A happy escape in Bamia

JUST outside the mining town of Linden is a getaway with a difference. Alegria’s Cabins in Bamia is a bold and unique project. Started several years ago, Alegria’s Cabins aims to be a home away from home, where visitors can enjoy a little piece of nature and the beauty that Bamia has to offer.

The idea of Alegria’s Cabins was sparked several years ago when owner Aleon Alleyne travelled to the region and saw a need. “In 2007, I was sent to work for the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission. At the time, there were major business activities in Linden demanding accommodation. There was a big talk about it, because there weren’t many rooms. Visitors hardly had accommodation,” he said.

This need, coupled with Aleon’s past experiences in cabins around Guyana, inspired him for his new project. “Because I also worked in Region 9, there is this type of activity that’s there. They have similar little huts they call cabins. And I said, why not? And that’s how I decided to step into that little zone of providing accommodation for visitors and persons,” he explained.

Bamia and the surrounding areas are undoubtedly some of Guyana’s most captivating places. Backwater lakes and white sand beaches make for a special blend. In the last few years, however, Aleon admitted there were challenges in starting the business. COVID-19 placed a pause on Alegria’s Cabins as it did to many other businesses.

However, this did not have a lasting impact on Aleon or the business. As he stated, “The interest kind of died with me because it meant persons weren’t going to come to the region in that demand for the rooms. The market would have gone; it kind of killed the spirit. It killed my enthusiasm; I really wanted to continue with it. But tourism is moving up again.”

Tourism in the region seems to be back on the rise, according to Aleon. He says that more people visit the cabins every week. Aleon, who runs the business alongside his wife, has big plans for the future. Currently, work is underway to create an experience for visitors. According to Aleon, Alegria’s Cabins will house a total of seven cabins when fully complete. Furthermore, the development of a creek that is found on the land is underway.

The cabins and creek will be coupled with a seafood restaurant, making Alegria’s Cabins just a little more unique. “I intend to open a little seafood restaurant in the evenings. We have a spring at the back developed into a nature pool. It attracts people for beach parties or quick limes,” Aleon explained.

As the ambitious project continues, Aleon hopes to complete all seven cabins by December. Alegria’s Cabins are, however, currently open to the public, and the number of visitors seems to be growing.

As Aleon explained, “There is an influx of visitors. I don’t have the stats on it, but you notice it daily. There are different business persons, foreigners. They keep coming. And everybody keeps asking, especially when they pass, what is it that we have here? Not long ago, we had to put up a sign. They didn’t know. And you find that they’re responding to it. In a profitable way.”

Aleon says the growth in population can be seen as much as it can be felt. Moreover, the tourism sector is growing in the region, with more tourists; new tourist attractions and businesses are coming to the forefront.

As Aleon stated, “You are seeing the rise in population. You’re seeing people walking along the road in the place. And there are other businesses, similar businesses, that would have sprung up. You don’t hear anybody complaining that they’re not doing good business.”

Painting a picture of what guests can expect, Aleon explained that the cabins aim to facilitate both families and friends in a comfortable, natural environment. The very name Alegria’s Cabins means happy. As Aleon explained to the Pepperpot Magazine, “I also study Portuguese. The word Alegria means happy, joyful. Those are the adjectives that come with Alegria in English. That’s the word. It’s a Portuguese word. It means joyful. It means happy. If you want to translate it, it’s like happy cabins or joyful cabins.”

So, if you or anyone you know plans to take a trip to Bamia, ensure to stop by Alegria’s Cabins and enjoy a happy escape.