Guyana Canoe Expedition
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Discover the wonders of the forest and the Burro Burro River on this canoeing and camping adventure. Along the way you will be able to do fishing, hiking, basket making, paddle making or resting. During the heat of the day you would have the opportunity to see giant river otters, black and spectacled caimans among others.
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DAY 1
You will arrive at The Eugene Correria Airport and transfer to your Hotel in Georgetown. Cara Lodge was built in the 1840's and originally consisted of two houses. It has a long and romantic history and was the home of the first Lord Mayor of Georgetown. Over the years, the property has been visited by many dignitaries including King Edward VII who stayed at the house in 1923. Other dignitaries have included President Jimmy Carter, HRH Prince Charles, HRH Prince Andrew and Mick Jagger. This magnificent home turned hotel offers the tradition and nostalgia of a bygone era, complete with service and comfort in a congenial family atmosphere. Overnight at Cara Lodge. (Check in time 1400hrs, Check out time 12midday) DAY 2 Pickup and transfer to Eugene F. Correia International Airport. Board scheduled flight for journey over the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers and hundreds of miles of tropical rainforest to land at the Surama airstrip. Vehicle transfer from airstrip to Surama Eco Lodge. The Amerindian community of Surama is located in the heart of Guyana. The village is set in five square miles of savannah which is ringed by the forest covered Pakaraima Mountains. Surama’s inhabitants are mainly from the Macushi tribe and still observe many of the traditional practises of their forebears. This isolated and idyllic location offers an escape from the concrete jungle to a serene and peaceful existence with nature. The guides have lived their entire lives in the rainforest, and have an incredible understanding of nature and how to utilise its resources. You will be travelling through the Surama Conservation are. This area has been set aside by the village as a Conservation Area and is only for sustainable local use. No mining or logging is allowed in this area and shows the village’s commitment to sustainable living. On arrival in Surama you will receive a warm welcome from local staff along with a quick briefing of your trip and you will then settle into your accommodation at the Surama Eco-lodge. After lunch. we will make our way to one of the houses and learn first-hand the process of making cassava bread. We can try our hand at grating the cassava and putting it in the Matapee to remove the poisonous liquid and finally putting the meal on a flat griddle and making the cassava bread. This will be one of our staples on the river. As the afternoon cools your guide will take you on a tour of the village. Visit the local school, medical centre and church along with some of the village houses. During and after dinner you would be further briefed on what is expected on the trip and this is your oppurtunity to ask as many questions as you feel you need answers to. Overnight at Surama Eco-lodge. BLD DAY 3 After an early breakfast, we will hike across the savannahs and through the rainforest to the camp at Gilkes landing, which is 3 ½ miles up the Burro Burro River. You can help preparing the camp site and put up the tarpaulins and hammocks. Settle into your accommodation. After lunch, your guides will take you through some basic skills to prepare you for your backwoods expedition. This will allow you to get some practice in how to handle a wooden dug-out canoe and prepare you for the trip. You will spend the afternoon getting prepared for the trip. You will also learn how to handle a fishing line so that you can catch your meals. Don’t worry if you do not catch anything, your guides are experts, but give it a try. At dinner, you will review the day’s activities and plan for the next day. We will also learn how to sleep in a Hammock. You lie diagonally so your body is flat. Your guides will be happy to demonstrate the correct technique for those who have never slept in a hammock. The Hammocks all have mosquito nets which are for anything that may want to join you in your Hammock, not just mosquitoes. The sounds of the Jungle at night can be very soothing from inside your Net. BLD DAY 4 Today you will be up early to prepare for the trip up river. You will pack all your gear into your canoes and we will be off after breakfast. You would spend most of the morning travelling. The trip should take 3 to 4 hours. In our canoes, we will discover the wonders of the forest and the Burro Burro River. Along the way you will be able to do fishing, hiking, basket making, paddle making or resting during the heat of the day you would have the opportunity to see giant river otters, black and spectacled caimans among others. Many kinds of birds share this beautiful habitat, and there is nothing quite like the raucous calls of red and green macaws disturbing the stillness of the Rainforest. Once you arrive at Kawan Paru camp we will again help to get the campsite ready. After lunch, your guide will take you on a short trail walk to observe wildlife and show you some the plants that are used for different purposes, such as medicines. If you would like, you can again try your hand at fishing, but beware of the five kinds of Piranha in the river. Two are vegetarian so you do not need to worry about those. However please let your guides take off any Piranha you may catch from your line. Even when they are dead they have a spring in their mouths that snaps and it can give you a good cut. The Guides do it very carefully and have been doing it for years! You do not have enough time to learn. Return to the Camp for dinner. At dinner, you will review the day’s activities and plan for the next day. BLD DAY 5 After an early breakfast, we continue our boat journey through deep jungle all alone with nature. You will find no one living on this part of the river but not to fear you will be in the care of well-trained guides. Your guide will take you on a tour of the Kawan Paru creek trail to visit the petroglyphs. These are carvings in the rock that in some cases are thousands of years old. We will also look for the poison dart frog and to swim in the clear water of the creek. We will return to camp for lunch. After lunch, we will take a short hike up a mountain and keep our eyes peeled for any wildlife or other interesting plants and birds. Return to the camp for dinner. At dinner, you will review the day’s activities and plan for the next day. You will be serenaded by the forest sounds as you go to sleep. BLD DAY 6 Wake to sound of the red howlers. After an early breakfast, we continue our journey through deep jungle. Today you would depart Kawan Paru for Constable Landing Camp. The journey is downstream so easier to paddle. On the way downriver you would be observing wildlife. This is the chance for you to see giant otters who usually feed most of the time during the day. There is also a chance to see the Neotropical otter which is a rare species of otter to be found here. They move alone and are sometime seen in pairs. The Giant Otters can be in groups of as many as 12. On arrival at Constable Landing Camp you can help to prepare the camp or just relax and refresh yourself from the trip. After setting up camp you will be given an opportunity to assist in catching fish for dinner. You can also lend a hand at cooking bush style. We will also do a night paddle on the river and use our torches to look for eye shine such as Caiman, birds and hopefully tree Boa Constrictors. You can usually get very close to them in the boat. We can also do a little fishing. By this time, we should know who are the fishermen and who are not. At dinner, you will review the day’s activities and plan for the next day. You will be serenaded by the forest sounds as you go to sleep. BLD DAY 7 After breakfast, you would depart for Rain camp. Today you will continue to search for wildlife. We will see how many of the six different kinds of monkeys we can find, from the red Howler to the much smaller, but very cute Squirrel monkey. All of the animals mentioned above are found along the river. Your guide will be there to show you any you might miss by chance. Rain Camp is a permanent camp with a benab for sleeping and a dining area that is a permanent structure. There are also pit latrines. The area is dotted with Banana trees and other food plants like cassava and some fruit trees. It is however in the middle of the Rain Forest. Once we have off loaded the boats, you will settle into your accommodation, get some rest and review the trip. After dinner tonight, we will continue to search for wildlife on the river and also do some fishing. It is up to you to decide. The guides will always be there to assist you. Overnight at Rain camp. BLD DAY 8 After an early breakfast, you would depart for Karaha Landing. It is back upstream and so it is going to be challenging. We will break for lunch on a suitable sand bank or if the water is too high we will just tie our canoes to the bushes and take a lunch break. Again, you will be searching and looking for wildlife along the way. On arrival at Karaha landing you could hike back to the Lodge or take the truck that will be taking the supplies and equipment back to the lodge. Look for the red bananas that grow around the Landing. You may be tired after this stretch of paddling. Settle into your accommodation at the lodge and take a rest. After dinner, you will be part of a social gathering and culture show at the lodge or village. Surama’s cultural groups will keep you well entertained with their indigenous songs and dances and their amazing costumes. You will also be asked to join in some of the dances so do not be shy, just go for it. We will also have a farewell dinner with the staff who we have spent the last week with. There will be cold beers available for sale. Overnight at Surama Eco-lodge. BLD DAY 9 Today after breakfast you are free to interact with other staff and members of the tour crew to share your experiences. You will be told the estimated time of arrival of the plane, so make sure to be packed a ready for departure for Georgetown. Overnight at Cara Lodge. BLD DAY 10. Optional Services (not included in prices below) From the Eugene F. Correia International Airport take a scheduled flight over the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers and hundreds of miles of unbroken tropical rainforest to land at Kaieteur Falls, the world’s highest free-falling waterfall. Kaieteur Falls which was first seen by a European on April 29, 1870 is situated in the heart of Guyana on the Potaro River, a tributary of the Essequibo. The water of Kaieteur flows over a sandstone conglomerate tableland into a deep gorge - a drop of 741 feet or 5 times the height of Niagara Falls. There are no other falls in the world with the magnitude of the sheer drop existing at Kaieteur. Amerindian legend of the Patamona tribe has it that Kai, one of the tribe’s chiefs (after whom the falls is named), committed self sacrifice by canoeing himself over the falls. It was believed this would encourage the Great Spirit Makonaima to save the tribe from being destroyed by the savage Caribishi. Kaieteur supports a unique micro environment with Tank Bromeliads, the largest in the world, in which the tiny Golden frog spends its entire life and the rarely seen Guiana Cock- of-the-rock nesting close by. The lucky visitor may also see the famous flights of the Kaieteur Swifts or Makonaima Birds which nest under the vast shelf of rock carved by the centuries of water, hidden behind the eternal curtain of falling water. Overnight at Cara Lodge. B. DAY 11 After breakfast departure for your departing flight. . |
Rate Includes: - airport transfers - double or twin accommodation - meals as listed - all road and river transfers - internal flights in Guyana - activities as described - local guides - VAT Not Included : - items of a personal nature - alcoholic drinks except where mentioned above - departure tax - international flights - visa We are currently accepting bookings with no deposit to hold a long term reservation and 30% deposit just 30 days prior, and final payment 7 days before arrival. Free cancellation or date change up to 30 days prior to arrival. If you can’t travel due to covid we will offer a free change of date, travel voucher to the full amount or as a last resort a refund less any bank fees (generally US$50). DISCLAIMERS BODY WEIGHTS : Please be advised all customers must provide us with body weights of passengers for all internal flights. Failure to provide us with this information or the incorrect information can cause delays to flights and inconvenience to other passengers and in some cases either passengers and/or luggage being taken off the flight. To ensure a holiday that is enjoyable and hassle free, it is imperative that passengers provide us with this information. This is procedure by the airline so as to ensure that the weight of the load is within the payload limit for the aircraft, and neither they nor Wilderness Explorers will compromise on safety. All passengers are subject to removal of themselves or luggage from the flight if over the weight they provided and/or over the baggage allowance. Passengers are advised to provide a body weight with clothing similar to that which they would expect to travel in on the flight. We cannot be held responsible for any passenger denied boarding or luggage not transported if they are over the weight provided. Weights supplied are provided to the airline in advance to ensure the flight is within the allowable payload. A WORD ON VISA’S : The requirement for a visa can change at any time and without notice. It is your responsibility to ensure you have the necessary visa for each country. We recommend you check the visa requirements for each country included in your itinerary. We are happy to provide advice on current requirements and even assistance in obtaining a visa on arrival or tourist cards. If you are unsure on requirements please contact us for assistance. CONDITION RESTRAINTS : You have selected a tour that is, in part, in remote areas. This adds to the adventure and opportunity to enjoy a true nature experience. However, due to the nature of the terrain, weather, road conditions, and other elements beyond our control, some elements of tours may have to be altered. Times of some activities may need to changed or even cancelled due to the conditions. If an activity is cancelled it will be replaced with an alternative activity that is more appropriate for the conditions. Advance notice will be given for any changes where possible, although at times changes may be made whilst the tour is in progress. WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS : With any trip involving wildlife it is impossible to guarantee a sighting, but each trip is designed around know habitats. Wilderness Explorers will make every effort to ensure a sighting, but cannot be held responsible if no sighting is made due to the wildlife itself, weather, or any other elements beyond our control. TERMS AND CONDITIONS AUTHORITY ON TOUR - At all times the decision of the company or its representative will be final on all matters likely to endanger the safety, well being and enjoyment of the tour. Clients must at all times strictly comply with the laws, customs, foreign exchange and drug regulations of all countries visited. Should the client fail to comply with the above or commit any illegal act when on tour or, if in the company’s opinion, the clients behavior causes or is likely to cause danger, distress or annoyance to others we may terminate that client’s travel arrangements without any liability on the company’s part. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS - The Client must be in possession of a valid passport (valid 6 months past the return date), visa (where necessary), permits and certificates including vaccinations certificates, insurance policies required for the journey – the client accepts responsibility of obtaining these. Any information or advice given by the company on visas, vaccinations, clothing, special equipment, baggage, climate, etc. is given in good faith but without responsibility on the part of the company. CONDITION RESTRAINTS You have selected a tour that is, in part, in remote areas. This adds to the adventure and opportunity to enjoy a true nature experience. However, due to the nature of the terrain, weather, road conditions, and other elements beyond our control, some elements of tours may have to be altered. Times of some activities may need to changed or even cancelled due to the conditions. If an activity is cancelled it will be replaced with an alternative activity that is more appropriate for the conditions. Advance notice will be given for any changes where possible, although at times changes may be made whilst the tour is in progress. WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS - With any trip involving wildlife it is impossible to guarantee a sighting, but each trip is designed around known habitats. Wilderness Explorers will make every effort to ensure a sighting, but cannot be held responsible if no sighting is made due to the wildlife itself, weather, or any other elements beyond our control. LOCAL CULTURE - Many of the areas to be visited are remote and cultures of the people most likely different to what you are accustomed to. These communities welcome visitors under the conditions that their customs, habits and rituals are respected at all times. Wilderness Explorers will endeavour to provide appropriate guidance to visitors as to correct behaviour whilst in these communities. The company reserves the right to cancel a visitor’s tour, at any time, should their behaviour be inappropriate and offensive to the local communities. ACCEPTANCE OF RISK & RESPONSIBILITY Nature and adventure travel is by character, an activity that requires travelling in areas that are often remote and the terrain difficult. Whilst every precaution is taken to ensure the comfort and safety of our customers, these trips do have elements of risk. By taking part in this tour you acknowledge that there are inherent risks and that you are fully aware of the conditions of travel, accommodation and activities offered. You accept that Wilderness Explorers, its staff and sub-contractors cannot be held liable for any accident, illness or similar occurrence. You hereby accept all such risk and release the company from all claims and causes of action arising from any injuries or damages resulting from these inherent risks. FORCE MAJEURE - The company will do its best to minimise the effects of matters outside its control but cannot accept liability of these matters which include political disputes, industrial action, refusal of visas, border closures, unforeseeable climate, delayed or cancelled flights etc. TRAVEL INSURANCE - It is the client’s responsibility to obtain adequate personal travel insurance. This insurance should, as a minimum, cover personal accident, medical expenses and repatriation expenses. It is recommended that the coverage extends to include loss of effects, curtailment, cancellation and all other expenses which might arise as a result of loss, damage, injury, delay or inconvenience occurring to the client. PAYMENT - All rates are quoted in US dollars, unless otherwise stated. Rates are correct at the time of publishing, but are subject to change without notice. Due to fluctuating world fuel prices internal airfares cannot be guaranteed and rate is therefore subject to change. Every effort will be made to maintain quoted rate. A deposit of 20% is required to confirm any booking and balance of payment is due 30 days prior to commencement of trip. CANCELLATION BY THE CLIENT - Any cancellation by the client must be in writing and acknowledged by operator. The date on which the correspondence is received will determine the loss of any monies applicable.
RESPONSIBILITY - All services are organised by operator. Notice is hereby given that all arrangements made on behalf of customers are made by the organisers on the sole condition that the organisers shall not be held responsible for any injury, death, accident, delay, loss, damage or irregularity which may be occasioned through acts of any company and /or persons engaged in carrying out the arrangements and Wilderness Explorers acts as an agent for transport companies, hotels and other contractors and shall not be liable for any injury, damage, loss, delay or irregularity that may occur, including, but not limited to, any defect in a vehicle or any other form of conveying a traveler, acts of God, detention, delays or expenses arising from quarantine, strike, riots, theft, force majeure, civil disturbance, government restrictions or regulation, accident by aircraft, boat, bicycle, motor vehicle or any other form of transport or in any hotel, resort, ranch, guest house, camp or other form of accommodation. SEVERABILITY - In the event that any term or condition contained herein is unenforceable or void by operation of law or as being against public policy or for any other reason then such term or condition shall be deemed to be severed from this Agreement or amend accordingly only to such extent necessary to allow all remaining terms and conditions to survive and continue as binding. Payment for a tour is taken as acknowledgement and acceptance of all of the above terms and conditions |
