Taste of Guyana - 4 days ex Georgetown

Explore the exciting caiman research project in Yupukari then spend a few nights at one of Guyana’s best-kept secrets, the lush and remote Maipaima Eco-Lodge, nestled in the Kanuku Mountais near the Brazilian border.

• Mini stay 
• Duration: 4 days
  
• Tour focus: Exploration of one of South Americas untouched regions.
• Group Size: maximum 16

• Accommodation:  3 night at Cara Lodge Hotel 
• Airport transfers
• All breakfasts,
• City tour, visit to Roy Geddes Museum and full day excursion to the majestic Kaietuer Falls

MAKE THIS JOURNEY YOUR OWN; ADD-ON THE FOLLOWING TOURING OPTIONS:

• Art, Architecture, Culture and History Experience -  French Guiana Extension (4 days)
• Guyana Wilderness & Wildlife Experience - Caiman House Research Centre
• Guyana Beach Break - Trinidad and Tobago (6 days twin share)
  

ITINERARY:    

Day 1: Arrive in Guyana. Guests are met and transferred to Cara Lodge in Georgetown. Built in the 1840s and originally consisting of two houses, the hotel is one of the oldest wooden buildings in Georgetown. It has a long and romantic history associated with it and was the home of the first Lord Mayor of Georgetown. Over the years it has hosted many dignitaries including George V who stayed at the house in 1923 and planted the sapodilla tree in the front garden to mark the occasion. 

Day 2: Mangrove Heritage Trail, Roy Geddes Museum Today we will visit the Mangrove Heritage Trail. At the visitors centre the mangrove story is demonstrated in detail through permanent displays and in a hand-painted mural of the coastal birds. Visitors move via the traditional horse cart with friendly Nabaclis village cart men are in charge pointing out places of interest. Stop at Victoria Village, the first village purchased by former slaves who pooled their money to do so following Emancipation in 1839. This is the birthplace of the cooperative concept and where the first agricultural fair was held in Guyana. Turning towards the Atlantic Ocean, the scenery includes an old Dutch Koker used to drain the agricultural lands along the low lying coastline. The serene temples of the Hindu Ashram at Cove and John then come into view from across the lake. You are now in the heart of Guyana’s first mangrove reserve, owned and managed by the community. Along this coastal strip, you will see four different mangrove species and a wide wetland area, teeming with birdlife and tropical fish. If you’re in luck, you will see local fishermen beating the pond water to chase fish into their nets. In the middle of the wetland is a small island of lush, black mangroves where beekeepers produce the distinctive golden mangrove honey. Along the trail, local tour guides point out the array of medicinal plants found in nature’s pharmacy right in their backyard. You learn of the traditional remedies effectively used by Guyanese for generations. As the tour comes to a close, local drummers from Victoria Village join you to regale you with traditional folk songs. The way back to the Visitor Centre, includes a stop at Ingrid’s roadside stand for a refreshing glass of Guyana’s legendary Demerara Gold fresh cane juice and some delicious creole snacks such as cassava-coated eggballs, channa, fishcakes or dhal puri. Journey continues to Georgetown return to the hotel. Late this afternoon visit the home of Roy Geddes Musical Museum for a cultural evening and local dinner. Roy is Guyana’s most famous steel pan player and maker. He will demonstrate how steel pans are made and discuss their history and a rendition of pop, rock, soca, classical and jazz numbers of the pans.

Day 3: Enjoy your days flight and excursion to 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.

Day 4:  End of this mini stay. Time to either depart of add-on one off ur unique journeys and explore the Guianas further.