Rock View Lodge
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About
4.5
#1 of 1 lodge in AnnaiLocation
4.2
Cleanliness
4.4
Service
4.4
Value
3.9
Rock View Lodge is an oasis in Guyana's interior, the perfect jumping-off point for exploring Guyana's nature-rich rainforests and savannas. Fourteen en-suite rooms provide some of the area's best accommodation, situated in a shady compound that includes a small gift shop, pool, sandy volleyball court, bar, provisions store, and dining area.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Non-smoking hotel
Laundry service
Room features
Room service
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
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HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Romantic
Location
North Rupununi, Annai Guyana
75Reviews2Q+A13Room tips
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Detailed Reviews
The only thing amiss with our visit to Rock View Lodge was that we only stayed for one night. Our prior schedule had gone awry & our stop here was arranged at short notice.
. The Lodge is in Annai , adjacent to the airstrip & yet feels quite remote as you are in the midst of lovely grounds filled with trees & flowers.
. The guest accommodation which is in 2 blocks of 4 rooms is extremely comfortable/cosy with all the facilities one would expect & fronted by covered verandahs with chairs & tables.
. The sprawling gardens contain a swimming pool, fish ponds, many mature trees, quiet spots to relax & a mound which winds up through thick growth to reach a little circular viewpoint which commands far reaching views over the airstrip & beyond.
. Our host, Colin is charming & made us very welcome. He is a mine of information & a great stalwart of the Rupununi region. He has built up Rock View Lodge from a virtually " blank canvas " to the lovely location that it has now become.
. Dining takes place communally . The food was top notch & served with much style & panache.
. In addition to all the above, Rock View Lodge has it's own small shop & bar which are not only available to guests but serve the local community.
. A very pleasant interlude in the evening was an invitation to partake of rum & lime drinks with nibbles upstairs with Colin.
. We only had time for an afternoon & early morning Bird watching session in the grounds of Rock View but many excursions are possible including a visit to a Guyanan Cock of the Rock lek. I should imagine there are numerous activities possible as Colin has extensive knowledge of the region.
. We saw plenty of Macaws & Parrots in the grounds & some Toucans.
. Incidentally, the resident guide, Hendricks is excellent.
. The Lodge is in Annai , adjacent to the airstrip & yet feels quite remote as you are in the midst of lovely grounds filled with trees & flowers.
. The guest accommodation which is in 2 blocks of 4 rooms is extremely comfortable/cosy with all the facilities one would expect & fronted by covered verandahs with chairs & tables.
. The sprawling gardens contain a swimming pool, fish ponds, many mature trees, quiet spots to relax & a mound which winds up through thick growth to reach a little circular viewpoint which commands far reaching views over the airstrip & beyond.
. Our host, Colin is charming & made us very welcome. He is a mine of information & a great stalwart of the Rupununi region. He has built up Rock View Lodge from a virtually " blank canvas " to the lovely location that it has now become.
. Dining takes place communally . The food was top notch & served with much style & panache.
. In addition to all the above, Rock View Lodge has it's own small shop & bar which are not only available to guests but serve the local community.
. A very pleasant interlude in the evening was an invitation to partake of rum & lime drinks with nibbles upstairs with Colin.
. We only had time for an afternoon & early morning Bird watching session in the grounds of Rock View but many excursions are possible including a visit to a Guyanan Cock of the Rock lek. I should imagine there are numerous activities possible as Colin has extensive knowledge of the region.
. We saw plenty of Macaws & Parrots in the grounds & some Toucans.
. Incidentally, the resident guide, Hendricks is excellent.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fairly nice rooms. The mosquito netting is made from some material that does not allow air to flow so rather hot. nice hammocks on patio. Floor fan was mounted on ceiling, which did not really help unless one stood directly under it, difficult with the beds positioned the way they were. Food was very good, staff was helpful.
Owner was very creepy, however, He kept saying ' it is your room you can do what you want' but he's a total control freak. We didn't want people coming in our room because of covid and said so but they came in at least 6 times. They decided they needed to spray under the bed because of mosquitoes under the beds? (I certainly don't want to breathe poison while i'm sleeping!!! AND if you tuck the netting under the mattress it is irrelevant. The owner actually sat in on our evening bird checklists and said 'yes' every time we saw a bird and then contested some of the things like names, etc. Rather odd. Kept trying to get us to use different things like 'lime in soup' and bitters and would become quite insistent and bullying. He also sat with us at the table as if it were a bed and breakfast.
the group was actually joking about being able to escape the place (aka jonestown) and, in fact, when our driver showed up an hour late we were sure that it was a plot. Also he insisted on giving us a rather weird tour that involved 15 minutes pointing out the 3 things in the gift shop and gravesites and the one fish he had left in the pond. very strange place. not sure what else is in the area, however.
wifi was free but only available in the dining room. owner restricted hours because he didn't want the users to interfere with the group leader's activities (group leader could have cared less) - another example of control freakiness. Electricity only available from 6 pm - 11 pm so fans didn't work either and room was very hot. why not electicity in the morning? would be nice to be able to get dressed and pack with some light! (He did provide LED lights, however, which was nice)
Owner was very creepy, however, He kept saying ' it is your room you can do what you want' but he's a total control freak. We didn't want people coming in our room because of covid and said so but they came in at least 6 times. They decided they needed to spray under the bed because of mosquitoes under the beds? (I certainly don't want to breathe poison while i'm sleeping!!! AND if you tuck the netting under the mattress it is irrelevant. The owner actually sat in on our evening bird checklists and said 'yes' every time we saw a bird and then contested some of the things like names, etc. Rather odd. Kept trying to get us to use different things like 'lime in soup' and bitters and would become quite insistent and bullying. He also sat with us at the table as if it were a bed and breakfast.
the group was actually joking about being able to escape the place (aka jonestown) and, in fact, when our driver showed up an hour late we were sure that it was a plot. Also he insisted on giving us a rather weird tour that involved 15 minutes pointing out the 3 things in the gift shop and gravesites and the one fish he had left in the pond. very strange place. not sure what else is in the area, however.
wifi was free but only available in the dining room. owner restricted hours because he didn't want the users to interfere with the group leader's activities (group leader could have cared less) - another example of control freakiness. Electricity only available from 6 pm - 11 pm so fans didn't work either and room was very hot. why not electicity in the morning? would be nice to be able to get dressed and pack with some light! (He did provide LED lights, however, which was nice)
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Date of stay: October 2021
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed here as part of the Guyana Nature Experience run by Wilderness Explorers.
This is a charming lodge with a lovely little swimming pool and flowering plants. There are lots of birds and lizards and a pool with apaima fish. There is also a resident wedge-capped capuchin monkey called Piccolo who is completely adorable.
The owner, Colin Edwards, is somewhat abrasive and bullying towards his staff and his family. He was, however, concerned that we have a good time and kept asking us if there was anything he could do to make our stay more pleasurable. He set up a hummingbird feeder outside our room which did indeed attract hummingbirds.
His wife and sons are really great and the guide Milan was lovely. We went on a couple of good walks round the area which is largely agricultural and saw some great birds including the vermilion flycatcher and buff-throated ibis.
The food was absolutely top notch and dinner was served with rum and beer at no extra cost.
This is a charming lodge with a lovely little swimming pool and flowering plants. There are lots of birds and lizards and a pool with apaima fish. There is also a resident wedge-capped capuchin monkey called Piccolo who is completely adorable.
The owner, Colin Edwards, is somewhat abrasive and bullying towards his staff and his family. He was, however, concerned that we have a good time and kept asking us if there was anything he could do to make our stay more pleasurable. He set up a hummingbird feeder outside our room which did indeed attract hummingbirds.
His wife and sons are really great and the guide Milan was lovely. We went on a couple of good walks round the area which is largely agricultural and saw some great birds including the vermilion flycatcher and buff-throated ibis.
The food was absolutely top notch and dinner was served with rum and beer at no extra cost.
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Date of stay: September 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Have a swim in the pool: it is lovely
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rock View was an idyllic paradise, welcoming and peaceful. Owner, family and staff ensured that we were comfortable. Tasty and healthy meals were provided along with drinks before dinner. Laundry service and wi-fi were provided.
All trips requested as planned were enjoyable and fun - Atta Rainforest and Canopy Walkway, Rupununi River Tour, Surama, Boa Vista day trip, horseback riding, and a mountain hike with a panoramic view. The pool was relaxing and nature was at its best there with the various birds, lizards, a monkey, butterflies, etc.
We enjoyed our Rupununi vacation at Rock View.
All trips requested as planned were enjoyable and fun - Atta Rainforest and Canopy Walkway, Rupununi River Tour, Surama, Boa Vista day trip, horseback riding, and a mountain hike with a panoramic view. The pool was relaxing and nature was at its best there with the various birds, lizards, a monkey, butterflies, etc.
We enjoyed our Rupununi vacation at Rock View.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rockview Lodge best describes the saying 'home away from home'. Colin, Zorba, Alisha and co. made us feel like family from the very first meeting! Meal times were amazing because it always felt like one big happy family around the dining table.
Hospitality, customer service, food we'd rate 100/10. Spectacular views and amazingly hardworking people, all around the Rupununi. Thank you for making it so memorable for us.
- Gaitrie & Ravi Roopnarine
Hospitality, customer service, food we'd rate 100/10. Spectacular views and amazingly hardworking people, all around the Rupununi. Thank you for making it so memorable for us.
- Gaitrie & Ravi Roopnarine
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Colin and staff were very welcoming. Even rum drinks were gratis. Covid had hit them hard but are spiffing up the place for more active tourism. The casitas were very nice with cross ventilation. The windows had no screens - but good mosquito nets & few mosquitos. Only cold water (typical for the countryside) and plentiful food. The only down-side : Chiggers! We left covered with itchy red welts.
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Date of stay: October 2021Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip: Bring sunscreen and lots of deet. Bring only quick dry clothes and expect to sweat!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The food is great, especially the homemade jam, rooms clean, local staff and guides lovely but after staying at the other lodges (Rewa/Surama/Karanambu/Caiman House/Atta etc) this was by far the worst place for us.
Fine if you want to stop and get cleaned up and get your washing done but there is nothing to do here, we soon realised they were stretched for things to show us after having the rather odd "orientation" of the grounds (including family graves!) and then being shown the photo album of the building of the place and of Colin's family and friends?!
We went to Guyana to see wildlife living in their natural habitat and have no interest in how a nonnative man built his house and planted an artificial garden in the beautiful wilderness. At night we wanted to here the sounds of the nocturnal wildlife not blaring music from their bar area.
Unfortunately we got stuck here for two days, after being rudely told, incorrectly by Colin, that our itinerary couldn't be changed, so we walked the very short nature trail one morning, the guides did the best they could but the trail is VERY well trodden with railings everywhere and benches every ten meters?! When you reach the top you can still hear the Rock view generator...enough to scare off most the wildlife. After clambering up the mountain at Rewa this was no comparison.
The atmosphere was tense and we found out afterwards that this place is run with an iron fist, i feel for the staff. The guides did their very best for us but their skills are wasted here.
The other lodges we stayed at are run by the local villagers and the atmosphere was MUCH more pleasant. We would not recommend "colinville" for wildlife lovers.
Fine if you want to stop and get cleaned up and get your washing done but there is nothing to do here, we soon realised they were stretched for things to show us after having the rather odd "orientation" of the grounds (including family graves!) and then being shown the photo album of the building of the place and of Colin's family and friends?!
We went to Guyana to see wildlife living in their natural habitat and have no interest in how a nonnative man built his house and planted an artificial garden in the beautiful wilderness. At night we wanted to here the sounds of the nocturnal wildlife not blaring music from their bar area.
Unfortunately we got stuck here for two days, after being rudely told, incorrectly by Colin, that our itinerary couldn't be changed, so we walked the very short nature trail one morning, the guides did the best they could but the trail is VERY well trodden with railings everywhere and benches every ten meters?! When you reach the top you can still hear the Rock view generator...enough to scare off most the wildlife. After clambering up the mountain at Rewa this was no comparison.
The atmosphere was tense and we found out afterwards that this place is run with an iron fist, i feel for the staff. The guides did their very best for us but their skills are wasted here.
The other lodges we stayed at are run by the local villagers and the atmosphere was MUCH more pleasant. We would not recommend "colinville" for wildlife lovers.
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Date of stay: January 2012Trip type: Traveled with friends
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I can't say that I hated the place ... it was perfectly comfortable. However, everyone seemed far more interested in making money than in the wildlife. Apart from Hendrix (the birding guide, who was great) everyone else seemed uninterested in the surroundings and had a very laissez faire attitude. The trip to the local school was a fiasco. And to be charged $40 for an hours plodding along on a horse was pretty much daylight robbery.
The accommodation is very comfortable but the place has no soul. If you're into wildlife (which was my main reason for going to Guyana) there are much better places to stay - Karanambu, for example.
The accommodation is very comfortable but the place has no soul. If you're into wildlife (which was my main reason for going to Guyana) there are much better places to stay - Karanambu, for example.
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Date of stay: November 2008Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rock View lodge was the worst place we stayed in Guyana. Yes it may have good food and more comfort than some of the other lodges but the attitude of the owner Colin (he is English), to his staff was disgusting. He treats them like dirt.
He also condones the idea that having wild animals as pets is OK (he used to keep a Tapir in captivity) which to our group of 12 wildlife enthusiasts is appalling. A poor Caimen (crocodile) is in a tiny concrete hole.
The domestic ducks are kept in terrible conditions with a 'pond' that is more than filthy and for this reason alone I would never stay there again.
I would advise anyone going to Guyana to miss this place and stay in the lodges run by the Amerindians.
He also condones the idea that having wild animals as pets is OK (he used to keep a Tapir in captivity) which to our group of 12 wildlife enthusiasts is appalling. A poor Caimen (crocodile) is in a tiny concrete hole.
The domestic ducks are kept in terrible conditions with a 'pond' that is more than filthy and for this reason alone I would never stay there again.
I would advise anyone going to Guyana to miss this place and stay in the lodges run by the Amerindians.
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Date of stay: March 2014Trip type: Traveled with friends
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rockview rooms are so comfortable and well-appointed that they feel more like a thoughtfully cozy, lovingly operated motel than an eco-lodge in the interior of Guyana. The showers even have a gizmo on them that can slightly heat the water – be sure to ask how to operate them.
In fact, we had to ask about everything – meals, electricity, laundry, etc. It was the only place on our entire trip where nobody welcomed us with that information. We also learned by-the-by that the rooms are supposed to have umbrellas in them, so be sure to request one if your room lacks one at check-in – as ours did.
There is a small, pretty pool. The water was cloudy, but there was a pump which may clear it up when it is working. There are plenty of stools, but only one lounge chair. There are no towels at the pool, so be sure to bring one from your room.
The grounds are flat, dry, and unremarkable except that many of the native and imported plantings are labeled. There are assorted bird, butterfly, and hummingbird feeders scattered about, which makes for a fluttery ambience.
Although the guides are uneven, the food is superb! The best soups in the Rupununi, the most and most varied fruits and veggies, and truly inspired seasonings on all. The informal afternoon tea is a delicious opportunity to chat with other guests.
For us the high point of Rockview was our host, Colin Edwards. He’s a living history of the region, full of tales and accomplishments – but looking ever forward with still more ambitious plans. He joins the guests for most meals and will be delighted to show you around the amazing garden. He’s much in demand, so try to informally book your garden tour soon after your arrival.
Other pleasures are cashew processing, weaving, and vaquero skills demos.
Most Guyana package tours stay at Rockview and for some, that’s their only “interior” experience. If you are on such a tour, try to arrange some stays before or after the packaged itinerary in some of the other Guyana eco-lodges. Rockview is pleasant, but doesn’t come even close to providing the real interior experiences we most enjoyed other places. Rock View is far less scenic and the staff, unlike the staff everywhere else, seemed rather glum and comparitively less eager to please.
Tip: Although there is a gift shop on the grounds, you might want to take a short stroll down the road to a very small village owned-and-operated gift shop with very interesting locally-made items. Be sure to have someone at Rock View call ahead so the place can open up for you.
In fact, we had to ask about everything – meals, electricity, laundry, etc. It was the only place on our entire trip where nobody welcomed us with that information. We also learned by-the-by that the rooms are supposed to have umbrellas in them, so be sure to request one if your room lacks one at check-in – as ours did.
There is a small, pretty pool. The water was cloudy, but there was a pump which may clear it up when it is working. There are plenty of stools, but only one lounge chair. There are no towels at the pool, so be sure to bring one from your room.
The grounds are flat, dry, and unremarkable except that many of the native and imported plantings are labeled. There are assorted bird, butterfly, and hummingbird feeders scattered about, which makes for a fluttery ambience.
Although the guides are uneven, the food is superb! The best soups in the Rupununi, the most and most varied fruits and veggies, and truly inspired seasonings on all. The informal afternoon tea is a delicious opportunity to chat with other guests.
For us the high point of Rockview was our host, Colin Edwards. He’s a living history of the region, full of tales and accomplishments – but looking ever forward with still more ambitious plans. He joins the guests for most meals and will be delighted to show you around the amazing garden. He’s much in demand, so try to informally book your garden tour soon after your arrival.
Other pleasures are cashew processing, weaving, and vaquero skills demos.
Most Guyana package tours stay at Rockview and for some, that’s their only “interior” experience. If you are on such a tour, try to arrange some stays before or after the packaged itinerary in some of the other Guyana eco-lodges. Rockview is pleasant, but doesn’t come even close to providing the real interior experiences we most enjoyed other places. Rock View is far less scenic and the staff, unlike the staff everywhere else, seemed rather glum and comparitively less eager to please.
Tip: Although there is a gift shop on the grounds, you might want to take a short stroll down the road to a very small village owned-and-operated gift shop with very interesting locally-made items. Be sure to have someone at Rock View call ahead so the place can open up for you.
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Date of stay: January 2012Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It's actually quite easy to fly to different areas. There are several airlines in Guyana that take you into the interior of the country.
Based on my experience I would recommend you go to the Eugene F. Correia International Airport and visit all the airline operators. As well as the established operators there was at least one smaller operator who flew me to rockview lodge. I think it was called overland? Although small it was very professional and the pilot knowledgeable.
No. There wasn't hot water in any of the lodges we stayed at in Guyana but as the weather is very hot and humid we had no problems with this, but I would stress Rock View would be the last place I'd choose - see previous review.
"Bring sunscreen and lots of deet. Bring only quick dry clothes and expect to sweat!"Read full review
"If you aren't travelling with kids, ask for a double room rather than a family room as the beds in the doubles are bigger."Read full review
LOCATION
GuyanaUpper Takutu-Upper EssequiboAnnai
NUMBER OF ROOMS
14
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Frequently Asked Questions about Rock View Lodge
What are some of the property amenities at Rock View Lodge?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, a pool, and an on-site restaurant.
What food & drink options are available at Rock View Lodge?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant and a lounge during their stay.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Rock View Lodge?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.