Many persons possess wishes of travelling the length and breadth of Guyana. Some have fulfilled their wishes but a trip to Moruca in the North West District should be a “must-do” on one’s travel calendar.Guyana is blessed with countless natural features, rich vegetation, mountainous terrain, meandering rivers and streams and roadways which connect the regions of the country.
A trip to Moruca will surely impact the mind of the rich history and culture of this part of the country and the people here will surely add flavour to the taste of the first-time visitor. Moruca is accessible by water and air with the former being the preferred mode of travel for economic reasons.
HOW DOES ONE REACH MORUCA?
For that Georgetown resident longing for a vacation, the trip is simple to accomplish. The journey begins with ride to Parika on the East Bank of Essequibo, preferably early in the morning around sunrise when the waters off this port is calm.
Once across at Supenaam from Parika after 30 to 45 minutes of travel, a car is always willing to take one to Charity, another busy port further north. The trip lasts approximately 45 minutes but the driver may make several stops if he does not have a full complement of passengers.
Once at Charity, a slight indication of Destination Moruca jolts the visitor when the boatmen collects one’s belongings and pack them neatly in the boats moored at Charity. The name “Peanut” is synonymous with boat travel to Moruca and the man himself, fondly called “Peanut” competes with three other boat operators who ply the route daily.
This may be the more unfriendly aspect of the trip since waiting can last an hour or more, depending on the frequency of passengers’ arrival times. Some passengers would pre-arrange their trip via phone with the boat operator; hence, their arrival determines the boat’s departure.
Once the boat is packed and ready, it is now headed for the mouth of the Pomeroon River, a brief sojourn through the Atlantic Coast and entry to the Moruca River.
Here is where the trip “really” begins with several turns meandering around mangrove branches at the sides of the river. There may be a few stops along the way in the form of floating swamp-like vegetation which blocks the river channel. Locals refer to them as “bomball”.
But the experts of river travel at Moruca usually have their cutlasses and ropes at the ready to haul, chop and speed alongside the obstacles in the water.
A little over an hour after departing Charity, several homes along the waterway pops into view and the turns in the water adds to the adventure at this point. Suddenly, the iconic Moruca Bridge steps into view, and the reality of Visit Moruca hits home.
There are taxis at the ready, buses which shuttle passengers to far-flung communities or one can simply walk the distance to the Kumaka Guest House.
The Regional Guest house at Acquero also hosts visitors and another private guest house across from Kumaka, Moruca’s capital, is a taxi ride away.
ENTERTAINMENT
Nightlife here can be a bugbear since the electricity supply cuts –off at 22:00hrs. A few persons laughing, some music here and there or cricket’s chirping puts one to sleep. However, if one is into partying to the “sun-raising” lines of sunrise in Bunji Garlin’s “Different logy” , the daily adventure can take-off at the sight of the sun in the east.
One can either walk or take a taxi to the many sites Moruca has to offer. The river scenes are accessible by speedboats whose operators charge an affordable $500-$600 for short drops. The taxis charge a similar fare but walking brings out the adventure in the trip. A walk across the Moruca Bridge at Kumaka to the islands of Cabucalli, Kummucherie, St Peter’s, Paloma, Acquero , Huradiah , Mathurin Point and Tucupita brings numerous savannah views, landscape dreams, friendly people walking along the way, birds aplenty, and natural forest-like sounds.
To refuel there are always shops selling snacks and other edibles at affordable prices or one can simply ask a hospitable family along the road for one or two coconuts. Willingly, they would offer the coconut-water for refueling.
Canoeing down-river can cap the day and chilling on the Moruca Bridge under the late afternoon sunlight can lead one’s thoughts to the beauty of Guyana.
Moruca has developed immensely over the past decade. The Village Council at Kumaka, which is led by a Toshao, governs the community and the satellite villages are governed by councilors. Moruca is also a sub-region of Region One with Mabaruma and Matarkai being the other two.
One noticeable feature at Moruca is the presence of garbage bins along the roadway at Kumaka, a feature which results in a clean environment.
The people are predominantly Arawak — Amerindian’s who are mixed with other Guyanese ethnicities. In addition, Moruca is home to Scottish and Spanish descendants, the latter having travelled across from Venezuela.
Moruca also boasts its own supermarket. “Clevies” supermarket sells goods at affordable prices which are not too far-off from those at the supermarkets in Georgetown. The shopping experience here illuminates the mind that tourism is indeed the yardstick which can propel Moruca, if only it is nurtured in a well-planned manner.
On the way back to the City, there is an early morning experience which commences with the boat operators arranging taxis for pick-up at one’s doorstep.
The cars would then drop-off the passenger at the landing near the Moruca Bridge where a sense of sadness may begin to envelope the mind.
The trip back to Charity on the Essequibo Coast, which usually commences at 05: 30 hrs, may be characterised by a few more obstacles in the water. The boats usually leave in a convoy and the men assist each other while motoring out of river whenever the floating landmasses block the river channel. At approximately 07:00hrs, one arrives at Charity.
One look in the distance can bring a sense of content that Moruca is indeed one of Guyana’s tourism gems.