Rupununi Trails: Eco Adventure Tours in the Guyana Shield
The Wai Wai Rainforest Expedition - 17 Days
Trip Description
The Wai Wai are an indigenous Amerindian group found in the southern part of Guyana bordering Brazil. As Guyana’s most traditional tribe, they are extremely talented hunters and produce various unique and intricate indigenous crafts. Linguistically and genetically, the Wai Wai people are part of the Carib family and have the lowest population among Amerindian tribes in Guyana.
The Wai Wai have fought to have their land recognized as a conservation area, and since 2004, with the help of Conservation International, they have held the title to their 2300 square mile area. Rupununi Trails has been granted exclusive access to the Wai Wai territory, and few tourists have had the privilege of entering this untamed region. The Wai Wai’s aim is to create a sustainable economy based on ecotourism and scientific research. Logging and mining activities have been banned in an attempt to preserve their culture and the wildlife.
The area, known as the Konashen, includes the headwaters of the mighty Essequibo River, and is home to a plethora of animal and plant species, at one point pegged as the most species-rich area left on earth1. The wildlife includes jaguars, harpy eagles, all six of Guyana’s monkeys, anaconda, black caiman and giant river otters. Jaguars have been spotted on many previous visits. It is also home to over 400 species of birds and the rare blue poison arrow frog. This is a nearly unparalleled opportunity for naturalists, photographers and wildlife documentary crews to study and record this most diverse and pristine of wilderness areas.
1 Wai-wai Guppy, Nicholas (ISBN: 0719505801 / 0-7195-0580-1)
Three trips are offered each year.
Daily Itineraries
Please note: Itineraries subject to change due to variations in weather and water conditions.
Trip 1 – Savannah to Gunns Village
October 7-23/2011
Day 1: Fly to Georgetown
Scheduled international flights to Georgetown, Guyana.(avg. 4 hours from Miami, 6 hours from NYC Or Toronto, 10-12 hours from Europe via Barbados or Trinidad and Tobago). Private transfers and night at the 5-star Meridien Pegasus hotel in Georgetown. Dinner not included.
Day 2: Lethem to Dadanawa
After breakfast, Transfer to Ogle Airport for the flight to Lethem. Off-road 4x4 adventure on savannah trails hugging the side of the Kanuku Mountains and passing through Shulinab Village, the only settlement of the Macuxi tribe in the south savannahs. Enjoy the best steaks in the world for dinner at the Ranch. Accommodation is in typical stilted ranch housing facing the savannah and offering panoramic views of the Kanuku Mountains.
Day 3: Dadanawa Ranch
Spend the day at the Ranch, where cattle are still worked by the barefooted vaqueros in their time-honoured ways. Choose from (a) an early morning excursion to see the endangered Red Siskin with a visit to the Petroglyphs near the village of Rupunau. Lunch in Rupunau, or (b) a tour of the Ranch by horseback and a chance to see a giant anteater. Relax on the veranda in the late afternoon with a drink and enjoy the picturesque Kanuku Mountains overlooking the savannah.
Day 4: Erfoimo Village
Travel by 4X4 across the savannah to the Cuyuwini River and visit the mixed Wai Wai/Wapishana village of Erfoimo. Stock up on supplies of fruits and vegetables and camp overnight before beginning your river travels the following morning.
Day 5-9: Cuyuwini River
Travel down the Cuyuwini River. From here the land is uninhabited. Silent early-morning canoeing and night drifts with spot beams, as well as rainforest hikes, will reveal a host of fauna. There will be ample opportunity to fish.
Day 10: Layover
A layover day, with time for a hike into the jungle, a visit to an old abandoned farm or fishing in nearby oxbow lakes while the laundry is done and rations resupplied.
Day 11: Reach the Essequibo
Travel to the Great Falls, where the Essequibo descends through myriad channels, teeming with pacu – known as a “vegetarian piranha on steroids” – and giant catfish. You will also see ancient petroglyphs.
Day 12-13: Essequibo River
Travel up the Essequibo towards our final destination, the Wai Wai village of Gunns. This area is home to the largest anaconda and the most jaguars (8) ever spotted on one of our trips. We will see more ancient petroglyphs.
Day 14: Reach Gunns Village
Travel up through the last set of rapids on the Essequibo and arrive at Gunns, where we will meet the Touchau (chief) and settle in at the village guesthouse.
Day 15: Gunns Village
Pass the morning in and around Gunns, where the Wai Wai’s longstanding isolation has allowed them to maintain their traditional lifestyle, including hunting with bows and arrows, blow pipes and curare tipped darts. Here you can trade for beautiful and unique indigenous crafts, have lunch in the village and visit a farm or one of the many other places of interest.
Day 16: Kaieteur Falls and Georgetown
Walk through a jungle path to a small savannah airstrip a mile away to catch a flight to majestic Kaieteur Falls for a brief stopover before continuing by plane to Georgetown. Overnight at the Pegasus.
Day 17: Return Trip
Transfer to Cheddi Jagan International Airport for the flight home.
Trip 2 – Gunns Roundtrip
October 21-November 6/2011
Day 1: Fly to Georgetown
Scheduled international flights to Georgetown, Guyana.(avg. 4 hours from Miami, 6 hours from NYC Or Toronto, 10-12 hours from Europe via Barbados or Trinidad and Tobago). Private transfers and night at the 5-star Meridien Pegasus hotel in Georgetown. Dinner not included.
Day 2: Kaieteur Falls and Gunns Village
After breakfast, transfer to Ogle Airport for flight to the Gunns airstrip, including a stopover to visit the majestic Kaiteur Falls. Meet the Wai Wai Touchau (chief) and settle in at village guesthouse.
Day 3: Gunns Village
Pass the morning in and around Gunns, where the Wai Wai’s longstanding isolation has allowed them to maintain their traditional lifestyle, including hunting with bows and arrows, blow pipes and curare tipped darts. Here you can trade for beautiful and unique indigenous crafts, have lunch in the village and visit a farm or one of the many other places of interest.
Day 4-9: Essequibo and Cuyuwini Rivers
Travel down the Essequibo River exploring many of the smaller creeks as well as the Kasikaitu and Cuyuwini Rivers on the way to the Great Falls. This area is home to the largest anaconda and the most jaguars (8) ever spotted on one of our trips. You will also see ancient petroglyphs.
Day 10-11: Layover at Great Falls
Travel to the Great Falls, where the Essequibo descends through myriad channels teeming with Pacu – known as a “vegetarian piranha on steroids” – and giant catfish. You will see more ancient petroglyphs.
Day 12-15: Return to Gunns
Return to Gunns, via the Cuyuwini and kasikaitu river camps, checking the camera traps set on our downward passage.
Day 16: A farewell visit to the Gunns,
Catch the flight back to Georgetown. Overnight at the Pegasus.
Day 17: Return Trip
Transfer to Cheddi Jagan International Airport for the flight home.
Trip 3 – Gunns Village to the Savannah
November 4-20/2011
Day 1: Fly to Georgetown
Scheduled international flights to Georgetown, Guyana.(avg. 4 hours from Miami, 6 hours from NYC Or Toronto, 10-12 hours from Europe via Barbados or Trinidad and Tobago). Private transfers and night at the 5-star Meridien Pegasus hotel in Georgetown. Dinner not included.
Day 2: Kaieteur Falls and Gunns Village
After breakfast, transfer to Ogle Airport for flight to the Gunns airstrip, including a stopover to visit the majestic Kaiteur Falls. Meet the Wai Wai Touchau (chief) and settle in at village guesthouse.
Day 3: Gunns Village
Pass the morning in and around Gunns, where the Wai Wai’s longstanding isolation has allowed them to maintain their traditional lifestyle, including hunting with bows and arrows, blow pipes and curare tipped darts. Here you can trade for beautiful and unique indigenous crafts, have lunch in the village and visit a farm or one of the many other places of interest.
Day 4-6: The Essequibo River
Travel down the Essequibo River Travel. From here the land is uninhabited. Silent early-morning canoeing and night drifts with spot beams, as well as rainforest hikes, will reveal a host of fauna. This area is home to the largest anaconda and the most jaguars (8) ever spotted on one of our trips. We will see more ancient petroglyphs.
Day 7: Layover
A layover day at the Great Falls where the Essequibo descends through myriad channels. with time for a hike into the jungle, a visit to an old abandoned farm or fishing in nearby oxbow lakes. The waters here teem with pacu – known as a “vegetarian piranha on steroids” – and giant catfish. You will also see ancient petroglyphs.
Day 8-12: The Cuyuwini River
Incredible opportunities to spot wildlife continue as we travel up the Cuyuwini River towards its source, the Wai Wai/Wapishana village of Erfoimo. Your will observe the changes in temperature and vegetation as we drift towards the Savannah.
Day 13: Erfoimo Village
Visit the mixed Wai Wai/Wapishana village of Erfoimo, where you will have the chance to interact with locals and one last opportunity to trade for crafts.
Day 14: 4x4 ride to Dadanawa
Our journey continues on a breathtaking 4x4 ride through the savannahs of the Rupununi, stopping briefly at the villages of Karauolauwa and Aishalton, the largest population centers of the region. We will visit ancient petroglyphs. Dinner and night at Dadanawa Ranch.
Day 15: Dadanawa Ranch
Spend the day at the Ranch, where cattle are still worked by the barefooted vaqueros in their time-honoured ways. Choose from (a) an early morning excursion to see the endangered Red Siskin with a visit to the Petroglyphs near Rupunau Village, or (b) a tour of the Ranch by horseback and a chance to see a giant anteater. Relax on the veranda in the late afternoon with a drink and enjoy the picturesque Kanuku Mountains overlooking the savannah.
Day 16: Lethem/Georgetown
The journey to Lethem is an off-road 4x4 adventure on savannah trails hugging the side of the Kanuku Mountains and passing through Shulinab Village, the only settlement of the Macuxi tribe in the south savannahs. Lunch in Lethem, with a brief excursion to cross the bridge into Brazil. Catch the flight back to Georgetown. Overnight at the Pegasus.
Day 17: Return Trip
Transfer to Cheddi Jagan International Airport for the flight home.