The story
Welcome to the heartbeat of the Essequibo Coast. I’m Avsha, and as we travel down this iconic stretch known as Charity Road, I’m going to help you answer those burning questions your guests always seem to ask the moment the scenery shifts from the open sea wall to this bustling corridor. The first question is almost always about the name.
Why Charity? Well, it isn’t just a pleasant sentiment. This area was once a sprawling seventeenth-century estate owned by a Portuguese family who were known for their local benevolence, but the name truly solidified during the transition from Dutch to British rule.
It was the final point of civilization before the wild frontier of the Pomeroon began, a place where travelers were given grace and supplies before disappearing into the jungle. As you look out the window, you’ll notice the architecture starts to change. Your guests will ask about the towering, weathered wooden structures that look like they’re standing on stilts.
Those are traditional colonial-era designs, built high to escape the seasonal flooding of the river and to catch the breeze. You’re looking at a living history of hydraulic engineering. To your right, keep an eye out for the old Alfonso trading post.
It’s been the center of commerce here for generations. People ask, what do they actually sell here? The answer is everything.
This is the gateway to the interior. On a Monday morning, this road transforms into one of the most vibrant open-air markets in the region. You’ll see farmers coming in from the deep Pomeroon with boatloads of ginger, coffee, and those famous Pomeroon coconuts which, local legend says, are the sweetest in the world because of the brackish sediment in the water.
Your guests might wonder why the road seems to end so abruptly. That’s because Charity is a cul-de-sac of the coast but a highway of the water. We are heading toward the stelling, the massive wharf where the road literally meets the river.
This is the jumping-off point for Shell Beach and the Venezuelan border. If they ask about the noise and the energy, tell them they’re hearing the sound of a crossroads. This isn't just a street; it’s a transition between the organized coastal plains and the untamed spirit of the river.
Take a deep breath as we approach the water—that scent of fresh rain, diesel, and ripening fruit is the authentic smell of Charity. It’s a place that never sleeps because the river never stops flowing. Now, look ahead as the masts of the riverboats come into view, signaling that our land journey is just the beginning of the story.