Georgetown Victoria Buxton Emancipation History Cooking Tour

Monuments, village history, and the kitchen where the story continues

A six-hour guided tour through Georgetown, Victoria and Buxton that traces the emancipation of enslaved people in Guyana through monuments, museums and the villages the freed built. You visit the 1763 Monument and the site of the 1823 slave revolt, tour the Buxton Friendship Museum and meet a third-generation herbalist descendant of the women who stopped the train protesting colonial taxes, then cook traditional Guyanese dishes (Cook-Up rice, Metemgee, fried fish and conkee) in the Secret Garden while listening to live African drumming and guitar.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore emancipation history and local cuisine

• Visit the 1763 Monument
• See the 1823 slave revolt monument
• Stop at Bellfield for cane juice and snacks
• Journey to Victoria village
• Tour Buxton Friendship Museum
• Visit Buxton Train station protest site
• Meet Auntie Gloria, local herbalist
• Visit monument in Beterverwagting
• Cook traditional dishes at Secret Garden
• Enjoy African drumming and live songs

The experience

The tour opens at the 1763 Monument, which marks the first rebellion against slavery in Guyana, then moves to the 1823 Monument commemorating the slave revolt that finally ended the system. A stop at a local stall in Bellfield for cane juice and snacks breaks the morning before you travel to Victoria, the first village in Guyana purchased by freed ex-slaves after emancipation. The Buxton Friendship Museum is where the guide walks you through how the village was founded and built by people who had just gained their freedom.

At Buxton, you stand at the site of the old train station where freed women protested against the colonial governor's taxes: a moment of resistance that shaped the village's identity. You then meet Auntie Gloria, a third-generation herbalist whose grandmother and mother before her were among those women who stopped the train. She carries forward the healing knowledge passed down through her family. A final stop at the Beterverwagting monument completes the historical arc before the group moves to the Secret Garden in Georgetown.

The afternoon shifts to the kitchen. You prepare Cook-Up rice, Metemgee with pumpkin dumplings, fried fish and conkee (a coconut dessert wrapped in a banana leaf) tracing each dish back to the time of slavery and freedom. African drumming plays while you cook, and a guitarist performs songs to close the day. Lunch is included. The guide speaks English or German.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup.
• a live guide in English or German.
• entry to the Buxton Friendship Museum.
• lunch.
• all monument and village visits.
• the cooking session and ingredients for the traditional dishes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (14 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 13 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 21 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Singing Chef Adventures

Is this one for you?This tour works best for small groups or individuals who want the full historical context (the monuments, the museum, the living connection through Auntie Gloria), and who are willing to spend an afternoon in the kitchen rather than watching a demonstration. The six-hour pace allows time at each stop without rushing.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years); Child (4 to 13 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is the 1763 Monument and why does the tour start there?

The 1763 Monument marks the first rebellion against slavery in Guyana. The tour begins there to establish the earliest moment of resistance before moving through the 1823 revolt and the villages that followed emancipation.

Who is Auntie Gloria and what does meeting her add to the tour?

Auntie Gloria is the granddaughter of the freed women who stopped the train at Buxton station to protest colonial taxes. She is a third-generation herbalist continuing the healing practice her grandmother and mother passed down, connecting the historical struggle directly to living memory in the village.

Do I actually cook the food or watch a demonstration?

You prepare the dishes yourself (Cook-Up rice, Metemgee, fried fish and conkee) in the Secret Garden kitchen. The guide explains the origins of each dish and how they trace back to the time of slavery and emancipation.

What is included in the price?

Lunch is included. The guide, all monument visits, the museum tour, the meeting with Auntie Gloria and the cooking session are part of the tour. Hotel pickup is included.

How long does the cooking part take?

The tour runs six hours total. The cooking and drumming session takes place in the afternoon at the Secret Garden, with the exact timing depending on how the morning stops unfold.