Cidade Turismo
Guyana
Lethem and the Rupununi

Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo · Guyana

Lethem and the Rupununi

The savannah of southern Guyana, on the border with Roraima: Lethem, the Kanuku mountains, waterfalls, makushi and wapishana villages, cattle ranches and the Rupununi and Tacutu rivers.

Interior

In the photo: Kanuku mountains seen from Lethem

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Get it on Google Play Send your photos

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The Rupununi is the large savannah of southern Guyana, a plain of grassland, termite mounds and riverine forest between the mountains, which continues across the border into the fields of Roraima.

The landscape has wide horizons. To the south and east of Lethem, the Kanuku mountains rise above a thousand meters, covered in forest, and divide the Rupununi into north and south. Streams flow down from them creating waterfalls such as Moco-Moco and Kumu, popular for swimming. The Rupununi River, which originates in the Kanuku and runs to the Essequibo River, crosses lagoons and forests where giant otters, caimans, the pirarucu and a large variety of birds live.

The savannah is the land of the indigenous makushi (to the north) and wapishana (to the south), who live in villages such as St. Ignatius, Annai and Surama, some offering community guesthouses and guides. There are also cattle ranches with horse-riding cowhands, a legacy of when herds crossed the savannah; on the Easter weekend, Lethem's rodeo brings people from Guyana and Roraima together.

The official language is English and cars drive on the left. Requirements may change: confirm before traveling.

This destination brings together 1 city: Lethem.

Share: WhatsApp
Traveler, share your experiences through photos Up to 5 photos of each place you visited.

One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Lethem and the Rupununi is
Lethem

Contornos: OpenStreetMap (Wambacher), via geoBoundaries (ODbL 1.0). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Lethem and the Rupununi

✈ Lethem Airport (LTM) · 1 km to Lethem

✈ Aeroporto Internacional de Boa Vista (BVB), in Boa Vista (Brasil) · 130 km to Lethem

Confirm before booking. From Georgetown there are domestic flights and minibuses that travel overnight along the interior dirt road.

Lethem
Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo · Lethem and the Rupununi Capital

Lethem

Lethem is the town on Guyana’s southern border, on the bank of the Tacutu River, connected by a bridge to Bonfim in Roraima. It is small, flat and surrounded by the Rupununi savannah, with the Kanuku mountains on the horizon. From here depart excursions to the village of St. Ignatius, the Moco-Moco and Kumu waterfalls, the foot of the Kanuku and, further north, to the guesthouses in Karanambu, Annai and Surama. On the Easter weekend the town hosts the rodeo.

The local experience

Things to do in Lethem and the Rupununi

Kanuku Mountains
Lethem · Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo · Mountain

Kanuku Mountains

The forest-covered range that rises from the savanna east of Lethem, with peaks above one thousand meters, a protected area of Guyana and home to much of the country's birds and mammals.

Moco-Moco Falls
Lethem · Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo · Waterfall

Moco-Moco Falls

The waterfall on the slope of the Kanuku mountains, about 15 km from Lethem, with pools for swimming and a stairway that climbs beside the falls; nearby is the Kumu waterfall.

St. Ignatius
Lethem · Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo · Village

St. Ignatius

The makushi and wapishana village adjacent to Lethem, born from a Jesuit mission in 1909, with the Catholic church, the cashew cooperative and the everyday life of the savannah.

Karanambu
Lethem · Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo · Ranch

Karanambu

Former cattle ranch on the banks of the Rupununi River, in the north of the savannah, now a lodge and conservation area known for ariranhas, giant anteaters and giant water lilies.

See 2 more places in Lethem and the Rupununi
Annai
Lethem · Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo · Village

Annai

The makushi village in the north of the Rupununi, on the Georgetown–Lethem road, between the savannah and the forest, with an airstrip and lodges that serve as a base for the region.

Surama
Lethem · Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo · Village

Surama

Makushi village on the edge of the northern Rupununi forest, a reference for community tourism in Guyana, with the community's own lodge, trails and trips on the Burro-Burro River.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From September to April is the dry season, with dirt roads in better condition and hot days; Lethem’s rodeo takes place on the Easter weekend. From May to August there is heavy rain: the savannah fills with lagoons and some roads become slow or impassable. Daytime temperatures exceed 30 degrees Celsius year-round.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Three days in Lethem allow you to see St. Ignatius, the Moco-Moco and Kumu waterfalls, and the foot of the Kanuku mountains. With a week you can head to the northern Rupununi and spend nights in Karanambu, Annai or Surama.

Which city to stay in

Lethem has simple hotels and guesthouses in the centre, near the market and the airport, and it is the base for trips into the southern savannah. In the northern Rupununi, accommodation is in ranch and village guesthouses, such as those in Karanambu, Annai and Surama, which typically include meals, guides and excursions. Bonfim, on the other side of the bridge, also offers lodging.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Lethem and the Rupununi

What is the best time to go to the Rupununi?

From September to April, during the dry season, when dirt roads are in better condition. From May to August there is heavy rain and some roads become slow or impassable. Lethem’s rodeo takes place on the Easter weekend.

Do you need a car in the Rupununi?

Distances are large and the roads are unpaved. For excursions it’s most common to hire transport with a driver or guide in Lethem, or arrange pickup through the guesthouses, which usually collect guests. Remember that in Guyana you drive on the left.

Can you go to Kaieteur Falls from the Rupununi?

Kaieteur is far away, in the center of the country. The trip is usually made by small plane, typically departing from Georgetown. Confirm departures before planning.

Explore other destinations Search by state and city
Back