Georgetown, Guyana

This is the least touristy country either of us has ever visited. In our entire time here, we’ve not met another tourist (we have met or seen NGO workers, Mormons, and people here on business). We haven’t seen any souvenir shops and only a few tourist agencies.
Because it’s so expensive to travel here and the infrastructure is very poor, it’s going to be hard to attract tourists in the short-term. The main issue is that backpackers likely can’t afford to visit and they are often the first to help develop tourism that eventually creates infrastructure to then attract mid-range and high-end travelers. Birders may persevere as it’s teeming with wonderful birds.
We have a feeling that, like many other places in the world with significant natural resources, including huge tourist potential, progress is slowed by corruption at all levels – corruption does not appreciate progress.

The people here have been great and engaging in a very polite and reserved way. One question we’ve had several times is ‘why did you come to Guyana?’ While there’s significant pride in the country expressed by the locals we’ve spoken to, it’s been tinged with a sense of disappointment that they are not doing better and seeing more tourists, foreign or local.

As we sip rum on our verandah listening to the frogs and watching the tropical rain, we tried to decide how to sum up our short trip to Guyana. All we could come up with was ‘manatees rule!’ Too much rum!Read more