 Guyana : Profile
A difficult coast to approach because of the shallow and muddy waters, although with the help of a cruising guide it makes a fascinating destination. An added attraction is that Guyana is outside the hurricane belt. Using the rivers to visit the interior takes you right into the heart of the Amazon rain forest. With Bartica now a Port of Entry, the River Essequibo makes a particularly attractive destination. The river Berbice is navigable for 100 miles (160 km) past the port of New Amsterdam and is also possible to take keeled boats up the rivers Pomeroon, Waini and Raima. The capital Georgetown has a certain charm and the few yachts which do visit Guayana rarely go anywhere else. On the right bank of the river Demerara, the town has nineteenth century houses on stilts and boulevards built along disused Dutch canals. Seawalls and dykes protect the town, which is built on an alluvial flat area below the highwater mark. As in many South American countries, armed robbery and violent crime have increased recently. The UK Foreign Office state (June 2008); "You should exercise caution when travelling in Guyana. There have been recent attacks by armed criminal gangs in the vicinity of the villages of Buxton, Lusignan and Friendship, and the town of Bartica on the Essequibo River. However most visits are trouble-free." The Official language is English (often with a creole flavour).
The climate is hot and humid, especially from August to October. The wet seasons are from April to August, and November to January. Guyana lies outside of the hurricane belt.
Bartica
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, Georgetown
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*Indicates a port of entry.
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Related ReportsAround the next Bend - a 7 month journey along the many rivers of Guyana and Venezuela (28 Oct 2008) Seeking Information About Essequibo River & Bartica, Guyana (25 Jul 2008) Guyana - The Land of Many Waters. A new Cruising Destination/Hurricane Hole for Cruisers (19 Nov 2007) Venezuelan Rescue & Maritime Safety Organisation (01 Mar 2004)
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