Location & History

Golden Arrowhead

Guyana an Amerindian word meaning “Land of Many Waters” is the land of my birth. Approximately 83,000 square miles, Guyana is located on the North Eastern coast of South America. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, Brazil to the south and southwest, Suriname to the east and Venezuela to the west. Beautiful Guyana boasts six unique races all of whom, except the Amerindians, were brought here to grow sugar cane and other crops.
The Dutch were the first to occupy the Territory, before it was ceded to the British and the French in turn for brief periods, until the British took over in 1803. After many struggles and hardships Guyana finally gained independence on May 26th 1966.

Guyana, in colorful, grand style recently celebrated its 50th Independence Jubilee Anniversary.

Land

National Geographic said “…Guyana may be the best-kept secret in South America…..with stunning natural wonders…”
Guyana is made up of ten administrative regions and further divided into three counties; Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice and consists of Four main geographical zones; the interior savannahs, the highland region, the hilly sand and clay area and the low coastal plain.
Anyone visiting will be left in awe at the distinctive makeup of our Land: from vast savannahs, unspoilt rainforests, magnificent mountain ranges, eye catching flora, countless species of birds and animals and rivers and waterfalls that will leave your breathless. Glorious Guyana has much to offer; whether you are seeking adventure, serenity or History.

Culture and food:

Delicious Eggball

Guyana is often times said to be geographically South American, but Culturally Caribbean. Not an incorrect statement as Guyana’s rich Culture is directly influenced by all of our six races, similar to that of many Caribbean Islands.This is especially evident in our Cuisine. Many of the dishes you can sample are derived from many cultural influences coming together to make up a totally unique National Menu. Some delectable offerings include:

• Tasty Metemgee, a West African influenced dish of ground provisions and coconut milk
• Our National Dish pepperpot ,An Amerindian dish made with a thick molasses like Sauce made from cassava called Cassareep.
• Various tastebud tantalizing spicy curry dishes and sweets derived from our Indian ancestors from South India.
• A flavoursome Christmas Specialty, Garlic pork is derived from our Portuguese ancestors who hailed from madeira
• Feast on various Cantonese influenced Chinese cuisine.
• Tons of pastries, pies and cakes from our European ancestors including our much talked about “ Guyana black cake” and fruit cakes.

Architecture and Music 

St. Georges Cathedral

Apart from our food, a Visitor to Guyana will be enthralled by the many colonial style buildings that can be found around the country. Guyana’s National Museum and National art Gallery are must visit hot spots which house various artifacts from Guyana’s past as well as many modern sculptures and paintings.
One thing you are sure to hear on a visit apart from the sweet sing song dialect of our people is music….. a blend of Caribbean reggae, soca, chutney, as well as modern hits make up the music scene.

Places to Visit in Guyana:

• Rupununi Savannahs: situated in the south of Guyana is an a favourite destination for eco-tourists, with stunning waterfalls, creeks and rivers; splendid rainforest and an abundance of wildlife that includes more than 800 species of birds and over 1000 tree species in its savannahs.
• Georgetown: The Capital of Guyana was designed by the Dutch. Guyana’s capital has wide, tree-lined avenues, lily-covered canals, and many fine examples of 18th and 19th century colonial buildings. Throughout the city are colourful markets, historical monuments and wonderful museums. The “GT seawall” Is another venue in Guyana which is alive with activity in the evenings. While in Georgetown check out the beautiful St. Georges Cathedral and the Umana Yana, a 55-foot high cone-shaped benab constructed by Amerindians of the Wai Wai tribe.
• Kaieteur Falls: It is a waterfall on the Potaro River. Kaieteur Falls at over 700 feet, is five times taller than Niagara. Kaieteur National Park is situated on the Guiana Shield, a plateau that is one of the world’s oldest and remotest geological formations. Kaieteur is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. It is one of the few places in the world where endangered species are easily observed.
• Fort Island: located not very far up the Essequibo River, boasts the best preserved built evidence of Dutch settlement in Guyana.
• Essequibo River: Guyana’s main waterway, runs from the Atlantic to the Amazon dividing Guyana roughly in half. The Essequibo offers wildlife watching trips through some of the most pristine parts of the Amazon. Numerous wonderful lodges and resorts can be found along the river where the service is second to none and activities for the entire family are plentiful.

So the next time you are yearning for a destination like no other, consider amazing, unique Guyana, land of many waters.