Orealla

Orealla sits on a bluff above the Corentyne river in the far east of Guyana, an Arawak and Warrau village of a few hundred people reached only by a four-hour boat journey upriver from Skeldon. There is no road. The village works in farming, fishing and timber, and the sand cliffs along the river below it are a local landmark. Visits are arranged through the village council and staying means a community guesthouse or a hammock.

Background

Also known as Orealla Mission, the community lies on the Courantyne River at an altitude of 11 metres, approximately 33 miles south of Crabwood Creek, with Epira 11 miles further south. The Surinamese village of Apoera stands 15 miles to the south-east, on the far bank. Access is by boat or by plane only, and small ocean-going vessels can travel up the Courantyne as far as the first rapids at Orealla. Most people live from subsistence agriculture and logging, and the village has a contract with the logging firm Barama Company. The Guyanese novelist Roy Heath titled a 1984 novel Orealla, and Clark Accord's novel Between Apoera and Oreala appeared in 2005.

Source: Wikipedia, "Orealla"

What to look for

• The river journey - four hours up the Corentyne from Skeldon, the only way in.
• The bluff setting - the village on high ground above the river.
• The sand cliffs - pale banks along the Corentyne below the village.
• The forest - dense woodland running back from the river.

When to go

September to April is drier and the boats run more reliably. The wet seasons raise the river considerably. Boats leave on a limited schedule and missing one means waiting.

Practical notes

There is no road and the boat schedule is limited; getting stuck for a day or two is normal. Accommodation is a community guesthouse or hammock space. Permission from the village council should be arranged in advance.

Nearby

Skeldon is downriver, and New Amsterdam is west along the coast.

Key facts