Crossing from Brazil into Guyana takes you from the Portuguese-speaking world of South America into the continent’s only English-speaking country. This transition happens across a single, vital point: the Takutu River Bridge, which connects the Brazilian town of Bonfim, in the state of Roraima, with the Guyanese town of Lethem. This crossing is not just a change of language and culture but also a change in driving customs, creating a fascinating logistical puzzle. The bridge, completed in 2009, was designed to solve the problem of Brazil driving on the right-hand side of the road while Guyana drives on the left.
The bridge cleverly facilitates this with a crossover flyover lane on the Guyanese side, safely switching you from one system to the other as you cross. The region is characterized by the vast, open savannahs of the Rupununi, a stark and beautiful contrast to the dense Amazon rainforest found in other parts of the borderlands. This crossing is remote, and the unpaved road on the Guyanese side, linking Lethem to the capital, Georgetown, can be extremely challenging. During the rainy season, typically from May to August, sections of this road can become impassable, so it is absolutely essential to check local conditions before you set out on this overland adventure.