Bucksands Lodge

Guyana is filled with such an expanse of natural beauty that one has to make a choice as to where one would prefer to experience its forest ambiance and Hurakabra Resort offers such an experience with luxurious dwellings.

Situated on the west bank of the Essequibo River some three miles from Bartica, Hurukabra was developed by Kit Nascimento and Gem Madhoo Nascimento primarily to cater for yachters. However interested tourists from Guyana, the Caribbean, Europe or North America are welcome.

The river resort features three separate areas for accommodation Mango Tree Villa, Bamboo Cottage and Bucksands Lodge. It is nestled between the Essequibo River and a majestic forest setting and guests, if lucky, may be able to glimpse Guyana's famous jaguar or if not can see the paw prints left by the large cat's nightly routine.

Mango Tree Villa is a two-storey house with three bedrooms on its upper level, a living room, large kitchen and a jacuzzi on the veranda. It is equipped with radio, telephone, computer, and internet facilities.

Bamboo Cottage has a master bedroom and living room with a roll-out sofa to sleep two additional persons.

Bucksands Lodge ( pic left) Bamboo Cottagepic (pic right)

Bucksands Lodge, some three minutes away from Mango Tree Villa and Bamboo Cottage, is located in a beautiful bay, framed by tropical forest. The two-storey lodge is right on the beach and features a large veranda with three bedrooms two on the upper flat and one below.

Hurakabra is ideal for couples, a family or group of friends out for natural holiday relaxation or companies looking for a retreat location. The villa was designed to house a maximum of eight persons while the cottage can house four, Bucksands can house six persons comfortably and if necessary the resort can cater for a larger party. The resort is equipped with facilities for water and beach sports.

The cost is very reasonable at US$450 per night for eight persons or just over US$50 per person. Additionally adventurers can walk with their own raw food which they can prepare personally or utilize the in-house catering service. There is also a beach-front bar and restaurant including a barbecue grill service that kicks in when necessary.

With Guyana opening its waters to yachters, two of whom have actually built a cottage on the Essequibo since coming to Guyana with a flotilla of yachts a few years ago, the resort provides security for these sailors and their equipment at a charge of US$10 per day.

Incidentally, Hurukabra is featured in a publication done by Chris Doyle who produces yacht guides and has just introduced a yacht guide to Guyana.

Though navigational guides in the Essequibo are non-existent with the use of satellite technology travelling on the river is very manageable. Additionally, because of the increasing cost of yacht insurance it is worth noting that Guyana is out of the hurricane belt therefore travellers do not have to worry excessively about losses as a result of bad weather.

From Hurukabra, visitors can access trips to Bartica, Parrot Island, Mazaruni and Cuyuni rivers, Kyk-over-al, Marshall Falls, and Baracara Falls among other locations at a cost of US$20.

The area where the resort is located also has a great historical heritage since the Dutch colonizers first established their rice and coffee plantations along the Esse-quibo. Some evidence of this still exists in the form of ruins and a few coffee trees.

Important for environmentally conscious travellers to note is that Hurakabra is essentially a green resort fitted with generators, but which utilizes solar power all of the time except when the weather is overcast for an extended period of three days or more.

The water used is rainwater collected in a large reservoir while the food served is prepared using fresh greens and vegetables. A vegetable garden is in the process of being established though ants, parrots, monkeys and other wildlife tend to make farming hazardous.