A vast conical thatched structure on the seawall side of the city, the Umana Yana is a public landmark celebrating the architecture of the Wai-Wai people of southern Guyana. The traditional benabs of this scale would normally house an entire village; here the structure serves as a ceremonial space for public events, exhibitions, and cultural performances.
The current building was rebuilt in 2016 after the original burnt down. The interior, a single open space twenty metres high at the apex, is impressive. Check whether there is an event on — it is occasionally used as an exhibition venue.