Nappi Village

Nappi Village

Guyana’s tourism product has been classified as natured based adventure tourism. In Guyana our tourism product has been classified by the Guyana Tourism Authority GTA as nature based adventure tourism, with this theme stamped on us one must assume that our the bulk of our tourism product is concentrated in the interior and one would be right. Many of the country’s major attractions are located in the rainforest. What is also located in the rainforest are our local villages, villages that hold a vast array of cultural and traditional heritage as well as beautiful natural attractions that compel visitors to come to Guyana.

The Nappi village in Guyana South America is one of the projects that is quickly rising to the forefront of community-based tourism in Guyana is the Maipaima Eco-Lodge at Nappi village. Nappi is a small but sprawling Amerindian village in the southern end of the North Rupununi Savannahs, about an hour’s drive from Lethem. The Makushi village is built in the foothills of the pristine Kanuku Mountains; according to Conservation International the range supports the highest biodiversity in Guyana and is one of the last remaining pristine Amazonian habitats.

MANAGEMENT: The Eco-Lodge was a gift to Nappi from the U.S.-based nonprofit organization, Foster Parrots Ltd. Foster Parrots is dedicated to rescuing and providing sanctuary for unwanted and abused captive parrots and other exotic bird species at their New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary. This belief led co-directors, Marc Johnson and Karen Windsor to start Project Guyana, an ecotourism-based conservation project at Nappi village.

The Eco-Lodge belongs to Nappi village and the ecotourism project is community run with all profits going directly back to the village.

ABOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT: The Maipaima Eco-Lodge is roughly 6 miles (10km) from the village at the base of the Kanuku Mountains and is surrounded by pristine primary rainforest. The lodge, built in a large opening in the trees that was once used for farming, consists of one main round benab that acts as a lounge/dining area, and two additional benabs that house four bedrooms. Everything was built in a traditional manner with wood and thatch and sits on stilts; the rooms are connected to the main benab via an elevated walkway.

ATTRACTIONS: Nappi is beginning to draw visitors because it is the only village with a lodge that provides access to the Kanuku Mountains, one of Guyana’s most pristine, but largely inaccessible, habitats. With an abundance of wildlife, waterfalls and unexplored terrain, they are a haven for ecotourism. The more energetic visitors to Nappi have the opportunity to visit Jordan Falls. At some 900 feet, these are spectacular falls, though, a series of steep steps and not a single drop like Kaeiture falls.

Even so Jordon stands as one of the most beautiful sites in Guyana, however less than 100 persons have seen it. A stay wouldn’t be complete without a village tour to see the balata artisans at work. There are a handful of artists working from their homes in the village, using open flames, old pots and traditional tools to practice their trade of carving figures and traditional Amerindian scenes from the natural latex.

Nappi is great for bird watching, animal spotting and nature photography. Some highlight species include healthy populations of Red-bellied, Scarlet, Red-and-green, and Blue-and-yellow Macaws, as well as the Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock and a rare Harpy Eagle. There is also a Capuchin bird that lurk near the lodge.

Done By: Alicia Williams