Arawaks and Caribs were the first known tribes to inhabit Guyana. The peaceful Arawak populated the coast, while the Carib lived in the rainforest, as many still do. Existing tribes include the Wapishiana, Akawaio, Macushi, Patamona, and the Wai Wai. Anthropologists believe these peoples may have originated farther inland in South America and populated Guyana during territorial expansion.
Colonial Guyana
Columbus sighted Guyana in 1498, but did not drop anchor. Instead, the first European settlers were the Dutch. Though they established fertile plantations on reclaimed land, the English took command in 1814, in one aftereffect of the Napoleonic Wars.
In 1831, three separate settlements united into British Guiana. Laborers were imported for the plantations; their descendants would bring Guyana great diversity. A third of the modern population descends from African slaves brought to grow sugar. Nearly half comes from East Indian laborers imported after slavery ended. Perhaps 10% of the population is Amerindian, surviving mostly in the hinterlands. Other ethnic groups include descendants of British, Portuguese, and Chinese immigrants.
After World War II, the colonial world ended. As Guyana moved towards independence, two factions formed, one of Indo-Guyanese and one of Afro-Guyanese. Independence came in 1970, though Guyana remains a Commonwealth nation.
The staff at Adventure Life made planning my family's trip to the Galapagos Islands as easy as possible. They listened to what we were hoping to experience and made thoughtful suggestions about how to accomplish our vacation goals while meeting the needs of travelers ages 17-76! They patiently answered questions and follow up questions in the months leading up to the trip. They helped us trouble shoot and customize the trip in every way possible. The logistics involved in traveling from Boston to the Galapagos are innumerable. The Adventure Life staff helped us arrange every detail and the team they assembled in the Galapagos was tremendous. I have never done a trip this big before and after working with Adventure Life this time--would not hesitate one second in working with them again.
Jennifer Howard Schroeder
1 day ago
Kevin got right on our request and had us booked within the week
Linda Cummings
2 days ago
The info on the website was laid out very well. I did some comparisons with other tours and found Adventure Life met a lot of what I wanted in an Antarctica trip at the cheapest price. Requested a quote on Claudia contacted me right away. She answered a lot of questions the I had via email even though she offered to discuss via phone call. I’m more of an email person so appreciated how she accommodated that and answered all my questions. And when I was ready to book, she quickly got the ball rolling with getting our spots reserved on the trip my friend and I wanted. Thanks again, Claudia!
Hazel Araza
2 days ago
(1) great information on the website and throughout all the "materials." (2) Jane Packer is great: knowledgeable, responsive, takes a personal interest and tone, seems to care about the customer as a person not a sale.
Larry Bethune
2 days ago
great people doing a wonderful job to make our voyages happen.