Shell Beach

Entry requirements vary by passport. Check the requirements for your specific passport on the Guyana page at Yoogo.

Guyana's official currency is the Guyanese dollar (GYD), and cash is the dominant form of payment throughout the country. US dollars are widely accepted in Georgetown, though change is typically given in GYD. Credit cards are accepted at a limited number of upscale hotels, car rental agencies, and larger restaurants in the capital, often with a surcharge of 3–5%, and are rarely usable outside Georgetown.

Georgetown experiences higher rates of petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag-snatching, particularly around busy markets and the seawall, and extra care is warranted after dark. Guyana's interior regions, which include most of the country's main tourist destinations such as Kaieteur Falls, Iwokrama, and the Rupununi, are generally considered safe, and the majority of visitors travel there without incident. Travelling with a reputable tour operator and staying alert in urban areas significantly reduces risk.

Within Georgetown, yellow licensed taxis (identifiable by the letter H on their number plates) are the most convenient option, with fares negotiated in advance as there are no meters. Minibuses run fixed coastal routes at low fares and are the most common form of public transport between towns. Reaching interior destinations such as Kaieteur Falls and Iwokrama typically requires a small charter flight or a combination of road and river travel.

Guyana has two dry seasons: roughly September to November and February to April. These periods offer the most reliable conditions for visiting Kaieteur Falls, exploring rainforest trails, and wildlife watching in the Rupununi. The wet seasons (May to August, and December to January) bring heavy rains that can limit access to interior regions, though they also fill rivers and bring the landscape to vivid life.

English is Guyana's official language and the medium of instruction in schools, making it the only English-speaking country in South America. The majority of the population speaks Guyanese Creole (Creolese) as their everyday language, an English-based creole with African, Indigenous, and South Asian influences. Indigenous Amerindian languages are spoken in interior communities, and you will find some Hindi and Portuguese spoken in specific communities as well.

Yellow fever vaccination is strongly recommended for all travellers aged nine months and older, and a valid certificate may be required if arriving from a country with yellow fever risk. Malaria prophylaxis is advised for travel to interior regions, though the risk in coastal Georgetown is considered low. Hepatitis A and typhoid vaccinations are also commonly recommended; consult a travel health clinic well before your departure.