Arriving Bartica

Getting to Bartica from Georgetown involves catching minibus #32 (45min, G$200 including the Demerara River crossing) from Georgetown to Parika, from where river-taxis (1hr; G$1000) leave when full to Bartica. There is also a ferry that takes five or six hours, leaving Parika on Thursdays and Saturdays and returning from Bartica on Fridays and Sundays.

The two places to stay, one next to the other at the end of First Avenue, cater to the prince and pauper of travellers. The posh Hotel Castillo (tel 455-3042; US$15–25) offers air-conditioned rooms, phones and hot and cold water; the cheaper option, Modern Hotel (tel 455-2301; US$5–10), has all the basics, but no air conditioning. Both have large and noisy bars downstairs. For restaurants, try D'N'I Restaurant on Second Avenue (tel 455-3088) for Chinese and Creole dishes, as well as good pastries, or Kool Breeze, the popular tourist hang-out overlooking the river, which is also a good spot for a sundowner