village of Wowetta into the forest to see a Guianan Cock-of-the-rock lek that has up to 30 birds. Then continue onto Annai. The lodge is located where the savannah meets the forest-covered foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains. With its tropical gardens and flowering trees, the lodge resembles an oasis in the savannah, and attracts many species of birds, particularly nectar feeders and frugivores. Nearby patches of light forest are home to certain ant birds and flycatchers, and of course the grasslands support an avifauna of their own. Lodge - 1 night. (BLD) |
| Day 13: | Rewa From Annai transfer by 4WD to Kwatamang Landing, then travel along the Rupununi River with the opportunity to see wild giant river otters and black caiman. You will pass locals fishing and bathing in the river until you reach the Rewa River and the Amerindian community of Rewa. Journey time is approximately 50 miles by river and can be as short as two hours and as long as four hours depending on the water level. Rewa Village is located where the Rewa River runs into the Rupununi River in the North Rupununi. The surrounding area is rainforest, mountains and oxbow lakes and teeming with wildlife, birds and fish. The community of approximately 220 persons is predominately Macushi with a few families of the Wapashani and Patamona tribes. Villagers practice subsistence farming, fishing and hunting with little opportunity for cash employment. In 2005 the community constructed the Eco-lodge so that they could establish a sustainable eco-tourism business. The lodge remains virtually unknown with 82 visitors in 2007 and only 57 in 2008. The lodge itself is situated on the river bank overlooking the Rewa River with views down river to the Rupununi. Along the river bank, tables and benches offer a relaxing location to enjoy the river. The grassed clearing in the rainforest houses three benabs. The largest is the kitchen and dining area, with an outlook to the river. Accommodation is in two benabs each with two bedrooms and a large patio with hammocks for relaxing. Three bathrooms with flush toilet, shower and basin are just a few metres from the bedrooms. This afternoon take a boat up the Rewa River and then a 15 minute hike to Grass Pond. This pond or lake is about 3 kms long and is a beautiful setting. It has a good population of arapaima, (reportedly the highest density in Guyana) the largest fresh water fish in the world and you can also fish for peacock bass. During a late afternoon visit you may see brown capuchin monkey or capybara. Birds likely to be seen include limpkin, wattled jacana, black-collared hawk, green kingfisher and Guianan puffbird. As dusk settles watch the flower of the Victoria amazonica bloom. Lodge - 2 nights. (BLD) |
| Day 14: | Rewa; Rupununi River Enjoy breakfast at dawn overlooking the Rewa River. Then head out by boat along the Rupununi River, into an oxbow lake to begin a hike up Awarmie Mountain. The climb is steep in a few sections but in general not too difficult. Along the way you will see lots of birds and perhaps good close up views of black spider monkeys. There is good birding along the trail with white bellbirds calling both from the scrubby woodland at the beginning of the trail and again from the forests far below you when reach the summit. Other species you may see include ornate hawk-eagle, black curassow, red-fan parrot, Guianan puffbird, Todd’s antwren, spotted tanager and bay-headed tanager. The area also has a high density of macaws including scarlet, blue-and-yellow and red-and-green macaws. At the summit you will have absolutely stunning views across rainforest to the distant mountains. There is a small plateau on the top of the mountain and in one direction, there are uninterrupted views back to the Rupununi River, some patches of savannah and across to the distant Kanuku Mountains. In the other direction, there is a near vertical drop of at least 200m and the view is across great swathes of undisturbed forest to the distant Iwokrama Mountain and much closer, Makarapan Mountain. On your return you could also fish for peacock bass which are plentiful in the oxbow. Return to the lodge for lunch, then take a walk through the community of Rewa to see how the locals live. Visit villager’s houses where you can experience their everyday life and see activities such as grating cassava, weaving baskets and tending kitchen gardens. Later this afternoon travel up the Rewa River to a location known as Seawall. This rock formation is a great place to fish or take in the beauty of the location. Visit sand banks where giant river turtles come to lay their eggs. On the return trip, spotlight for wildlife by shining your torch to find animals from the reflection of their eyes. Along the river banks you may see red howler, squirrel and brown capuchin monkeys. (BLD) |
| Day 15: | Rock View This morning travel by boat to a nearby trail for a hike through rainforest and into the savannah. See local traditional farms and if you are lucky a family may be there practicing their indigenous farming methods. Then transfer by boat back to Kwatamang Landing with a stop along the way for some hiking. Transfer by 4WD to Annai. This afternoon you can join the vaqueros on horse back (additional cost) as they take cattle out to graze on the savannah, hike in the foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains or visit nearby Amerindian villages. Lodge - 1 night. (BLD) |
| Day 16: | Georgetown Morning free to relax. After an early lunch take a flight back to Georgetown. Late this afternoon you can chose an optional trip (at additional cost) to visit the home of Roy Geddes for a cultural evening and local dinner. Roy is Guyana’s most famous steel pan player and maker. He will demonstrate how steel pans are made and discuss their history and a rendition of pop, rock, soca, classical and jazz numbers on the pans. Hotel - 1 night. (BL) (Dinner included if you take evening tour) |
| Day 17-18: | Overnight flight to London Transfer to the airport for your overnight flight to London. |
small group cultural tours
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as experiencing new cultures.how this holiday makes a difference
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On this trip: Our small group adventures are designed to impact as little as possible on the regions through which we travel – this trip is no exception. We work closely with a local agent who employs local guides, drivers and the Group Leader on our behalf, providing vital employment and putting money directly into the local economy. We stay in small, independently owned accommodations and eat in local restaurants, all of which ensures that money from our trips reaches a wide range of people and is evenly spread throughout our visit.
Our agents have developed a mutually beneficial relationship with many Amerindian communities, encouraging them to retain ownership of their ‘product’ (in many cases areas of extreme natural beauty and the very communities in which they reside) whilst working with them in areas that they might have less experience in, such as marketing, finance and training. Our stay with the indigenous Surama community provides them directly with much need revenue. This enables them to be employed at home, rather than having to travel elsewhere to find work mining or cutting timer. It also allows us a fantastic insight into another culture whilst reinforcing the need to maintain a strong cultural identity, protecting sites of historical and natural importance. Our Responsible Travel Code: Clients who travel with us will automatically receive a copy of our Responsible Travel leaflet. This contains details and advice on how you can make a positive difference when you travel. If you would like a copy in advance of travel please contact us. Charity Partnerships: We work in partnership with Plan International. Plan works with some of the world’s poorest communities where three out of four children die before the age of five. We also support Friends of Conservation – an international charity committed to working with local people to develop a balance between their needs and the wildlife with which they share the natural habitat and ecosystems. Other charities that we work closely with include Born Free Foundation and The Travel Foundation, a UK charity that has been established to promote responsible travel practises throughout the whole of the travel industry. Carbon Balancing: Global warming is a real issue and is a direct result of your travel. We have teamed up with Climate Care to give you the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions from your flight. You’ll be asked upon booking if you want to donate – with set amounts from £5. As a company we offset the carbon emissions from all staff travel in full. Our Foundation: We’ve highlighted a few of the ways in which we offer our support, financially or otherwise, and now you can, too. We have set up our own foundation, which will administer funds donated by you. A small donation of £1 per person will be taken when booking a holiday and that money will be put to good use by one of our carefully selected projects. If you don’t want to make the donation, just tell us when you book. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |