Visiting Suriname: Paramaribo, jungle and itinerary

A former Dutch colony independent since 1975, Suriname is the smallest country in South America. Its capital Paramaribo lines up UNESCO-listed wooden houses, while the forest-covered interior is explored by dugout canoe up to the Maroon villages of the Upper Suriname River.

Why travel to Suriname?

Suriname combines a capital whose historic centre has been on the World Heritage list since 2002 with rainforest covering the vast majority of the territory. Dutch is the official language, direct flights link Amsterdam with Paramaribo, and the country extends naturally into neighbouring Guyana.

What to discover in Suriname?

Paramaribo, a city of wood and cultures

Paramaribo's UNESCO-listed historic centre lines the Suriname River with white wooden houses and green shutters inherited from the Dutch period. Fort Zeelandia, now a museum, the palm garden and the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul can be visited on foot in a day. On Keizerstraat, a mosque and a synagogue stand side by side, a symbol of a society where descendants of Africans, Indians, Javanese and Chinese live alongside Amerindian peoples. Allow two to three nights, and try Javanese food at the warungs of Blauwgrond, an ideal gateway to forested South America.

Commewijne and the coast

Across the river, the Commewijne district lines up former coffee, cocoa and sugar plantations such as Frederiksdorp and the Peperpot nature park, where monkeys and birds can be seen. The most enjoyable way to explore it is a day by bike, about thirty kilometres, crossing the river by boat. At the confluence of the Suriname and Commewijne rivers, late-afternoon boat trips often spot Guiana dolphins. Further east, near Albina, the beaches of Galibi host nesting leatherback turtles, mainly from April to July.

The interior: Brownsberg, Brokopondo and the Upper Suriname

About two and a half hours' drive south of Paramaribo, Brownsberg nature park overlooks the Brokopondo reservoir, created in the 1960s, with waterfalls and trails where howler monkeys can be heard. Further on, the road ends at Atjoni: from there, motorised dugouts continue to the Upper Suriname lodges, set near Saramaccan villages. Allow at least three to four days for this part of the trip. For the UNESCO-listed Central Suriname Nature Reserve, access to Raleigh Falls and the Voltzberg is by small plane or a long boat journey, always arranged through an agency.

Cities to visit in Suriname

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Not to miss in Suriname

Five places that tell the country's story, from the colonial capital to the deep forest.

Fort Zeelandia

A star-shaped fort on the river, now a museum of Surinamese history, the starting point of any visit to Paramaribo.

Saints Peter and Paul Basilica

A cathedral built entirely of cedar wood, often cited among the largest wooden buildings in the Americas.

Keizerstraat

A street where the main mosque and the Neve Shalom synagogue stand side by side, an image of Surinamese religious coexistence.

Peperpot plantation

A former coffee and cocoa plantation reclaimed by forest, crossed by trails well suited to watching birds and monkeys.

Voltzberg

A granite dome rising from the forest in the Central Suriname reserve, whose summit looks out over an endless canopy.

Frequently asked questions

How do you get to Suriname from Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni?
Cross the Maroni by ferry or dugout canoe to Albina, where entry formalities take place, then continue to Paramaribo by road, about 140 kilometres, in two and a half hours by minibus or shared taxi.
How many days should you allow for the Upper Suriname?
Three days is a minimum, as the journey from Paramaribo, by road then by dugout from Atjoni, takes up much of the first and last days. Four or five days allow time for forest walks and visits to Saramaccan villages.
Where can you see dolphins near Paramaribo?
At the confluence of the Suriname and Commewijne rivers, boat trips leave in the late afternoon from Paramaribo or Leonsberg. Guiana dolphins are frequently seen there, and the outing often ends with sunset over the river.
When can you watch turtles nesting at Galibi?
The leatherback nesting season runs mainly from April to July, on the beaches of the Galibi reserve at the mouth of the Maroni. Access is by boat from Albina, with a night spent near the Amerindian villages, and viewing takes place at night with a guide.
Do you need to speak Dutch to travel in Suriname?
No, English is widely understood in tourism and in Paramaribo, and Sranan Tongo serves as a common language between communities. In the interior, lodge guides interpret with the villages, where Maroon languages are mostly spoken.

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