Guyana’s capital, Georgetown sits alongside the Atlantic Coast and the Demerara River. Georgetown feels more Caribbean than South American with its mix of gently fading colonial architecture, temples, churches and mosques, plus rum shops, West Indian markets and a background of reggae music!

Late morning, travel to Georgetown airport and take a flight over the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers and miles and miles of unbroken rainforest to reach Kaieteur Falls. 

Kaieteur Falls is totally surrounded by pristine tropical rainforest. The Potaro River drops 741 feet (five times the height of Niagara!) off a sandstone tableland into a deep gorge. The environment around the falls is unique – here can be found a tiny golden frog found that exists nowhere else, the rare Guiana Cock-of-the-Rock and Kaieteur Swifts which nest behind the falls. 

Most travelers visit Kaieteur Falls on a day trip from Georgetown. However, this trip to Kaieteur Falls includes a night in the only accommodation option – a simple guesthouse with hammocks. By staying the night at the falls, there is a real sense of having the place to yourself – watch the swifts roost for the night behind the falls and feel completely surrounded by the rainforest.

Take a charter flight to Apoteri Village then travel by boat along the Rupununi River with the chance to spot giant river otters and black caiman along the way. Arrive to Rewa Village. Here the Rewa River enters the Rupununi. This area is tropical rainforest, mountains and oxbow lakes – full of wildlife. 

Short boat ride across the river and walk to an oxbow lake where there is a wooden deck giving close up views of Victoria Amazonica the world’s largest water lily which has leaves that can reach 3 meters in diameter. 

Stay at a community run ecolodge for two nights.

Back to the lodge for lunch, then explore Rewa village where you can visit villager’s houses and observe activities such as grating cassava and basket making. Later in the day, visit Seawall – further upriver. Seawall is a rock formation where there is great fishing, beautiful sand banks and here giant river turtles come to lay eggs. On the way back to the lodge, just after dark search for wildlife by flashlight.

Visit the Iwokrama canopy walkway which is at the southern end of the Iwokrama Reserve. Four suspension bridges connect three platforms reaching over 30 meters in height. The walkway is a great way to view species which are hard to see from the canopy floor. 

The clearing around the lodge is another great place for wildlife viewing, especially the crimson fruitcrow and black curassow.

Surama village is surrounded by about five miles of savannah which is backed by the forested Pakaraima Mountains. The inhabitants are mostly from the Macushi tribe and follow many of their ancestors’ traditions. Take a short walk along trails to observe forest and bird life, and a tour of the village including the school, medical center and church. Stay two nights in Surama at a lodge owned and operated by the community.

Next is a three mile walk in the savannah and then into the rainforest to the Burro Burro River. Guides paddle a boat along the Burro Burro River to look for giant river otters, tayra, spider monkeys and more. Return to the lodge.

Head south by road to Ginep Landing then continue by boat along the Rupunini River to Karanambu, stay two nights. If the river levels are favorable, this river trip gives good opportunities to see giant river otters. 

Karanambu is a former cattle ranch in the northern Rupununi. The late Diane McTurk, conservationist and expert on giant otters lived here. Karanambu includes areas of savannah, marsh, forest and river. Giant otter, black caiman, jaguar, giant anteater and arapaima are all present here. A choice of tours is available according to interests and the time of year.

Late afternoon boat trip in search of giant river otters and at dusk view giant water lilies in bloom before returning to the lodge for the night.

Evening river trip where giant river otters may be spotting or bird watching, then return to Karanambu Lodge for the evening.

Travel by boat up to the Amerindian village of Yupukari and Caiman House Field Station which is a combination of guest accommodation and research and conservation center.

Chance to support and participate in a field study of black caiman – an endangered species and the largest member of the alligator family. Accompany the team as they search for the caiman along the river. Observe from a separate boat and see how the caiman are weighed, measured and tagged before being returned to the river. Stay the night at Caiman House.

Prepare a meal with the kitchen staff, learning about the local cooking methods. Cook a meal such as boilee or pepperpot. Stay the night at Waikin Ranch.

Afternoon transfer to the airstrip and fly back to Georgetown, transfer to hotel. Dinner at a local restaurant. Final night in Guyana.

Transfer to the airport and depart.