Boa Vista to Georgetown: The Brazil-Guyana Border Crossing
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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

  1. 1

    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

  2. 2

    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

  3. 3

    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

  4. 4

    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

  5. 5

    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

  6. 6

    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

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