Kaieteur is the most internationally famous sight of Guyana. It is a bit pricey to go there, but once you are in Guyana, it is totally a must. We only spent there a couple of hours, but I am going to tell you what I would do if I would go again.
First of all, I am going to explain how we got there. Around one month before the date that we wanted to go, I randomly contacted Dagron Tours to go there. The date that we wanted to go was already booked, but they told us that they would try to get a bigger plane. After some time they told me that they got a bigger plane, so with us two it would be full. I asked them how much we had to pay, and they told me that I had to pay the whole thing. Not a deposit, but the whole thing. In the Bradt guide I had read that sometimes you need to wait until a flight is full, and sometimes there are cancellations. So when I went to paid I asked if it was confirmed. They told me so. I told them that we were interested in going to Orinduik as well, so I asked them to contact me in case they organized a combined trip to Orinduik and Kaieteur. I asked them to text me, because I was going to be in the interior so I was not sure if I was going to have service in my phone. The advantage of texting is that once you have service again, you get the message.
Imagine what? The same morning that we were supposed to leave to Kaieteur (a Monday) we received a call at 6:30 am telling us that our trip was cancelled!!! They told me that they had tried to contact us during the weekend, but was not possible. They didn’t text me as I advised. We were very sad and disappointed. Especially because one of us was leaving on Wednesday, so Monday was basically our last opportunity to do the trip. They told us that they would try to get us in another flight on Tuesday, if necessary with another tour operator. So that day we decided to visit Georgetown. We went to Dagron Tours offices to get more details. They told us the same thing, and around 3 pm we would get a call. Apparently, the reason is that four tourists had cancelled their trip. They told us that they didn’t pay in advance. I was very angry, because I didn’t understand their double standard. If you live in Guyana, you pay in advance. If you don’t, you don’t pay in advance. So if you still decide to go to Kaieteur with Dagron Tours (not recommended) tell them that you don’t live here.
Obviously, they didn’t call us. We had to call ourselves and ask about the situation. They said that they were trying to get us in another flight. Around 4:30 pm, tired of the situation, we decided to call every single tour operator to try to get a trip to Kaieteur for Tuesday. One very nice person referred us to Air Guyana (http://www.airguyana.biz/). And they had two seats remaining! We felt very lucky. Obviously we booked it. I was terribly disappointed with Dagron Tours. We were able to book a flight, and they had told us minutes before that they had tried everything. Due to gas prices the price had increased. With Dagron Tours we initially paid 185 USD. Now we had to pay 220 USD. This new flight departed at 1 pm on Tuesday, so we agreed with Dagron to pick up our money at 9 am in the morning. We needed the money to pay our new flight.
So at 9 am on Tuesday we were in the office to get our money back. But we still had one more surprise remaining. They opened one hour late, because the person that had the keys arrived one hour late. Once we got our money back, I told her how disappointed I was. She told me that she tried (at 5 pm!!!) to get us in another flight. They had the whole day, but they waited until the closing time of most offices in Georgetown. They didn’t even offer to pay the difference between what we paid them and what we paid to the new company. I don’t think is normal that we were able to find ourselves an alternative, but they weren’t. It was their job! This is our story. On the other hand, the people in Air Guyana (also known as Wings) were extremely nice and helpful. We even had an alternative with Evergreen adventures, but it was plan C because they were not sure if there was too much wait in the plane. But we also recommend them. If you are going to Kaieteur, don’t go with Dagron Tours. Not reliable at all.
We just had time to go home, grab our stuff and go to Ogle Airport. Air Guyana paid for the taxi. Everything was very smooth. We paid, we got our boarding pass, and got into the plane. The plane was tiny, only for 5 people, but our pilot was very good and also very friendly. See below some pictures of the flight to Kaieteur. (text continues after the pictures)
First of all, I am going to explain how we got there. Around one month before the date that we wanted to go, I randomly contacted Dagron Tours to go there. The date that we wanted to go was already booked, but they told us that they would try to get a bigger plane. After some time they told me that they got a bigger plane, so with us two it would be full. I asked them how much we had to pay, and they told me that I had to pay the whole thing. Not a deposit, but the whole thing. In the Bradt guide I had read that sometimes you need to wait until a flight is full, and sometimes there are cancellations. So when I went to paid I asked if it was confirmed. They told me so. I told them that we were interested in going to Orinduik as well, so I asked them to contact me in case they organized a combined trip to Orinduik and Kaieteur. I asked them to text me, because I was going to be in the interior so I was not sure if I was going to have service in my phone. The advantage of texting is that once you have service again, you get the message.
Imagine what? The same morning that we were supposed to leave to Kaieteur (a Monday) we received a call at 6:30 am telling us that our trip was cancelled!!! They told me that they had tried to contact us during the weekend, but was not possible. They didn’t text me as I advised. We were very sad and disappointed. Especially because one of us was leaving on Wednesday, so Monday was basically our last opportunity to do the trip. They told us that they would try to get us in another flight on Tuesday, if necessary with another tour operator. So that day we decided to visit Georgetown. We went to Dagron Tours offices to get more details. They told us the same thing, and around 3 pm we would get a call. Apparently, the reason is that four tourists had cancelled their trip. They told us that they didn’t pay in advance. I was very angry, because I didn’t understand their double standard. If you live in Guyana, you pay in advance. If you don’t, you don’t pay in advance. So if you still decide to go to Kaieteur with Dagron Tours (not recommended) tell them that you don’t live here.
Obviously, they didn’t call us. We had to call ourselves and ask about the situation. They said that they were trying to get us in another flight. Around 4:30 pm, tired of the situation, we decided to call every single tour operator to try to get a trip to Kaieteur for Tuesday. One very nice person referred us to Air Guyana (http://www.airguyana.biz/). And they had two seats remaining! We felt very lucky. Obviously we booked it. I was terribly disappointed with Dagron Tours. We were able to book a flight, and they had told us minutes before that they had tried everything. Due to gas prices the price had increased. With Dagron Tours we initially paid 185 USD. Now we had to pay 220 USD. This new flight departed at 1 pm on Tuesday, so we agreed with Dagron to pick up our money at 9 am in the morning. We needed the money to pay our new flight.
So at 9 am on Tuesday we were in the office to get our money back. But we still had one more surprise remaining. They opened one hour late, because the person that had the keys arrived one hour late. Once we got our money back, I told her how disappointed I was. She told me that she tried (at 5 pm!!!) to get us in another flight. They had the whole day, but they waited until the closing time of most offices in Georgetown. They didn’t even offer to pay the difference between what we paid them and what we paid to the new company. I don’t think is normal that we were able to find ourselves an alternative, but they weren’t. It was their job! This is our story. On the other hand, the people in Air Guyana (also known as Wings) were extremely nice and helpful. We even had an alternative with Evergreen adventures, but it was plan C because they were not sure if there was too much wait in the plane. But we also recommend them. If you are going to Kaieteur, don’t go with Dagron Tours. Not reliable at all.
We just had time to go home, grab our stuff and go to Ogle Airport. Air Guyana paid for the taxi. Everything was very smooth. We paid, we got our boarding pass, and got into the plane. The plane was tiny, only for 5 people, but our pilot was very good and also very friendly. See below some pictures of the flight to Kaieteur. (text continues after the pictures)
Once there, we had lunch. After that, our guide took us to 4 different viewing points of the fall. They are magical!!! 226 meters of beauty!! We were the only visitors at the time, which made it even more unbelievable. This place has any kind of development and is hardly visited. Compare it with any other major falls in the world (Niagara Falls with its casinos).
See pictures below. Sorry if there are too many, but it was impossible to select. The place is amazing!!!
They only thing is that we have liked to stay longer. So our advice is to spend one night there. Air Guyana told us that the price was the same if you fly one day and come back the following day. The national park has a place where you can stay. I don’t know the exact fare, but I think is pretty cheap. Contact them in their website: http://www.kaieteurpark.gov.gy/ I think that the opportunity of seeing the falls under moonlight has to be a wonderful experience. Besides, the day trip is a bit short. You rush a little bit to see the falls from different angles. Besides, the surroundings are also amazing. You feel sometimes like Indiana Jones. So if you can oversleep, I think it has to be great. Please, post your comments if you oversleep in Kaieteur.
See pictures below. Sorry if there are too many, but it was impossible to select. The place is amazing!!!
They only thing is that we have liked to stay longer. So our advice is to spend one night there. Air Guyana told us that the price was the same if you fly one day and come back the following day. The national park has a place where you can stay. I don’t know the exact fare, but I think is pretty cheap. Contact them in their website: http://www.kaieteurpark.gov.gy/ I think that the opportunity of seeing the falls under moonlight has to be a wonderful experience. Besides, the day trip is a bit short. You rush a little bit to see the falls from different angles. Besides, the surroundings are also amazing. You feel sometimes like Indiana Jones. So if you can oversleep, I think it has to be great. Please, post your comments if you oversleep in Kaieteur.