How to Get Around Guyana

Getting Around

Guyana is entered by air at Cheddi Jagan International, at Timehri 41 kilometres south of Georgetown on the Demerara's right bank, where the airport's own directory lists Caribbean Airlines, American, JetBlue, United, British Airways, KLM, Copa, Avianca, Surinam Airways, InterCaribbean, LIAT, Fly Allways and Aruba Airlines, or at Eugene F. Correia, the former Ogle airport nearer the city, which handles regional and inter-CARICOM flights and the domestic aircraft to the roughly 90 interior airstrips. Overland, the scheduled ferry from Moleson Creek near Corriverton crosses the Corentyne to South Drain in Suriname -- the only legal crossing, both advisories say, since taking a water taxi is illegal and leads to arrest -- and a bridge over the Takutu links Lethem to Bonfim in Brazil; there is no official crossing with Venezuela and the border is volatile.

Traffic drives on the left, and the advisories agree the roads are dangerous: poor conditions, poor lighting, reckless and drunk driving, roaming livestock, frequent fatal accidents, and minibus drivers responsible for many of them. Take care driving at night, avoid the airport road late at night and before dawn, keep windows closed and doors locked because gangs have followed cars from the airport, and stay at the scene of any accident until the police come. A UK photocard or other licence works for 60 days, after which a four-week foreign permit is bought; Canada says to carry an IDP or get a local permit. Taxis booked from reputable companies or hotel ranks are the safest way around Georgetown -- note the plate, never hail one in the street -- and public minibuses are to be avoided unless pre-booked. Inland, the unpaved Georgetown–Lethem road runs through Iwokrama, about eight hours to the River Lodge by four-wheel drive and four more to Lethem, with washouts and rutting that lengthen it; most visitors fly to Fair View, Surama or Annai and drive from there.

Verified against Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation, September 2026.

Entry

Passport valid at least six months beyond arrival; no visa: the UK advisory says visitors normally get 30 days with one-month extensions from immigration, the Canadian says up to 90 days for tourism, so check the stamp; overstaying can mean a year in prison, a fine of about US$250 and deportation at your own cost; business travellers need a letter; a yellow-fever certificate if arriving from a risk country; declare dutiable goods.

Airports

Cheddi Jagan International (Timehri), 41 km south of Georgetown; authorised airport taxis with posted fares, and airport ATMs. Eugene F. Correia (Ogle) in the city for regional and domestic flights. About 90 airstrips inland, nine paved; Kaieteur has its own.

Borders

Suriname: scheduled ferry Moleson Creek–South Drain only, with a formal border post; water taxis are illegal. Brazil: the Takutu bridge at Lethem–Bonfim. Venezuela: no official crossing, volatile border.

Driving

Left-hand traffic; UK photocard licence valid, or IDP; after 60 days a four-week foreign driving permit; hire firms may want a year's experience, a higher minimum age and an IDP; poor, unlit roads, drunk drivers, livestock; stay at the scene of an accident; severe penalties for causing injury or death.

Taxis and minibuses

Pre-booked taxis from reputable companies or hotel ranks; note the licence plate; do not hail in the street; avoid public minibuses, overloaded and badly driven, unless pre-booked from a reputable source; keep distance from minibuses on the road.

Interior

Georgetown–Iwokrama River Lodge about 8 hours by 4x4 on the laterite Lethem road, 274 km; the lodge's vehicle from its Georgetown office US$1,070 return for up to six, a public minivan seat about US$180 return, a scheduled flight Ogle–Fair View US$440 one way, charters from US$3,000; cabins US$180 to 280 a night, conservation user fee US$15 a visit, canopy walkway US$35 a person, all in US dollars. Registered boats with life jackets only, never after dark.

Emergency numbers

Police 911 (+592-225-8196); fire 912; ambulance 913. High Commission of Canada, High and Young Streets, Georgetown, 1-592-227-2081.

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Sources & verification Covers the sourced claims on this page.

Checked against Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation — Airlines with station offices at Cheddi Jagan International: Caribbean Airlines, Copa, Surinam Airways, American Airlines, InterCaribbean, JetBlue, British Airways, Sky High, Fly Allways, Avianca, United, LIAT, KLM and Aruba Airlines, Airlines with station offices at Cheddi Jagan International: Caribbean Airlines, Copa, Surinam Airways, American Airlines, InterCaribbean, JetBlue, British Airways, Sky High, Fly Allways, Avianca, United, LIAT, KLM and Aruba Airlines (September 2026).
Checked against Iwokrama River Lodge — The lodge is roughly 8 hours by road south of Georgetown and 4 hours north of Lethem; charter flights land at Fair View, 2 km away; the unpaved laterite Georgetown–Lethem road passes through the Iwokrama forest and suffers washouts and rutting; coach service was suspended in 2011; the lodge's 4x4 from its Georgetown office takes 6 to 9 hours each way with lunch at Mabura; the canopy walkway is 33 metres above the forest floor with four platforms and is jointly operated with Surama village, Rock View Lodge and Wilderness Explorers; Surama EcoLodge is managed solely by the Makushi, employing more than 70 people, with about 60% of the community's income from tourism, The lodge is on the Essequibo near Kurupukari, about 274 km south of Georgetown and 160 km north of Lethem; reachable by hired minivan or private vehicle, or by flying to Surama or Annai (Rock View Lodge) and driving two hours; charters land at Fair View 2 km away; the drive from Georgetown takes at least 8 hours and flying in is a 3–4 hour combined journey, Iwokrama River Lodge cabins US$180 single, US$230 double, US$280 triple; research building US$70, training rooms US$40; all prices in US dollars including fees and service, plus a mandatory US$15 Iwokrama Forest Conservation User Fee per visit funding community projects; payment in USD, GYD, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, travellers cheques or bank transfer with a 5% administrative fee; lodge vehicle Georgetown return US$1,070 for 1–6 persons; public minivan return about US$180 per passenger; scheduled flight Ogle–Fair View US$440 per person one way; charters from US$3,000 (5-seater) to US$6,000 (Caravan) return; Canopy Walkway US$35 per person, Turtle Mountain US$230 for up to three, caiman night spotting US$35, nocturnal jaguar spotting by road US$85 for one, The lodge is roughly 8 hours by road south of Georgetown and 4 hours north of Lethem; charter flights land at Fair View, 2 km away; the unpaved laterite Georgetown–Lethem road passes through the Iwokrama forest and suffers washouts and rutting; coach service was suspended in 2011; the lodge's 4x4 from its Georgetown office takes 6 to 9 hours each way with lunch at Mabura; the canopy walkway is 33 metres above the forest floor with four platforms and is jointly operated with Surama village, Rock View Lodge and Wilderness Explorers; Surama EcoLodge is managed solely by the Makushi, employing more than 70 people, with about 60% of the community's income from tourism, The lodge is on the Essequibo near Kurupukari, about 274 km south of Georgetown and 160 km north of Lethem; reachable by hired minivan or private vehicle, or by flying to Surama or Annai (Rock View Lodge) and driving two hours; charters land at Fair View 2 km away; the drive from Georgetown takes at least 8 hours and flying in is a 3–4 hour combined journey (September 2026).
Checked against UK Government (GOV.UK; FCDO travel advice abroad) — Minimum three-year jail sentence for drug offences, tough prisons; same-sex sexual activity illegal, rarely enforced, growing local support, but public affection draws negative attention; hotel fires have occurred and some hotels have poor fire safety; a UK photocard licence is valid, after 60 days a four-week foreign driving permit is needed; hire firms may require a year's experience, a higher minimum age and an IDP; driving dangerous from reckless drivers, hazards, poor lighting and roads; keep distance from minibuses, responsible for many accidents; avoid the airport road late at night and before dawn; private taxis from reputable companies booked in advance or from hotel ranks are the safest way around Georgetown, never hailed; avoid public minibuses unless pre-booked; armed attacks on fishing boats; registered boats with life jackets only, not after dark; only scheduled ferries across the Corentyne, water taxis (backtracking) illegal; flooding, rainy seasons May–June and December–January, coast below sea level with poorly maintained drainage, Crime levels significant and police capacity low; petty crime common and violent crime a risk; attacks and muggings in daylight and more at night with knives or firearms, targeting tourists showing wealth; areas named: Stabroek Market, Tiger Bay and Albouystown, Sophia, Buxton, Agricola; visitors assaulted in Georgetown's Botanical Gardens, so visit with a group; gangs have followed cars from the airport, so drive with windows closed and doors locked; exchange money indoors and use ATMs inside banks or shopping centres; book hotel or licensed taxis; scammers offer free tickets to Guyana then force travellers to carry cocaine; Venezuela border tense with organised crime and the New River Triangle disputed with Suriname; occasional protests, Passport valid at least 6 months after arrival; no visa, visitors normally get 30 days with one-month extensions from immigration; overstaying can bring a one-year prison sentence, a fine of up to 50,000 Guyana dollars (about US$250) and deportation at your own expense; yellow-fever certificate if arriving from a risk country; declare dutiable goods, Minimum three-year jail sentence for drug offences, tough prisons; same-sex sexual activity illegal, rarely enforced, growing local support, but public affection draws negative attention; hotel fires have occurred and some hotels have poor fire safety; a UK photocard licence is valid, after 60 days a four-week foreign driving permit is needed; hire firms may require a year's experience, a higher minimum age and an IDP; driving dangerous from reckless drivers, hazards, poor lighting and roads; keep distance from minibuses, responsible for many accidents; avoid the airport road late at night and before dawn; private taxis from reputable companies booked in advance or from hotel ranks are the safest way around Georgetown, never hailed; avoid public minibuses unless pre-booked; armed attacks on fishing boats; registered boats with life jackets only, not after dark; only scheduled ferries across the Corentyne, water taxis (backtracking) illegal; flooding, rainy seasons May–June and December–January, coast below sea level with poorly maintained drainage, Call 913 for an ambulance; risks include yellow fever, dengue, Zika, oropouche and malaria in the interior; UNAIDS estimated about 11,000 people living with HIV in 2024; medical facilities are very limited even in Georgetown and extremely limited in remote areas, standards low, evacuate for serious or invasive treatment; insurance must cover treatment and evacuation (September 2026).
Checked against Global Affairs Canada — Road conditions and safety poor throughout the country, roads poorly lit, traffic laws ignored, drinking and driving prevalent, roaming livestock, fatal accidents common; the law requires those involved in an accident to remain at the scene until police arrive; avoid public minibuses, overloaded, badly maintained and badly driven; taxis the safest transport though robberies occur, from major hotels or reputable companies, never hailed, note the licence plate; avoid water taxis across international waters, use the scheduled ferry with its border post; pirate attacks and armed robbery against ships in coastal waters; vehicles drive on the left; carry an IDP or apply for a local permit on a valid licence; severe penalties including imprisonment for causing injury or death, Tourist visa not required for stays up to 90 days; business travellers need a business letter; it is illegal to use independent boaters to cross into Suriname, foreigners have been fined, detained and deported; cross only at official ports of entry and get an entry stamp; the currency is the Guyanese dollar, the US dollar widely accepted, only major hotels take credit cards, a few ATMs accept international cards, carry enough cash and exchange only at banks, never with street changers; severe drug penalties served in Guyana; exotic birds may not be exported without a year's legal residence and ministry permission; same-sex acts and related offences including same-sex marriage prohibited with jail sentences; dual citizenship recognised, Tourist visa not required for stays up to 90 days; business travellers need a business letter; it is illegal to use independent boaters to cross into Suriname, foreigners have been fined, detained and deported; cross only at official ports of entry and get an entry stamp; the currency is the Guyanese dollar, the US dollar widely accepted, only major hotels take credit cards, a few ATMs accept international cards, carry enough cash and exchange only at banks, never with street changers; severe drug penalties served in Guyana; exotic birds may not be exported without a year's legal residence and ministry permission; same-sex acts and related offences including same-sex marriage prohibited with jail sentences; dual citizenship recognised, Road conditions and safety poor throughout the country, roads poorly lit, traffic laws ignored, drinking and driving prevalent, roaming livestock, fatal accidents common; the law requires those involved in an accident to remain at the scene until police arrive; avoid public minibuses, overloaded, badly maintained and badly driven; taxis the safest transport though robberies occur, from major hotels or reputable companies, never hailed, note the licence plate; avoid water taxis across international waters, use the scheduled ferry with its border post; pirate attacks and armed robbery against ships in coastal waters; vehicles drive on the left; carry an IDP or apply for a local permit on a valid licence; severe penalties including imprisonment for causing injury or death, Emergency services exist but may be limited: police 911 or +592-225-8196, medical assistance 913, firefighters 912 or +592-226-2411; High Commission of Canada at High and Young Streets, Georgetown, 1-592-227-2081; two rainy seasons, May to July and November to January, but flooding year round on a coast below sea level with poorly maintained drainage; malaria in certain areas and seasons; dengue and Zika risks; rabies common in dogs and some wildlife including bats (September 2026).