TRAVEL
TIPS
| Driving |
TBA |
| Currency |
(GYD)
Guyanese Dollar |
| Electrical |
240 Volts |
| Telephones |
Country
Code 529, City Code, Georgetown 218+4D, Mahaicony 221+4D |
Time:
GMT - 4.
Electricity:
110 and 220 volts AC, 60Hz.
Telephone:
IDD is available to main towns and cities. Country code: 592.
Outgoing international code: 001.
Climate:
Guyana’s climate is warm and tropical throughout the year.
The rainfall is generally high for most of the year, as is the
humidity. December to January and May to June are the rainy seasons,
while in coastal areas the climate is tempered by sea breezes.
Food
& Drink: The food in hotels and restaurants reflects
the range of influences on Guyanese society. From India came curries,
especially mutton, prawn or chicken, and Africa contributed dishes
such as foo-foo (plantains made into cakes) and metemgee (edows,
yams, cassava and plantains cooked in coconut milk and grated
coconut). Portuguese garlic pork and Amerindian pepperpot are
specialities. On the menus of most restaurants one may find chicken,
pork and steak and, most of the time, shrimp. The best Chinese
food in the country can be found in Georgetown.
It is best to drink bottled water in Guyana. Local rum, known
as Demerara rum, is well worth trying, while the local beer is
Banks.
Shopping:
Stabroek Market in Georgetown has local straw hats, baskets, clay
goblets and jewellery. Other shops sell Amerindian bows and arrows,
hammocks, pottery and salad bowls. Government-run shops sell magnificent
jewellery, utilising local gold, silver, precious and semi-precious
stones. Prices are very low for the quality of goods. It is absolutely
essential to ensure that receipts and correct documentation are
retained, otherwise visitors may experience difficulty when clearing
customs. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1130 and 1300-1600, Sat
0800-1130.
Tipping:
10 percent at hotels and restaurants.
Currency:
Guyanese Dollar (G$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of
G$1000, 500, 100 and 20. Coins are in denominations of G$10, 5
and 1. US Dollars are widely accepted throughout Guyana.
Credit
& debit cards: American Express, Visa, MasterCard
and Diners Club enjoy limited acceptance (eg at certain hotels
and shops). Check with your credit or debit card company for details
of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
