Twenty days into the deep south of Guyana by old army truck, dugout canoe, and on foot. A cultural and wilderness expedition to Masakenari, one of the most remote Indigenous communities in South America, operated in direct partnership with the Wai Wai people.
The Wai Wai & Kanashen Amazon Expedition is a twenty-day journey from Georgetown to Masakenari Village, deep inside the Kanashen Protected Area in Guyana’s far south. This is one of the most remote journeys we offer: long overland travel, river systems, dugout canoes, jungle camps, village life, and days spent moving through country that very few visitors ever reach.
The expedition begins with a flight south to Lethem before the team loads vehicles and continues across open savannah, remote tracks, and forest roads toward Parabara. From there, the journey becomes dependent on season, river level, access, and local conditions. Some sections may be completed by old army truck, others by dugout canoe through narrow river systems. There is no polished version of this route. The travel itself is the expedition.
For several days, you move deeper into the forest, camping on riverbanks, cooking over open fire, washing in the river, and settling into the rhythm of expedition life. Scarlet macaws cross overhead, giant otters may fish beside the boats, and tracks along the mud remind you that this is still wild country.
At Masakenari, you spend time with the Wai Wai community, learning about forest farms, traditional fishing, bow-making, and daily life in one of Guyana’s most culturally distinct Indigenous villages. This is not a staged cultural show. It is a rare visit built on partnership, respect, and the fact that you have travelled the same routes the community uses themselves.
The return journey retraces the forest and river systems back toward the Rupununi. By the time you step back into Lethem and eventually Georgetown, you will have crossed one of the least-visited corners of Guyana — and understood why the journey to get there is what makes it unforgettable.
Choose your departure below and request the full itinerary. A 50% deposit confirms your booking, with the remaining balance due 60 days before departure. Have questions before booking? Get in touch with us or book a call with Anders.
Bookings are confirmed in writing and subject to The Wild Tales Terms & Conditions.
Six reasons this expedition earns its name.
A glimpse into the terrain, skills, and moments that define this course.
“The Wai Wai expedition is not something you can recreate by flying into a lodge and staying for a few nights. The distance matters. The trucks, the river camps, the dugout canoes, the delays, the heat, the mud, all of it prepares you to understand where you are going. When you finally reach Masakenari, you don’t arrive as a tourist who has simply been delivered there. You arrive having travelled through the country that connects the Wai Wai people to the outside world. That changes the way you experience the village, the forest, and the people who welcome you.”
Expedition Leader and Owner
From first inquiry to first night in the jungle, we prepare you for everything so the wild can teach you the rest.
Arrival in Georgetown
Arrive in Georgetown and transfer to the group hotel. Meet your expedition leader and fellow participants for a full briefing, kit check, and final preparation before travelling into the interior.
Flight to the Interior
Fly south across Guyana’s rainforest to Lethem. After landing, the team organises equipment and loads supplies before beginning the overland journey by 4×4 or army truck toward the deep south.
Parabara Village
Spend the day in Parabara, a remote southern Rupununi village near the edge of Wai Wai territory. This stop allows the group to rest, adjust, organise logistics, and prepare for the journey deeper into the forest.
Into the Wilderness
The main expedition phase begins. Depending on river levels and access conditions, the team travels by dugout canoe, truck, or a combination of both. Nights are spent in jungle camps or riverbank camps. Expect long travel days, open-fire cooking, river bathing, wildlife signs, and a growing sense of distance from the outside world.
Masakenari Village & Wai Wai Community
Arrive in Masakenari, deep inside the Kanashen Protected Area. Spend several days with the Wai Wai community, visiting forest farms, learning bow-making and traditional fishing, observing daily life, and taking part in activities guided by the community.
Return Through Forest And River
Begin the return journey through the same wilderness systems. As with all real expeditions, timing depends on river conditions, weather, and access. These days are often where the journey settles into its deepest rhythm — camp, river, fire, movement, repeat.
Return To Georgetown
Fly back north to Georgetown. Final night in the capital and farewell evening with the group.
Departure
Depart Guyana or continue onward travel.
Everything you need to know before booking your adventure
Everything you need to know before booking your adventure
Everything you need to know before booking your adventure
Everything you need to know before booking your adventure
Yes. Our guests are part of the expedition team rather than passengers.
Exactly what this involves depends on the expedition, but you should expect to participate in everyday camp life. This can include setting up and breaking down camp, collecting firewood and water, helping with group equipment and contributing to the practical jobs required to keep the expedition moving.
Our guides and local team manage the expedition and the specialist work, but everyone contributes according to their ability.
For us, this is an important part of expedition travel. You are not simply watching an expedition take place around you; you are part of it.
Not necessarily. Many of our expeditions require no specialist technical training or previous expedition experience.
However, some expeditions are physically demanding and may involve long trekking days, difficult terrain, paddling, carrying equipment or extended periods in remote environments. A smaller number may have specific experience or physical requirements.
Every expedition is different, which is why we provide a difficulty level and explain the physical requirements on the individual expedition page.
If you are uncertain about your experience or fitness, contact us. We can give you a realistic assessment of whether a particular expedition is suitable for you.
For much of an expedition, the rainforest becomes our home.
We primarily sleep in hammocks beneath tarps, either in individual camps or shared expedition camps depending on the journey. Some itineraries also include nights in indigenous communities, lodges or other simple accommodation along the route.
Meals are prepared in camp, water is collected locally and treated where necessary, and daily life revolves around travelling, establishing camp, cooking, maintaining equipment and preparing for the next stage of the journey.
It is a simple way of living, but one that quickly becomes part of the expedition experience.
Yes. Our expeditions are not luxury tours.
Depending on the itinerary, you should be comfortable sleeping in hammocks, bathing in rivers and creeks, using basic forest toilets, getting wet and muddy, and living without many of the conveniences you have at home.
That doesn’t mean we deliberately make things uncomfortable. We establish functional camps, eat properly and carry the equipment needed to operate effectively in the jungle. But when you travel into genuinely remote areas, simplicity is part of the experience.
A willingness to adapt is often more important than previous expedition experience.
Our expeditions take many different forms depending on the objective and the area we are trying to reach.
Some involve multi-day overland journeys through rainforest and mountains, while others travel deep into the interior by river, canoe, 4×4 or a combination of different forms of transport. Objectives can range from reaching remote waterfalls and mountains to exploring little-visited river systems, indigenous territories and areas of historical or archaeological interest.
What they share is that these are genuine journeys into remote Guyana. The route, logistics and challenges of reaching the destination are an important part of the expedition itself.
Yes. We provide a significant amount of the specialist equipment needed for our expeditions.
Depending on the journey, this can include hammocks, tarps, rucksacks, dry bags, machetes and other group and expedition equipment. This means you do not need to purchase an entire expedition setup before joining us.
You will receive a detailed equipment list for your particular expedition explaining exactly what we supply and what you need to bring personally.
If you already own equipment you particularly like using, you are welcome to discuss bringing it with us. We can advise whether it is suitable for the conditions in Guyana.
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Our team knows these jungles inside and out. We’re happy to help you find the perfect adventure based on your interests, fitness level, and timeframe. Every journey is unique—let’s craft yours together.
To request more information about this trip, fill in the form below and we will send you a PDF version. We look forward to hearing from you.
