
Boa Vista to Georgetown: The Brazil-Guyana Border Crossing
The Bonfim crossing from Roraima into Guyana's Lethem — and the road north to Georgetown — is one of South America's least-used border crossings and most unusual overland journeys
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Bonfim-Lethem border crossing
The Bonfim-Lethem Crossing over the Tacutu River connects Brazil's Portuguese-speaking Amazon with Guyana's English-speaking Caribbean culture; the contrast between the two small border towns is extraordinary
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Guyana's Rupununi Savanna
The Rupununi Savanna across the border from Roraima mirrors the Brazilian Lavrado — the same grassland ecosystem, giant anthills and tepui horizons continue across the political border
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Georgetown: Caribbean Amazon City
Guyana's capital Georgetown - 12 hours by bus from Lethem - is a wooden colonial city with Dutch canals, Caribbean culture and a hinterland of intact Amazon rainforest; one of South America's most unusual capitals
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Amerindian Communities of the Border
The Makushi and Wapishana Indian communities live on both sides of the border between Brazil and Guyana - their societies and traditions predate the border and they cross freely for family and trade
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Road to Venezuela
The road north from Boa Vista to the Venezuelan border at Pacaraima is the main land link to Venezuela; the crossing is used by Venezuelan migrants and by travelers en route to Gran Sabana and Angel Falls
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Boa Vista as Frontier City
Boa Vista serves as a service town for the Venezuela-Guyana-Roraima triangle — Venezuelan migrants, indigenous communities and the garimpeiros' gold mining economy converge in Brazil's northernmost capital