Safety in Guyana: practical advice for travelers
Practical safety advice for Guyana: government advisories, crime in Georgetown, transfers, money, interior travel, river and air safety, and evacuation insurance.
The seawall that protects Georgetown from the Atlantic
In short
Guyana has high levels of crime, particularly in Georgetown, and the US rates it Level 3, reconsider travel. Most visitor problems are avoidable with pre-booked transfers, guided city visits and sensible precautions. In the interior the risks are different: remoteness and limited medical care.
We want you to make an informed decision, so this page starts with what governments say and then turns to the practical steps that reduce risk. It is general guidance, not a guarantee, and it does not replace official travel advice for your nationality.
What official advisories say
- The US State Department rates Guyana at Level 3: Reconsider travel, citing crime, including violent crime in Georgetown, and limited police capacity to respond.
- The UK FCDO describes high crime and low police capacity in Georgetown, names specific neighbourhoods and Stabroek Market where visitors have been targeted, warns against hailing taxis on the street and advises avoiding the airport road late at night.
Advisories change. Check your own government’s current advice before booking and again before you travel.
In Georgetown
- Use pre-booked transfers, including from the airport. We arrange these.
- Explore with a guide on a first visit, particularly markets and the Botanical Gardens.
- Avoid walking after dark, and take a hotel-arranged taxi instead.
- Keep valuables out of sight: phones, cameras and jewellery attract attention.
- Be careful at banks and ATMs. Withdraw cash in daylight, inside a bank or hotel where possible.
In the interior
The interior has much less street crime, but help is far away.
- Medical care is limited and evacuation can take time and depends on weather and aircraft availability.
- Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is essential, and we ask every traveler to confirm they have it.
- Rivers: wear life jackets, travel with registered operators and avoid boat travel after dark.
- Roads: the interior road is long and partly unpaved. Travel with experienced drivers and avoid driving at night.
- Wildlife: follow your guide’s instructions near caiman, snakes and large animals.
Light aircraft
Interior flights use small aircraft on short airstrips. We plan with established, licensed operators and, where the route allows, leave flexible time so nobody is pressured to fly in poor conditions.
How we help
Every proposal names who to contact during your trip, and we stay reachable before and during your travels to help with practical problems alongside the people on the ground. If official advice changes significantly before your trip, we talk through your options with you.
Questions travelers ask
Is it safe to travel to Guyana?
No destination is risk-free, and Guyana’s crime levels are high. Most visitors travel without incident by using arranged transfers, avoiding walking at night in Georgetown and keeping valuables out of sight. In the interior, the main concerns are remoteness and access to medical care.
Is the interior safer than Georgetown?
The risks are different. Street crime is much less of a concern at remote lodges, but help is hours away, so health, accidents and evacuation matter more. Good insurance and sensible planning are the answer.
What about the border with Venezuela?
Governments advise caution near the Venezuelan border because of a long-running territorial dispute and organised crime. The itineraries we plan stay away from that border region.
Sources and checks
Time-sensitive details on this page (prices, schedules, entry rules, access) were last checked against the sources below on 9 October 2026. They change, so your proposal always reconfirms them.
Tell us what you want from Guyana
Share your dates, interests and the pace you enjoy. We reply with suggestions and, when you are ready, a written proposal with the route, prices, inclusions and who provides each part of the trip.
