Condé Nast lists Guyana in its 20 destinations to visit Conde Nast Traveller December 2, 2019 Related Guyana Though it has plenty of reasons to stand out—as South America’s only English-speaking country, and with a strikingly diverse population of Indian, African, Chinese, European, and Amerindian descent—Guyana has long hovered under the radar. But this relative quietness isn’t going to last long. The 2015 discovery of oil offshore has led to surging interest in the country. What that means for Guyana is still playing out, but so far, its abundance of natural beauty has remained shielded from the masses. Hotel options are decidedly rustic. Intrepid travelers should base themselves in the colorful capital of Georgetown, at Cara Lodge, a charmingly preserved heritage hotel dating from the 1840s; From there, venture out to Kaieteur Falls, the world’s largest single-drop waterfall. At community-owned and -operated rain forest ecolodges in the interior, you might go days before encountering another tourist (or any cell signal). When you’re ready to surround yourself with humans again, learn about Guyana’s massive East Indian community on a curry tour in Georgetown, or taste your way through distilleries as you learn more about the country’s centuries-old rum-making history. With new direct flights from New York to Georgetown on American Airlines and JetBlue, the country is getting more accessible just as it steps into the spotlight. You don’t need a crystal ball to predict big changes in Guyana’s near future. Our advice: Get there before a rumored Starbucks does. —Sarah Khan A © page from: Guyana: Land of Six Peoples