Guyana Interior: Iwokrama Forest and Kaieteur Falls

Field notes

Guyana is South America's least visited country and one of its wildest. English-speaking, with a coast that feels Caribbean and an interior that is 80% pristine rainforest — including the Iwokrama Forest, a 3,710-square-kilometre reserve managed jointly by the government and indigenous communities. Kaieteur Falls is the world's largest single-drop waterfall by volume, set in a national park accessible only by small aircraft.

Why go: This is ecotourism in its raw form. You stay in community-owned lodges (Surama, Rewa, Atta), hike jungle trails, paddle dugout canoes on black-water creeks, and see harpy eagles, giant river otters, and black caimans in their own territory. Few places match the contrast between the capital Georgetown's creolized urban energy and the absolute silence of the interior.

How to get there: Fly to Georgetown (GEO) from Miami or Trinidad. Charter or scheduled small aircraft from Ogle Airport (Georgetown) to interior airstrips — these are the only way in for most destinations.

Practical notes: This is expedition travel, not casual tourism. Book through established operators (Iwokrama, Wilderness Explorers, Wild Fowl). Pack light, expect wet feet, and bring a head net.