The first time I heard of the Arrow Point Resort I thought of something ancient and almost non-existent, more so of women in grass skirts and men in loincloth.
Then the day came for me to see for myself and was my perception wrong.
A team of media operatives and several business executives, along with officials of the Tourism Ministry, set out to observe the resort’s fifth anniversary. The bus departed the Roraima Residence Inn in the early morning hours and after beating the early morning traffic we arrived at the Timehri Docks.
There, with the change of transportation from bus to speedboat we were off through virtually 14 miles of black water in a creek lined by towering trees and lush touchable vegetation. I felt like Huckleberry Finn.
I was now in a part of my homeland that I never knew existed.
Ten minutes into the ride I realised that we were passing through the portals of a world far removed from planes, cars and highways. “Is this my Guyana, so tranquil, mysterious and yet serene? I was still in my homeland and enjoying every second of the journey to the Arrow Point Nature Resort.
The journey took us across the Demerara River then along the meandering dark waters of the Kamuni Creek, through exotic overhanging jungle vegetation that eventually gave way to wide, open savannahs that beckoned.
Then after 14 miles of sometimes thrilling twists and turns there in the distance stood the Arrow Point Nature Resort.
The enchantment of Arrow Point Nature Resort began in the Kamuni Creek. This narrow corridor of water was like a gauntlet of tangled vegetation and giant trees that seem to bow respectfully as you pass beneath.
The boat captain interrupted my thoughts briefly to tell of the wildlife in the area – the varieties of birds that have made the creek their home, the monkeys that nimbly negotiate the most slender of branches, and the occasional reptile that nestles comfortably by the roots of trees.
The only one we saw though was a caiman but his journey had already ended. We saw little children swimming like fish, unattended in the mysterious waters. We did see a monkey and a dog in paddle boats along the way.
At the resort
Arrow Point Nature Resort is owned and managed by Captain Gerry Gouveia, the Managing Director of Roraima Airways.
He says that the concept of the nature resort comes from his belief that rural and remote communities must be integrally involved in tourism enterprises on their lands.
“This involvement must be at all levels, including the level of management and supervision,” Mr. Gouveia said.
The resort is under the supervision of Compton Samuels, an Amerindian resident of Santa Mission.
The welcome was warm and more like meeting a friend in the city. The women there were disappointing. They were not wearing grass skirts. Admittedly, they were cute though. One of them was a former Miss Guyana Talented Teen, Shamaine Davis, as eloquent and as hospitable as could be.
Named for the many arrow trees that grow there from which the Amerindians make their arrows for hunting, this resort is nestled in the heart of the Amerindian Reservation of Santa Mission.
There, almost without disturbing nature, one could play volleyball on the sandy beach, as we did, then cool off ever so often in the waters close by.
Though the owner did not know this, I realized from conversation that the staff is drawn mostly from among residents of Santa Mission.
In addition, the parent company, Roraima Airways, has adopted the school at Santa Mission and contributes meaningfully to that institution through the provision of equipment and support.
With the help of SIMAP, the community via one of its representatives expressed the community’s eternal gratitude.
Some of us were fond of physically challenging outdoor activity and some of that we got via the jungle trails aback of the resort. Almost impossible to resist, a gang of about eight tested our physical strength by mountain biking through some of the most challenging terrain. At the end of the race we were all exhausted but laughing none-the-less. The sweat poured from every conceivable part of our bodies.
The next adventure was fun under the open skies - swimming, beach volleyball, a stint on the wave-runner and another on the surf bike.
I had heard that the resort places a premium upon offering a quality indigenous Guyana experience and it was so. The housing, furnishings and menu reflect a strong indigenous input.
“The lodges were built by the Amerindians from the area with all local materials – only the utensils, the solar energy, hot water system and communication systems were taken in,” the captain said during our tour.
Out of all the things I saw, experienced and did, the most exciting other than the mountain biking in the selfish sands was jumping on the trampoline in the jungle.
The second most exciting was first sampling freshly made cassava bread with melting butter then stealing it as the gathering was distracted by the lectures.
Trust me, hot cassava bread tastes much better than the ones sold in town.
Before we knew it was time to go as our trip was over. Our boats drifted slowly away from the resort as the waving hands of the Arrow Point staff soon faded in the distance. As we traveled back to civilisation the passage through the dimmer corridor of the Kamuni Creek gave me cause to reflect on the time spent at what is “a gift of nature”.
The evening approached and the gauntlet of giant silk cotton trees, slender bamboos and still tangled vines appear some times dark and lonely in the lengthening shadows.
But the serenity of the corridor never faded just as was promised. I resolved that I must return to Arrow Point Nature Resort for the total experience and to experience that 4x4 ride through the jungle.
The boat, as most of us rested our eyes (sleep), slowed to a halt. We had not reached our destination so the mostly media operatives and other travelers became wary.
This point has much “shadows from the past”. The women were jumpy but enquired further.
Mr. Gouveia pointed out, “There is a story to the creek. The assembly of nature that stands at the water’s edge, watching you journey by, bears the footprints and traces of the early Chinese settlers in Guyana.”
Gerry Gouveia said that it suggests that those early immigrants, wishing to establish a self-sufficient community off the Demerara River, settled in this region and were the ones to plant the bamboo trees found along the Kamuni Creek, the waterway that still bears the shadows from the past.
“They come here every year to pay homage and spend time at the tombs of their ancestors. Anybody wants to take a look at the graves and see some skeletons?”
The resounding negative response filled the air and soon after we were on our way back to city life minus that experience.
Conclusion
Arrow Point is peaceful, adventure filled, and natural.
Peaceful for those who just want to relax in a hammock, or go for a leisurely walk along the jungle trails, or to simply lie in the sun on the wide expanse of white sandy beaches.
Arrow Point is adventure filled, for the adventurous and active types. It is full of fun activities such as biking or hiking through jungle trails and the wave runner and other water travelers make it fun.
It is natural because the cabins and the general surrounding design were created to obviously add without taking away nature.
“It brings modern amenities to the natural environment yet it does not hamper or take away from it.” (Mondale Smith)