Last checked: November 2026
Guyana’s eco-lodges are small, simple places in the rainforest and savannah, and many are owned or run by Indigenous villages. The main ones sit along the Georgetown-Lethem road through Iwokrama and the North Rupununi: Atta, Iwokrama River Lodge, Surama, Rewa, Rock View, Karanambu and Caiman House. Expect cold showers, limited power, set meals and guided activities rather than hotel comforts.
At a glance
- Where: mostly Iwokrama Forest and the North Rupununi (Regions 8 and 9)
- Getting there: small plane from Ogle airport to Annai or Lethem, or the long road south; then lodge transfers by 4×4 or boat
- Time needed: two nights per lodge is the usual minimum; a week covers three or four lodges
- Cost: varies; ask for a current quote
- Best for: wildlife, birding, forest walks and staying in an Indigenous village
- Best time: mid-August to April; May to mid-August is the main rainy season
What makes a lodge in Guyana an “eco-lodge”?
There is no official label. In practice it means a small lodge, often solar-powered, in a protected area or on village land, where guides and staff come from nearby communities.
The ones worth choosing put money back into a village or a conservation project. Ask who owns the lodge and who employs the guides before you book.
Which eco-lodges are owned by Indigenous communities?
Surama Eco-Lodge belongs to Surama, a Makushi village of fewer than 300 people between forest and savannah. Tourists first came in 1996, and that money paid for the first guest lodge. Tourism is reported to provide about 60% of village income.
Rooms are in benabs (round, thatched buildings) and a village guesthouse. Activities include a pre-dawn climb of Surama Mountain, savannah and forest walks, and canoe trips on the Burro Burro River.
Rewa Eco-Lodge is owned and run by the village of Rewa, where the Rewa River meets the Rupununi. It opened in 2005. Residents speak Makushi and Wapishana.
Rewa is reached only by river, several hours by boat depending on water levels. It is the most remote lodge on this list. Power comes from solar panels and a generator, so it is not on around the clock.
Caiman House, in the Makushi village of Yupukari, is a lodge and field station run as a Guyanese non-profit. Its surplus funds the village public library, conservation and cultural work. Guests can join black caiman research trips on the Rupununi River.
Which lodges are best for the rainforest?
Atta Rainforest Lodge sits at the foot of the Iwokrama canopy walkway, just off the main road south. It is run jointly by Surama village, Rock View Lodge, the Iwokrama International Centre and the tour operator Wilderness Explorers.
It has eight rooms. The reason to stay is the walkway at dawn and dusk, when birds and monkeys are most active. Power comes from a generator and is off overnight.
Iwokrama River Lodge is on the Essequibo River at Kurupukari, inside Iwokrama Forest. It has eight thatched cabins with river-facing verandahs and private bathrooms. From here you do boat trips, forest trails and the steep hike up Turtle Mountain.
Our national parks guide covers Iwokrama itself, and our eco-tours guide covers the canopy walkway.
Which lodges are best for savannah wildlife?
Karanambu Lodge is on the Rupununi River, on a ranch the McTurk family settled in 1927. The late Diane McTurk made it known for rescuing orphaned giant otters, and the Karanambu Trust now runs conservation work there. It has five cabins, and days revolve around boat trips and early searches for giant anteaters.
Rock View Lodge is a privately run lodge beside the Annai airstrip, where the Pakaraima foothills meet the savannah. It has hot water and a swimming pool, which makes it the most comfortable stop in the area. Many people use it as a base for the canopy walkway or as a rest night between more basic lodges.
For the river side of the Rupununi, including otters at Karanambu and caiman at Yupukari, see our Rupununi river trips guide.
How do you get to the interior lodges?
By air: small planes from Ogle airport in Georgetown serve Lethem and the Annai airstrip. Annai is the nearest airstrip for Rock View, Surama, Atta and Iwokrama River Lodge, and Iwokrama River Lodge is a few hours by road from there. Ask your operator which flights run on your dates.
By road: the Georgetown-Lethem road passes Iwokrama, Atta, Annai and Surama. It crosses the Essequibo by ferry at Kurupukari, and long stretches are unpaved. Atta and Surama are a short drive from Rock View.
By boat: Rewa is river-only. Karanambu is usually reached by a boat trip on the Rupununi River, except in the driest months.
Small planes have low baggage limits, so pack soft bags and travel light. Book transfers with the lodge or your operator before you go.
What is usually included in an eco-lodge stay?
Many interior lodges sell stays that bundle the room, meals and some guided activities, but it varies by lodge. Transfers, flights, park fees and drinks are often extra. Always ask for the full list in writing.
What you won’t get: air conditioning, hot water in most places, phone signal or reliable Wi-Fi. Many lodges run power only at set hours, so bring a power bank and a headlamp.
How should you book an eco-lodge in Guyana?
You can contact village lodges directly, but replies can be slow because internet is patchy. Most visitors book a package through a Georgetown operator, which bundles flights, road transfers and lodges.
Booking tips:
- Book two to three months ahead for the dry season; most lodges have fewer than ten rooms
- Build in a spare day in case a flight is weather-delayed
- Combine lodges along one route to avoid backtracking: Iwokrama, Atta, Surama, then Rewa or Karanambu
- Check vaccine and malaria advice with a travel clinic before you go; our jungle trekking prep guide covers health
FAQ
Which is the best eco-lodge in Guyana for a first visit? Surama is a good start: it is village-owned, easy to reach from Annai, and mixes forest and savannah. Pair it with a night at Atta for the canopy walkway.
Do Guyana eco-lodges have Wi-Fi? Some have slow Wi-Fi, often only in a main building or at set hours. Assume you will be offline for much of your stay.
Are eco-lodges suitable for children? Most are, if children are happy with early starts, insects and basic rooms. Rewa’s long boat ride and Atta’s walkway suit older children best.
Can you visit more than one lodge in a trip? Yes, and most people do. The lodges sit along one road and river system, so three or four in a week is realistic.
Next step: Our sister company, Guyana Tours & Transportation Services, runs Iwokrama canopy walkway trips. Visiting a village lodge? Read our guide to visiting Indigenous communities in Guyana.