Located on the mouth of the Demerara River fronting the Atlantic Ocean, Georgetown, originally called Stabroek, was an ideal location for European presence in the Caribbean. Rich in timber, bauxite, gold and diamonds, the land supported sugar cane plantations and enriched the colonial governments.

The Spanish, Dutch, French and English all had their eyes on this region and for years each struggled to possess it. The Dutch initially gained the upper hand and established Stabroek. The British occupied the Dutch colony during the Napoleonic Wars and renamed the capital, and largest city, in 1812 as Georgetown in honor of George Ill.

A section of Camp Street

Once caled Longchamps by the French and Stabroek by the Dutch, Georgetown is the name settled upon by the British for the capital of its South American territory of Guyana in 1812.

Set on the east bank of the Demerara estuary, this charming colonial settlement has a population of about 200,000 and is Guyana’s most important city.  Here you’lll find the seat of government, the chief port and the main commerical centers and markets.

Parliament Building in Georgetown

Because of the Georgetown’s low altitude, it is in constant danger of being flooded by the Atlantic at high tide.  A long dyke called the Seawall and a geometric system of streets divided by the canals and regulated by sluice gates – all built by the Dutch to control sea flooding – gives Georgetown its distinctive Dutch character.  The seawall is now a favourite spot for Georgetown folk to unwind on an afternoon, just relaxing or jogging.

It is a city full of historial monuments, many of them gracious colonial buildings that are still used today for practical purposes such as the City Hall, the Magistrate’s Court and gothic St. George’s Cathedral, reputedly the tallest wooden structure in the world, to name a few.

St George's Cathedral

With the profusion of flowering plants and trees that abound, plus several well-maintained gardens around the city such as the Botanic and Zoological gardens, Georgetown has attracted the moniker of “Garden City of the Caribbean”.

Shopping for locally made craft, including Amerinidan work, is the best you’ll find anywhere in the Caribbean.  There’s even a tourist strip on Sheriff Street with a plethora of bars, nightclubs and restaurants if a little action is more your style.  Georgetown is also your gateway to the fabulous interior of the country, with its vast stretches of pristine rainforests and wide savannahs.

Umana Yana

Umana Yana is Wai Wai “for meeting place of the people”.  It is 55 feet tall and was built by Wai Wai Indians in 1972.  This type of Amerindian thatched hut is called benab.

A gathering of religious leaders at the Umana Yana