Georgetown - The Garden City of the Caribbean

Technically, Georgetown sits below sea level. Throughout the city is as system of canals and sluice gates to prevent the city from sinking at high tide. Beaches are not highly valued, and not recommended - you will notice the latte color of the sea off the coast. This is not from pollution, but rather because of the large river running through the city which deposits silt for miles off the coast.

 

This is a vibrant and lively city worth at the very least a full day of exploration. A city tour will bring you to the main highlights - among which are the largest all-wooden church in the world (currently being remodeled and refurbished with sustainably-harvested timber from the Amazon), the natural history museum where you can see some of the species you might have missed in the jungle, as well as to the central city park - where manatees will greedily eat up any grass you have to offer.

But the best part of my day was exploring the Boudreau Market with local chef, Delven, who took up though the market - replete with numerous samples of fresh fruits and vegetables along the way. The true purpose of our visit was not only to get a feel for the market, but also to collect ingredients he would use in a multi-course lunch at his property, the Backyard Cafe, where we would meet again following our city tour. 

You may be interested in Guyana mainly for its wildlife and untouched wildernesses, but to skip seeing all the capital city has to offer would mean missing out on the beating heart of Guyana. To truly appreciate this country of wonders, I recommend planning time in both the interior and along the coast.