evidence: Have you ever heard of the Essequibo River, one of Guyana’s three great rivers? A day trip along this river is a great way to explore the history and nature of Guyana without having to travel far from Georgetown! [...] We also learned that the Essequibo River is named after Juan de Esquivel, a Castillian seafarer and explorer who accompanied Christopher Columbus on some of his voyages to the West Indies. Esquivel never actually visited Guyana, but his ships did – the first recorded European journey to the Essequibo river dates back to 1499. [...] Essequibo River Practical Info - Our tour was organised by Old Fort Tours, a Guyanese tour operator specialising in the Essequibo River area.