The below information is provided to inform people of what to expect if they participate in this tour and to advise participants on how to prepare for the tour. We try to provide accurate information but conditions and travel requirements can change over time.

Entering Guyana

Persons entering Guyana require a valid passport with an expiration date more than 6 months after their planned departure from the country. Immigration officials may deny a person entry if their passport is not in good condition. Citizens of the US, UK, and Canada do not require a visa to enter Guyana if staying less than 90 days. They must fill out a tourist card provided by the airline en route to the the country. Non-US citizens should check with the Guyana embassy to find out about entry requirements. Entry to Guyana requires proof of vaccination against Covid-19 and a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel.

Leaving Guyana

A departure tax of $21 is assessed when leaving Guyana. It is typically included in international airline ticket prices. You should check with your carrier.

Time Zone

Guyana is on one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time.

Immunizations & Health

Please contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding health issues and immunization requirements when traveling in Guyana. See your travel doctor for specific recommendations at least 4-6 weeks prior to departure. Malaria risk exists in some parts of Guyana, and resistance to Chloroquinine has been reported. The Guyana government recommends yellow fever innoculation prior to entry. The CDC also recommends vaccinations/boosters for hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG, typhoid, yellow fever, tetanus-diptheria, and measles.

Medical Facilities

Good medical care is available in Georgetown but not in the interior.

Insurance

We recommend purchasing trip cancellation insurance, which will reimburse you for any non-refundable payments you would otherwise lose if you must cancel your participation in the tour for some unforeseen reason. Trip cancellation insurance must normally be purchased within a short time after you register for the tour. Travel medical insurance is advisable, especially for those with chronic or known medical conditions.

Altitude

All sites we visit in Guyana are at low elevation, with the highest point reached below 2000 ft.

Climate

Dry season is from October to April. Temperatures can reach 90 F and humidity can be high. Evenings are generally cool enough to be pleasant but not cold.

Pace

Birding tours are conducted at an easy to moderate pace. Most trails are fairly level. The trail up Turtle Mountain is uphill and requires a person to be reasonably fit. The optional trail up to Panorama Vista near Rock View is quite steep. The trail to the Atta Rainforest canopy walkway is mostly level but has a short uphill stretch toward the end. Some trails can be muddy but rubber boots are not needed. Birding is best in early morning and late afternoon, so days begin shortly after first light around 6:00-6:30 am. Breakfasts are typically early, around 5:00-6:00 am. We stay out past dark one day looking for Jaguars and do an optional night-time walk another night for nightjars. Because we awake early, participants typically retire to their rooms immediately after we complete dinner and checklists for the day.

We do some road-side birding at Iwokrama, in the Rupununi savanna, and at Dadanawa. The road is dirt and has very little vehicular traffic. We also go off-road with 4x4 in the south to look for Red Siskin, following jeep tracks that can be bumpy.

Accommodations

We stay in a comfortable hotel used by most birding tours groups while in Georgetown. Most accommodations in the interior are comfortable, but the lodge at Surama is very basic. Electricity in the interior is by generator and is typically not available after generators are turned off at night.

Food

Meals at the lodges are generally very good. On some days we rely on box lunches so we can eat in the field. Vegetarian diets can be accommodated everywhere.

Transportation

Transport mode varies and includes small (16-32 passenger) prop aircraft to reach the interior, vans, pickup trucks, 4x4 vehicles, motorized boats, and at one place dugout canoes. Bottled water will always be available.

Registration & Payment

Please refer to the REGISTRATION menu for registration procedure. Trip cancellation insurance is highly recommended as payments may be partially or wholly non-refundable. See the POLICIES menu for our refund policy.

Additional Information

General information about the tour, including where to meet the group and contact information, will be sent by email or US mail prior to departure. Checklists will be provided prior to the tour. Additional information about our policies can be found on the REGISTRATION menu above. Please feel free to call us at 206-650-3425 or email us with any questions you may have.

Information last updated February, 2022.

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFO
(Not on Menu Above)

• Country Map
• Accommodations
• Photos from Past Tours
• Travel Information

BIRDING LOCALES

• Abary River
• Atta Rainforest
• Georgetown
• Hope Beach
• Iwokrama Reserve
• Karanambu Ranch
• Mahaicony River
• Rupununi Savanna
• Surama Village