Guyana’s tourism offering is distinct from that of its CARICOM counterparts. While small islands typically attract visitors looking for sun, sea, and sand with turquoise waters, Guyana presents a different kind of allure that appeals to those who truly appreciate nature, wildlife, and adventure tourism.

This destination is ideal for tourists not afraid to get wet or dirty as they explore the tropical rainforest or cruise for miles along the Essequibo River. Guyana is a place that very few have ventured to before, featuring vast landscapes filled with tropical plants and trees that, when seen from the air, resemble broccoli, with rivers meandering through them.

So before we get into my four-day adventure in Guyana, I must tell you how I got there in the first place. This trip would not have been possible if it wasn’t for InterCaribbean Airways, which debuted its direct flights between Georgetown Guyana and Grenada, offering ten media professionals from Grenada, the opportunity to be among the first passengers to fly directly to Guyana for a media familiarization exercise between the two countries. This required weeks of planning by both the Grenada and Guyana Tourism Authority to ensure that we got the opportunity of a lifetime.

Journalists bird watching on the Mahaica Creek Media representatives at Orinduik Falls.

Before departure, a brief welcome and send-off ceremony took place at the VIP lounge on Sunday, December 1, 2024, organized by the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA), before rolling out the red carpet for passengers boarding the flight.

The event was attended by Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Mobilization, Implementation, and Transformation Andy Williams, along with Trevor Sadler, Chief Executive Officer of InterCaribbean Airways, and Randall Dolland, Chairman of the Grenada Tourism Authority. All members of the delegation travelled to Guyana on the same flight before returning to Grenada the same day along with journalists and Social media influencers from Guyana who had similar experiences of Pure Grenada, the Spice of the Caribbean.

The flight, captained by Pilot Keish Thomas and assisted by First Officer Roland Stoffle and Flight Attendant Alicia George, departed Grenada on Sunday, December 1, 2024, at approximately 12:50 PM. Cruising at a maximum altitude of 37,000 feet, the InterCaribbean jet an hour and 9 minutes later landed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) in Guyana at around 1:59 PM.

Upon arrival, the airport fire department welcomed the aircraft with a water cannon salute.

Orinduik Falls located on the Ireng River Journalist Curlan Campbell at Kaieteur Falls

After another brief ceremony at the airport, we were picked up and had to travel 41.00 kilometre (s) to Aiden by Best Western Hotel in the capital city of Georgetown which celebrated its grand opening in October 2024.

Our accommodation was fantastic, and the hotel staff were very pleasant and accommodating. Upon our arrival, we had little time to settle in since our days in Guyana were short and our itinerary was packed. We were informed that we needed to be ready by 6:30 PM for a pick-up to be transferred to the Georgetown Marriott Hotel for a welcome dinner hosted by the Guyana Tourism Authority.

The following day we headed to the East Coast of Demerara to Mahaica, where we met with our host Ramesh Shibsahai who resided at Little Baiboo for a birding boat ride along Mahaica Creek. Ramesh was quite knowledgeable introducing us to a variety of Guyana’s biodiversity and with his keen eyesight he was able to spot a number of bird species of which Mahaica Creek has over 50 species including the national bird – the Canje Pheasant otherwise known as the Hoatzin.

On our return, his wife prepared her famous breakfast ‘choka’ made from fish caught in the Mahaica River and hand-clapped roti.

Our journey continued that day as we began our return trip to Georgetown to connect with 592 Tours where Jamal Thomas, a freelance tour guide provided a fascinating tour of Guyana’s historic buildings. The tour highlighted several key sites, including the Public Library, City Hall, the Victoria Law Courts, St. Andrews Kirk, and Stabroek Market—a bizarre bazaar, as it was once described—as well as St. George’s Cathedral, one of the world’s tallest free-standing wooden buildings.

A major highlight for me was our visit to the National Park, to feed the endangered West Indian Manatees, the largest surviving member of the aquatic mammal, rescued from the Demerara River and placed there as many were victims of boat propellers.

To top it all off on day 1, we were taken to the heart of the city to the Stabroek Market area where we got to experience commuting using the old ferry port to board the river taxis which are used to cross the Demerara River said to be a faster alternative route to using the Demerara Harbour Bridge. There we cruised along the Demerara River while our guide Omari Joseph briefed us on famous buildings along the waterfront towards the Demerara Harbour Bridge, once the longest floating steel bridge in the world at a total length of 1,851m long.

As the sun set, we enjoyed some light snacks and cold Banks beer, Guyana’s national brew while we observed a breathtaking array of birds—Scarlet Ibises, Snail Kites, Herons, and three types of Egrets— that flew across the sky before roosting in the mangroves.

Demerara Harbour Bridge Sloth Island Nature Resort Fort Island on the Demerara River Fishing vessels on the Demerara River

On Day 2 of our adventure in Guyana, things became much more interesting after we crossed the Demerara Harbour Bridge on our journey towards the Essequibo River and Parika.  The bridge wobbled as we drove over it, but our guide reassured us about the history and expert engineering behind its construction, which helped ease our tension for a while. It was long before a sudden burst of rain came down forcing us to stop to purchase raincoats before regrouping.

Our tour guide Eugene Noel was quite an interesting host his sense of humour and charisma made the trip a whole lot better. Upon arriving, we boarded a boat for our departure to Fort Island, which has the best-preserved Dutch ruins in the country. This was the longest I’ve ever cruised along a river that seemed to stretch for miles while being drenched by the rain. It was quite the experience.

While being given a guided tour we learned that Fort Island served as the seat of the Court of Policy, as well as containing a church and a slave market. Initially a wooden structure built in 1726, it was rebuilt in brick in 1743, replacing the first upstream capital at Kyk-Over-Al in 1739. We then re-boarded our boat to travel approximately 50 miles downriver to the Sloth Island Nature Resort, where we enjoyed lunch.

Afterward, we went on another tour through the rainforest led by our guide, Claude Benjamin, who shared Indigenous knowledge about the local botanical and animal life. He even made us swing from the vein of a tree like Tarzan before departing back to our boats to cruise 70 minutes back upstream to end the day.

On Day 3, I was amazed to discover that nothing could compare to our early morning one-hour flight from Eugene F. Correia International Airport to Kaieteur National Park. Before boarding the flight, we enjoyed a relaxing experience in a VIP lounge, complete with massage chairs and complimentary hot beverages. When it was time to board, we took off and arrived at Kaieteur Falls, where we were treated to breathtaking aerial views of the waterfall cascading down a steep drop.

The Kaieteur Falls plunges 741 feet straight down, eroding a gorge that descends another 81 feet. Although the water flow was only 70% of its normal capacity, it was a truly magnificent sight. Our pilot provided us with the opportunity to capture footage of the falls from various vantage points before landing.

Thomas, our tour guide, quickly mobilised to brief us on what to expect when venturing the path towards her falls, and on our way through the trails we were educated on flora and fauna as well as the historical significance of this landmark tourist attraction. All cameras and cell phones were out as we emerged to one of the best views of nature I have ever experienced. Despite my acrophobia (fear of heights), I couldn’t resist inching closer to the edge to get my picture taken with the falls in the background.

After returning, we had lunch before re-boarding the aircraft for our next destination: the spectacular Orinduik Falls where the Ireng River cascades thunderously over layers of red jasper rocks, set against a breathtaking backdrop of rolling grass-covered hills in the Pakaraima mountain range. The pilot even gave us a brief flyover of Brazil before landing smoothly on a narrow airstrip that overlooked a pastoral landscape that felt like heaven.

Despite the freezing water temperature and slippery rocks, the opportunity to bask in this tranquil environment made me reconsider returning home. I must mention that our final dinner experience at Backyard Café located in the West Ruimveldt area in Guyana was one of the most authentic dining I have ever experienced while travelling to a neighbouring country.

Our host, guide, and culinary master, Chef Delven Adams, demonstrated that backyard dining can be an exquisite experience. He transformed his backyard into a restaurant that provided the ambiance of fine dining in nature while surrounded by various local plants at our table, ensuring to include elements, decorations, and tools of traditional life in Guyana.

The food was absolutely delightful! We started with appetizers of fried breadfruit chips served with mango salsa in coconut shells. Then, we enjoyed Metemgee, an authentic Guyanese dish featuring a hearty stew made of root vegetables and dumplings simmered in a rich coconut milk broth, enhanced with aromatics and fresh herbs. This was accompanied by beef pepperpot and cassava bread.

We enjoyed drinking coconut water straight from the shell, as well as sorrel and mauby.  Next, we had fried trout and baked Snook (Centropomus undecimalis), paired with farine fried rice. For dessert, we enjoyed cassava pone to conclude our meal.

The following day dawned as our last chance to bid farewell, and we made our way to the airport in a bittersweet mood, readying ourselves for the flight back to Grenada.

As we traveled, I couldn’t help but reflect on the vibrant landscapes and rich cultural experiences we had enjoyed in Guyana. I wholeheartedly encourage anyone to seize the opportunity to fly directly to this enchanting country, where breathtaking rainforests meet stunning waterfalls, and the warmth of the local people invites exploration. Guyana truly is a hidden gem, brimming with adventures just waiting to be discovered.