In this guide
Kaieteur Falls sits on the Potaro River in the Pakaraima plateau of central Guyana — about 250 km southwest of Georgetown as the Cessna flies, but there is no road in. There are exactly two practical ways to reach the falls in 2026: a day flight or a multi-day overland trek.
Your two real options
Option 1 — Day flight
Cessna or Britten-Norman Islander from Georgetown (Ogle) → Kaieteur airstrip. About 1 hour each way. You spend roughly 2 hours at the falls, fly home. Same-day return.
Price: US$270–US$380 per person depending on operator.
Who it suits: 95% of visitors. First-time travellers, families, time-constrained itineraries.
Option 2 — Overland trek
Georgetown → Linden → Mahdia → boat up the Potaro → jungle camps → climb the "Oh My God" mountain to the plateau → fly out by Cessna from Kaieteur airstrip. 4–5 days.
Price: US$795–US$1,395 per person depending on operator and comfort level.
Who it suits: serious adventure travellers with time and fitness.
Option 1: Day flight from Georgetown
This is what 95% of visitors do, and for good reason. You leave Georgetown in the morning, see the falls from three viewpoints, and you're back for dinner.
Operators with verified 2026 day-tour prices
- Air Services Limited (ASL) — US$270. Weekend departures every Saturday and Sunday. aslgy.com/tours/kaieteur
- Evergreen Adventures — US$350. Weekends only, minimum 12 pax to operate. evergreenadventuresgy.com
- Dagron Tours — US$350. Fri/Sat/Sun, minimum 9 pax, the only operator that includes lunch. dagron-tours.com
- Wilderness Explorers — US$360 + $20 transfer. Max 12 pax, on request. wilderness-explorers.com
- Trans Guyana Airways — quote on request. Operates flights, also runs a Kaieteur + Orinduik Falls combo tour. transguyana.net/kaieteur-falls
What a typical day looks like
- 06:30–07:00 — pickup from your Georgetown hotel (depends on operator; ASL and Evergreen typically require self-transfer to Ogle)
- 08:00 — check in at Ogle / Eugene F. Correia International Airport
- 09:00 — board the Cessna or Britten-Norman, depart for Kaieteur
- 10:00 — land at Kaieteur airstrip; brief introduction from your guide
- 10:30–12:30 — walk to three viewpoints: Johnson's, Boy Scout, Rainbow View
- 12:30–13:00 — lunch (boxed lunch if you have one, Kaieteur Guesthouse meal if you arranged it, or skip)
- 13:30 — board the return flight
- 14:30 — land back at Ogle; transfer to hotel
Option 2: Overland trek
For travellers who want to earn the view rather than fly in for two hours, the overland trek is the alternative. The classic route runs Georgetown → Linden (paved road) → Mahdia (rough dirt road) → Pamela Landing (boat launch) → up the Potaro River by boat to Tukeit camp → hike the "Oh My God" mountain trail up to the Kaieteur plateau. You sleep in jungle camps along the way, and you fly out from Kaieteur airstrip on day 4 or 5.
Currently offered by:
- Adventure Guianas — US$795 per person, 4–5 days, minimum 2 pax. Budget option. Transport, meals, refreshments, park entry, return flight included. adventureguianas.com
- Dagron Tours — from US$1,395 per person, 5 days / 4 nights, private group min 3. Premium option. Accom, internal flights, transfers, river/land transport, guides, all meals, beverages. dagron-tours.com
Fitness requirement is real — the "Oh My God" climb from Tukeit to the plateau is a steep ascent of roughly 800 m altitude in a few kilometres. Not for casual walkers.
Which airport: Ogle, not CJIA
Every commercial Kaieteur day tour departs from Eugene F. Correia International Airport (EYW / SYCJ) — known locally as Ogle. This is the smaller airport on the east coast of Georgetown, about 15–20 minutes from city centre. Do not go to Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA / GEO) — that's the international airport 40 km south, used for flights from North America and the Caribbean. There are no commercial Kaieteur tours from CJIA.
If you're arriving in Guyana on the day of your Kaieteur tour, plan to land at CJIA at least one night before — most operators won't accommodate a same-day connection.
What to bring
- Sturdy walking shoes (the trail to viewpoints is rocky and slippery in spots)
- Light rain jacket — Kaieteur creates its own micro-climate, and the spray is real
- Sunscreen and a wide-brim hat
- Mosquito repellent (especially the overland route)
- 1 litre of drinking water minimum
- Camera with telephoto if you have it — the falls are dramatic from a distance
- Cash (USD or GYD) for Kaieteur Guesthouse meal or souvenirs
- If overland: full multi-day jungle kit, sturdy hiking boots, change of clothes for river crossings
When to go
- Best months for visibility: September to mid-April (drier weather, clearer flights).
- Worst months: May–June and December–January peak rains can cause flight delays/cancellations.
- Volume of falls: Kaieteur has dramatic year-round water flow — there is no "dry season disappointment" risk like with Angel Falls.
- Best time of day: mid-morning arrival gives the best mist-and-rainbow conditions across the gorge.
Ready to book?
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