Suriname | Travel Guide. Tips & Inspiration

I feel so blessed and grateful I was able to squeeze in a holiday in early March 2020 before the COVID – 19 Stay Home Order issued by the government in the UK. Hope you enjoy reading this blog, as much as I enjoyed and loved my time in Suriname.

History

Tucked away in the forests of the Guianas, Suriname doesn't stand out as a must-see destination when planning a trip to South America. It’s a speck on the map, easy to overlook in the enormity of its continent - but dismiss it at your peril. With its wealth of nature reserves and protected parkland, Suriname is a little-explored playground for trail-blazing wildlife-lovers and adventurers.

This is one of my favorite places on earth. Suriname is full of vibrancy, culture and good food. Suriname is made up of people from all nationalities which makes this place unique. Surinamese culture is very diverse and dynamic, and has strong Asian, African and European influences. The population is mainly composed of the contribution of people from the Netherlands, India, Africa, china and Indonesia, as well as indigenous people who lived in the area, before the arrival of the European settlers.

Getting around in Suriname

There are few roads in Suriname, so don’t expect to be able to travel by car or public transport far from the coastal cities. To add complication, there are no scheduled internal flights, so chartering light aircraft is your best bet. Although this can be expensive it is, at least, a spectacular way to see the country. It is possible to travel by land from Paramaribo to the borders of Guyana and French Guiana by state-run buses, but routes, costs and departure times are liable to change at short notice.

Accommodation in Suriname

Most accommodation in Suriname range from home-stays in private households, to larger, luxury hotels with price tags to match. Nature parks and reserves generally offer accommodation, although in many areas (especially Wia-Wia National Park) these tend to be basic.

Food & Drink in Suriname

Suriname boasts an incredible array of cuisine. Staples include rice, black eye beans, and cassava. Chicken and meat are popular in a variety of cuisine styles including Chinese, Creole, Amerindian and Indian. Pepperpot, an Amerindian-style meat stew, is a favorite. Parbo Bier & Borgoe Rum are the tipples of choice.

Join in the festivities celebrating unity in diversity

The Surinamese people sure know how to celebrate their identity as different ethnic groups in one, unified nation. Wear white shirts and shower with brightly coloured powders during the Hindu celebration of Holi Phagwa in March. There is Wandelmars (Four Day March) during Easter, which is considered as their version of Mardi Gras, where every ethnic group participates in their most colourful traditional costumes dancing through the streets as they march. There is Keti-koti every July commemorating the abolishment of slavery, setting the Maroon (Black people) finally free, Surifesta and Owru Yari (Old to New), the grandest celebration of all, during the last week of the last month of the year giving way to the coming New Year, when street parties are endless and when Pagara’s (their version of sinturon ni hudas, only it is a street block long) are lighted to get rid of the bad energies of the old year.

What to do

Suriname do not have beaches; their alternatives of a beach is called a Kreek which is very similar to a lake. Here people come together to chill or rock in a hammock, cook and eat and take a dip in the cool water in the hot sun. Its so fun that you can spend the whole day there or even have an overnight stay there. I would recommend going to either Warappa Kreek Carolina Kreek or Cola Kreek.

Cola Creek is one of the most well-known and classical places outside the city to go swimming locally. The reason that it's called that is because water in the jungle in Suriname is a dark brown and looks almost black or Blackish due to the jungle and the dense vegetation filtering out most impurities and leaves falling in it on a massive scale. The leaves are generally brown, so hence the colour. 

Waterkant - a Riverside boulevard of Paramaribo. The Waterkant has nice souvenirs shops, period building and few pubs, dancing, and restaurant with excellent views over the river.

Visit the capital, Paramaribo - Spend a little time walking the streets of the city and you’ll soon see it for the exciting, eclectic capital that it is. Synagogues stand alongside mosques, near Hindu temples and Christian churches - all of which are worth admiring.

For more cultural diversity, head to the market where the smell of spices from all over the world waft above the hectic and crowded stalls. If it’s food you’re after, stay on the bottom floor. Go up a level for shopping, and to search for bright clothing.

Climb Voltzberg Mountain - Jutting out of the green-drenched Voltzberg Nature Reserve, like a dusty rock from outer space is the park’s namesake – the Voltzberg Mountain. This 240m-high peak is best climbed at sunrise. On the way up, expect to see birdlife, along with myriad species of monkey.

After around four hours, you’ll be at the top of the giant, granite monolith. Here, you can enjoy views of the rising and dipping dark green treetops, extending far into the horizon, where they seemingly touch the glowing pink sky.

Once back at the bottom, make sure you explore the many falls nearby, where you can watch the water rushing over rocks, cool down and have fun in the rapids.

Watch turtles lay their eggs - these slow, gentle giants nesting down to lay their eggs, in the warm sands that fringe the Atlantic Ocean, is a sight that will stay with you forever. Increase your chances of witnessing the phenomenon by heading to the huge stretch of copper-coloured sand that makes up Matapica Beach, arguably the best place in Suriname for turtle spotting.

Between February and May, you’ll likely see green turtles nesting. Go between April and July to see leatherbacks. If you’re lucky, you may even catch the rare sight of a hawksbill turtle laying their eggs.

Another hot spot to try is the turtle sanctuary in Galibi Nature Reserve, where green, leatherback, hawksbill, and the rare olive ridley turtles come to find refuge on the beach.  

Things to try

·       Bami – is a typical dish Suriname. Bami is an Indonesian type of noodle.

·       Fresh coconut water – don’t forget to eat the jelly inside!

·       Vleesworst – beef or chicken either grilled or fried served with a spicy peanut sauce.

·       Dawet – An Indonesian coconut drink.

·       Fresh tropical fruits (Tamarinde, knippa, bacove, rambutan, etc)

Other places to visit

·       Monkey around in Brownsberg Nature Park

·       Visit plantations in Commewijne

·       ATV Quad and Zipline Tour from Paramaribo

Be safe and stay at home xx