Matthews Ridge

Matthews Ridge is a small hilltop community deep in Guyana's Barima-Waini Region (Region One), set in the rainforested interior of the country's remote northwest, roughly 62 km inland from the river port of Port Kaituma. Its modern history is bound up with manganese: between 1962 and 1968, Union Carbide ran a large open-cast manganese operation here, producing on the order of 800 tonnes of concentrate a day at its peak. Because the ridge had no navigable river of its own, the company built a 62 km, 42-inch narrow-gauge railway down to Port Kaituma, where the ore was barged out to sea and on to Trinidad. For a brief moment in the 1960s the town's prospects ran so high that, under President Forbes Burnham's drive to populate Guyana's interior, Matthews Ridge was floated as a possible new national capital.

The mine closed in 1968 as world manganese prices fell, the railway was abandoned and partly cut up for scrap, and the town receded into quiet. Today Matthews Ridge is a close-knit, multi-ethnic village — with a strong Amerindian presence — known for its hospitable people, its lush, hilly rainforest setting, and an abundance of fruit trees, birds, and wildlife. Manganese has stirred again in the modern era: the deposit was revived by Canada's Reunion Manganese and, from 2019, by Guyana Manganese Incorporated, and the village has seen renewed infrastructure investment, including plans to rebuild and lengthen its airstrip.

The climate is hot, humid, and equatorial, with rain possible year-round; the drier spells (roughly September–November and around March) make for easier travel, while the heaviest rains (May–July and December–January) can turn the interior roads and bush tracks to mud. The settlement is compact and hilly, clustered around the old mining district, the airstrip on the village outskirts, and the surrounding farms and forest.

By Plane

Matthews Ridge Airport (IATA: MWJ, ICAO: SYMR) is a bush airstrip on the edge of the village and the most practical way in. Small aircraft fly from Georgetown's Eugene F. Correia (Ogle) International Airport (OGL), a hop of around 40 minutes. The strip has long been a basic gravel/grass landing ground; a major upgrade has been planned to lengthen and widen it (to around 4,000 ft by 80 ft) so it can take larger aircraft such as Beechcraft, increasing capacity. Flights are operated by small regional carriers and charters, are daylight-only, and should be booked and reconfirmed in advance as schedules flex with demand and weather.

By Train

There is no passenger rail service to Matthews Ridge. Guyana's rail network is limited and does not serve this area. Travelers must rely on road, air, or river transport to reach Matthews Ridge.

By Car / Road

Matthews Ridge is not connected to Guyana's coastal road network; access is by air or, indirectly, by river to Port Kaituma and then overland. A rough interior road runs the roughly 62 km between Port Kaituma and Matthews Ridge, broadly following the corridor of the dismantled manganese railway. It is a 4x4 track that suffers badly in the rains; shared pickups and hire vehicles ply it when conditions permit. Negotiate fares in Guyanese dollars (G$) before departing and expect a slow, rough ride.

Matthews Ridge is small and hilly, and most local movement is on foot or by motorcycle. There are no metered taxis, no buses, and no ride-hailing apps; for trips to outlying farms, mining areas, or back down to Port Kaituma, people rely on hired 4x4 pickups and bikes. Walking the village and its surrounds is pleasant given the greenery and birdlife, but the terrain is undulating and tracks can be muddy after rain. Carry Guyanese-dollar cash, agree any vehicle fare up front, and use trusted local contacts when heading into the bush.

• The old manganese mining district — the hilly, forested area around the former Union Carbide workings is the reason the town exists. The scarred ridges, remnants of the 1960s operation, and the renewed modern mining give the place a distinctive industrial-frontier character set against dense rainforest.

• Remnants of the manganese railway — traces of the 62 km narrow-gauge line that once linked the mine to Port Kaituma can still be made out along its old corridor, a tangible relic of the town's brief boom.

• Rainforest, hills, and wildlife — Matthews Ridge is wrapped in lush, hilly jungle alive with birds and animals, with fruit trees (lemons, pears, and more) lending the village a verdant, serene feel that visitors consistently remark on.

• Walk and sightsee the ridge — the hilly, rainforest-clad setting rewards unhurried exploration on foot, with sweeping greenery and abundant birdsong.

• Birdwatching and nature spotting — the surrounding forest is rich in birdlife and wildlife; quiet early-morning walks or guided excursions are the way to enjoy it.

• Engage with village life — Matthews Ridge is known for its warm, welcoming, multi-ethnic community; meeting residents and learning the town's manganese history is part of the experience.

• Excursion to Port Kaituma — combine a visit with the river port downhill, reached along the old rail corridor, for the fuller picture of how mine and port worked together.

Eating in Matthews Ridge is simple, local, and Guyanese, centred on small eateries, rum shops, and home or guesthouse kitchens rather than restaurants. Expect interior staples such as cook-up rice, curries with roti, fried fish, pepperpot, and ground provisions (cassava, eddoes, plantain), often with Amerindian cassava products like cassava bread and casareep. Fresh local fruit is a genuine highlight given the village's orchards. Choices are limited and informal, so ask your host about meals and be flexible with what the day offers.

The village runs on coffee, soft drinks, fresh fruit juices and coconut water when in season, and Guyana's rum, with local rum shops doubling as social gathering places — El Dorado and Banks rum and Banks beer are the usual stock. Treat tap, well, and creek water as unsafe to drink: rely on bottled, boiled, or properly treated water, which matters in this hot, humid climate where keeping hydrated is important.

• Budget: A small number of basic guesthouses and rooms-for-rent serve Matthews Ridge, catering mainly to miners, officials, and the occasional traveller. Expect simple rooms with fans, intermittent power, and modest rates; arrange a room in advance, as formal options are very limited. Ask locally or through your air carrier for current contacts.
• Mid-range: > TODO: No mid-range accommodation exists in this remote interior village; all lodging is basic guesthouse-style.
• Upscale / heritage: > TODO: Matthews Ridge has no upscale accommodation; the nearest hotels are in Georgetown.

Matthews Ridge is a remote village, not a shopping town. A handful of general shops and small vendors stock food staples, household basics, hardware, and fuel for residents and miners; locally grown fruit and farm produce are the most characteristic things to pick up, the area being noted for its fruit trees and small-scale agriculture. Do not expect craft markets or souvenirs. Bring sufficient Guyanese-dollar cash from Georgetown, as card payments and ATMs are not to be relied on here.

• Port Kaituma (~62 km / rough road downhill) — the river port that shipped Matthews Ridge's manganese, and the area's main air and water gateway.
• Mabaruma (regional capital, via Port Kaituma and river) — the administrative hub of Barima-Waini, with onward links across the northwest.
• Shell Beach (northwest Atlantic coast, by boat from the Kaituma area) — a remote, protected beach known for nesting sea turtles.
• Georgetown (~40 minutes by air) — Guyana's capital, gateway to the rest of the country and its colonial architecture, markets, and museums.