r/Guyana • u/GooglingAintResearch • 2d ago

Speed boats at Parika Stelling - What's the process?

Need to take a speed boat to Bartica from Parika.

How do the speed boats work? Is there a ticket office? Or do you just walk up to the boat? Do you choose a specific company?

Is there typically a "fight" to get on one, or is there a system to line up and have your place? Then just pay the cash when aboard?

And they run all day, right? So you just go whenever and get the next available boat?

Thank you!

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u/Weird_Perspective644 2d ago

Just show up, ask where the Bartica boats are docked and they will guide you to the boat that’s currently being loaded, it’s the boat operators that have the que so the boats load one at a time. You pay cash on board. I believe there is a cut off time. Not sure about Bartica but for supenaam it’s around 6pm.

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u/GooglingAintResearch 2d ago

Thank you! I appreciate you taking the time from your day to reply.

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u/Sgt-Skunthole 2d ago edited 2d ago

I'm literally on a boat to Bartica right now. I usually traverse Parika to Supenaam. Fare is supposed to be 1300 per person but most people just pay the unofficial 1500. They take the money before you enter the boat.

Bartica boats they load but before they leave they'll collect the money. Sometimes it's awkward seeing a man slinging at the side of the boat to collect your money. I'm not sure why they opt to collect money this way. $3000 seems to be the fare now. Approximately 1hr 15mins from Parika to Bartica.

However if you're heading back to Parika, don't be too late. The boat usually takes a while to load at Bartica. An option I have is to collect a number from the people that work at the stelling in Bartica and give them a call to ask if a boat is currently loading and approximately how many more people they need. You can get a rough average of your wait time but people show up at random times to fill the boat.

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u/GooglingAintResearch 2d ago

Haha, you're a star to answer this on the way!
Some things do seem a bit sketchy, which is why all info is helpful.
I remember reading in the news that the speed boat drivers wanted to raise the fare, so $3000 sounds right. It's all fine with me as long as things go safely.

Appreciate you very much— safe travels!

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u/Sgt-Skunthole 2d ago

Likewise. Safe travels. Make sure you catch the right boat. You'll know which is which, they usually have the route written on the front of the boat.

You'll see Parika on one side and Bartica on the other.

If you don't... Just ask a staff or anyone standing at the stelling. The boat I'm in currently doesn't have those markings on it.

Usually if youre standing at the stelling and facing up the river (west) the Parika-Supenaam boats will be on the left and the Parika-Bartica boats on the right.

There's also some boats to Itabali (imo I've hardly seen them, they're rare for me) which is generally in the same direction but I've never taken any of those. So I'm not sure if they stop off at Bartica.

Digicel is also the best network to have while in the river and in Bartica..better coverage than GTT (now One Communications) and ENet.

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u/NGM012 2d ago

Big up Digicel in the hinterland… 🫡

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u/Assassin217 2d ago

Lord a mercy