Location: Guyana
Duration: 14 days / 13 nights
Start/End: Georgetown / Georgetown
Activities: Jungle hikes, boat trips, nature walks, search for giant river otters and giant anteaters, stay in local community, cultural interactions
Who is it for?
Adventure travellers who want to be immersed in a nature-first destination’s wild world.
What is it?
This classic group adventure takes in the highlights of Guyana, including visits to Kaieteur, Orinduik Falls, Iwokrama and the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, and a stay in the Makushi village of Surama. The 14-day itinerary provides a mix of unforgettable flights, opportunities to spot elusive jaguars and other wildlife such as capybaras, pumas, and giant river otters, as well as authentic cultural exchanges, mountain hikes, petroglyphs, paddling, birding, and more.
Highlights: Kaieteur and Orinduik Falls, Iwokrama rainforest, Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, chance to see the elusive jaguar, local Amerindian village stay, Rupununi Savannahs
Season: Scheduled departures (several per year)
Included: All excursions and activities mentioned in itinerary, all transportation mentioned in itinerary, all meals mentioned in itinerary, English speaking guide, entrance fees
Not Included: Voluntary tips, meals not mentioned in itinerary, domestic and international flights
Price per person: US$5644 per person, scheduled group departures
Overnight at Cara Lodge
The Kaieteur Falls which was first seen by a European on April 29, 1870 is situated in the heart of Guyana on the Potaro River, a tributary of the Essequibo. The water of Kaieteur, one of the world’s natural wonders, flows over a sandstone conglomerate tableland into a deep gorge – a drop of 741 feet or 5 times the height of Niagara Falls.
There are no other falls in the world with the magnitude of the sheer drop existing at Kaieteur. Amerindian legend of the Patamona tribe has it that Kai, one of the tribe’s chiefs (after whom the falls is named), committed self sacrifice by canoeing himself over the falls. It was believed this would encourage the Great Spirit Makonaima to save the tribe from being destroyed by the savage Caribishi.
Kaieteur supports a unique micro environment with Tank Bromeliads, the largest in the world, in which the tiny Golden frog spends its entire life and the rarely seen Guiana Cock- of-the-rock nesting close by. The lucky visitor may also see the famous flights of the Kaieteur Swifts or Makonaima Birds which nest under the vast shelf of rock carved by the centuries of water, hidden behind the eternal curtain of falling water.
The Orinduik Falls is where the Ireng River thunders over steps and terraces of solid jasper, a semi precious stone. With a backdrop of the rolling grass covered hills of the Pakaraima Mountains, this is truly one of the most beautiful locations in Guyana’s hinterland.
Its name is derived from the Amerindian (Patamona) word, Orin, which is the name of an aquatic plant found in these falls. The Ireng River forms the border between Brazil and Guyana. In contrast to Kaieteur, Orinduik is ideally suited for swimming and you will find natural Jacuzzi’s as the falls tumble down the steps of Jasper.
Overnight at Cara Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The Iwokrama Rainforest is a vast wilderness of one million acres. This protected area was established in 1996 as the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development. The Iwokrama Forest is in the heart of one of four last untouched tropical forests of the world – The Guiana Shield of North-Eastern South America. Iwokrama was established as a living laboratory for tropical forest management because the unsustainable utilisation of these forests will result in the extinction of half the world’s plant and animal species and unknown changes to global climate. This is a protected area with a difference – the full involvement of people. Iwokrama is exceptional among conservation organizations because it joins with local people in every aspect of its work. From research to business, Iwokrama ensures local economic and social benefits from forest use and conservation. The Forest is in the homeland of the Makushi people, who have lived here and used the forest for thousands of years. People are a vertical part of the ecosystem. The success of Iwokrama relies on the ownership of local people and the combined skills of specialists and communities. Iwokrama does what so many International conventions have acknowledged as best practice. It has begun conservation locally and integrated conservation into national development. Afternoon free to explore the trails around the river lodge with an Iwokrama Ranger. Iwokrama is home to many bird species including Capunchinbird, Black Nunbird, Chestnut-rumped Woodcreeper, Amazonian Antshrike, Brown-bellied Antwren, Spot-tailed Antwren, Todd’s Antwren, Spotted Puffbird, Guianan Cock-of-the-rock, Green Aracari, Guianan Toucanet, Guianan Red Cotinga, Pompadour Cotinga, Rufous-crowned Elaenia, Bronzy Jacamar, Chestnut & Waved Woodpecker, Gray Antbird, and Strong-billed Woodcreeper. Three other Neotropical species in the Iwokrama forest of high interest are White-winged Potoo, Rufous Potoo, and Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo. Finally, after dark, we’ll set out on the river, in hopes of finding one or another of its four species of caiman, and listen for nightbirds such as Spectacled Owl, White-winged Potoo, Rufous Potoo, Long-tailed Potoo, Zigzag Heron or Blackish Nightjar. You may see one or another of the four species of caiman, and most certainly snakes including Cox boa, tree frogs and if lucky maybe some mammals. Maybe even a puma or capybara
Overnight at Iwokrama River Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Iwokrama River Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Atta Rainforest Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Surama Eco-Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Surama Eco Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Rock View Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Rock View Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Karanambu Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Karanambu Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Caiman House & Research Center
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Cara Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Meals: Breakfast