Rewa Village

Rewa is a Macushi village of a few hundred people where the Rewa river meets the Rupununi, and it runs an eco-lodge entirely as a community business, with the guides, cooks and managers all from the village. It is best known for arapaima, the giant air-breathing fish of the Amazon basin, which are caught here on fly and released under a research protocol; the village stopped commercial fishing for them and the population has recovered. Giant otter, black caiman and harpy eagle are also seen.

History

The name comes from the Wapichan word for the iliwa tree. In the 1940s and 1950s the Booker Brothers, McConnell and Company brought balata bleeding from the bullet wood tree to the area, which drew workers here until the industry dried up in the 1970s; in the dry season of 2015 the village helped the Iwokrama centre rescue and relocate 27 arapaima, and in 2018 Rewa Eco-Lodge was named the most outstanding community-owned tourism business by the Guyana Tourism Authority (Wikipedia, Rewa, Guyana).

What to look for

• The arapaima - giant fish caught on fly and released under a research protocol.
• The community lodge - a business run entirely by the village.
• The river system - the Rewa meeting the Rupununi through intact forest.
• The wildlife - giant otter, black caiman and harpy eagle in the surrounding area.

When to go

September to April is the dry season and the main window, with fishing best from October to April. The wet season from May to August raises the rivers and the lodge scales back. Booking well ahead is necessary.

Before you go

Getting there is several hours by boat after a flight or a long drive, and the cost adds up. Arapaima fishing is catch and release only and permits are limited. Accommodation is simple, with basic facilities.

Nearby

Annai is downstream, and Yupukari is west on the Rupununi.

Key facts