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ITINERARIES AND MAPS
Itinerary
Maps of Guyana
MONEY
Final payment for the program fee is due 60 days before the start of the
trip. Payment may be made by money order, personal, certified, cashier's
check or credit card. If fewer than six people register for the
program there is a supplement of $100. This is usually collected in
cash at the beginning of the program
Pocket money used during the tour varies between individuals.
Most people use about $100 plus or minus $50. Examples of expenses are
lunch, drinks, postcards, postage, tips and laundry. NOT INCLUDED
in this estimate are souvenirs and transportation, lodging and meals before
and after the tour, which may be significant ($20-$80 per day) and the
flight to Kaieteur (up to $200 – the cost depends upon the number of people
participating). Now bring twice what you think you will need.
You can bring any extra home. Credit card usefulness is extremely limited.
Guyana uses the Guyana dollar (~GY$200=US$1). In rural areas you need small
denominations to make your purchases.
TRAVEL TO GUYANA
You are responsible for making you own arrangements to Guyana and to
the rendezvous point (instructions will be provided.) If you arrive
anytime on or before "Day 1" of the program you won't miss any major
scheduled activities. Some people like to arrive early to have more
time to adjust. No major activities are scheduled on the final day
of the as well.
Some airlines charge a hefty
fee for bikes (up to $600 roundtrip) and some charge nothing, if you are
otherwise within your baggage allowance, so might want to consider this
when making your decision.
Regardless of how you arrange to get to Guyana, please tell us the
airline, flight, date and time of your arrival.
If you are arriving early, or departing later, and you want to stay at
the same hotel as the group, let us know and we will help you book the extra
nights, if you wish.
IMMUNIZATIONS & HEALTH
Required: Yellow fever if coming from or in transit through infected
country. Recommended: Yellow fever, routine immunizations
(tetanus-diphtheria, polio, measles,) typhoid, and viral hepatitis A. It
is recommended, but not required, that you start your shots 6 weeks before
departing. Consult your physician or travel clinic for your specific
needs.
Malaria is a serious health concern in parts of Guyana --
the Essequibo
basin meets this criteria on our program. Please ask your travel clinic or
physician about prophylactics for chloroquin-resistant malaria and follow
their instructions.
The combination of the annotated packing
list and program packing list are a good guide to what to bring. Ignore the sections "Camping Equipment," "Cooking Equipment,"
and "Group Equipment." Additionally:
- As
part of our program we will be guests in rural communities for about 6
nights. It is recommended that you bring a sheet or a sleep sack (not a
sleeping bag), and a "portable bed set-up." In Guyana, the
typical portable "bed" is a hammock/bed net combination. If you
want to "go Guyanese," you can purchase a hammock set-up for $20
when you get to Georgetown. Shorter people tend to find these
comfortable and taller people tend to struggle more.
As an alternative
you can bring a sleep pad, such as a 3/4 ThermoRest Lite and free-stand
bed net tent, such as a "Travel Tent." More information
on this product is available from Long Road Travel Supplies, 1-800-359-6040
or 1-510-540-4763 or sales@longroad.com
or www.longroad.com/.
This option costs more, weighs more and takes up more space, but is probably
more useable post-Guyana (we recommend it for some of our Africa programs)
and may give you a better nights sleep, especially if you are tall.
- Sturdy mountain bikes are recommended. Rental bikes are not currently available.
- Gifts & tips: Ordinary people generally prefer gifts (hometown postcards,
school supplies, articles of clothing, your photo) to money, for small “deeds of
friendship”. Guides, porters, photo subjects and others associated with
tourism generally prefer money, or both, for tips (whether they are helpful
or not). Please feel free to tip those who improve your trip. Please
don’t bring bags of small gifts (candy) to distribute gratuitously. It
is very detrimental to the culture and individual’s dignity. In a family
or at a school it is best to give gift to a senior adult. They will know
the most equitable distribution of the item. Generally it is best to
ignore begging children. Please have a relationship and a reason behind
every gift.
- Bottled water is available at least in the towns at the beginning and the
end of the day. If you want to avoid the expense, litter and high carbon
footprint of bottled water,
and you have a
water filter or purifier, bring it, it will be put to good use. Iodine and
chlorine tablets are most useful in emergencies – if you have a half-hour to wait and
once a week at the most! Don't rely on iodized water because you will
poison yourself.
The three better choices are a filtering pumps, an ultraviolet light purifiers
(search: SteriPen) or an oxidant purifiers (search MSR MIOX). Filtering
pumps tend to be the most versatile and labor intensive, including requiring
the most maintenance. The last two, hi-tech methods, require clear
water, which is usually available on our programs, and use batteries -- which
can be rechargeable. The MIOX also need salt and adds a little taste to
the water, which is mostly an issue if you start with a high mineral water
that already has a taste.. The UV pen is the most fragile, but generally
can be protected sufficiently.
The UV pen is generally the fastest. For more discussion on water
treatment see
http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/water-treatment-backcountry.html
and read and
click through the pages.
- Generally, two
32 oz. (3/4 liter) water bottles alone are on the low side -- if you like a lot of
water, and on a couple of predictably hot days, you will want additional capacity.
Some ways to reduce the amount of water you need to carry on your bike is drink
like a camel overnight and in the morning (i.e. carry it inside), wear loose
long sleeve clothing and/or be willing to use Coke and Fanta to replenish you
liquids during the day -- these are the most available beverages in roadside
kiosks. Bottled water is available irregularly midday. The best strategy is to organize all your water needs
for the next day the night before (you can top things off in the morning) and
expect to be able to get only the occasional soft drink during the day.
- It is usual to visit some schools. Donations of an educational nature will
help to personalize your visit {[i.e. packs schools supplies (pencils, pens,
erasers, notebooks), maps, inflatable globes, books (children's books, small
dictionaries, novels), picture calendar, sports equipment, etc.] Please try
to bring something.
- Because the milieu and activities on the trip won't be exactly routine,
you might want to bring some things more familiar, like a "treat-a-day"
of high-energy comfort food.
- We strongly recommend that you take advantage of the online background
information we have prepared. This foretells
of the diversity and complexity of the area. Any preparation you can make
before you arriving will help enrich your visit.
- The use of heart rate monitors is greatly discouraged! Most others don't want
to hear about your heart rate, your maximum or average anything! If you need a
heart rate monitor to enjoy yourself, take stock of your life -- you may have
lost perspective.
INSURANCE
Personal health insurance, travel, evacuation and baggage insurance is strongly recommended.
Cycling and travel have inherent risks, and the world seems to be increasingly
changeable. Even the most conscientious behavior
does not guarantee against illness or injury. Insurance mitigates the
unforeseen.
Medical insurance is not always valid in foreign countries. U.S. Medicare and
Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United
States. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health
services. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas may face extreme
difficulties.
Please check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy
applies overseas, the adequacy of coverage, including provision for medical
evacuation, and whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor
or if you will be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur. Serious medical
problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to your home
country can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Some credit cards include travel insurance when you use them to purchase an
airline ticket.
Useful information on medical emergencies abroad is provided in the Department of State's Bureau of Consular
Affairs brochure, "Medical Information for Americans Traveling
Abroad," available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page or auto-fax:
1-202-647-3000.
APPLYING FOR VISAS
Visa requirements differ by
nationality and the embassy you are apply at, and can change without
notice. Contact the embassy you will be applying at for the latest
information. At last check: Guyana does not require US, Commonwealth countries, Japan, Korea and
most Western Europe citizens to have a visa to enter their country. If
you are in doubt about your status and the applicable rules contact the
nearest Guyana Embassy or Consulate.
DOCUMENTS TO ENTER GUYANA
You will need at least a valid passport to enter Guyana.
BIBLIOGRAPHY -
Guyana Booklist
[If you are interested in the early people of Guyana, I have one copy of
Denis Williams' Prehistoric Guiana
for sale.]
RESOURCES -
ETCETERA
- Electricity: 240V and 110V. 240V is suppose to be dominate. Power outrages are not unusual. Some resorts and
isolated areas have generators, but there are generally no electrical
outlets in the rooms. Additionally, the electricity is turned off in the
late evening and over night. Guyana uses
type A, B, D
& G
plugs.
- Internet Access: Most hotels in Georgetown do have computers and internet
access (though not necessarily high-speed) and there are some internet
cafes. Outside of Georgetown, it is available in some small towns and a
few resorts have internet access via satellite, but the access is temperamental,
so don’t count on it.
- Guyana is GMT -4, one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time (equal to Eastern
Daylight Time).
-
It is not easy receiving phone calls without a cell phone with a Guyana SIM
card.
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