Caribbean Hikers on six-day expedition in Guyana

A team of 30 hikers from the Caribbean Hiking Adventures (CHA) led by Richard Lewis has arrived in Guyana for a six-day hiking expedition with the aim of conquering the Caribbean Islands which are filled with a multitude of hiking destinations.

The team touched down at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, on Saturday morning on the BW661 Caribbean Airlines flight, and was welcomed by members of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Rainforest Tours in Guyana.

At a brief welcoming reception, at Guyana’s main port of entry, GTA Director Indranauth Haralsingh welcomed the hikers from the twin Island republic on behalf of acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali.

Haralsingh told the visitors that hiking is rapidly becoming one of the most popular recreational activities, and the Rainforest of Guyana provides an amazing hiking experience.

He said along the rugged mountains and wild tropical rainforest, there are numerous developed trails frequented by happy indigenous peoples, a journey that all adventurers the world over would want to experience.

He also boasted that Guyana has hundreds of plant species that are used for many cosmetics and medicinal purposes, as well as birds and other animals, which together create a landscape of a paradise to behold.

He wished the team a successful hiking trip and promised that the adventure will be their most memorable yet. He also highlighted that Guyana shares the Amazon with most of the South American nations, and reiterated that the hikers will enjoy what the country has to offer.

He noted that their visit is timely since Guyana is celebrating its 46th independence anniversary.

Caribbean Hiking Adventures was formed in 2010. Lewis has over 20 years of hiking experience and his dynamic team includes Rhonda Beckles-Lewis, Adrian Rush, Nicola Mark and Felix Lamy, all of whom were formerly of Hikers Inc.

Lewis explained that the group is also referred to as “The A Team”. The team’s primary importance and focus has always been “safety and we are first aid trained and certified by the Red Cross Society”. He expressed his optimism about the trip, and noted that it is the first time the team will be hiking in Guyana, and are looking forward for an amazing six days. Lewis also stated that their main aim is to focus their attention in the dense jungle areas of Guyana, but hopes to visit the Kaieteur Falls before returning to Trinidad.

The team has travelled to Grenada and Dominica and intends to visit all the Caribbean islands to get firsthand experience at hiking.