EN
DEGetting To And Around
Air
The best way to access and get around the Rupununi is by flight. The Lethem airstrip in the middle of the town has multiple daily flights from the Eugene F. Correia International Airport in Georgetown. It is serviced by regularly scheduled Trans Guyana Airways and Air Services Limited flights, which take about an hour flight time, or charters that are specially booked.
Road
By road you can travel from Georgetown to the main hub of Lethem in as little as 10-12 hours during the peak or dry season from October through May. It can take much longer during the green season. Brazilian bus company, Amatur, also recently started service from Georgetown to Lethem for those who prefer to travel in larger vehicles rather than via mini bus or 4x4. It can be tedious, but an adventure all on its own as you move from the coast through the rainforest and into the savannahs. From Lethem, a tour operator or 4x4 taxi is one of the best ways to get around to access sightseeing spots and travel to the eco-lodges and Indigenous Villages of the North Rupununi.
River
The Essequibo and its tributaries run through the Rupununi region. While it is not a means for travelling in between Lethem and Georgetown, the rivers of the region are one of the best ways to get around and explore the North Rupununi.
THINGS TO DO
Stay at the Eco-Lodges
The iconic eco-lodges of North Rupununi make sure that you irreversibly fall in love with nature. Varied scenery and wildlife attractions accessible from each lodge gives you the chance to sample a few of them in a single trip. This way you can get a glimpse of different animals and birds specific to a particular lodge. For example, Karanambu Lodge offers a peek into the life of Diane McTurk, the legendary river otter conservationist, and a chance to see giant river otters and giant anteaters. Caiman House’s caiman tagging river trips are fascinating while Atta Lodge’s canopy walk is an essential for birdwatchers. Rockview Lodge and Pakaraima Mountain Inn offers views of the sprawling golden savannahs and Pakaraima mountains while Waikin Ranch engages travellers in the lifestyle of a vaquero. Surama and Rewa Eco-Lodges are hinged on community-led and owned tourism, where the villagers are in charge of and directly benefit from all tourism activities. More than anything else, the lodges are great learning grounds, both for amateur nature lovers or seasoned wildlife enthusiasts. A stay at any of these establishments promises a unique wildlife getaway and many offer immersive cultural experiences.
Village life in the Rupununi
Have you ever tried crunchy farine? It is a specialty indigenous dish made from cassava. What about sleeping in a hammock or fishing with a bow and arrow? If not, then this is your chance to check these off the list. You can experience local life in the villages as you bask in the essence of serene indigenous culture while staying in breezy benabs (thatched huts). Enjoy delicious local cuisine such as pepperpot and cassava bread, specially prepared by the people of Rupununi. Of course, you can add a little action with nature trails, hikes or just a swim in a creek to cool off. The villages of Rupununi are simple yet spectacular.
Birding & Wildlife
North Rupununi offers the ideal habitat for hundreds of species of birds and mammals, making it a top destination for nature enthusiasts. The thick rainforests criss-cross with trails that can be explored with a guide from one of the eco-lodges. Travellers can expect to see Macaws, Cotingas, Puff birds, Fruitcrows and Jacamars amongst other avian species. Amongst the mammals, jaguars, labbas, giant river otters, red howler monkeys and capybaras are prominent species that draw wildlife enthusiasts to the region.