Baganara Island Resort
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About
#1 of 2 hotels in Bartica
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Pre-eminent among the three hundred and sixty-five islands in the mighty Essequibo, with its own 2,500ft airstrip, Baganara is this wonderful little paradise with one hundred and eighty-seven acres of lush green foliage and tropical flowers. Five miles South of Bartica, it is the getaway to the un-spoilt rainforest of Guyana and the junction where the great Essequibo and Mazaruni Rivers meet.
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Property amenities
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Canoeing
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Conference facilities
Meeting rooms
Baggage storage
Wifi
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast in the room
Snack bar
Special diet menus
Billiards
Darts
Fishing
Karaoke
Table tennis
Concierge
Gift shop
Shared lounge / TV area
Private check-in / check-out
Ironing service
Housekeeping
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Romantic
Languages Spoken
English, French, Spanish, Polish
Location
Essequibo River, Bartica Guyana
Getting there
2 Attractions
within 10 kilometers
Reviews
Traveller rating
- 38
- 13
- 4
- 2
- 1
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Detailed Reviews
We visited for a few hours It's manacure lawns and well kept blend well with the property . The island boosts a swimming pool for day and night visitors nd is some distance away from the house. The rooms looks okay. While we did not stay overnight, we did have a peek at the rooms. The nature walk was in a swampy area across from the main buildings. The beach volley ball and other on island activities were welcomed.
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Date of stay: December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Baganara is hidden gem. Excellent service and excellent local dishes and a very good service. The resort is situated on its own island, with plenty of open spaces to wander and explore. The beach is sandy and nice for strolling too. I wouldn't dare to try swimming in the muddy river, but they are now building a pool. The property has various activities listed and the guides do a great job.
Getting to Baganara is an adventure in itself, and i would suggest using the river route.
Getting to Baganara is an adventure in itself, and i would suggest using the river route.
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Date of stay: March 2020
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow! A great staff and facilities! It felt like they rolled out the red carpet for us! Everyone there was beyond friendly and a joy to be around. Both nights they prepared a fabulous meal in romantic settings. Beautiful lodge on the river and a great place to soak up Guyana. Highly recommend!
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Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beautiful views, excellent food - an ideal place to chill as a couple, solo, with friends or family. Paul was an excellent host and made us feel right at home. We had a great time exploring nearby wildlife by boat as well as chilling in a hammock reading. A great contrast to Georgetown and entry point into the interior. A must see whilst in Guyana!
Gavin & Lizzie
Gavin & Lizzie
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
• We were a group of 10 and were the only guests on the island.
Firstly, it should not be called a “Resort”. It is about the furthest accommodation I have ever been at that has been billed as such. At most it should be given a 1 or 2 star rating. If you want to see what a real resort is, then I suggest you need only look across the Caribbean to Mexico or a Sandals or Beaches at one of the islands.
• We were “greeted” by the so-called Manager who was wearing a filthy white t-shirt which he continued to wear for 3 days. He mumbled something about a “welcome drink” and we were given tiny glasses of watered down lemonade ? – it was more like water with a tiny squeeze of lime. One mouthful and it was done and we were not offered refills.
• We never had WIFI Internet at all for the 3 days. Were told that someone had come to look at it, but didn’t know what was wrong.
• The first thing we noticed is that you had some beautiful plants in pots but they all looked dead and sure enough, the soil was bone dry. We pointed this out that they needed watering and were met with blank stares – we ended up filling our water bottles one at a time and watering some of them ourselves as it is a shame to let them die ….
• We tried sitting on the balcony outside our rooms, but one of the vents in the roof did not have a wire mesh like the others and it became obvious this was where the bats were living and we were being dive bombed non-stop, so after 15 minutes gave up and went inside.
• When we went up to our rooms, as soon as you entered one of them had a sour and stink mildew smell that could not be missed (not just musty like the others) and there was no way anyone could sleep in it. We had to trudge over to the main building and ask that we be moved to another room. Although there were no other guests, it took over half an hour by the time we went over to the main building, found someone to speak to and then waited about 20 minutes to get it changed. All the time, you housekeeping staff was making faces and shrugging shoulders and making their displeasure at having to do this very plain to see. These rooms should have been aired out during the day. It’s not as though this was a last minute reservation.
• I would have thought that there would be at least a basic intercom system between the buildings, so we could call instead of running up and down stairs and across the lawn.
• After having spent the day at Kaietuer and Orindiuk, we were hoping for a nice shower to clean up before dinner. What a fiasco that was – no water at all in one room and again another trudge back to the main building to get someone to look at it and to be told that there was a” blockage”. It did start working after a lot of hitting and hammering. When we turned on the shower in another room it spewed out rusty brown water and we had to let it run for a while to get it cleared up. Does your housekeeping staff not look at these basics? We were given soap, but no other toiletries – some shampoo would have been nice – again this is not what is expected of a “resort”.
• On the second day of our stay while we had been out all day, went back to the rooms at 5 to get changed for dinner. Your Housekeeper met us at one of the rooms asking if we wanted ‘housekeeping service’? While we were totally surprised by this and asked her what she meant, she further asked if we wanted the room made up and we said yes and would have expected that it would have been done at some point while we were away for the day. Her reply and body language was downright rude and unprofessional – “Well nobody told me I had to clean the room”. We told her that it was not our place to tell her that and why had she cleaned the other three rooms and not this one?
• One room had a TV - the others did not. We were told that they couldn’t fit – what a joke ! – there was empty wall space that they could have been mounted on. One room had a floor fan and when we asked why the other rooms didn’t – again were met with a blank stare. However we did insist that we did want these and did get them. When we went to open the windows to let some fresh air and breeze through, found without exception that all the screens were ripped which would have let mosquitoes and bugs in. When we pointed this out, they were replaced with new ones. We also did end up having to use surgical tape to mend one of them and stuff a towel in one. Again, why did we have to ask for this???
Dangerous ceiling fan in one room - when we turned it on it started spinning out of control and looked like it was going to fall out of the ceiling.
• Your main building was even more terrible. All the chair cushions were stained and dirty – disgusting to look at and even more so that we had to use them. The one deck of playing cards was washed out and dirty and grimy. Our hands were filthy after one round and we ended up using our own.
The filthy toilets with no hand soap or paper towels in the main building that was accessed by going past filthy mops and other rubbish piled up near the kitchen. They were not cleaned for the duration of our stay.
• The two table tennis rackets had the rubber missing in places. The lighting was so bad that when we were playing, the ball bounced off and even though we brought out our own torches, couldn’t find it. We asked for a replacement ball only to be told there were none. Come on people – can’t we even get a ping pong ball?
• The billiard table was listing at a 30 degree angle and again asked them to fix it - which was done to some extent. However the felt is faded, stained and torn up with the table exposed underneath.
• The dining room table cloth was not ironed and the completely wrinkled.
• The food was okay – but nothing spectacular. Just routine and mundane with no presentation like in the past.
• The waitress, while very pleasant, only brought out 2 plates at a time. So by the time the last two of ten came out, the first two people were either done eating or their meals were cold.
• Flies were there by the hundreds - there should have been sticky paper or electronic zappers in use, but instead we were covering our plates with napkins, taking a quick bite and covering up again.
• We asked for rum and cokes at the bar, to be told there was no coke available. After a while, one person in our party had a brainwave and went back to ask if Pepsi was available and were told yes. Now, could the bartender not have suggested that instead ? (We did get coke in from Bartica the following day). As well, the bartender never once came to pick up empty glasses and bottles – we were doing it ourselves to clear the card and other tables. It would have been even too much to expect that she would come once an hour to ask if we wanted a drink !!! I’m not suggesting that she come very few minutes but surely that’s what she is being paid to do. All she did was sit there at the bar the entire time.
• When we had dinner on the beach one evening which was a nice touch (note that we had not requested this), there was no lighting on the table. It was pitch dark and when we asked for some light so we could see what we were eating, again were told that they had nothing to accommodate that. Then eventually 2 candles were brought out but they served no purpose for the length of table we had, so we ended up digging some of the candles out of the sand and putting them on the table ourselves.
• Torches to make our way back from the main club house to the residence area were unavailable, so we were feeling our way cautiously in the dark.
• When it rained, we asked for umbrellas to get back from the main building to the residence and we were given 2 small and 2 large – all for a group of 10 !!
• To crown it all, we paid you additional fees for the boat ride to Bartica. We confirmed our departure time of 2:00 p.m. with Lincoln and at 2:00 he showed up with a boat that had no covering although it had been raining all that morning and he suggested that we wait to see if the rain would stop. I asked if you didn’t have a back-up plan with a covered boat as we didn’t want to get wet or our luggage either for that matter. After blank stares and more waiting around, he called on his cell phone and said it would take at least half an hour to get a boat. When I enquired why so long in that Bartica was a 10 minute ride, he said that he would have to go and pick it up. We had on-going transportation arrangements waiting for us at Bartica that we were in danger of losing, so had no choice but to get on the boat and hunker down soaking wet under some smelly pieces of rubber tarps. To add insult to injury, we saw one of your female staff with one of the big umbrellas get on the boat with us – she stayed beautifully covered and dry!!
• I have never encountered this sort of treatment and especially at the exorbitant rates that we paid. As you can see, there is not one redeeming feature to this place. Every little basic thing that should have been automatically provided, was like an uphill battle to get. We stopped even bothering to ask for anything as it was painfully clear that your staff are lazy and incompetent and just don’t care.
• We reached the point where we were desperate to leave the island for what should have been a great family vacation.
Firstly, it should not be called a “Resort”. It is about the furthest accommodation I have ever been at that has been billed as such. At most it should be given a 1 or 2 star rating. If you want to see what a real resort is, then I suggest you need only look across the Caribbean to Mexico or a Sandals or Beaches at one of the islands.
• We were “greeted” by the so-called Manager who was wearing a filthy white t-shirt which he continued to wear for 3 days. He mumbled something about a “welcome drink” and we were given tiny glasses of watered down lemonade ? – it was more like water with a tiny squeeze of lime. One mouthful and it was done and we were not offered refills.
• We never had WIFI Internet at all for the 3 days. Were told that someone had come to look at it, but didn’t know what was wrong.
• The first thing we noticed is that you had some beautiful plants in pots but they all looked dead and sure enough, the soil was bone dry. We pointed this out that they needed watering and were met with blank stares – we ended up filling our water bottles one at a time and watering some of them ourselves as it is a shame to let them die ….
• We tried sitting on the balcony outside our rooms, but one of the vents in the roof did not have a wire mesh like the others and it became obvious this was where the bats were living and we were being dive bombed non-stop, so after 15 minutes gave up and went inside.
• When we went up to our rooms, as soon as you entered one of them had a sour and stink mildew smell that could not be missed (not just musty like the others) and there was no way anyone could sleep in it. We had to trudge over to the main building and ask that we be moved to another room. Although there were no other guests, it took over half an hour by the time we went over to the main building, found someone to speak to and then waited about 20 minutes to get it changed. All the time, you housekeeping staff was making faces and shrugging shoulders and making their displeasure at having to do this very plain to see. These rooms should have been aired out during the day. It’s not as though this was a last minute reservation.
• I would have thought that there would be at least a basic intercom system between the buildings, so we could call instead of running up and down stairs and across the lawn.
• After having spent the day at Kaietuer and Orindiuk, we were hoping for a nice shower to clean up before dinner. What a fiasco that was – no water at all in one room and again another trudge back to the main building to get someone to look at it and to be told that there was a” blockage”. It did start working after a lot of hitting and hammering. When we turned on the shower in another room it spewed out rusty brown water and we had to let it run for a while to get it cleared up. Does your housekeeping staff not look at these basics? We were given soap, but no other toiletries – some shampoo would have been nice – again this is not what is expected of a “resort”.
• On the second day of our stay while we had been out all day, went back to the rooms at 5 to get changed for dinner. Your Housekeeper met us at one of the rooms asking if we wanted ‘housekeeping service’? While we were totally surprised by this and asked her what she meant, she further asked if we wanted the room made up and we said yes and would have expected that it would have been done at some point while we were away for the day. Her reply and body language was downright rude and unprofessional – “Well nobody told me I had to clean the room”. We told her that it was not our place to tell her that and why had she cleaned the other three rooms and not this one?
• One room had a TV - the others did not. We were told that they couldn’t fit – what a joke ! – there was empty wall space that they could have been mounted on. One room had a floor fan and when we asked why the other rooms didn’t – again were met with a blank stare. However we did insist that we did want these and did get them. When we went to open the windows to let some fresh air and breeze through, found without exception that all the screens were ripped which would have let mosquitoes and bugs in. When we pointed this out, they were replaced with new ones. We also did end up having to use surgical tape to mend one of them and stuff a towel in one. Again, why did we have to ask for this???
Dangerous ceiling fan in one room - when we turned it on it started spinning out of control and looked like it was going to fall out of the ceiling.
• Your main building was even more terrible. All the chair cushions were stained and dirty – disgusting to look at and even more so that we had to use them. The one deck of playing cards was washed out and dirty and grimy. Our hands were filthy after one round and we ended up using our own.
The filthy toilets with no hand soap or paper towels in the main building that was accessed by going past filthy mops and other rubbish piled up near the kitchen. They were not cleaned for the duration of our stay.
• The two table tennis rackets had the rubber missing in places. The lighting was so bad that when we were playing, the ball bounced off and even though we brought out our own torches, couldn’t find it. We asked for a replacement ball only to be told there were none. Come on people – can’t we even get a ping pong ball?
• The billiard table was listing at a 30 degree angle and again asked them to fix it - which was done to some extent. However the felt is faded, stained and torn up with the table exposed underneath.
• The dining room table cloth was not ironed and the completely wrinkled.
• The food was okay – but nothing spectacular. Just routine and mundane with no presentation like in the past.
• The waitress, while very pleasant, only brought out 2 plates at a time. So by the time the last two of ten came out, the first two people were either done eating or their meals were cold.
• Flies were there by the hundreds - there should have been sticky paper or electronic zappers in use, but instead we were covering our plates with napkins, taking a quick bite and covering up again.
• We asked for rum and cokes at the bar, to be told there was no coke available. After a while, one person in our party had a brainwave and went back to ask if Pepsi was available and were told yes. Now, could the bartender not have suggested that instead ? (We did get coke in from Bartica the following day). As well, the bartender never once came to pick up empty glasses and bottles – we were doing it ourselves to clear the card and other tables. It would have been even too much to expect that she would come once an hour to ask if we wanted a drink !!! I’m not suggesting that she come very few minutes but surely that’s what she is being paid to do. All she did was sit there at the bar the entire time.
• When we had dinner on the beach one evening which was a nice touch (note that we had not requested this), there was no lighting on the table. It was pitch dark and when we asked for some light so we could see what we were eating, again were told that they had nothing to accommodate that. Then eventually 2 candles were brought out but they served no purpose for the length of table we had, so we ended up digging some of the candles out of the sand and putting them on the table ourselves.
• Torches to make our way back from the main club house to the residence area were unavailable, so we were feeling our way cautiously in the dark.
• When it rained, we asked for umbrellas to get back from the main building to the residence and we were given 2 small and 2 large – all for a group of 10 !!
• To crown it all, we paid you additional fees for the boat ride to Bartica. We confirmed our departure time of 2:00 p.m. with Lincoln and at 2:00 he showed up with a boat that had no covering although it had been raining all that morning and he suggested that we wait to see if the rain would stop. I asked if you didn’t have a back-up plan with a covered boat as we didn’t want to get wet or our luggage either for that matter. After blank stares and more waiting around, he called on his cell phone and said it would take at least half an hour to get a boat. When I enquired why so long in that Bartica was a 10 minute ride, he said that he would have to go and pick it up. We had on-going transportation arrangements waiting for us at Bartica that we were in danger of losing, so had no choice but to get on the boat and hunker down soaking wet under some smelly pieces of rubber tarps. To add insult to injury, we saw one of your female staff with one of the big umbrellas get on the boat with us – she stayed beautifully covered and dry!!
• I have never encountered this sort of treatment and especially at the exorbitant rates that we paid. As you can see, there is not one redeeming feature to this place. Every little basic thing that should have been automatically provided, was like an uphill battle to get. We stopped even bothering to ask for anything as it was painfully clear that your staff are lazy and incompetent and just don’t care.
• We reached the point where we were desperate to leave the island for what should have been a great family vacation.
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Date of stay: April 2016Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had the Island all to ourselves. It was amazing. The staff were like family. Kurt, the main man was full of warmth and light as were all the others. More than willing to leave you to do whatever you fancied, but also really interesting to talk to if you felt like learning about Guyanese culture. It was our first point of call and certainly settled the nerves on visiting the motherland for the first time.
Apart from the great people, the beautiful view of Amazon on the other bank, and the sweet sound of nothing, there was also a table tennis table and some row boats for a bit of entertainment. I don't think you'd get bored here though.
Oh and also the food is brilliant. It's all the things my mum cooks, but with a slightly modern twist and served like your in a posh restaurant - Only with bamboo tables, an open view of the river, jungle, calypso in the background and waitresses who smile from the bottom of their hearts.
Fair to say I think, that this Island is an absolute treasure. Kurt, Ervin and Everyone at Baganara - "Thanks for a beautiful moment."
Apart from the great people, the beautiful view of Amazon on the other bank, and the sweet sound of nothing, there was also a table tennis table and some row boats for a bit of entertainment. I don't think you'd get bored here though.
Oh and also the food is brilliant. It's all the things my mum cooks, but with a slightly modern twist and served like your in a posh restaurant - Only with bamboo tables, an open view of the river, jungle, calypso in the background and waitresses who smile from the bottom of their hearts.
Fair to say I think, that this Island is an absolute treasure. Kurt, Ervin and Everyone at Baganara - "Thanks for a beautiful moment."
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Date of stay: July 2012Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I went with my brother and his wife, we all had a good time on the Island. Love the scenery, view and peacefulness, especially relaxing in the hammock. From the moment we got off the boat, Anne was waiting with a cool glass of "lime water". I truly enjoyed all the meals cooked by Trevor and his team. Mr. Kurt Jordan was an exceptionally a great host along with the other staff. As for actives, there is a pool table, tennis table, dominoes, cards etc. you can either kayaking or swim. In addition, there is bar if you like to drink, so there are few things to do. Thanks to Mr. Jordan and Trevor, along with my brother who taught me to play pool.
The island is well kept with lot of beautiful flowers, plants and trees. The room is self-contain and very clean and great for a family with kids and the bed was very comfortable. There was a ceiling fan on all day and night. The night was cool and comfortable to sleep. The only noise you heard in the night were the fishes jumping in the water. If you like a rustic, peaceful, alluring, and a quiet two-night vacation, then Baganara is the place for you, otherwise spend your money elsewhere. The resort do offer day trips, but it will cost you extra $$$. Once again, I will like to thank Mr. Jordan, Trevor, Anne and the other staff at Baganara for making my stay a great one. If I do get another opportunity, I will visit again.
The island is well kept with lot of beautiful flowers, plants and trees. The room is self-contain and very clean and great for a family with kids and the bed was very comfortable. There was a ceiling fan on all day and night. The night was cool and comfortable to sleep. The only noise you heard in the night were the fishes jumping in the water. If you like a rustic, peaceful, alluring, and a quiet two-night vacation, then Baganara is the place for you, otherwise spend your money elsewhere. The resort do offer day trips, but it will cost you extra $$$. Once again, I will like to thank Mr. Jordan, Trevor, Anne and the other staff at Baganara for making my stay a great one. If I do get another opportunity, I will visit again.
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Date of stay: August 2010Trip type: Travelled on business
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Baganara was the last main stop (other than a final night in Georgetown) on our trip to Guyana. We spent 1 night at Atta and 2 nights each at Surama, Rock View, Karanambu and Maipaima, all in the North Rupununi. Baganara is a small island set in the Essequibo river about 5 miles from Bartica. The island has its own airstrip which is a big plus if, like us, you are travelling here having been in the Rupununi. Our flight from Lethem took no more than an hour and a half.
We were the only people staying at Baganara for the three nights we were there. There was a major conference with 39 guests arriving on the morning that we departed and there was a lot of work going on in preparation for that conference during our stay. The focus on the imminent conference may therefore have contributed to some of our experiences.
The accommodation is not bad. We were in the newer building which has twelve superior rooms, but this is only a short walk from the main Baganara House where all meals are served. Electricity was provided by generator and this went through the night so that the room fan kept things pleasant at night. The bathroom is a good size, but we found that “hot” water rarely lived up to expectations. In the mornings the “hot” water was no more than tepid. We did get noticeably warm water one day about 12 noon after leaving the water to run for 5 minutes, but that was the only time.
The food at Baganara was a major disappointment. Being the only guests, instead of having a buffet, we were served a plate of food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The food itself was very variable. We had a couple of quite good meals, but several very poor ones. On our first evening we were served fish, but it was uncooked. Having sent it back to be properly cooked, it turned out to be quite tasteless. Our final breakfast was a triple decker sandwich, with one layer of bright green 'paste' and one layer of bright pink 'paste; a small nutmeg cup-cake; and a slice of fruit bread! Very strange! In the middle of our stay there were some other day guests staying, which meant that we did have a couple of buffet meals. These were generally a lot better than the plated meals and it may well be that, if other people are there when you stay, you may find you always get buffet meals and that the food is therefore better than we found. Tea and coffee were, in theory, always available, but the hot water was not always provided or kept refilled.
What is there to do at Baganara? Well that was where Baganara really fell down for us. There is absolutely nothing to do! The island isn't very big and two thirds of it were inaccessible. The 'Nature Trail' was closed due to the prolonged rains, so we could only wander round the lawned area and the airstrip. Having done a birding walk on the first afternoon, there was nothing new to do for the rest of our stay. We did take a kayak trip one morning which was peaceful but unfortunately we didn't see very much wildlife. We also had a trip to Bartica and Parrot Island, which took up the last two hours of daylight one evening. The rest of the time there is just nothing whatsoever to do here and no-one showed any interest in making sure that we were having a good time.
As for the staff, they seemed to be having a great time! They barely noticed that there were any guests staying! Leon, our allocated guide, was very good and is excellent with birds. Also Raj, the barman, and the lady who seemed to clean and wait on the tables were quite friendly. Apart from that we were generally ignored, or eventually attended to after the much more important conference work was finished!
If you really do want to do nothing – and there's a pretty good beach if that's for you – then maybe this is the place. If you've travelled to Guyana though, presumably you want to experience the wildlife, the culture or both. You'll get very little of either here and a three night stay was at least two nights too many!
We were the only people staying at Baganara for the three nights we were there. There was a major conference with 39 guests arriving on the morning that we departed and there was a lot of work going on in preparation for that conference during our stay. The focus on the imminent conference may therefore have contributed to some of our experiences.
The accommodation is not bad. We were in the newer building which has twelve superior rooms, but this is only a short walk from the main Baganara House where all meals are served. Electricity was provided by generator and this went through the night so that the room fan kept things pleasant at night. The bathroom is a good size, but we found that “hot” water rarely lived up to expectations. In the mornings the “hot” water was no more than tepid. We did get noticeably warm water one day about 12 noon after leaving the water to run for 5 minutes, but that was the only time.
The food at Baganara was a major disappointment. Being the only guests, instead of having a buffet, we were served a plate of food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The food itself was very variable. We had a couple of quite good meals, but several very poor ones. On our first evening we were served fish, but it was uncooked. Having sent it back to be properly cooked, it turned out to be quite tasteless. Our final breakfast was a triple decker sandwich, with one layer of bright green 'paste' and one layer of bright pink 'paste; a small nutmeg cup-cake; and a slice of fruit bread! Very strange! In the middle of our stay there were some other day guests staying, which meant that we did have a couple of buffet meals. These were generally a lot better than the plated meals and it may well be that, if other people are there when you stay, you may find you always get buffet meals and that the food is therefore better than we found. Tea and coffee were, in theory, always available, but the hot water was not always provided or kept refilled.
What is there to do at Baganara? Well that was where Baganara really fell down for us. There is absolutely nothing to do! The island isn't very big and two thirds of it were inaccessible. The 'Nature Trail' was closed due to the prolonged rains, so we could only wander round the lawned area and the airstrip. Having done a birding walk on the first afternoon, there was nothing new to do for the rest of our stay. We did take a kayak trip one morning which was peaceful but unfortunately we didn't see very much wildlife. We also had a trip to Bartica and Parrot Island, which took up the last two hours of daylight one evening. The rest of the time there is just nothing whatsoever to do here and no-one showed any interest in making sure that we were having a good time.
As for the staff, they seemed to be having a great time! They barely noticed that there were any guests staying! Leon, our allocated guide, was very good and is excellent with birds. Also Raj, the barman, and the lady who seemed to clean and wait on the tables were quite friendly. Apart from that we were generally ignored, or eventually attended to after the much more important conference work was finished!
If you really do want to do nothing – and there's a pretty good beach if that's for you – then maybe this is the place. If you've travelled to Guyana though, presumably you want to experience the wildlife, the culture or both. You'll get very little of either here and a three night stay was at least two nights too many!
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Date of stay: January 2009Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We used Baganara as rest stop between touring the Guyana interior and moving on to Suriname and French Guiana, and found it perfect.
The rooms have a Caribbean colonial feel and the large dining and lounge area feels almost Polynesian.
Grand sweeps of manicured lawn with chairs and benches throughout make strolling a delight.
There are plenty of beach chairs and tables and the swimming is excellent. The sunset excursion to parrot island is a pleasant end to a day of lounging.
Food is excellent and service sublime. But then, we were there midweek and had the place to ourselves. We recommend visiting midweek. The place fills up on weekends. Weekdays, we were told, it is often just a few guests and some occasional day-trippers who stop by for lunch.
Baganara is a popular conference center and could easily accommodate large groups. A landing strip makes for easy access.
Tip: The newer rooms are some distance from the dining and lounge areas, the dock, and the roped-off swimming area. Be sure to bring rain gear, just in case.
The rooms have a Caribbean colonial feel and the large dining and lounge area feels almost Polynesian.
Grand sweeps of manicured lawn with chairs and benches throughout make strolling a delight.
There are plenty of beach chairs and tables and the swimming is excellent. The sunset excursion to parrot island is a pleasant end to a day of lounging.
Food is excellent and service sublime. But then, we were there midweek and had the place to ourselves. We recommend visiting midweek. The place fills up on weekends. Weekdays, we were told, it is often just a few guests and some occasional day-trippers who stop by for lunch.
Baganara is a popular conference center and could easily accommodate large groups. A landing strip makes for easy access.
Tip: The newer rooms are some distance from the dining and lounge areas, the dock, and the roped-off swimming area. Be sure to bring rain gear, just in case.
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Date of stay: January 2012Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We have just returned from 3 months in Guyana. And amid a lot of other very excellent adventures, we ditched the kids for one night and flew to this total paradise! It was very peaceful. The beach was ours, no annoying beach vendors oofering to do your hair or plait you a hat (Barbadoes)
The staff were uber efficient but very inobstrusive.
We were very impressed by the evergy solutions of this great place. By using solar pv panels and hot water panels they have kept their use of fossil fuel to a minimum. The water is from rainwater harvesting and using grey water (the river) for the washing and watering needs.
I know folk have disparaged the temp of the hot water, but do remember this is an attempt to be as eco friendly as possible and to besides, why do you need hot water when really all I wanted was a refreshing cold shower. The outside temp is 30 degrees for Pete's sake!
The food is all local and TO DIE FOR! The fish is fabulous. They do not overcharge for the drinks unlike the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown.
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My husband loved sitting on the beach and observing the little aircraft dropping people off. He took so much video the battery went flat.
You can kayak around the island in about 1.5 hrs which we did. And they actually do a run in their boat to ensure you are safe.
We'll definitely be going back next year for a bit longer.
The staff were uber efficient but very inobstrusive.
We were very impressed by the evergy solutions of this great place. By using solar pv panels and hot water panels they have kept their use of fossil fuel to a minimum. The water is from rainwater harvesting and using grey water (the river) for the washing and watering needs.
I know folk have disparaged the temp of the hot water, but do remember this is an attempt to be as eco friendly as possible and to besides, why do you need hot water when really all I wanted was a refreshing cold shower. The outside temp is 30 degrees for Pete's sake!
The food is all local and TO DIE FOR! The fish is fabulous. They do not overcharge for the drinks unlike the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown.
.
My husband loved sitting on the beach and observing the little aircraft dropping people off. He took so much video the battery went flat.
You can kayak around the island in about 1.5 hrs which we did. And they actually do a run in their boat to ensure you are safe.
We'll definitely be going back next year for a bit longer.
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Date of stay: August 2011Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: All the rooms are fab. If you are a plane enthusiast, just ask for the room overlooking the...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hi, sorry don't know. Please visit the website. Thanks
The Administrator says:
$280US per night for 2 people. Includes 3 meals, all taxes, all on island activities. Excludes off island transportation and excursions.
This was what we enjoyed.
Yes we do have an office in Georgetown that can assist you.
"All the rooms look out on the river. There are rooms in the main house plus a separate annex which is a short walk from the main house."Read full review
ALSO KNOWN AS
baganara island hotel bartica
LOCATION
GuyanaCuyuni-MazaruniBartica
NUMBER OF ROOMS
15
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Frequently Asked Questions about Baganara Island Resort
What are some of the property amenities at Baganara Island Resort?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and an on-site restaurant.
What food & drink options are available at Baganara Island Resort?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Does Baganara Island Resort offer any business services?
Yes, guests have access to meeting rooms and conference facilities during their stay.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Baganara Island Resort?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, and Polish.