Suriname

Get in

thumb|375px|Countries marked in green enjoy visa free travel, while those marked in red get a visa on arrival

Get around

Since not many tourists visit Suriname yet and the inner-land is not within easy reach, the expenses of travel are higher than you might expect. Tourist attractions can be more expensive than in Europe or the United States. It is expected that this will change in the near future since there is an annual increase visible in foreign tourists, creating the necessity of working on better roads as well as other ways of cheaper transportation.

See

thumb|Wooden houses in one of the jungle villages along the Marowine river thumb|Lake Brokopondo With almost a third of the country being declared national reserves, Suriname's main tourist attraction are its vast natural lands and the diversity of flora and fauna in them. Head to the beaches of Galibi and Albina to witness the impressive breeding process of large Leatherback sea turtles, or book a helicopter ride to one of the more remote beaches to see the same, with fewer people around. Spot river dolphins on the way and see the typical mangrove forests between the ocean and the rain forests. The Amazon rain forests cover most of the Surinam surface and is home to thousands of birds, reptiles, monkeys and even a handful of jaguars. As tourism develops, guided tours and resorts in the heart of the jungle are popping up and make a comfortable option if you want to spend a few days spotting wildlife or plants, including the rubber tree, spike-footed palms, plenty of orchids and cacti. Day trips are an option too. The Central Suriname Nature Reserve is the most popular of the reserves and is home to the Raleigh waterfalls and mount Voltzberg. Brownsberg Nature Park is home to one of the largest man-made lakes in the world: the Brokopondo Reservoir. Visit Tonka Island to see the ecotourism project that Saramaccaner Maroons have set up there.

Maroon and Amerindian villages are found deep in the forests, but many of them also lie on the riverbanks. A boat trip down the Marowijne…

Do

thumb|Waterfall in Brownsberg Although most if not all visitors will probably visit Paramaribo it is well worth getting out to explore other regions that are all in great contrast with the capital.

Most people travel beyond the capital as part of package tours, including many tailored to Dutch backpacker budgets, which as of 2025 means around 100-200 euro per day, cheaper than Guyana and comparable to many other South American countries, though not among the world's cheapest. These can get you to spectacularly remote places in the Surinamese interior, though unlike in Guyana, they tend not to be geared heavily towards wildlife watching (with Bigi Pan and the Paramaribo dolphinwatching being the exceptions). Be aware that tour operators in Suriname often have a bit of a fast-and-loose approach, for example selling you a package tour without truly knowing the itinerary or which activities will be provided. In some cases you might be able to get around this by getting directly in contact with the lodges where the participants are accommodated during the tours, who usually are the ones providing the guides. But a more typical approach is just to set your expectations a little low and go with the flow.

For the more adventurous, Suriname is challenging to travel around independently, but certainly not with impossible. In many cases there are lesser-known public or shared transportation options if you're willing to ask around and rough it a bit.

Buy

right|thumb|315px|$20 Surinamese banknote Accommodation and food is relatively cheap. Retail prices for clothing, gifts, etc, are similar to Western Euurope and the US.

Things which are well worth buying are: Handcrafted jewellery handcrafted woodcarvings art Tropical flowers Perfumes

Eat

thumb|The regional version of chicken masala, served with roti, is one of the most popular dishes in the country. Because of the ethnic diversity there is a variety of exotic food available. Indian (specially roti with chicken), Chinese, Javanese (Indonesian), Creole.

Drink

Suriname wouldn't be the tropical paradise it is without its wide variety of great fruit juices. Even the well-known orange juice is a sensational taste, but do not hesitate to try great tropical fruits like passion fruit (known locally as 'markoesa') or soursop, better known as guanábana (locally known as 'zuurzak'). Since locals have an appetite for sweetness, sugar is added to most juices you buy in bottles. For pure juice it is best to ask for freshly made juice.

In the city it's also possible to get shaved ice in different flavours from the local vendors, which is very refreshing in the tropical climate.

The Javanese have a pink (and occasionally green) coloured drink called dawet, which consists of coconut milk.

Try to get a local 'east-Indian' to make you a glass of lassi if you have the chance.

Sleep

thumb|Street scene in Nickerie There are several good hostels and guest-houses available in Paramaribo and Nickerie. See the appropriate page for more information. When going into the rainforest it is best to buy a hammock in Paramaribo. Some guest houses in the forest provide hammocks, but these tend to be less hygienic, since washing machines are not that available in the forest. Bring mosquito repellent and sunblock when going into the forest.

Stay safe

If you are concerned about safety try to avoid venturing at night alone. Try using a bike when possible. When in Paramaribo at night, avoid the Palm Garden as this is a well known crime site where much drug trade is done. The police force is only so large and can only protect you to a certain extent. Therefore, stay where you know police protection is offered. So please, use common sense when venturing outside downtown, which in itself can have problems. Do not venture to the bush (binnenland) alone.

Stay healthy

To enter Suriname there's no need for any special kind of vaccination, though some are recommended (see below).

If you plan a jungle-trip, which is highly recommended, it is possible that you may want to take precautions against malaria, depending on the area you are planning to visit (although since 2005 there have not been any cases of malaria reported in Suriname).

Be sure to check with BOG, or your local pharmacist or health clinic what prophylactic you should take. The bigger threat nowadays comes from dengue, also spread by mosquitoes, for which there is no prophylactic, nor any cure. Traveller's diarrhoea can also potentially be a problem.

Tap water is drinkable in Paramaribo but not elsewhere.

Yellow fever vaccination is recommended (and is required to get into Brazil afterwards!) Tetanus-diphtheria vaccination is recommended. Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended.

The adult HIV/AIDS prevalence is reaching 2% or 1 in 50 adults, which is 3 times higher than the US and 9 times higher than the Netherlands. Be sure to practice safe sex.

The CDC has listed Suriname as a country affected by the Zika pandemic. Men and women planning to become pregnant, and pregnant women are advised to take extra caution.

If you are near French Guyana, you can move to the French side, where you can get treatment with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).