Cheddi Jagan International Airport sits 41 kilometers south of Georgetown on the eastern bank of the Demerara River. The airport handles all international flights. Eugene F. Correia International Airport operates within Georgetown for domestic routes and limited regional connections. No train network exists in Guyana. Road transfer from Cheddi Jagan to Georgetown takes between 45 minutes and 90 minutes depending on traffic conditions on the East Bank Demerara highway. Minibuses depart from outside the terminal building when full, with no fixed schedule. Private taxis require negotiation before departure, as meters are not standard.
The Guyanese dollar is the sole legal tender. The official currency code is GYD. Banknotes circulate in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000, and 5000 dollars. Coins exist for 1, 5, and 10 dollars but rarely appear in transactions. The Bank of Guyana issues all currency. Exchange rates against the US dollar have remained relatively stable between 200 and 215 GYD per USD since 2015. Cambios, or licensed money changers, operate throughout Georgetown and offer rates typically one to three percent better than commercial banks. Banks include Republic Bank Guyana Limited, Demerara Bank, and Citizens Bank, with branches concentrated in Georgetown, New Amsterdam, and Linden. Most bank branches open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 to 14:00, Friday from 8:00 to 15:30.
ATMs accepting international cards exist primarily in Georgetown, with Scotiabank and Republic Bank machines providing the widest compatibility with Visa and Mastercard networks. Daily withdrawal limits range from 100,000 to 200,000 GYD depending on the issuing bank. Cash remains the dominant payment method throughout Guyana. Credit card acceptance is limited to hotels, larger restaurants, and some tour operators in Georgetown. Debit cards issued by local banks work at supermarkets and pharmacies displaying the Guyana National Switch badge. Mobile payment systems have minimal penetration outside business-to-business transactions.
Power supply operates at 110 volts and 60 hertz, identical to the United States and Canada. Type A and Type B plugs are standard, with two flat parallel pins or two flat pins plus one round grounding pin. British-style Type G sockets appear in older buildings constructed during colonial administration. Power outages occur regularly in Georgetown and coastal towns, with frequency increasing during rainy seasons when the grid experiences strain. Many establishments operate diesel generators as backup. Hotels in Georgetown typically maintain uninterrupted supply through generator systems.
Telecommunications infrastructure concentrates along the coastal strip. Digicel and GTT provide mobile network coverage, with 4G LTE available in Georgetown, Linden, and New Amsterdam. Signal quality deteriorates rapidly outside these urban centers. The Rupununi Savannah and interior rainforest regions have no cellular coverage except in specific settlements. GTT holds the monopoly on landline telephony and fixed broadband internet. Fiber connections reach Georgetown and parts of the East Coast Demerara corridor. Internet speeds in the capital range from 10 to 100 Mbps for residential and business connections. Rural areas rely on satellite internet where any connection exists. Tourist SIM cards are available at the airport and in Georgetown shops, requiring presentation of a passport. A prepaid SIM with one gigabyte of data costs approximately 1000 GYD.
Tap water in Georgetown comes from surface water treatment plants drawing from the Demerara River. The Guyana Water Incorporated manages the public supply system. Water quality varies by neighborhood and treatment plant capacity. Boiling water for one minute is recommended before drinking. Bottled water is widely available in supermarkets and shops throughout coastal areas, with local brands including Natura and I-Cool. A 1.5-liter bottle costs between 200 and 300 GYD. Interior regions often lack treated water systems, relying on wells, rivers, and rainwater collection.
The public healthcare system operates through Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and regional hospitals in New Amsterdam, Linden, Bartica, Lethem, and Mabaruma. Private medical facilities include St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and Woodlands Hospital in Georgetown. Medical infrastructure outside the capital is limited. Doctors trained at the University of Guyana Faculty of Health Sciences or abroad staff urban hospitals. Prescription medications available in Georgetown pharmacies include common antibiotics, antimalarials, and chronic disease treatments. Remote areas lack pharmacy access. Medical evacuation to Trinidad or the United States occurs for serious conditions requiring specialist intervention or intensive care capacity exceeding local resources.
Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for entry from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. The requirement applies to travelers arriving from South America, Africa, or transiting through affected countries. Immigration officers request the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis on arrival. Malaria transmission occurs in all interior regions, with Plasmodium vivax accounting for most cases and Plasmodium falciparum present at lower rates. The Ministry of Health recommends antimalarial prophylaxis for visitors traveling beyond coastal areas. Dengue fever transmission occurs year-round in urban and rural settings. The Aedes aegypti mosquito that transmits dengue breeds in standing water and bites during daylight hours.