The Corona Falls

12-15 Days

If you’ve ever dreamt of visiting a tropical forest, then a visit to the Rewa River will fulfill this dream. Awaken in the dawn to the sound of Howler Monkeys and Macaws, spend the day searching for wildlife, hiking or fishing, and in the evenings sit around the camp fire with a rum and lime juice in hand listening to the guides telling the stories of their lives in the bush. During your time on the river, you will travel up an exquisitely beautiful waterway, lined with shimmering black rocks and pearly sandbanks. The forest and forest animals will escort you as you reach the crown of the river: Corona Falls.

The black waters of the Rewa River emanate in southern Guyana and flow north through primary rain forest to meet the white waters of the Rupununi River. The lower part of the river is wide, with high banks lined with white sand beaches. As one travels up the river it gets narrower and windier, with lots of rocky bars and small rapids. Lush pristine rainforest adorns the banks, stretching for hundreds of miles in each direction.

A hundred miles up the river is the Corona Falls, a crown of water that falls about 20 feet onto black rocks inscribed with petroglyphs by the hands of ancient indigenous people who once made this place their home.

The remoteness of the Rewa river yields excellent wildlife viewing: Tapir, Capybara, Brocket Deer, Peccaries, Ocelot, Jaguar, Anaconda and all 8 species of Guyana’s monkeys call this area home. Giant Otters, Black and Spectacled Caiman, and Giant River Turtles patrol the waters and bask on the sandbanks.

As the Rewa river transects primary forest, it is also rich in birdlife. Macaws, Toucans, Cotingas, and Parrots can be found here. Along the river banks, Tiger Herons, Bat Falcons, and Kingfishers stalk their prey. Deeper in the forests away form the river banks, a multitude of species can be found to keep the avid birdwatcher busy and entertained.

For those with sport fishing in mind, the Rewa is excellent. Peacock bass, Arawana, Tropical Pike, Payara, large Red Tailed catfish, Striped Tiger Catfish, Wolf fish and Pacu to name just a few thrive in these waters. Rewa is also known for its healthy population of Arapaima, the largest scaled fresh water fish in the world, which can be observed surfacing in many of the oxbow lakes and ponds.

Accommodation on this trip will consist of simple but comfortable tarpaulin and hammock camps built in strategic points overlooking the river. Our camp cooks varied and tasty dishes often featuring fresh fish barbecued over the fire. Life in the base camps is relaxing, laid back and peaceful, but we keep you busy looking for wildlife, exploring or fishing.

Daily activities are custom designed for your particular interests. For those keen on wildlife, nature and photography, we will take you out at dawn and late in the afternoons on river drifts, quietly gliding down the river, listening to the sounds of the forest and keeping our eyes peeled for Giant Otters, Caiman, Tapir, and Monkeys . We will identify the calls of the forest and stop at sandbanks and search for tracks which the crew will point out and identify for you.

Forest walks on trails is another activity, looking for snakes, lizards, monkeys, insects and birds. We will point out plants used for medicine or weaving, vines that produce drinking water, and trees used for construction or other useful applications. Night hikes on trails is another option for those with a keen interest in nocturnal species of frogs, snakes and small mammals.

Night drifts in a boat, spotlighting along the rivers edge, looking for nocturnal animals is another option. Silently drifting down the river, cloaked in darkness under the glittering milky way, we’ll hear the nocturnal sounds and calls of the forest. Species like Paca, Ocelot or Amazon Tree Boas, Frogs, Toads and Opossums, Sleeping Kingfishers and birds can often be seen and approached.

Of course for the sports fisherman we will focus more on fishing for the various species you desire. Having run trips to the the Rewa for over 20 years we know the fishing hotspots and techniques best suited to catch each species. You will find that guides are knowledgeable, helpful, and patient.