Guyana
| General Information
General Info, Travel Info, & FAQs are provided to assist with your vacation.
ATMs You can't use foreign credit cards or foreign bank cards at ATMs in Guyana, however, you can get a cash advance on your credit card from tellers inside Scotiabank (tel 225-9222) branches. They are located in Georgetown (104 Carmichael St, North Cummingsburg; 63 Robb St, Lacytown), Berbice (12 Strand St, New Amsterdam) and Essequibo (2nd Ave, Barica; Parika Hwy, East Bank). Other banks include Bank of Baroda (tel 226-4005) and Demerara Bank (tel 225-0610). By the end of 2006 Scotiabank hopes to have international ATM connectivity.
BANKING AND BUSINESS HOURS Banks Mon-Thurs 8am-2pm (Scotiabank's Parika branch closed Wed) Fri 8am-2:30pm Sun 8am-12:30pm (Scotiabank's Parika branch only)
Cambios (currency exchange) Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
CHURCHES/RELIGIONS Mostly Christian. Hindu and Muslim also represented.
CURRENCY AND CREDIT CARDS The local currency is the Guyana dollar (G$ or GYD). Paper money runs in denominations of G$20, G$100, G$500 and G$1000 bills, and coins in G$1, G$5 and G$10 pieces. Most hotels, restaurants, car rental agencies and tour operators accept major credit cards and traveller's cheques.
Licensed currency exchange houses are called cambios. Ensure you keep the receipt when you exchange money as you'll need it to exchange your Guyana dollars upon departure.
To ensure hassle-free purchases during your trip, you may want to contact your credit card company and let them know you will be travelling abroad.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS American Express: lost or stolen card, 336/393-1111 (call collect); lost or stolen cheques or cheque cards, 44/20 73 65 48 46 (call collect to the UK) Discover Card: 801/902-3100 MasterCard: 800-1561 Visa: 410/902-8022 (call collect) Western Union: 227-5141
DEPARTURE TAX There is an exit tax of G$4000, which can be paid when you reconfirm your ticket.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS A valid passport is required. All visitors must also have an onward or return ticket.
Nationals of countries other than Canada, the US and the European Union may require a visa. Consult your nearest Guyana consulate/embassy or call the Guyana Immigration Department at 592/226-3011 or 226-2445.
Note: As of January 8, 2007, all persons travelling by air to the Caribbean, Mexico and Bermuda will require a valid passport, Air NEXUS card or US Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document to enter and/or re-enter the United States in accordance with the US Government's Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. For more information visit the US Government's Bureau of Consular Affairs website at www.travel.state.gov.
Some countries require single/lone parents or other adults travelling alone with children to provide documents showing evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights, and/or documents authorizing consent from the parents, legal guardian, and/or the court for the children to travel. Parents of adopted children, particularly those of a different nationality, should carry the proper documents.
NEAREST FOREIGN REPRESENTATION British High Commission: 226-5881 to 4 (Georgetown) High Commission of Canada: 227-2081 to 5 (Georgetown), 613/996-8885 (collect to Ottawa) US Embassy: 225-4900 to 9 (Georgetown), 623-1992 (duty officer; after-hours emergencies, weekends and holidays)
EXCHANGE RATES
As of November 1, 2006
US$
G$/GYD
British pound sterling
1.90173
361.348
Canadian dollar
0.88881
168.883
European Union euro
1.27217
241.725
Japanese yen
0.008513
1.61750
Swiss franc
0.80097
152.192
US dollar
--
190.010
HEALTH STANDARDS Hospitals include Davis Memorial Hospital (tel 227-2041 to 3), Medical Arts Centre (tel 225-7402) and Woodlands Hospital Ltd (tel 226-2024 or 227-0355) in Georgetown, and St Joseph's Mercy Hospital (tel 227-2072 to 5) in Kingston.
Guyana's many hospitals and clinics provide sufficient care for minor medical conditions, however, care for major conditions/surgery and emergency care are severely limited, and ambulance service is substandard and unreliable. Serious cases require air transfer. Your home medical program may not provide payment for medical services outside your home country. Obtaining adequate medical/travel insurance, including air ambulance coverage, and consulting a physician or travel medicine specialist six to eight weeks prior to your trip to determine health risks and necessary vaccinations is recommended.
If you plan on travelling to remote destinations within the country you may require immunization. For more information contact the Guyana Vaccination Division, Ministry of Health at 592/226-7338 or 592/226-1366.
There are a good number of pharmacies around the country, including one at the Davis Memorial Hospital and one at St Joseph's Mercy Hospital. Some generic medications are available, but it is advisable to bring sufficient prescription medication for the duration of your visit.
ILLEGAL ITEMS There are harsh penalties for possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs, and strict regulations for exporting or temporarily importing firearms and certain exotic bird and animal specimens.
For more information call the Customs and Trade Administration at 592/256-9317.
LANGUAGE English is the official language. Amerindian dialects, Creole, Hindi and Urdu are also spoken.
POSTAGE The main post office (tel 226-7384 or 225-7071) is located on Robb St in Georgetown. Airmail to North America can take one to two weeks and to the UK, two to three weeks. Courier service is also available.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS Jan 1 New Year's Day Jan (varies) Eid-Ul-Azha (Feast of the Sacrifice) Feb 23 Republic Day (Mashramani) Mar (varies) Holi Phagwa Mar/Apr (varies) Good Friday Mar/Apr (varies) Easter Monday Apr (varies) Yum an-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet) May 1 Labour Day May 5 Indian Arrival Day May 26 Independence Day July 3 Caricom Day Aug 1 Emancipation Day Nov (varies) Diwali (Hindu Festival of Light) Dec (varies) Eid-ul-Fitr Dec 25 Christmas Day Dec 26 Boxing Day
SHOPPING HOURS Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm
TAXES Hotels with more than 16 rooms charge a 10% room tax.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS The phone system in Guyana is fair and cellular and Internet services are available.
The country code is 592. Local phone numbers have seven digits.
GT&T/Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Co (tel 868-2355) sells prepaid phone cards, which are available at most stores, pharmacies and GT&T business offices.
For more information see the section in FAQs: Can I use my calling card from here?
GT&T also provides cellular roaming services. Check with your service provider to see if they have a roaming agreement with them.
TEMPERATURES The average temperature on the coast is 80°F, ranging from 68°F to 93°F, and in the interior 83°F, ranging from 65°F to 103°F. There are two wet seasons: May-June and Dec to the end of Jan.
TIME ZONE Guyana is on Atlantic Standard Time year round, which is four hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). During the summer the time is the same as on the east coast of North America and during the winter, the time is one hour ahead.
Disclaimer: Information is provided as a service to visitors and is updated regularly. All
information should be verified prior to travel.
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