National park · Guyana
Kaieteur National Park
Fly from Georgetown to Kaieteur Falls for a half‑day viewpoint visit, or book a guide for longer jungle treks and stay at the park guesthouses.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
630 km² (243 sq mi)243 sq mi (630 km²)
approximate
Established
1929
Best months
Oct–Mar
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 6Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…Do not attempt to cross into Venezuela
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Guyana ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Guyana's Ministry of Home Affairs or a Guyanese embassy before booking.
- Guyana ↗Interior flights use small aircraft with tight baggage weight limits that include hand luggage: pack light and confirm with the operator.
- Guyana ↗Do not attempt to cross into Venezuela: the land border is closed and the Essequibo border zone is disputed and lawless in places.
At a glance
- Country
- Guyana
- Area
- 630 km² (243 sq mi)243 sq mi (630 km²)
- Park covers roughly 630 km² of rainforest (check).
- Established
- 1929
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Permits
- For some areas
Kaieteur National Park protects a pristine Amazonian rainforest and the world‑class Kaieteur Falls, the planet’s largest single‑drop waterfall by volume. Visitors reach the falls mainly by a short charter‑plane flight from Georgetown, then explore short trails, a jungle walk from Menzies Landing, or a moderate trek from Tukeit village, with basic guesthouse accommodation on site.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1929.
Size and age
630 km² (243 sq mi)243 sq mi (630 km²) · national park since 1929
Park covers roughly 630 km² of rainforest (check).
Why go
- Home to Kaieteur Falls, the world’s largest single‑drop waterfall by volume.
- Dense Amazonian rainforest with endemic wildlife such as the golden rocket frog and Guianan cock‑of‑the‑rock.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprCaution
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecBest
- JanDry, cool; good for falls and wildlife.
- FebDry, comfortable temperatures.
- MarEnd of rainy season, waterfalls at peak flow.
- AprRainy season starts, trails muddy.
- MayFrequent rain, high humidity.
- JunRainy, river levels high.
- JulRainy, possible flooding.
- AugPeak rain, trails slippery.
- SepRainy, but ending.
- OctDry, waterfalls spectacular.
- NovDry, comfortable.
- DecDry, cooler evenings.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden rocket frog (endemic)All year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Red howler monkeyAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Guianan cock‑of‑the‑rockAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Giant otterAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| JaguarAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Georgetown (Ogle Airport)
Small charter plane (15 seats or less) by Trans Guyana Airways or Air Services Limited; departs ~13:00, returns ~17:00.Small charter plane (15 seats or less) by Trans Guyana Airways or Air Services Limited; departs ~1:00 PM, returns ~5:00 PM.
≈1 h each way
Open the page →
From Mahdia (public transport)
Minibus to Mahdia, taxi to Pamela Landing (≈G$8 000), then boat ~5 h up Potaro River to Tukeit; final 2–3 h walk to airstrip.
≈2–3 days total
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor Centre / Airstrip | Gate, ticket office, basic shop, and access to Kaieteur Falls trail. | Open with ticket. |
| Kaieteur Falls area | Viewpoint platform and short walk to the base of the falls. | Open with ticket. |
| Menzies Landing | Small village on park edge, optional stop for supplies. | Open to visitors. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
4 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates approximate; main facilities centred near the airstrip.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (Visitor Centre) | Free | person | No separate fee; cost included in flight or guide package (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Camping
- Not permitted in the park.
- Fires
- No open fires; use designated cooking facilities.
- Litter
- Carry out all rubbish; bins are limited.
Where to stay
In the park
Kaieteur Guesthouse (near falls)
Basic rooms with mosquito netting; G$3000 per night, payment in GY$ or USD.
In the park
Tukeit Guesthouse (downstream)
Similar facilities; book via park office in advance.
Safety
Heat and humidity medium
Falls safety low
River navigation high
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Visitor Centre reachable by car from airstrip; short walks are on uneven jungle terrain.
Visiting lightly
- Pay park entry fees to support conservation.
- Do not purchase unofficial 'langur' or wildlife tours.
- Carry out all waste.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Kaieteur National Park?
There is no separate entry fee; cost is included in the charter‑plane or guide package (check).
What are the best hikes in Kaieteur National Park?
The short trail to Kaieteur Falls viewpoint, the 2‑hour jungle walk from Menzies Landing to the falls, and the moderate trek from Tukeit village to the airstrip.
When is the best time to visit Kaieteur National Park?
Dry season October to March offers clear skies and strong waterfall flow after the rains.
Can I camp in the park?
Camping is not allowed; stay in the park guesthouses.
Do I need a guide to see the falls?
A guide is not required for the falls viewpoint, but a guide is recommended for longer jungle treks.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go