Guyana

English is Guyana's only official language, the sole one in South America. Most Guyanese speak Guyanese Creole, locally called Creolese, among themselves; it uses English vocabulary but its own grammar and rhythm, and can be hard to follow at conversational speed. Visitors who speak standard English will have no trouble getting by anywhere in the country.

Digicel and GTT are Guyana's two mobile networks, and prepaid SIM cards are cheap and easy to find at the airport or in central Georgetown. Coverage is reliable along the coast but drops out completely once you leave the paved road network — expect no signal for days on trips to Kaieteur Falls, the Rupununi savannah, or the Iwokrama rainforest. Some interior lodges rely on satellite internet, so confirm connectivity with your lodge before counting on being reachable.

Tap water in Georgetown is treated, but bottled or filtered water is the safer choice, especially outside the capital and in the interior. Pharmacies are easy to find in the capital and stock familiar over-the-counter medication, but they thin out quickly once you leave the coast, so bring a basic medical kit for interior trips. Malaria risk exists in the rainforest interior, so travelers heading to Kaieteur Falls, Iwokrama, or the Rupununi should discuss antimalarial medication with a travel clinic before departure. Dengue fever is present nationwide, so pack mosquito repellent. Travelers arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission need a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate to enter.

Visitors from the United States and Canada can enter Guyana without a visa for up to 90 days, while UK citizens get 30 days visa-free; most EU passport holders can also enter without a visa, though the allowed stay varies by nationality. Travelers from many other countries can apply for an e-visa or a visa on arrival, backed by an approval letter from Guyana's immigration authorities. A passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date is required for everyone.

Visa and entry requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with the official immigration authority or your country's embassy before travel.

Greetings are warm and unhurried, and a little small talk before getting to business is normal. Dress modestly when visiting Hindu temples and mosques: cover shoulders and knees, and remove your shoes before entering. Ask permission before photographing people, and be especially considerate in Indigenous villages in the interior, where a guide can advise on local customs. Bargaining is not the norm at Stabroek Market or in shops — prices are usually fixed, though there is sometimes room to negotiate with informal vendors.

Guyana's public holidays reflect its mix of Christian, Hindu, Muslim, and national commemorations, and several move each year with the lunar or religious calendar. Many shops, offices, and transport services close or run a reduced schedule on public holidays. Shops in Georgetown typically open Monday to Saturday, with shorter hours or closures on Sunday, and Stabroek Market and most markets are quieter on Sundays.

• By air: Small charter flights from Eugene F. Correia International Airport (Ogle), just outside Georgetown, are the practical way to reach Kaieteur Falls, the Rupununi savannah, and most interior eco-lodges — there is no road to many of these places.
• By road: A paved coastal road links the capital with New Amsterdam and the Suriname border. The road south to Lethem and the Brazilian border is paved only as far as Linden. Past that it's unpaved laterite, so this overland route is long and rough — best done with an experienced driver or organized tour. Shared minibuses cover the coastal towns cheaply and often, though they can be crowded and only leave once full.
• By river: Rivers are a major transport route in the interior. Speedboats and ferries connect river towns such as Bartica and Parika, and some interior lodges are reachable only by boat.

Guyana drives on the left, a legacy of British rule — unusual for South America, where nearly every other country drives on the right.

Guyanese food mixes Indian, African, Indigenous, Chinese, and Portuguese influences into something distinct from the rest of the Caribbean. The national dish is pepperpot, meat slow-cooked in cassareep, a dark, slightly bitter sauce made from cassava root, traditionally served at Christmas but available in Georgetown year-round. Cook-up rice, a one-pot dish of rice, beans or peas, and coconut milk, is an everyday staple, alongside roti served with curried chicken, goat, or vegetables.

Street food includes plantain chips, cassava bread, and Chinese-Guyanese fried rice and chow mein stalls found throughout Georgetown. For something sweet, look for pine tart, a pastry filled with sweetened pineapple. To drink, try mauby, a bittersweet bark-based drink common across the Caribbean, or sorrel, made from hibiscus flowers and spices. Guyana is also known internationally for its Demerara rum, aged and exported under labels such as El Dorado.