OUTSIDE GUYANA - BORDER VENEZUELA
MOUNT RORAIMA
REGION 1
Santa Rosa - Moruca
Mabaruma & Shell Beach
Port Kaituma

REGION 2
Essequibo Coast - Lakes
Capoey Lake

Hot and Cold Lake
Lake Mainstay
Akawini - Pomeroon River

REGION 3
Toucan Guest House & Guyanese Heritage Museum
Timberhead Rainforest Reserve
Santa Mission
Shanklands

REGION 6
Orealla

REGION 7
Bartica & Marshall Falls
Bartica - The Monastery
Baracara Island Resort
Baganara Island Resort

REGION 8
Iwokrama
Overland Trek - Kaieteur to Orinduik
Kaiteur Falls Overland

REGION 9
Rockview Eco-Tourism Resort
Karanambo Ranch, Rupununi Savannahs

OUTSIDE GUYANA
Mount Roraima
Island Hopping in the Caribbean
Suriname
 

Route
Georgetown - Lethem
Lethem - Bon Fim
Bon Fim - Boa Vista
Boa Vista - Santa Elena de Uairen
About Santa Elena de Uairen
Santa Elena - San Francisco

Georgetown - Lethem
By Air:
Trans-Guyana flight from Ogle airport to Lethem takes approx. 1.5 hours. We left at 0600 and were in Lethem by 0730 which gives good time to make onward connections. Current costs are GUY $18,500 single and GUY $34,000 return.

(Nadine at Kayman Sankar, Lamaha Street, was very helpful, Tel: 225-9875).

Overland:
4x4 jeeps or Bedford trucks regularly make the journey to Lethem overland, via Kurupukari crossing where a pontoon takes vehicles over the Essequibo river. This journey can take anything from 14 hours upwards, depending on the state of the road and taking longer in the rainy season.
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Lethem - Bon Fim
Before leaving Lethem you have to get an exit stamp for Guyana from the immigration office, opposite the end of the airstrip. This opens to coincide with early flights - however, if coming overland it may be tricky to get a stamp out of normal office hours. Make sure you have time to get this formality done, as it could cause you problems re-entering Guyana.

Bon Fim is the Brazilian border town, just across the Takatu river from Lethem. The immigration office is on the main road immediately after you cross the river. Bon Fim is a few kilometers further on. The immigration office here is very efficient, and will open up for you even at night. You will receive a stamp in your passport and a piece of paper - keep this paper as it needs to be given back to the immigration office on your exit from Brazil. The officials do not speak English here.          
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*Canadians need a visa for Brazil

A pontoon operates on the Takatu river during daylight hours. At night speedboats work for passengers only, charging GUY $100 for the short crossing. Taxi’s are available on the Guyanese side and will take you into Lethem for GUY $300 for a short drop.

By bus:
There is a regular bus service between Lethem and Bon Fim, which picks up outside the immigration office in Lethem, stops at the Brazilian immigration and terminates at the bus station in Bon Fim.

By taxi:
Taxi’s are readily available and will take approx. 30 mins (including Brazilian immigration).

By foot:
It is quite possible to walk the distance - but beware, do not believe the
guide-books estimates of 2.5 km!! It is quite a long way from the river into Bon Fim itself. Foot Passengers pay a nominal fee on the pontoon.

Bon Fim - Boa Vista
By bus:
The journey takes 2 hours by comfy, air conditioned bus on good tarmac roads!! You need to stay on the bus until it terminates at the “Rodovaria” - the modern Central Bus Station which has all facilities and friendly staff. This costs US $9.
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Boa Vista - Santa Elena de Uairen
By bus:
Another comfortable bus journey takes 4-5 hours to reach Santa Elena, with two breaks on the way at snackettes. This currently costs the equivalent of approx. US $8 each. We caught a bus at 1300 hours from “embarque” (stand) C.

The bus will automatically stop at the Brazilian border where you have to visit immigration for an exit stamp, then drive to the Venezuelan immigration where you get an entry stamp and receipt - keep the receipt!

You will need a tourist visa for entry into Venezuela which is best arranged in advance, as to do this on the border could prove a major hassle. The Venezuelan Embassy in Thomas Street, Georgetown is very efficient and helpful. The officer there processed our visas in a day (quicker than London could!), although a longer time is usually required. Opening hours are 0900-1300 Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You need to take along your passport and a passport sized photograph of yourself.

You will also need to present your Yellow Fever Certificate at the Border - it has been known (recently) for the Officials to turn back people who don’t have their certificate.
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Santa Elena de Uairen
This small town serves as the gateway to the Gran Sabana, and starting point for many treks up Mount Roraima. There are various companies here who will offer trips with other travellers to make up a large group. The service is good - but the package generally costs more than going to San Francisco and arranging for your own guides. Porters can be arranged at Parapetui, which is the starting point for the walk-in.

The Tourist Office in Santa Elena is a new building next to the bus stands, and can offer lots of information and advice. The man who is currently employed there speaks very good English and is really helpful. It is possible to arrange a flight to Angel Falls from here. The cost is currently US $500 for a five-seater plane, so it makes sense to get an interested group of people together.

There are stores which hire camping equipment at reasonable rates - two are between the restaurant “Parador Turistico Venezuela Primero” and “Casa Glady’s”.
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Santa Elena - San Francisco
By bus:
This journey takes about 2.5 hours and currently costs 2,000 bolivars each.

By taxi:
Journey time 1.5 hours: cost 10,000 bolivars.

There is very little to see or do in this small village and food produce is limited. Guides and equipment can be arranged from here. Guides cost approx. 20,000 bolivars per day. Lots of trekkers hire all equipment - tents, sleeping bags and mats, cooking gear - even rucksacks from here for a small fee. There are possible places to stay - check guides on Venezuela / South America. Jeeps to take you up to the starting village of Parapetui are also arranged here and will cost approx. US $50 for the journey (local currency preferred).
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