The Guianas - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 648

GETTING AROUND
By minibus Privately owned minibuses run all over
Georgetown from Stabroek Market (G$80-100). They tend
to be packed, drive very fast and are impossible to board
during rush hour.
By taxi Taxis are unmetered, plentiful and cheap; most are
painted yellow and display number plates beginning with
”H”. Always agree to a price before starting your journey;
fares tend to be G$250-300 for a short hop, G$400 within
the city and G$500 or more outside the city limits.

slave rebellion in 1763. North of the
art gallery are the botanical gardens
(daily 9.30am-5.30pm).

The seawall
Georgetown is bounded to the north by
the Dutch-built seawall , which keeps
the Atlantic Ocean at bay. A popular
spot for post-work jogging, on Sunday
nights it seems like the whole town is
liming (hanging out) by the seawall.
Stick either to the stretch near the
Pegasus Hotel in the centre (popular
with families) or the stretch east of
Queen Street in Kitty (popular with
young people); the safest times to
go are around 4.30-6pm or on
Sunday nights.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By plane Cheddi Jagan International Airport ( W cjairport
-gy.com) is located at Timehri, 41km south of the city
centre. International carriers currently serving CJIA include
Delta Airlines, Caribbean Airlines, LIAT, Meta Airlines and
Suriname Airways. Domestic airlines include Air Guyana
( W airguyana.biz), Air Services Ltd ( W aslgy.com), Roraima
Airways ( W roraimaairways.com) and Trans Guyana
Airways ( W transguyana.net). Minibus #42 runs from in
front of the Parliament building in Georgetown to the
airport (45min; G$280); taxis cost G$4000-5000. Some
flights to Suriname and internal flights depart from
Ogle airstrip, 8km from Georgetown; minibuses run from
Market; taxis cost around G$1500. There is a G$4000
departure tax for international departures. Luggage
allowance on internal flights is 20lbs (just under 10kg),
so travel light.
Destinations Annai (daily; 1hr 30min); Karanambu (daily;
1hr 20min); Lethem (3-4 daily; 1hr 30min). For Annai and
Karanambu you must notify the airline in advance that you
want to alight here.
By minibus The interior is served by several minibus
companies; these include Guy-Braz from in front of the
Brazilian bar on Light, at Church; buy a ticket the day before
if possible. Minibuses from Georgetown to Lethem leave
around 6pm, while those travelling in the opposite direction
depart at around 5pm (G$12,000/US$60). Several private
minibus services offer pick-ups from your accommodation
in Georgetown to Molson Creek by the Surinamese border
with a reciprocal arrangement with a Surinamese operator
on the other side of the river, so you only need to buy one
ticket. These include Bobby's ( T 226 8668) and Dougla
( T 226 2843).
Destinations Molson Creek (3hr); Lethem (16-18hr);
Timehri for CJ Airport (bus #42; 45min).

ACCOMMODATION
Ariantze 176 Middle St T 225 4634, W ariantzesidewalk
.com. While the a/c rooms at this central hotel are not
instantly memorable, pool access sweetens the deal, and
weekly entertainment at the Sidewalk Café & Jazz Club
occasionally attracts highbrow clientele. US $67
Kanhais Guesthouse 210 Charlotte St, Lacytown T 223
2393, W kanhais.com. Secure guesthouse above a hardware
store, with helpful staff and clean but characte rless a/ c
en-suite doubles. Wi-fi available. Breakfast included. US $40
New Tropicana Hotel 177 Waterloo St T 227 5701,
W newtropicanahotel.com. Tropicana , aka Jerrie's , is a bit of
a catch-all operation, with basic rooms with mosquito nets
and fans upstairs (no a/c), free internet access for guests,
and a bar/low -key res taurant/nightclub downstairs. Not for
light sleepers. US $20
Rima Guest House 92 Middle St T 225 7401, E rima
@networksgy.com. The rooms at this friendly guesthouse are
comfortable and clean, with shared baths, fans and mosquito
nets and a great central location. On the downside, the walls
are thin and it's not a good idea to leave any valuables lying
around. US $20
Sleepin Guest House 151 Church St T 231 7667,
W sleepinguesthouse.com. Somewhat out of the centre,
this quiet guesthouse attracts self-caterers as well as
those in search of simple, fan-cooled rooms, with several
kitchene tte-equ ipped st udios. Free wi-fi and breakfast.
Doubles US $35 , studios US $65
Sleepin International Hotel 24 Brickdam T 227 3446,
W sleepininternationalhotel.com. Spacious city-centre hotel
with comfortable, modern en-suite rooms with balconies,
free wi-fi -fi and breakfast included. Outdoor pool and bar.
US $40

7

EATING
Georgetown has a wide range of bakeries, snackettes and
cook shops - many attached to Bourda Market and inside
Stabroek Market.
A World of Flavours 125 Carmichael St T 225 8556.
Rasta-eatery-cum-music-shop, serving heaped portions
of only one dish - rice with beans and vegetable stew,
with delicious vegetable achar (pickle) G$280/360. Wash
it down with fruit juice. Mon-Sat 7am-5pm.