Guyana Kaieteur Falls is the number one tourist attraction in this lush country.
But what makes it so special? What are the reasons to visit Kaieteur Falls?
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Post Updated Jan 2024
Deep within the Amazon Region lies the Kaieteur Falls. Watching a river plummet off the edge of a 250m cliff, blasting 1140 metric tons of water is as incredible as it sounds.
Guyana Kaieteur Falls are the world’s highest single-drop falls. Being able to see it with minimal tourists around, it is the off-the-beaten-path adventure everyone is searching for. The size of the waterfall varies in the wet and dry seasons. Our visit here was during the dry season, and we still found the waterfalls impressive.
You might have seen Niagara Falls or Iguazu Falls, but the lesser-known Kaieteur Falls in Guyana will quickly become your favourite. Considering its height and the sheer volume of water from the Potaru River, it makes for a truly epic sight!
The remote location and the journey to the Kaieteur National Park on a chartered plane or a 5-day trip is another reason to put this place on your bucket list. You will fly over the Amazon jungle and see the waterfall before you even land.
So it’s a scenic flight and a visit as well.
If it weren’t for the waterfall, the landscape in this part of Guyana would be a reason to come here alone.
There is also the possibility of hiking for a few hours to the bottom of the river. If you are interested, do enquire when booking as this would take an additional 3-4 hours.
According to the legend told by Amerindians, the waterfall is named after an old man. This legendary old man was put on a boat by relatives.
They were eager to get rid of him and pushed him into the river and over the edge of the waterfalls. Hence the current name translates to “old-man-fall”.
Ask your Amerindian guide and decide for yourself if this is indeed just a legend behind Guyana Kaieteur Falls.
The Kaieteur National Park is home to various unique wildlife species, and your guide will tell you more about them.
Most visitors are lucky enough to see the minuscule golden frog, which is so small that you would probably struggle to find it in the leaves of plants.
We were lucky enough to have seen one on the day we visited. The other species is the beautiful scarlet cock-of-the-rock bird.
Multiple airlines fly to the falls, but their schedule varies. You can also book your trip to Guyana Kaieteur Falls tours through a tour company that charters the plane for groups of 8-12 passengers.
Flights depart from Ogle Domestic Airport in Georgetown and take about 60 minutes to arrive at Kaieteur National Park. A local guide will meet you there.
He will then escort you for the next 2 hours to three different lookouts to see Guyana Kaieteur Falls. Sturdy shoes are recommended.
Your other option is to travel inland from Georgetown. This takes approximately 5 days and is best arranged by a tour company, as transport in Guyana is sparse.
It would make reaching Guyana Kaieteur Falls a real lifetime adventure trip.
If you are looking for Guyana tours or planning a trip to Guyana with a tour company, you will find the list of Guyana tour operators here.
RELATED POST – How to Book Your Trip to Kaieteur Falls
Most people who plan to visit Kaieteur Falls will base themselves in the capital of Georgetown. This is what we did. We wanted somewhere clean, comfortable, affordable, and well-located.
It’s hard to find much information on affordable accommodation options in Georgetown; however, we stayed at Rima Guesthouse and had a great stay.
Room rates start from US$30 p/night (single) or $40 (double) for a comfortable room and shared bathroom facilities. The guesthouse is in a great location and has some cheap places to eat nearby (which are very hard to come by here).
The guesthouse is sparkling clean, a friendly family runs it, and they offer a great daily lunch menu too.
UPDATE December 2023: We’ve been advised by travellers who recently visited Rima Guesthouse that the rate is now 150 Euro per night! If this is true all year round, we’d advise you to check the other suggested hotels listed below.
A few mid-range hotel options with fantastic reviews, locations and amenities are El Dorado Inn and King’s Hotel & Residences.
The best hotel in town is Marriott Hotel Georgetown.
CLICK HERE to check prices and availability for more hotels and guesthouses in Georgetown.
Are you interested in joining a group tour to visit Guyana? This 8-day Rupununi Savanna & Kaieteur Falls Adventure is awesome!
Travel across incredible Guyana, taking in vibrant city and natural wonders from Georgetown City to the stunning Kaieteur waterfalls and the Rupununi savannas.
If you plan to travel to Guyana independently, like we did, we have some helpful tips!
Now that you know why you should visit Kaieteur Falls, here is our complete guide for HOW to visit Kaietiur Falls, as it’s not as straightforward as most assume.
And don’t miss trying as much Guyanese cuisine as possible – check out the 20 most popular foods from Guyana.
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6 Comments. Leave new
Wow! What a beautiful ambiance. Thanks for sharing this. I will definitely visit this place on day
Hey Marty,
Simply superb. I have fall love in Kaieteur Falls. How nice & beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the lovely post about, Kaieteur. While it isn’t one of the largest waterfalls, and is not as impressive as say, Iguazu, I think that its size and location makes it more personal and endearing and it is my fave of all! I love the colour of the water. Note that some tours also visit Orinduik falls after Kaieteur. Orinduik is a low tiered falls on the Brazilian border. I would recommend adding this, as where else will you find a waterfall that flows over pure, red jasper? The bedrock is pretty slippery but a good place for a bit of a dip!
Also recommend as a mid-range hotel, Herdmanston Lodge in GT. I usually stay there when I visit Guyana – like most things in Guyana, service is not perfect, but the warmth and kindness of the staff make up for that! For a uniquely Guyanese experience, try the pepperpot (a traditional Amerindian dish) at their Sunday brunch buffet.
I imagine with the massive oil discovery, Guyana will become more touristy, so recommend visiting soon, while it is still a unique and authentic experience.
Thanks so much for your comment, Esther. Some great tips here for sure 🙂
Hi What date did you visit the falls? Thanks!
Hello, we visited the Falls in April 2019.