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Iwokrama Canopy Walkway

Simply said, the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway is one of the best ways to explore Guyana’s rainforests. A normal stroll through any rainforest is an enlightening experience – the dense moisture, the trickles of sunlight, the towering trees, the sounds of the Screaming Piha – but to go from walking along the forest floor to being suspended amongst the canopy provides an unmatched vantage point. At the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, visitors can have the full experience: jungle trails, overnight rainforest accommodations and an easily accessible walkway through the trees that provides excellent birdwatching.

The Iwokrama Canopy Walkway is a series of connected suspension bridges and viewing decks that reach nearly 30 meters in height and 155 meters in length, all in the mid and upper canopy of the Iwokrama Forest. Owned by Iwokrama International Centre and managed by Community Tourism Services (CATS; a partnership between the Makushi Amerindian community of Surama, Rock View Lodge, Wilderness Explorers and Iwokrama) the Walkway was built using state of the art construction techniques that allow trees to grow normally by using adjustable cables and braces throughout the support structure. It is the only canopy walkway for tourists in the Guiana Shield.

Birdwatchers are starting to increase their presence in Guyana and time and again they cite the Canopy Walkway as a main highlight of their trip, and for good reason. In the morning, you can enjoy the dawn chorus from nearly 100 feet in the air as Short-tailed Nighthawks settle in for the day, Swifts take to the sky, White-throated and Channel-billed Toucans yodel, and Barred Forest Falcons call. Other highlight species that can be spotted include: Painted Parakeet, Rufous-throated Sapphire, Guianan Puffbird, Green Aracari, Waved Woodpecker, Pygmy Antwren, Guianan Streaked-Antwren, Dusky Purpletuft, Purple-breasted Cotinga, Guianan Toucanet, Crimson Fruit-crow, Pompadour Cotinga, Buff-cheeked Greenlet, Caica Parrots, and a host of crown specialists.

During afternoon birding, watch flocks of birds travel past at eye level while spotting for Paradise Jacamar, White-necked Puffbird, Yellow-throated Woodpecker, and Black-tailed and Black-crowned Tityras. As dark falls on the Canopy Walkway, look for the elusive White-winged Potoo.

Along the jungle trails near the walkway, species include White-plumed Antbird, Ferruginous-backed Antbird, Spot-tailed Antwren, Black-throated Antshrike, Todds’ Antwren, Ash-winged Antwen, Crimson Fruitcrow, Red-and-black Grosbeak, McConnell’s Flycatcher, Plain Xenops and Wedge-billed Woodcreeper. Near the Atta Rainforest Lodge, the usually timid Black Curassow can often be seen feeding in the clearing.

As the Canopy Walkway is situated in the heart of the Iwokrama Reserve, its surroundings consist of some of the world’s most species-rich rainforest. Other wildlife that is regularly seen includes Red Howler Monkeys, Spider Monkeys, Capuchin Monkeys and Agouti. Many jungle cats (including Jaguar and Puma), Giant Armadillo and Tapir also live in the area. And besides being rich in butterflies and orchids, the forest around the walkway also contains some endangered and protected species of flora, including the Bullet Wood tree, Greenheart tree, and the Waramaden tree, which is endemic in Guyana only to the Iwokrama Forest.

To experience the canopy at both peak times – dawn and dusk – and even during darkness when the many of the forest creatures are most active, consider spending the night at Atta Rainforest Lodge, which is located 750m from the walkway. Atta is the Makushi word for hammock and currently this is the type of lodging on offer. But shortly work will begin to convert the existing hammock accommodation to eight self-contained rooms that should be operational by September. Presently, there are shelters for hanging hammocks, four beautiful bathrooms with outdoor showers and a main building housing the dining area and Parrot-A-Fly Bar.

For more information on the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, visit www.iwokramacanopywalkway.com. Bookings can be made via email (info@iwokramacanopywalkway.com) or care of Wilderness Explorers, 176 Middle Street, Cummingsburg, Guyana; 592-227-7698.