When most people hear ‘South America’ they immediately think of Columbia or Brazil. Columbia is well known for its aromatic coffee, stirring music from artists like J Balvin and Shakira, and of course the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar! Brazil is famous for world-renown soccer players Pele and Neymar, beauties like Gisele Bundchen, and its colorful carnival. While all of this is true, South America is so much more than Columbia and Brazil and there is much more to Columbia and Brazil as well! If you’re fresh out of vacation or adventure ideas I invite you to explore South America.
I was born in Guyana but I have only visited one of our South American neighbors, Suriname. Maybe you think it is odd that I have never visited Brazil and Venezuela as well!? This is partly because Guyana although small in comparison to Brazil is a vast country! Georgetown is a thriving metropolis with big-city attractions including, bars, clubs, casinos, and well-known American roadhouse restaurants and fast-food chains. While the city of Georgetown is of historical interest, the real beauty of Guyana lies beyond its coastal plane. These areas are not easily accessible by road since 80% of Guyana is tropical rainforest.
As you can imagine, there are parts of Guyana that Guyanese city dwellers will never see in their lifetime. I myself have yet to see some of the magnificent vistas Guyana is famous for, including the Pakaraima and Acarai Mountains, the Rupununi savannahs, and the 276 waterfalls. These are all reasons to include Guyana when you explore South America.
Paramaribo Suriname Vs Georgetown Guyana
I visited Paramaribo Suriname in 1993/94 and although I did not see much of it, I quite liked what I saw. The architecture in Paramaribo hints at Suriname’s colonial past which is quite similar to Guyana’s. The food is a delicious combination of cuisines including Indian, Chinese, Javanese (Indonesian), Dutch, African, Portuguese, and Amerindian. In Guyana, our cuisine is also influenced by the same ethnic groups but the flavors are subtly different.
The cities have their differences as well, the Georgetown city center is filled with colorful bustling crowds and vendors cheerily hawking their ware. Honking traffic against a backdrop of loud music creates a cacophony of sound throughout the day. In contrast, Paramaribo has a less hectic pace – at least during my visit! the city seemed calmer and more serene. I hope to see more of Suriname at some point in the future. At the moment, my plan is to see much more of my homeland Guyana.
Traveling in Guyana
If you decide to travel overland to visit some of the famous sights in Guyana, prepare yourself for a long journey. You are likely to cross a river by boat at some point and the journey can be between 1 to 5 days depending on your destination. Fortunately, you can opt to travel by plane although, a plane ride can be as expensive as flying to the Caribbean! This is why most Guyanese city-folk never travel inland but have visited most of the Caribbean islands as well as parts of North America.
The Kaieteur Falls
My last visit to Guyana was special because of two reasons. The first was my birthday! I love celebrating my birthday and I hadn’t celebrated with family in a long time. The other reason was that I finally saw the magnificent Kaieteur Falls! I had seen countless documentaries and amazing footage of the falls but I longed to see it with my own eyes.
The Kaieteur Falls is the world’s largest single drop waterfall and has been the subject of Guyanese folklore, poetry, and documentaries for decades. Located in the Kaieteur National Park, the protected area is home to some of the rarest frog and exotic bird species in the region. If you’re into bird watching, this is a great reason to explore South America. Bear in mind that the area is home to some of the largest wildlife species as well!
On the morning of my trip to the falls, I sat in the Ogle Airport’s departure lounge staring out the window at the ridiculously tiny plane sitting on the runway. I had hoped for something a bit more sturdy and a lot bigger! Despite my apprehension, once we were airborne the spectacular views of virgin forests and rivers were an unexpected treat.
Here is what you can expect
The first aerial view of the falls is breathtaking! If you are fortunate to visit during the rainy season, the volume of water is so great that you can hear the roar of the falls long before you see it. Although it was not quite rainy season when I visited, the roar of the falls almost drowned out the sound of the plane engines as we approached.
On the short guided trek from the visitor’s center to the falls itself, you will get glimpses of the frogs, birds, and other small creatures native to the area. The falls are surrounded by lush rain forest which forms a shady canopy overhead. The roar of the falls is almost deafening as you get closer. Nothing truly captures the magnificence of the Kaieteur! The air is made cool and fresh by the light mist rising from the 741 ft depths and you will feel as though you have been transported into a fantasy world.
Once you’ve had your fill of gazing at the falls and the surrounding forest, the guide will introduce you to a few small creatures before you return to the visitors center. You can freshen up, purchase souvenirs and partake of light refreshments before your departure. On the return journey to the city, the rosy orange glow of the setting sun is another beautiful sight to look forward to! Of course the Kaieteur Falls is only one of the many reasons to visit Guyana.
Guyana’s economy is rated among the fastest-growing in the world
Guyana has always been rich in natural resources including gold, bauxite, sugar, rice, and timber. Unfortunately, Guyana was among the poorest countries in the region up until 2019 when oil was discovered. Accord to Nasdaq, Guyana’s economy is rated among the fastest-growing in the world as of 2020. Investors, job seekers, adventurers, and everyone else in between are flocking to our shores. This is one of the many reasons to explore South America. I myself plan to visit in July this year. I can’t wait to paddle downriver in a canoe, eat my favorite foods and spend time with some of my favorite people! Maybe I’ll see you there at my favorite coffee shop?
