Essequibo River Tour

Highlights of the Essequibo River Tour

During this Guyana day tour, you'll make five stops along the way. These include:

• Fort Island: Explore its historical sites and uncover the stories of its past to discover its rich history.
• Sloth Island Resort (Optional Aruwai): Enjoy a delicious lunch and experience the island's natural beauty.
• Bartica: Discover this bustling mining town and its unique waterfront attractions.
• Baracara Falls: Relax and take in the breathtaking scenery or take a dip in the cooling waters of the Baracara.
• Fort Kyk-over-al: Visit the ruins of this historic Dutch fort and uncover its fascinating history.

Tour Details

• Availability: Every weekend, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and public holidays (except Christmas Day).
• Duration of tour: 11-12 hours
• Check-in time: 7:00 am
• Group Size: We need a minimum of 12 people to run the tour.
• Booking: You can make a tentative booking in advance. We will confirm the tour once we reach the minimum number of participants.

Essequibo River Tour Pricing

$95 (GYD$ 20,500 *) per person from 12 years old and up
$80 (GYD$ 17,000) per person from 8 to 11 years old
$60 (GYD$ 12,900) per person from 5 to 7 years old
$40 (GYD$ 8,600) per person for 4 years old
Free for children up to 3 years old

* Note: there's a price difference for lunch at Aruwai Resort. 

Book Your Essequibo River Tour Adventure

Don't miss out on this unforgettable Essequibo River Tour experience. Book your adventure today and create lasting memories on one of Guyana's most beautiful rivers.

Note: Our exchange rate is GYD$215 for 1 USD.

Essequibo river tour is the best 1-day tour in Guyana

The Essequibo River is full of history and culture; you will learn about it on this special day tour. It's named after Juan Esquivel, who traveled to America in 1498. The river has 365 islands, some of them unexplored- the most famous one being Fort Island. Many riverside resorts, including Sloth Island, are along the Essequibo River. Sloth Island serves tasty traditional Guyanese food and offers fantastic views of Bartica. Baracara Falls is the perfect place to get a much-needed massage. Fort Kyk-over-al, a 400-year-old ruin, is the oldest fort established in former Dutch territory. Join us for the adventure of a lifetime.

Essequibo River Tour Prices

• $90 per person from 12 years old and up 

• $75 per person from 8 to 11 years old 

• $50 per person from 5 to 7 years old

• $30 per person for 4 years old 

• FREE for children up to 3 years old 

About the Essequibo River Tour

The Essequibo river tour will take you by bus from Georgetown to Parika selling, where you will join a boat taking you to 5 stops through the Essequibo and Mazaruni rivers! 

Duration & Activity Level: 

The Essequibo river takes approximately 11-12 hours, and the activity level is moderate. 

Pick up point

All passengers assemble at our primary office location, where we depart around 7:30.

Office location is:  91 Middle Street, Georgetown (Between Main and Carmichael Streets (2 buildings from Hibiscus Restaurant Or 1 building from the Ministry of Youth Sport and Culture) 

What to bring?

Because of the long day and depending on the weather, we advise all passengers to dress as comfortably as possible. 

• Light, comfortable cotton clothing
• Sneakers/trainers/sandals
• Sun block lotion
• Camera
• Umbrella/hat
• Swimsuit /towel
• Change of clothing (highly recommended) & Slippers
• Extra snacks for morning/afternoon

Itineraries

Stop 1

Fort Island/Fort Zeelandia - Essequibo River

You're about to embark on an adventure that will take you back in time and to a place where this amazing island's beautiful architecture and history still stand.

Your first stop will be Fort Island, built at the mouth of the Essequibo river. The fort at Fort Island is a testament to the strength of the Dutch presence in Guyana.

Built in 1751 by the Dutch, it was initially called Flag Island and was built to defend against enemies and intruders in the colony.
It later became known as Fort Zeelandia after the Dutch colony in Suriname. The island is part of the Essequibo River, named after an indigenous tribe that resided on its banks.

The Court of Policy was built in 1752 and served as a courthouse, church and storehouse before becoming a museum. It is believed that this structure is one of the oldest buildings in Guyana.

Fort Zeelandia was built as a defensive fortification but has become a popular tourist destination due to its incredible architecture and history.

Stop 2

Bartica Mining Town - Essequibo, Cuyuni & Mazaruni Rivers

Your next stop is Bartica. You will stop here and stroll down the beautiful main avenue, perfect for a photo or two! Enjoy the bustling atmosphere of the town.

The gateway to Guyana's gold and diamond mining regions, Bartica is a lively town situated at the confluence of the Essequibo, Cuyuni and Mazaruni Rivers.

Its main market street has entertainment hotspots in several pubs and shops targeting the mining community.

However, Bartica's standout event is the annual Easter Regatta, where powerboat racing, street jams, and even a beauty pageant amp up the weekend.

Stop 3

Sloth Island Resort - Essequibo River

Your next stop is Sloth Island Resort, where you'll enjoy a delicious lunch of vegetable rice, vegetable pasta, fish or fish cake, chicken, salad, steamed vegetables or macaroni & cheese.
As an extra treat, you can finish your meal with fresh fruit, cake, tea, or coffee.

Sloth Island Nature Resort is situated on 160 acres of pristine rainforest in the Essequibo River.

There's plenty to do at the resort: kayaking, swimming, sunbathing and volleyball are just a few activities available. On top of all that fun in the sun, there are nature walks and even more!

The Essequibo River is home to many animals and birds, including sloths, monkeys, and bird species.

So while you're enjoying your lunch break on the island, remember that you might get lucky enough to spot one of these amazing creatures!

Stop 4

Baracara Falls - Mazaruni River

Step into the cool waters of Baracara Falls, where you can enjoy a refreshing dip before heading to your next stop!

This beautiful waterfall is located in the Mazaruni River, and it cascades down a series of steps and slopes. The small falls are unique and refreshing—perfect for cooling off when you've after a long and/or hot day!

Stop 5

Fort Kyk Over Al - Cuyuni & Mazaruni Rivers

This Dutch fort—constructed in 1616 at the intersection of the Cuyuni and Mazaruni rivers—once served as the centre for the Dutch administration of the county, but now only ruins are left. The name Kyk-Over-Al derives from the Dutch for "See over all", a reference to the commanding view of the river from the fort.

The ruins themselves are fairly unimpressive, but there's something about walking through these green hills and imagining what it must have been like when people were living here hundreds of years ago that makes it feel like an adventure in itself.

Your tour will end here, and you will return to Georgetown.

• Return transportation by bus (Georgetown to Parika /Georgetown)
• Return boat
• Snacks
• Guide
• 5 stops and guided tour (Fort Island, Sloth Island, Bartica, Baracara, Fort Kykoveral)
• A delicious lunch at Sloth Island (or Aruwai) which comprises vegetable rice, vegetable pasta, fish or fish cake, chicken, salad, steamed vegetables, or macaroni & cheese, fruit, cake tea, coffee, juice, water
• Kayaking, swimming, nature walks and volleyball on Sloth island

• Alcoholic Drinks
• Transfer to and from meeting point