Amaila Falls

Amaila Falls drops the Kuribrong river in the Potaro highlands, a substantial fall in country with almost no population. It is best known outside Guyana as the site of a proposed hydroelectric project that has been planned, funded, abandoned and revived repeatedly since the 2000s without being built, and an access road was partly constructed for it. Whether the falls remain as they are depends on decisions still unresolved.

The landscape

• The falls - the Kuribrong dropping through remote highland forest.
• The Potaro highlands - forested plateau country with almost no settlement.
• The access road - the partly built route cut for the hydroelectric project.
• The river - the Kuribrong running through gorge country above and below.

When to go

September to April is drier and better for the roads. The wet season from May to August raises the river and makes the tracks impassable. Mornings are clearest.

Practical notes

Access is genuinely difficult and few operators run trips; the partly built road is in poor condition. There are no facilities anywhere near. The hydroelectric proposal remains unresolved and the situation on the ground can change.

Nearby

Mahdia is the nearest town, and Kaieteur is south.

Key facts