Guyana small group tour
Description of Guyana small group tour
Guyana may be a small country, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in natural splendour and Caribbean culture. Shrouded in thick rainforest where jaguars prowl and vast numbers of colourful birdlife flourish, it’s a destination simply made for those who love the great outdoors, and this small group tour makes for a thrilling introduction.
Starting with an arrival into the capital, Georgetown, where you’ll stay at the renowned Cara Lodge, you’ll embark on an expedition through some of Guyana’s most spectacular landscapes. Begin with the breathtaking Kaieteur Falls, the world’s largest freefalling waterfall and five times the height of Niagara, before driving by 4x4 into the vast wilderness of the Iwokrama Rainforest for a few days of hiking. Notable among conservation organisations for the heavy involvement of local people, the rainforest is brimming with incredible wildlife including caimans, snakes, pumas, capybaras and countless birds.
Staying in a riverside lodge and exploring the rainforest’s trails and a canopy walkway with knowledgeable rangers, you may catch sight of the elusive jaguar – you will certainly be immersed in the beguiling sounds of the rainforest all day and night.
From Iwokrama it’s on to the Pakaraima Mountains for more walking, staying at the renowned Karanambu, an ecotourism lodge founded by a conservationist, where you’ll have free time to take boat trips, hike forest trails in search of giant anteaters, or simply chill in your hammock.
Leaving the mountains behind, your group will next make for the Amerindian village of Yupukari, staying at a field conservation station and perhaps lending a hand with a study into the endangered black caiman, which are caught, measured and tagged before being released back into the river. After some time to explore the village, meet the locals and spot many more birds, you’ll fly back to Georgetown for a final day to roam its many historic sites.
For nature-living travellers, enthusiastic hikers, and those who love nothing more than escaping the beaten tourist track, Guyana is a great choice.
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2025: 25 Jan, 15 Feb, 8 Mar, 29 Mar, 20 Sep, 18 Oct, 15 Nov, 6 Dec
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Reviews
2 Reviews of Guyana small group tour
Reviewed on 25 Feb 2023 by David Musson
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
That's really difficult because I enjoyed it all. Such a calm friendly country, undamaged, with birds by the hundreds and fewer but equally interesting animals. Accommodation fine. Guides mostly excellent.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take boots for walking not trainers. Plenty of insect repellent.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes. Providing finance for transportation, accommodation and guides to support the economy. All the people we met were proud of their country and ensured it was not damaged.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent.
Reviewed on 15 Oct 2022 by Daniela
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Karanambu lodge- anteaters and giant otters
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Do not book through this operator! Pre-trip info was insufficient and even
partially incorrect. Fellow travellers booking through other operators had been taken care of a lot better. Zero involvement from responsible travel, all went through this operator.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Will not use responsible travel nor operator again!
Read the operator's response here:
I am really glad you enjoyed the trip - Guyana is an amazing country and this is definitely a unique way to explore this destination.
We are obviously disappointed (and a little confused) as to why you were not happy with pre-trip information. As well as telephone conversations with yourself (where I was able to give you my direct experience of this trip), we also assisted you with and extension and trying to book your flights and providing you with full practical information (6 page document) and joining instructions - This is all sent via email and I wonder if maybe something was caught in junk mail?. We work really close with the local operators on this trip and I will double check if they are recently added any further information and am sorry if anything was amiss. We do send many clients to Guyana (or did pre-covid) and our clients have usually been delighted with our service. Many of our clients choose to rebook with us due to our personal service so I apologise that you did not feel this. Or maybe German operators offer a different level of service and may have suited you better? With regard to Responsible Travel, this is a portal where likeminded companies (such as ourselves) advertise our responsibly operated trips. Responsible Travel never get involved with any trip bookings apart from assisting people in the first place to select an appropriate trip. Whilst we are sad that you would choose not to use us again, our main aim is to ensure you have a fantastic holiday so we are pleased that this was achieved at least.
Responsible Travel
Planet
We promise to promote ecologically sensitive tourism through a responsible and concerned attitude towards the environment.Energy Saving: Electricity is used at a minimum in the Rupununi and more lodges are implementing the use of Solar Panels instead of diesel generators.
Waste Management: Disposal of waste in the very remote interior lodges is an issue which is taken very seriously. While there is no “recycling program”, from a very early age children are taught to sort garbage. The sorting is done, by Burnable (items which are safe to burn) which are disposed of in a red bin. Burnable (items which cannot safely be burned) which are disposed of in a blue bin. And Compost (fresh produce, which is compostable), which is disposed of in a green bin.
Saving water: Again due to the fact that in the remote areas of our interior Lodges we are careful to remind our guests that water is pumped up daily from the river or from our wells. We are very careful to use only what is needed. Refillable water bottles are encouraged and guests are reminded not to leave any litter behind.
Environmentally friendly products: In Georgetown we are very careful to use recycled products whenever they are available. In the interior, the use of natural and environmentally friendly products is not only the norm, but also what is most easily available.
Office practices: All electrical equipment, lights, computers, printers, are turned off when they are not being used. We conserve and recycle as much as is possible in the office, as it is a small office we are able to do so quite efficiently.
People
We will provide the maximum benefit to the local communities by operating in an honest, thoughtful and concerned manner towards their customs and involving the communities so as to afford them the greatest financial benefit possible.Local staff: Doing business in our corner of the world means you live and work like family. Our suppliers and our partners are people we’ve known for years, people we trust and count on to make sure visitors have the very best possible experience. Our staff and guides are all locally employed and continuous training is provided
Charity donations: We are an active member of the COMPETE Caribbean North Rupununi Cluster. During our participation in this project, 3 interior lodges became 100% solar, 3 interior lodges established internet, 60 individuals were trained in Wilderness First Aid, 12 individuals were selected to attend formal hospitality training in Georgetown. We also work closely with a number of individuals and charities who wish guidance on which communities require support.
Community projects: we are a member of CATS (Community and Tourism Services) which is a unique partnership formed between the Makushi community at Surama, Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development. The CATS partnership is a model of ecotourism that proves the tourism sector, a conservation NGO, and an indigenous community can find joint economic success while providing local opportunity and an excellent experience for visitors from around the world.We have also been very involved in the development of a new tourism product in the communities of Warapoka and Morakobai. We have actively assisted in developing and training the local villagers to welcome guests to their community. We have assited in getting funding from various sources including a well known UK operator who’s funding assisted greatly in procuring Solar panels and batteries for the Guesthouse so that Diesel Generator would not have to be used.
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