Is It Safe to Travel to Guyana in 2026?

Guyana - Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Level 3: Reconsider Travel
↓ Deteriorating

Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State

⚠ Reconsider Travel

The U.S. State Department recommends reconsidering travel to Guyana due to elevated risks. Key factors: crime.

Guyana, officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern coast of South America. Georgetown is the capital of Guyana and is also the country's largest city.

Is It Safe to Travel to Guyana in 2026?

Guyana is currently rated Level 3Reconsider Travel by the U.S. Department of State. Violent crime, including murder and armed robbery, is common, especially at night. Local police often lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.

Key concerns cited in the advisory:

  • crime

The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: violent crime, including murder and armed robbery, is common, local police often lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.

Traveler Impact

Solo Travelershigh

Solo travelers face significant risks from violent crime, particularly armed robbery, especially at night in urban areas like Georgetown.

Business Travelersmoderate

Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to crime but can mitigate risks by staying in secure accommodations and using trusted transportation services.

Familieshigh

Families with children should be cautious as violent crime poses a serious threat, and healthcare access outside major cities is limited, increasing risks for children.

Remote Workersmoderate

Remote workers can find reliable internet in urban areas but should be cautious about personal safety and avoid traveling alone at night.

Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Guyana.

Safety and Stability Ratings

Threat Severity (0-10 scale)

Overall
Crime
Terrorism
Kidnapping

Guyana has an overall threat severity of 6.7 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 8.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.

Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)

Political Stability

Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.

28%
Rule of Law

Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.

28%
Control of Corruption

Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.

26%
Government Effectiveness

Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.

21%
Regulatory Quality

Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.

16%
Voice & Accountability

Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.

43%

Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).

Freedom Status: Free — scored 73/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →

Entry Requirements and Health

Entry Information

Visa

Check embassy for details

Currency

Guyanese Dollar (GYD)

Language

English

Vaccinations

Recommended:

COVID-19
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Typhoid
Yellow Fever

⚠ Malaria Risk: low

Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine

Active health notices:

  • watch
    Global Dengue: Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites.
  • alert
    Global Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.

Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.

Common Questions About Traveling to Guyana

What is the current travel advisory level for Guyana?
Guyana is rated Level 3 — Reconsider Travel by the U.S. Department of State as of 2026. Key concerns include crime.
Is it safe to travel to Guyana right now?
Guyana carries elevated risk with a Level 3 advisory. The State Department recommends reconsidering travel to this destination.
Do I need a visa to visit Guyana?
Visa requirements for Guyana vary by nationality and purpose of travel. Check with the embassy for current entry requirements.
What vaccines do I need for Guyana?
Recommended vaccinations include COVID-19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid. Consult a travel health professional at least 4-6 weeks before departure.
Is Guyana safe for solo travelers?
high
How bad is crime in Guyana?
Guyana has a crime severity rating of 8.0 out of 10. Crime is a significant concern. Avoid displaying valuables and stay in well-traveled areas.

More Guyana Data

Guyana Freedom Score

Free — 73/100 on the Freedom House index.

Guyana Political Stability

Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.

Interactive Advisory Map

View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.

Official State Dept. Page →

Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.

Travel Advisory API

Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.

Travel Risk Reports

On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.