Introduction
The 19th-century wooden houses supported on stilts and charming green boulevards laid out along the lines of the old Dutch canals give the capital a unique character. Some of the more impressive wooden buildings dating from the colonial past include the city hall, St George’s Cathedral, the Law Courts and the State House. The Botanical Gardens, covering 120 acres (48.6 hectares), have a fine collection of palms, orchids and lotus lilies; nearby is the new Cultural Centre, which contains what is probably the best theatre in the Caribbean. Also worth visiting are the Natural History Museum, which contains an up-to-date display of all aspects of Guyanese life and culture, and the Walter Roth Anthropological Museum.
At the junction of the Essequibo and Mazaruni rivers, Bartica is the ‘take-off’ town for the gold and diamond fields, Kaieteur Falls and the rest of the interior. A visit to the Kaieteur Falls in the Kaieteur National Park is particularly recommended; situated on the Potaro River, it ranks with Iquaz, Niagara and Victoria in majesty and beauty. There are numerous beaches in Guyana; these include Almond Beach, Shell Beach, No 63 Beach and Saxacalli Beach. There are rainforests in Iwokrama with a Canopy Walkway and the Pakaraima mountains. Surama, set in savannah surrounded by forest-covered mountains, is home to the Amerindian community of the Macushi tribe, which welcomes tourists. Rupununi is the oasis in the desert with the Rockview Nature Resort and the ranches of North and South Rupunini, Karanambo and Dadanawa.
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