4-Day Iwokrama Rainforest Express: Canopy Walkway & Jaguar Trail

Tour Overview

Experience the pristine Amazon rainforest of Guyana on this 4-day express tour, from the colonial capital of Georgetown to the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development. Walk among the treetops on the canopy walkway, search for jaguars on the jungle trails, and experience the unique culture of the Makushi indigenous people.

Itinerary Highlights

Day 1: Arrival in Georgetown & to Iwokrama

Arrive at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (Timehri, Georgetown). Transfer to your hotel in Georgetown, the capital of Guyana, known as the Garden City of the Caribbean. Explore Georgetown: visit the St. George’s Cathedral (one of the tallest wooden buildings in the world, at 43 meters), the Parliament Building, the Umana Yana (a thatched-roof conical hut, a traditional Amerindian meeting place), the Georgetown Lighthouse, the Promenade Gardens, and the historic Water Street with its colonial architecture. Visit the Guyana National Museum and the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology (with exhibits on Amerindian culture). After lunch, fly or drive to Iwokrama (approximately 1 hour flight or 4-5 hours drive along the Linden-Lethem road). Arrive at the Iwokrama International Centre, a 3,716-square-kilometer protected rainforest area dedicated to conservation and sustainable development. Check into your eco-lodge. Evening welcome dinner with Guyanese cuisine including pepperpot, cook-up rice, and fresh fish. Night walk to look for nocturnal wildlife. Overnight in Iwokrama.

Day 2: Iwokrama Canopy Walkway & Rainforest Hike

Early morning birdwatching walk (Iwokrama is home to over 500 species of birds, including the famous Guianan cock-of-the-rock, harpy eagle, and many species of parrots, toucans, and hummingbirds). After breakfast, walk the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, a 30-meter-high, 154-meter-long series of suspension bridges and platforms among the rainforest treetops, offering breathtaking views of the rainforest canopy and the opportunity to see birds, monkeys, and other wildlife at eye level. The walkway is one of the longest in the world and offers a unique perspective on the rainforest ecosystem. After lunch, take a guided rainforest hike with a local Makushi guide, learning about the diverse flora and fauna of the Amazon rainforest, including the giant trees, medicinal plants, orchids, bromeliads, and the many species of animals including howler monkeys, spider monkeys, capuchin monkeys, sloths, tapirs, agoutis, and a variety of reptiles and amphibians. Visit the Iwokrama Field Station and learn about the conservation research being conducted. Evening sunset cruise on the Essequibo River (the longest river in Guyana), looking for caimans, river turtles, and nocturnal birds. Dinner at the lodge. Overnight in Iwokrama.

Day 3: Jaguar Trail & Surama Village

Early morning jaguar tracking expedition: Iwokrama is one of the best places in the world to see jaguars in the wild, with a relatively high density of these elusive big cats. Take a guided drive or hike along the Iwokrama forest roads and trails, looking for jaguar tracks and signs, and with luck, spotting a jaguar. Other wildlife commonly seen includes giant river otters, black caimans, harpy eagles, and tapirs. After lunch, visit Surama Village, a Makushi indigenous community located on the edge of the Iwokrama forest. The village offers community-based eco-tourism experiences. Meet the village chief and residents, learn about the traditional Makushi culture, their sustainable way of life, and their relationship with the rainforest. Visit the Surama Eco-Lodge, take a guided walk through the village and surrounding forest, and learn about traditional crafts including basket weaving, pottery, and hammock making. Visit the nearby Burro-Burro River for a refreshing swim and to look for giant river otters. Evening enjoy a traditional Makushi dinner with cassava bread, pepperpot, and locally grown produce. Participate in a traditional Makushi dance and storytelling session around the fire. Overnight in Surama Village (in a traditional thatched-roof benab or eco-lodge).

Day 4: Surama to Georgetown & Departure

Early morning nature walk around Surama Village, looking for birds and wildlife. Visit the Surama craft shop for last-minute shopping for Makushi handicrafts including woven baskets, hammocks, pottery, and jewelry. After breakfast, drive or fly back to Georgetown (approximately 1 hour flight or 4-5 hours drive). Upon arrival in Georgetown, visit the famous Stabroek Market (a bustling iron-and-steel market building, one of the city’s landmarks, with everything from fresh produce and fish to clothing and crafts) and the nearby Guyana Stores for last-minute shopping for Guyanese products including rum, El Dorado rum (some of the best in the world), wooden carvings, and Amerindian crafts. Visit the Promenade Gardens for a relaxing walk. Transfer to Cheddi Jagan International Airport for your departure flight, concluding your 4-day Iwokrama rainforest express tour.

What’s Included

• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Driver
• Fuel Cost, Parking Fee, Toll Fee
• Accommodation in selected hotels
• Daily breakfast

What’s Not Included

• Entrance fees to attractions
• Tour Guide
• Meal (lunch and dinner)
• International flights
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses