Guyana
| Frequently Asked Questions
General Info, Travel Info, & FAQs are provided to assist with your vacation.
FAQs
What is the population?
In July 2005 the population of Guyana was estimated at 765,283.
How big is the country/island?
Guyana has a total area of 83,000 sq miles.
Can I drink the tap water?
It's best to stick with bottled water, which is readily available.
What are the best things to buy here?
Gold jewellery and semi-precious and precious stones are a really good buy. Ensure you get a receipt as you must show it when clearing customs.
For items with local flavour look for Amerindian crafts such as cotton hammocks from Rupununi, hand-woven cloth, baskets, grass skirts, mats, hats, and other straw items, beaten brassware, bows and arrows, guava jelly, cassava bread, leather goods, pottery, gold and beaded jewellery, gold nuggets and wooden furniture made from wamara (a brown ebony) and the purple and green heartwood.
Parika market operates on Sundays on the west coast of Demerara.
What are the main industries?
The main industries are bauxite mining, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles and gold mining.
What is the drinking age?
The legal drinking age is 18.
What native dishes should I try?
The national dish is pepperpot (a thick Creole meat stew cooked in casareep, the juice of the cassava) traditionally served at Christmas with cassava bread. Other native dishes include garlic pork, salt fish, prawns, crab, cow-heel soup, metemgee/metagee) (yams, cassava, plantains, okra and onion cooked in coconut milk), foo-foo (plantain cakes) and curried mutton, prawn and chicken. There's also a wide array of fresh tropical fruit.
Can I use my calling card from here? AT&T: Service is available for use with AT&T Calling Cards, AT&T Corporate Cards, American Express, Diners Club, Discover/NOVUS, MasterCard and Visa. For calls to North America dial 159 + area code + local number and follow the voice prompts. For country-to-country calls dial 159 + 01 + country code + area code + local number and follow the voice prompts.
BT: Dial 0169 (169 in Georgetown), input your account number and PIN, then dial the number you require.
Canada Direct: Service can be used with calling cards from Bell, MTS, Aliant, SaskTel and Telus. Dial 0161 (161 in Georgetown) to reach a Canadian operator directly.
MCI MinutePass: Dial 177 and follow the voice prompts for country-to-country calls.
Sprint: Dial 151 and an English-speaking Sprint phone operator will request your Sprint Foncard number.
For more information see the section in General Info: Telecommunications.
How should I dress to go out?
Dress is casual and informal. Lightweight summer clothing is appropriate. A raincoat and umbrella are necessary during the rainy season. Bring adequate hiking attire if you plan on doing any hiking.
Can I use my hair dryer and electric shaver?
Electricity varies between 110 and 220 volts, 50-60 cycles, depending on where you are in the country, so you should bring a transformer and an adaptor. Georgetown is mostly 110 volts. Power outages are common. Use a surge protector for sensitive appliances.
How much should I tip?
Tip about 10-15%. Some hotels and restaurants automatically add your tip to the bill, so check first as it is not necessary to leave more unless you feel the service was above average.
Disclaimer:
Information is provided as a service to visitors and is updated regularly. All information should be verified prior to travel.
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