Tourism Minister tours key Rupununi ecolodges

– as media team explores Guyana’s tourism assets

The stunning landscapes of Region Nine (Upper Takutu–Upper Essequibo) served as the backdrop for a multi-day media familiarisation tour organised by the Ministry of Tourism and the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) as part of Tourism Awareness Month 2025.
The trip, which brought together journalists, videographers, photographers, and GTA officials, aimed to highlight the country’s ecotourism strengths while giving the national media first-hand exposure to the lodges, trails, wildlife, and cultural heritage that define the Rupununi tourism circuit. The team arrived on Tuesday morning and will remain in the region until Thursday.

Iwokrama
The first stop was the Iwokrama River Lodge, where the media delegation was given a guided tour of the facilities, including its riverside cabins, research centre, and community-based conservation operations. Shortly after the team settled in, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Susan Rodrigues arrived to join the delegation. Staff of the lodge briefed her on their operations, the challenges of running a major ecotourism destination deep in the Iwokrama Forest, and the importance of balancing sustainable visitor experiences with wildlife protection.

Kurupukari
From Iwokrama, the entire group boarded a boat on the Essequibo River for a scenic journey to the Kurupukari petroglyphs, ancient rock carvings etched into large stones along the riverbank. The Minister listened as guides explained that the markings are part of a significant Indigenous cultural heritage site and are believed to represent traditional fishing symbols, spiritual beliefs, and the deep relationship between the early inhabitants and the Rupununi waterways. The visit also highlighted the fragility of these archaeological sites, which are periodically submerged during the river’s rise and therefore require careful preservation.
During the stop, the media were also taken to other Kurupukari areas, where they were shown additional natural features and activities that form part of the lodge’s tourism offerings. Reporters were given the chance to take short bike rides and explore forest trails. On one of the guided walks, the forest was alive with the piercing call of the Screaming Piha, one of the loudest birds in the world, whose echoing cry is a signature sound of the Amazon basin.

Atta Rainforest Lodge
The second major site visited was the Atta Rainforest Lodge, located within the Iwokrama Forest and known internationally as the home of the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway.
The word “atta”, in the Makushi language, means “hammock”, and it is from a hammock dwelling that the Atta Rainforest Lodge, the winner of the Resort of the Year Award at the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana’s (THAG) 26th Annual President’s Awards, originated.
After arriving at the lodge, the group followed trained guides into the rainforest and climbed the elevated walkway, which rises nearly 30 metres above the forest floor. Here, the Minister and media paused at the platforms to observe the dense treetops, listen to the birdlife, and experience one of Guyana’s most iconic tourism attractions.
The visit helped showcase the walkway’s role not only as a visitor experience but also as a model of how conservation and community-based tourism can exist together, since Atta Lodge operates through a partnership that directly supports local employment and environmental stewardship.

Rock View Lodge
The final stop of the day was Rock View Lodge in the North Rupununi, owned by the Edwards family and long regarded as one of the region’s cultural and hospitality landmarks. The lodge’s founder, Colin Edwards, welcomed Minister Rodrigues and the media and shared the story of how he purchased the property in 1992 and developed it into a heritage-rich ecolodge grounded in Rupununi culture. The original ranch house was built in the 1950s, and parts of the property still reflect the old cattle-trail era when the Rupununi was connected by horseback and overland journeys. Edwards spoke about the lodge’s evolution, the challenges of sustaining tourism through changing seasons, and the importance of strengthening partnerships between the private sector, government, and local communities.
Throughout the visit, Minister Rodrigues emphasised the importance of Tourism Awareness Month, noting that the November observance is intended to spotlight the country’s diverse tourism products, encourage domestic travel, and promote the value of tourism to rural development. Her engagements at the three lodges show the Ministry’s commitment to supporting operators who are safeguarding natural and cultural assets while contributing to job creation in remote communities.
By the end of the day, the media delegation had explored river systems, walked among ancient rock carvings, listened to some of the world’s loudest forest wildlife, experienced treetop views from the canopy walkway, and engaged directly with lodge owners and conservation guides.
The familiarisation tour continues until Thursday, giving the press more opportunities to witness first-hand the experiences that are being promoted during Tourism Awareness Month as Guyana works to further improve its tourism experience.