Guyana: how to get there and transport
How do you get to Guyana?
Airplane
The only international airport in the country is the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, which is about 40 kilometers south of the capital, Georgetown. It’s easy to get to from Georgetown or Linden by minibuses and taxis. Porters approach the travelers directly at customs and bring their luggage to the minibus. A small fee is charged for this, which is calculated on the number of pieces of luggage. You should tell the porters immediately whether you want to go to Linden or Georgetown. The prices for the bus trips are fixed and are paid to the driver. The taxi prices, however, should be negotiated before starting your journey.
There are daily flights from/to Cheddi Jagan International Airport. These include destinations in the USA and Canada, UK and the Caribbean.
Railroad
The country’s former railroad was sold by President Forbes Burnam. There are only a few remains to be seen outside of Georgetown.
Bus
Guyana has a road connection with Suriname and Brazil. Those arriving from Suriname will find minibuses in the capital Paramaribo that go to Guyana. Conversely, there are several buses daily that leave Georgetown for the Surinamese border. In about 10 hours (from Georgetown) you are in Lethem on the Brazilian border, although the travel time can be considerably longer in the rainy season. Since the buses to Brazil usually leave very late at night, it is advisable to take a taxi to the bus station for safety reasons. Anyone from Brazil Arriving across the border will take a minibus or taxi to Lethem city center and from there to Georgetown.
Ship
There are no international ship connections to Guyana. Entry by water from Nieuw Nickerie (Suriname) is illegal.
Car There is no road connection
between Venezuela and Guyana. If you want to get to Venezuela from Guyana, you either have to take the plane and fly via Trinidad or via the Brazilian state of Roraima. After Surinam is reached by a coastal road that also leads through Georgetown.
Travel in the country
Airplane
You can get to many parts of the Guyana hinterland by air. Various local airlines operate from Ogle Airport near Georgetown and from Cheddi Jagan International Airport near Timehri.
Bus
The cheapest way to travel in Guyana is still with mini buses. Relatively efficient minibus systems exist in all urban areas of the country. Stops are the places where you want to get off or get on. The buses travel on a fixed line, but can deviate from this if the request is made at the beginning of the line and the drivers are able to comfortably return to the original line. A whole bus can also be rented. At night, driving a mini bus is less advisable for safety reasons.
Car
While there is a highway between Georgetown and Linden, all other road connections in the country require a four-wheel drive vehicle. Before starting your journey, you should definitely make detailed inquiries about the navigability of the intended route, because very often bridges collapse and are not renewed again.
Cars can be rented in Guyana. You should visit more than one rental company before deciding. Because the prices vary a lot. It is often possible to push prices down a little.
Taxi
Taxis can be hailed right on the roadside with waves. There are no taxi centers in the country. You should inquire about the price before starting your journey.
Ship and boat
Many parts of Guyana can be reached via rivers with water taxis. You should inquire about the price of other passengers before using it, because the boat operators tend to charge tourists higher fares.
Traffic rules
There is left-hand traffic in Guyana.
In order to avoid trouble with the police or even the courts, one should strictly adhere to the traffic rules applicable in the country. The maximum speeds shown can of course be reduced or increased by traffic signs. Regardless of the information given here, it is advisable to obtain detailed information from the ADAC, the AvD or the traffic clubs in the country concerned.
If you want to drive a car in Guyana, you need an international driver’s license. You can apply for this in Germany at the driving license office of the district office or at the city administration. The international driving license is then valid for three years. However, it is only available to all those who also have an EU driving license that was not issued before 1999.
International license plate
The Guyana international license plate is:
| GUY |
Guyana: Embassies, Consulates and Tourist Office
Representations of Guyana in Europe
Embassy
The embassy in Brussels is responsible for Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Embassy of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana in Brussels
Avenue du Bresil, 12
1050 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: 0032 – (0) 2 – 6 75 62 16
Fax: 0032 – (0) 2 – 6 72 55 98
0032 – (0) 2 – 6 75 63 31
Email: embassy9.guyana@skynet.be
German representations in Guyana
Embassy
The embassy in Trinidad and Tobago is responsible (see here >>>).
German Honorary Consulate in Georgetown
24 Water Street
Georgetown, Guyana
PO Box 10647
Tel: 00592 – 227 33 44
00 592 – 227 33 50
00 592 – 227 33 63
Fax: 00592 – 226 18 81
00 592 – 227 33 60
Email: chris @ jf-ltd. com
Austrian representations in Guyana
Embassy
The embassy in Venzuela is responsible (see here >>>).
Austrian Honorary Consulate in Georgetown
106 Laluni & New Garden Streets
Queenstown, Georgetown
:
POBox 10903
Georgetown
Tel: 00592 – 231 40 71
00592 – 623 02 61
Email: ben.twent@gmail.com
Swiss representations in Guyana
Embassy
The embassy in Venzuela is responsible (see here >>>).
Tourist office
Guyana Tourism Authority
National Exhibition Center
Sophia, Georgetown
Guyana
Tel: 00592 – 219 00 94-6
Fax: 00592 – 219 00 93
Email: info@guyana-tourism.com
Web: www.guyana-tourism.com
www.guyanabirding.com
Entry and exit regulations
Formalities, visas
Citizens of the member states of the EU and numerous other countries do not require a visa when entering as a tourist. In principle, tourists are only allowed to enter the country if a return ticket and sufficient financial resources are available to finance their stay in the country themselves.
Issuing of visas
If you do not enter the country as a tourist or if you want to stay for a long time, a visa may be required.
Visa department of the Embassy of Guyana
12, avenue du Brésil
1050 Bruxelles
Tel: 0032 26756216
Fax: 0032 26755598
Email: embassy-guyana@skynet.be
Import and export of foreign currency
- Local currencyThe import and export of 200, – GYD in cash is allowed.
- Foreign currenciesThere are no restrictions on import and export, but the amount must be declared upon import. Up to this amount may also be carried out on departure.
Import and export of goods The import and export of explosives is strictly prohibited. Bringing weapons and ammunition for sports or other purposes requires a special permit from the Guyanese authorities before the trip. In addition, the import and export of plants and animals protected under the Washington Species Protection Act is prohibited. Violation can result in severe penalties. Import of drugs and pornographic material is prohibited.
Entry with pets
An import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture is required to import pets into Guyana. In addition, an official veterinary health certificate must be issued for the animal in question, confirming that the animal has been vaccinated against rabies. This rabies vaccination must have taken place at least 30 days before entry and must not be more than twelve months ago.
Pets from Germany, Switzerland and Austria must also be quarantined for 90 days, which means that pets are practically no longer required when traveling on vacation.
Guyana: Travel Medicine, Vaccinations, and Warnings
Infectious Diseases
In Guyana, the following infectious diseases are to be expected, which are not or less common in Germany or Central and Northern Europe:
- Malaria, there is a national risk, with the exception of Georgetown and New Amsterdam, of becoming infected with the malaria pathogen. About 45 – 50% of the infections occur with the very dangerous malaria tropica, the rest with malaria tertiana
- Chagas disease, especially when staying in wooden or adobe buildings
- Cholera, but usually only for high-risk travelers who come into contact with contaminated water or infected food, such as backpackers
- Dengue fever, incidence nationwide
- Intestinal infections caused by contaminated food or water, including amoebas, lamblia, salmonella, shigella, worm infestation and all kinds of viruses and bacteria
- Filariasis, nationwide occurrence
- Yellow fever, national occurrence
- Hepatitis A and B
- Leishmaniasis Disease
- tetanus
- Rabies, but only for travelers who come into contact with infected animals
- Typhoid, but only for travelers who come into contact with contaminated water or infected food
Vaccination recommendations
When traveling to Guyana, the following vaccinations recommended:
- Diphtheria, a vaccination against diphtheria, should always exist in your home country
- Yellow fever (absolutely !!)
- Hepatitis A and B, vaccination against hepatitis B, is only required for travelers who may come into contact with human blood
- Tetanus, a vaccination against tetanus, should always exist in the home country
- Rabies, but only in high-risk travelers who can come into contact with the vector animals
- Typhoid, but only in travelers who may come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food
Compulsory vaccination
There is a compulsory vaccination against an illness with yellow fever for all persons over one year who come from a yellow fever infection area designated by the WHO. Since Guyana is itself a yellow fever infection area, a vaccination against yellow fever is urgent! advisable.
Malaria prophylaxis
When traveling in the country, it is strongly advised to undergo malaria prophylaxis. If the side effects seem questionable to you, you should at least have a “stand-by product” with you.
Current warnings
Foreign Office (AA) of the Federal Republic of Germany
Citizens’ Service
D-11013 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000
Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 51000
www.auswaertiges-amt.de
Guyana: Currency, Shopping, and Exchange Rate
The local currency of Guyana is the
Guyanese Dollar (G $).
The following banknotes are valid and in circulation in the country:
- 20 G $
- 100 G $
- 500 G $
- 1000 G $
As well as the following coins: 1, 5, 10 G $
Exchange rate
The conversion rate to the euro is updated here about every 14 days. If significant course changes occur, they are displayed up-to-date immediately. A currency converter for converting into all common currencies can be found at:
http://www.bdb.de/html/reisekasse/waehrungsrechner.asp
Note
The exchange rate of the legal currency exchange offices in the country may be cheaper than the rate of the banks. For safety reasons, you should definitely refrain from changing on the street.
Bank opening times
Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.
Shop
Shop opening times
Monday to Friday: 9:00 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Inexpensive or country-specific goods, souvenirs
The traditional goods such as baskets, ceramics, jewelry and straw hats are popular with tourists. It is advisable to keep all receipts for customs. In the duty freeshops you present the return ticket to negotiate an additional discount. Street vendors in Georgetown are willing to go down the price on multiple goods purchases.
