Top Lethem Cruises: Tours, Prices & Helpful Tips

Dreaming of experiencing Lethem, Guyana, from a totally unique angle? Lethem, sitting pretty on the Brazilian border, provides a doorway to South America’s breathtaking inland rivers and savanna plains. Instead of your average land tour, think about taking a cruise or maybe even a sailing trip! So, this gets you into parts of the region others just can’t reach.

Getting out on the water near Lethem offers some seriously amazing views, up-close experiences with nature, and memories that might just last forever. This rundown looks into five very interesting ‘cruises & sailing tours’ near Lethem. We’ll touch on what makes each choice sort of special, what you might expect to see, and a general idea about how much each might run you. So, prepare yourself; your wilderness escape starts here! Read our full review: Lethem Cruises Sailing Tours Full Review and Details

Exploring the Rivers of Lethem: Aboard the M.V. Makushi

Alright, first off, consider a multi-day trip aboard the M.V. Makushi. That’s a locally operated riverboat offering journeys on the Rupununi River. You’re looking at seeing views from right on the water with this one, stopping at native villages to meet local people, and chances to glimpse creatures in the wild. This could be your go-to if what you are wanting is an authentic and in-depth view into river life. So, trips generally vary anywhere from three to seven days and have various rates.

Picture this: You wake up to the soft sounds of the Rupununi. So, then you sip some hot coffee as you watch a bunch of different types of colorful birds flitting about in the trees lining the riverbank. After chowing down on some locally made breakfast, you step off the boat for a guided hike. So, that might lead you into the jungle. You’d be hoping to see wildlife hiding within the vegetation.

Then after, there’s a visit planned to one of the native Makushi communities scattered along the river. What an awesome thing to see the ancient way of life in that area, that could be very different from whatever one is accustomed too. And if that’s not interesting enough, then there is the beautiful handmade stuff to look at or the friendly encounters with locals. Later, when you’re back on board, just chill on deck as you drink a very cold beverage while heading upstream.

Sunset Sailing on the Takutu River

Thinking of something gentler? So, consider a sunset sail on the Takutu River. Many small local tour operators run two to three-hour sails that shove off in the late afternoon. You just might take in some of those golden hour skies as the sun begins to go down behind Brazil’s far off hills.

Think about sitting comfortably on a sailboat while the breeze from the river cools your skin and keeps the pests away. A captain knows these waters quite well. The boat quietly slides past the shoreline, and the boat offers lots of perfect photo possibilities and calm moments for reflection. The skies begin to turn shades of pink, orange, and purple as sunset gets closer, so creating a completely wonderful sight that mixes seamlessly with the surrounding area.

Maybe some beverages and light snacks might be included. Yet, this helps you unwind right after a busy day out and about. That way it allows for an extraordinary, quiet moment to see the beautiful place right at sunset. It might just give you a peaceful goodbye wave, before things settle down. Sunset cruises can be booked privately, as well. So, those could probably be modified to better fit needs. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Lethem Sunset Sailing Tour)

The Pirara River Challenge: Kayak Expedition

Seeking something a bit more active? Well, so grab that paddle! The Pirara River gives experienced kayakers some exciting experiences. Some area trip businesses provide guided multi-day kayak expeditions. So, what this gets you is navigating streams that run near jungle spots that boast wildlife. It might test strength and stamina, so you might need to be prepared for adventure.

Picture setting off in a small kayak early each day right after getting some advice from those experienced instructors. This kind of small vessel may allow one to venture further up tributaries and little streams to possibly get to parts other boats can’t even dream of getting into! So, you see everything as the wildlife starts its activity for the day. What’s super fun too, you would eat simply, then camp out on riverbanks in remote jungle spots.

Maybe some evenings will include setting up the tents alongside riverbanks, getting a bonfire going, listening closely to those forest nights’ noises and even listening in on campfire talks underneath an array of constellations. Now, something else is also kind of important. This experience might not suit all people, considering its degree of physical strain, so only people in pretty good physical shape would think about it. Still, for those wishing a fully immersive trip amongst nature, it doesn’t get better. This definitely turns it up a notch. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Pirara River Kayak Expedition)

Wildlife Spotting on the Essequibo Tributaries

Want to get really up close and personal with nature? What you may need is a special wildlife spotting trip that takes you to hidden waterways coming from the big Essequibo. So, some very particular journeys operate out of Lethem; these are created specifically for animal enthusiasts who long to view Guyana’s richest wild habitats.

You might hop into an open-topped river boat. Then you might travel in areas that are hard to get to. Those are very famous for hosting an array of fauna. Experienced guides could accompany groups that know all of these locations intimately; they may very well assist you in finding shy species plus describe everything about this river system. Think spotting caimans lounging on the riverbanks, gigantic river otters tumbling around in their families, so much vibrant bird life showing its feathers from high in those canopies or, with very great luck, maybe getting an anteater roaming along beaches.

Guides bring along high-powered telescopes with their deep local awareness that might vastly enrich such viewing adventure. Journeys often work for sections around mornings and late afternoons, the periods the wildlife behaves the most. It might take up some patience but being near those animals doing their own activities may be incredibly worthwhile to anybody needing the chance to witness Guyana’s biodiversity first hand. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Essequibo Wildlife Tour)

The Guyana Safari Cruise Extension

Now, picture integrating some boat adventures during the classic Guyana Safari?! What’s usually a 4×4 overland journey might add unique days which lets anyone explore riversides! So, various custom versions include riverboats waiting during safari to transport individuals from savanna parts farther down scenic rivers; imagine swapping dusty land tracks to enjoy smooth river cruising at just about a heartbeat!

Part of such adventures entail finishing land exploration within some certain spot prior to connecting onto awaiting riverboats! So, this opens riverside communities; the trips feature encounters and stays in settlements located close by that usually witness small traveler foot traffic otherwise. Maybe you could go on unique angling excursions alongside indigenous people.

Another great addition comes via river accessibility enabling entrance towards regions unavailable through vehicles; specifically those parts densely foliaged which are perfect havens catering birds besides fauna alongside riverside edges! Imagine such expanded view opening horizons with photography together during quiet hours over these waterways, maybe catching glimpses via special ecosystems otherwise unnoticed if going just through roads? These tour extensions simply provide a better rounded exploration from what such special region can provide individuals! See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Guyana Safari Cruise extension)