South America > 🇬🇾 Guyana
The city by city Car or no Car advice for Guyana can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Guyana; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Guyana?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Guyana?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.🏙️ Main Cities in Guyana
| CITY | IATA | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Georgetown | GEO |
Should you rent a car in Guyana? Car or No Car: Guyana
Visiting Guyana feels like stepping into one of South America’s last great wildernesses — dense rainforest, remote rivers, and vibrant Creole culture. So, should you rent a car in Guyana? The answer depends on how adventurous you are and where you plan to go.
🚗 Driving in Guyana
In and around Georgetown, the capital, a car can be useful for visiting markets, the botanical gardens, and coastal sites like Shell Beach. However, once you head inland, roads quickly turn rough. Many are unpaved laterite tracks, often impassable in the rainy season (May–July and November–January). Driving after dark is strongly discouraged due to potholes, livestock, and unmarked hazards.
If you do rent a vehicle, a 4×4 is essential, and it’s often better to hire it with a local driver-guide. Guyana drives on the left, a legacy of its British colonial past, but traffic rules are loose, and signage is minimal.
🛣️ Alternatives to Driving
The most spectacular parts of the country — the Kaieteur Falls, Iwokrama Rainforest, and Rupununi Savannah — are best reached by air or on organised tours using off-road trucks. Charter flights from Georgetown’s Eugene F. Correia Airport (OGL) operate regularly to Lethem and other interior airstrips.
Public minibuses run along the coast between Georgetown and New Amsterdam, but service is informal and often cramped. River transport still plays a vital role in reaching smaller settlements.
🏕️ Travel Tips
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Always carry cash — card payments are unreliable outside Georgetown.
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Mobile coverage drops off sharply inland.
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Avoid driving during heavy rain; even main roads can flood or become mud traps.
🧭 Conclusion
So, should you rent a car in Guyana? For short trips around Georgetown or to nearby beaches, yes — but for the real Guyanese adventure into the rainforest and savannah, you’re far better off flying or joining a 4×4 expedition.
Car or No Car Rating: 🚗💧 Mostly No — unless you stick to the coast or hire a driver-guide.
