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Voykit pocket guide · Guyana
Lethem
Spend 1–2 days in Lethem as a border stop; fly or bus from Georgetown, see the river bridge and nearby waterfalls.
Lethem is a small border town of about 3,000 people in the Guyanese Highlands. It sits on the Takutu River opposite Brazil and is reachable by daily flight from Georgetown or overnight bus. Attractions are limited to the river bridge, nearby waterfalls and day trips to the Kunuku Mountains, so a short stay of 1–2 days is enough.
- Country
- Guyana
- Best months
- Sep–Apr (dry season)
- Avoid
- Apr–Aug (rainy season, poor road conditions)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- GYD
- Money
- Currency is the Guyanese dollar (GYD, $), steady at about GYD 208–210 per US dollar (check). Cards work in larger Georgetown hotels, malls and some restaurants; cash is needed almost everywhere else.
- Daily spend
- Budget GYD 5,000–8,000 excl. bed · Mid GYD 8,000–12,000 excl. bed · High GYD 12,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Digicel and ONE Communications (formerly GTT) sell SIMs at the airport and in Georgetown with passport; data is cheap (check eSIM support).
- Emergency
- Police 911 · Fire 912 · Ambulance 913
- Plugs
- Types A, B, D, G · 110 V and 240 V · 60 Hz · Check before plugging in; bring a universal adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% if no service charge.; Guides and lodge staff: US$10–20 a day into the staff box.
- Water
- Do not drink tap water; bottled water is sold everywhere.
- Toilets
- In hotels, malls and restaurants; carry tissue.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Georgetown → Lethem overnight bus ticket | GYD 9,000–10,000 |
| One‑way flight Georgetown → Lethem | GYD 30,000 |
| Water (bottled) | GYD 5–10 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LTM · Lethem Airport
- Domestic flights from Georgetown; no service on Sundays
Typical fares
- Georgetown → Lethem bus
- about GYD 9,500, 12 h (check)
- Georgetown → Lethem flight
- about GYD 30,000, 1 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk in town or drive on left‑hand traffic; roads are unlit and can be rough, especially after rain. Avoid night driving.
See and do
Known for
- Takutu River bridge
- Kunuku Mountains day trips
- Kumu and Mocomoco waterfalls
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kunuku Mountains | Hire a local guide or drive 30 km (19 mi) north; road may be roughHire a local guide or drive 19 mi (30 km) north; road may be rough | ≈2 h round trip |
Sleep
- Takutu Hotel
- Basic rooms, some with air‑conditioning; restaurant requires advance orders.
- Savannah Hotel
- Rooms and air‑conditioned cabins; general store and tour desk.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | SorrySorry |
| Thank you | Thank youThank you |
| How much is it? | How much is it?How much is it? |
| Where is the bathroom? | Where is the bathroom?Where is the bathroom? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say good morning or good afternoon before any question; avoid: Launching straight into a request
- Villages: Meet the toshao (village leader) or host first; avoid: Wandering in unannounced
- Temples and mosques: Shoes off, cover shoulders; avoid: Photos during prayers
- Politics and race: Listen; avoid: Taking sides; politics splits along community lines
Scams and watch-outs
- Roads become muddy and pothole‑filled in the rainy season; travel slowly.
- Malaria risk – bring prophylaxis and insect repellent.
- Border crossing requires a yellow‑fever vaccination and a Brazilian exit stamp.
Lethem is generally safe but malaria, road conditions and border checks require precautions; avoid night driving in the rainy season.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Lethem yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Takutu River bridge
- Kunuku Mountains day trips
- Kumu and Mocomoco waterfalls
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Lethem: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Lethem, revision 5339305 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5339305
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/lethem). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.