With a vast mix of ethnic backgrounds, traditions, spiritual beliefs, festivals, architecture and landscapes, the memories of Guyana blaze long after travellers have left its shores. The rich cultural landscape of the country can best be explained as a mix of Caribbean culture and Indigenous roots. It can be experienced by attending festivals, staying with local communities in ecolodges, exploring the heritage of the country, and indulging in Guyanese cuisine.
Guyana Indigenous Peoples are known for their warm hospitality. They are proud to share their traditions and knowledge with guests of their community-led and owned ecolodges. Doing so helps them preserve their heritage and way of life while providing economic benefits to the host community as a whole.
One thing that stands out about Guyanese, it is that we love coming together and enjoying celebrations. Many festivals and events showcase the country’s colourful ethnic diversity. These events come alive through road parades and processions, street jams and parties.
The heritage of Guyana is a combination of great local architecture, colonial remnants, history, modern political movements, and the living culture of its diverse population. The net result is that the built heritage of Guyana is a riveting hook for travellers. The wooden churches with stained glass features, museums with Demerara windows, Dutch sluice and canal engineering in Georgetown and a number of other historical structures in the country offer a window into the country’s past and present.
The street market is the heart of the city. Cosy shops packed with hand-made leather, cane, balata and cloth goods are great for those on a bargain hunt. Curios, bags, containers, jewellery and even the typical South American cloth hammocks are some of the best souvenirs from Guyana.