Surama
The Amerindian community of Surama is located in the heart of Guyana. The village is set in five square miles of savannah which is ringed by the forest covered Pakaraima Mountains. Surama’s inhabitants are mainly from the Makushi tribe and still observe many of the traditional practises of their forebears.
This isolated and idyllic location offers an escape from the concrete jungle to a serene and peaceful existence with nature. Dawn hikes, led by Surama guides across the savannah and up Surama Mountain, reveal a multitude of birds and fantastic vistas. The guides have lived their entire lives in the rainforest, and have an incredible understanding of nature and how to utilise its resources.
Surama shares a common border with the Iwokrama International Centre for Conservation and Development along the Burro Burro River. It is here the community have established Carahaa Landing Camp, a hammock camp on the river edge. This camp offers a base for night walks and day break canoe floats on the Burro Burro River, which allow opportunity to observe Giant River Otters, Tapir, Tira, Spider Monkeys and many more species.
Guests can also stay in the village guest house, which provides simple, comfortable accommodation with shared facilities and excellent meals prepared from local produce.
The Surama community have identified eco-tourism as a sustainable use of their land. It means employment at home, rather than the men leaving to mine or cut timber in other parts of Guyana. All tours to Surama are managed and operated solely by the Makushi. Apart from the direct employment from eco-tourism, the community also benefits from the purchase of local produce and a portion of every tour goes to a village fund which is used for community development projects.
Click HERE to view more information and tours at Surama. Click HERE to see where Surama is located.