8R1WA Team will be active from Guyana, 19 - 27 February 2026.
Team - Alex IZØEGA, Paolo IZØEVI, Diego IZØEWJ, Luca IZ6DSQ.
They will operate on HF Bands plus 6m, SSB, Digital modes.
QSL via IZ0EGA, LOTW, ClubLog OQRS.
Information from their QRZ page:
QSL Policy:
QSL Manager: ALEX IZØEGA (mail: iz0ega74@gmail.com)8R1WA Team will be active from Guyana, 19 - 27 February 2026.
QSL: LOTW – DIRECT – BURO, no e-QSL
Fees:
Paper QSL Request available through the OQRS system. Please send the fee via PayPal as donation and follow these instructions:
DIRECT: Alex IZØEGA c/o Diego Berardi – Via Perilli, 7/b – 03026 POFI (FR) - Italy
3 € via PayPal (OQRS) – Europe
4 € via PayPal (OQRS) – outside Europe except VK, ZL, Pacific Area
5 € via PayPal (OQRS) – VK, ZL, Pacific Area
All QSOs will be uploaded to LoTW and ClubLog.
Donations:
PayPal for donations: @Alexradiomod
Equipment:
Antennas:
1x 5 band Spiderbeam 10-12-15-17-20m
1x 5 el. Yagi 6m
1x 3 el. Skipper 10m
1x Loop 20-10m
1x Loop 40-15m
1x Vertical 40m
1x Vertical 80m
1x Inverted L 160m
RTX:
4x Icom IC-7300
2x Icom IC-706MKIIG
Guyana
Guyana tops the list of “Latin America's smallest countries,” ranking third among mini-states after Uruguay and Suriname. Its territory stretches along the Atlantic coast and consists of savannah and jungle — coastal swamps and virgin forests. Uncultivated thickets occupy 80% of the country's territory. They are home to indigenous peoples and those who work in gold and bauxite mining. There are several cities along the coast, the largest of which is the capital, Georgetown.
Dutch canals in South America
After Columbus discovered America and adventurers from the Old World flocked here, sugar cane plantations began to grow rapidly along the Atlantic coast. Black slaves were brought here en masse to work the land. The same fate befell Guyana, which changed hands many times.
For a long time, Dutch colonists ruled here. They liked the swampy, fertile savannah, drained the land by laying a network of canals, and began to develop agriculture here. The main crops were sugar cane and rice, which were brought by settlers from Indochina. Railways were built in the country, but now they are in disrepair, and the main transport arteries are the rivers, of which there are many in Guyana.
Despite the fact that the country remained under British rule for more than 150 years, Dutch canals have been preserved everywhere. In Georgetown, almost every house is surrounded by water, a canal, or at least a ditch. Only 50 years ago (in 1966) did Guyana gain independence, but little has changed in its structure. The same rice, sugar cane, bauxite, diamonds, and gold — Guyanese people live off the sale of natural resources, and this does not bother them too much.
Colonial aesthetics
In Guyana, unlike other South American countries, the official language is English. Its full name is the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Translated from the language of the local inhabitants, “Guyana” means “land of waters.” The British called it British Guiana. Traces of their presence are still visible everywhere, but time is gradually erasing them, although the locals are trying to preserve historical sites.
Interesting fact: The Gothic wooden St. George's Cathedral is the tallest in the world.
Many wooden buildings have been preserved in the capital, bearing witness to colonial times. The town hall, market, school, municipality, and lighthouse look like sets from a classic American western. The wide veranda at the front, wooden shutters on the windows, and patterned boards along the roof slopes transport travelers straight back to the 19th century.
The Guyanese mix of peoples
The locals, dressed casually and reminiscent of the characters in Uncle Tom's Cabin, a novel about the harsh fate of African slaves, only add to this colorful atmosphere. They represent a diverse mix of different nations: immigrants from Southeast Asia, Africa, India, Europe, and local Indians.
Guyanese are mobile, tolerant, and optimistic. They love spicy food, gesticulate a lot, and carefully preserve the traditions of their ancestral homeland, which their ancestors left a couple of centuries ago. Almost 90% of the population is concentrated in the coastal strip. The forests are home to Indians who make their living by hunting and fishing. This is the only group that has not yet assimilated with the rest of the country's inhabitants.
Humid, warm, but not hot
Guyana's climate is perfectly suited for tourism — it is equatorial, with an average annual temperature of 27°C. Even in the coolest month, it does not get colder than 26°C. “Winter” in Guyana coincides with that in Russia and lasts from January to February. There are two seasons when it rains frequently:
- from April to August;
- from November to January.
Due to its proximity to the coast and numerous waterways, humidity remains high throughout the year, ranging from 75% to 88%. This has a great effect on the skin and hair, which simply flourish in this climate.
Guyana. Author - Paige Nelson.
By the water
Guyana's rivers are its true wealth. There are four major waterways in this tiny country: Essequibo, Demerara, Berbice, and Corantijn. However, despite their size and length, almost all of them are unnavigable in places due to rapids, waterfalls, and sand deposits at their mouths. Navigation is only possible for 160 km along the Berbis River, 95 km along the Demerara, and 65 km along the Essequibo.
Interesting fact: In the interior regions, which the Europeans were unable to “civilize,” untouched tropical forests have been preserved.
On the ocean side, the country is surrounded by long sandy beaches and dunes. You won't be able to sunbathe by the water in Georgetown — the beach is very dirty, and the locals don't go there. For relaxation, it is better to go 20 kilometers from the capital. The main beaches and tourist hotels are located on the banks of rivers. 60 kilometers from the capital is Shanklands, the largest resort area in Guyana.
A city in a pirate bay
Georgetown is a magnificently preserved example of colonial style. Creole flavor is felt everywhere here, but it is softer than anywhere else in Haiti. The city is located on the shore of the Demerara Bay. It is almost entirely built up with one- and two-story houses, constructed in a strict geometric order. There is a new business center with several skyscrapers, but in general there are no high-rise buildings.
Pirates once ruled this coast, but then it acquired a more respectable reputation. Now, a powerful dam protects the shore from the tide. Most of the city's canals still have locks. Some of them date back to the first Dutch settlers, but the channels are clogged with vegetation and the old mechanisms no longer work; no one bothers to tear them down.
Georgetown needs protection from the ocean — almost its entire territory is 2.5 meters below sea level. Locals enjoy relaxing on the numerous hydraulic structures, swimming and sunbathing there.
What to see
Despite the high humidity, the old buildings in Guyana are well preserved. Georgetown boasts many picturesque 19th-century churches. The Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the Jama Masjid mosque, the Methodist Church of Kingston, and the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus all coexist peacefully in the city.
Tourists will find many interesting exhibits in the National Museum. It is a whole complex with sections on local flora and fauna, as well as paintings and sculptures. Guyanese people pay a lot of attention to their nature and history. The capital has a Natural History Museum, the Christ Church Anthropological Museum, the Heritage Museum, the Military Museum, and the Police Museum.
Art lovers can spend the whole day at the Castigliani House, the National Art Gallery.
The Museum of African Art and Ethnology offers a completely different flavor.
Where to walk
Georgetown and its surroundings, which are already lush with tropical vegetation, also have many parks. The city has a botanical garden, founded in 1879, and a modern zoo. Incidentally, the seeds of the Amazonian Victoria lily, which grows in its ponds, are edible. Because of these charms, the capital of Guyana has been given the unofficial title of “Garden City.”
Interesting fact: At the mouth of the Demerara River, where the capital's port is located, there is a lighthouse — the only one in the entire country, built back in the 19th century.
You can take a walk in Thomas Land National Park or Promenade Garden. The latter is infamous. Where flowering alleys are now located, a century and a half ago, fugitive blacks and rebellious slaves were executed.
Record-breaking waterfalls
Guyanese people are incredibly proud of their waterfalls and constantly find reasons to call them the most exceptional. In total, there are almost 300 large rapids and waterfalls in the country. Among them is the Kaieteur Falls, which is five times higher than the much more famous Niagara Falls. It is 226 meters of water falling with noise and spray onto the rocks.
The Amalia Falls cascade on the Curibrong River is impressive for its unusual location. It is located on a huge 3 km arc, forming a fantastic arc of falling water. There is an idea to build a power plant on this waterfall, which will provide energy to the whole of Guyana. So far, the idea has not progressed beyond talk.
The area around natural attractions is protected. You cannot get there by car, ship, or boat. The terrain plays a significant role in this. Guyanese simply solved this problem by organizing horseback tours and flights on small planes. Nature does not suffer, and tourists get additional entertainment.
Holidays all year round
It would be strange if, living in a blessed tropical climate, the Guyanese did not find reasons to rejoice. The country celebrates all the holidays associated with the religions of its peoples. These dates have gradually become public holidays.
The largest, Republic Day, is celebrated in February. It is called Mashramani and lasts a whole week. Then the Chinese celebrate their New Year, Chunjie. Next comes the Hindu Festival of Flowers, Holi. Then Christians celebrate Easter and hold an Easter regatta.
In early May, Indian Heritage Days are celebrated in honor of the arrival of the first migrants from Hindustan in 1883.
In the summer, a series of days dedicated to various cities and festivals continues, and in August, Liberation Day is celebrated to mark the abolition of slavery. Then there is the Mainstay Lake Regatta and the Bartica Summer Regatta. Then miners and livestock breeders are honored.
September is Indian Culture Month. October is the Agricultural Festival, November is Tourism Month, ending with Safari Rapununi. The end of November is marked by the Festival of Lights — the Indian Diwali. December is marked by the Islamic Eid al-Adha, which ends the holy month of Ramadan. Immediately after that comes the celebration of Christian Christmas. It is celebrated by representatives of all faiths.