GUYANA

Guyana is one of the least-visited countries in South America, which is precisely its appeal: a genuine wilderness unshaped by tourism. It’s English-speaking, culturally Caribbean and still largely covered in rainforest. Though the Dutch architecture and timber cathedral draw visitors to capital Georgetown, the country’s interior is the main attraction. Vast tracts of primeval rainforest let wildlife thrive undisturbed by human activity: the mighty jaguar, giant anteater, black caiman and a vast array of bird species, like the magnificent Guianan cock-of-the-rock.

Even the country’s most showstopping natural wonders come without crowds; Kaieteur Falls, a single-drop waterfall nearly five times higher than Niagara, plunges from a rainforest plateau with almost no surrounding development, reached only via the nearby airstrip. Guyana’s accommodation is still relatively simple but authentic. Travel west towards Brazil and the jungle clears to the rolling Rupununi savannah, where you’ll be hosted in remote field stations, cattle ranches and Amerindian, community-run lodges.