Guyana: Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors of the Only English-Speaking Nation in South America

Guyana is known as the "land of many waters," having the world's widest and longest single-drop waterfall in the Kaieteur National Park.

According to Culture Trip, the country is also known to be more culturally aligned to the Caribbean than South America. Guyana has a rich culture with a mix of six ethnic groups, different religions, and contributions of colonization that influenced the nation. Its historic architecture displays much of the country's British colonial past.

Its ethnic makeup comprises Amerindian, European, African, East Indian, Portuguese, and a hint of Chinese with its influence on the nation's dishes.

Guyana's land is divided into four main geographical zones: the low coastal plain, forested highland region, hilly sand and clay region, and the larger interior highlands interior Rupununi Savannah.

Guyana is also the only English-speaking country in South America despite being colonized by Dutch, Spanish, French, and English since the 1600s.

Travel Safety Guidelines for Guyana

The U.S. State Department has issued a "Level 3" travel alert for Guyana, advising travelers to reconsider traveling to the country.

The State Department said violent crime such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery, is common in Guyana, especially at night.

The department noted that local police in the South American country often lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.

It advised future tourists to avoid walking or driving at night and refrain from displaying signs of wealth by wearing expensive watches or jewelry.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has placed Guyana's travel advisory rating at Level 2, which means there is a "moderate level" of COVID-19 cases in the country.

The CDC said travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines, and those who are not complete with their vaccine requirements should avoid traveling to Guyana.

Guyana Tourist Attractions

Georgetown, the capital of Guyana, is a must-see, being the center of British colonization. It was named in honor of England's King George II. The city houses the Stabroek Market and St. George's Cathedral, a white-painted, Gothic-style church.

St. George's Cathedral, known to be the world's tallest wooden structure, was completed in 1892, with a native hardwood greenheart, according to Lonely Planet.

If wildlife is more of your game, Kanuku Mountains could be the perfect destination. It has healthy populations of rare and endangered species. Kanuku Mountains also have the highest recorded bat diversity in the world, with 89 species.

Shell Beach can also be a spot for turtle-spotting and bird-watching. However, the area is one of the least developed areas of the entire South American coastline. Residents live in temporary fishing huts and small Amerindian settlements.

The site is a protected area proposed as a globally important birding area that supports more than 200 coastal and migratory bird species.

Tourists can also take a nature trip at Kaieteur National Park, the country's only national park protecting nature and wilderness.

According to National Parks, the area is widely known for Kaieteur Falls, which is popular among tourists in the country. The Kaieteur Falls is often considered the largest single drop waterfall. With a height of at least 741 feet, it was reportedly twice as high as Victoria Falls.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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