Travel to Suriname — everything you need to know

When to go to Suriname?

Weather in Suriname

Check the weather city by city, starting with Paramaribo.

What to do in Suriname?

Suriname is the most forested country in the world, with over 93% of its territory covered by tropical Amazon rainforest, most of it protected and nearly untouched. A former Dutch colony, it presents a unique cultural mix in South America: Hindustanis, Javanese, African Maroons, Amerindians, Creoles and Chinese coexist in remarkable harmony. Paramaribo, its capital, is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its perfectly preserved Dutch colonial historic centre.

Paramaribo — UNESCO historic centre

Paramaribo's historic centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2002 for its exceptional 17th–19th-century Dutch colonial ensemble, with brightly painted wooden houses and streets lined with royal palms. The Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul, built entirely of tropical wood, is one of the largest of its kind in the world. The central market offers a fascinating cultural mix with its Hindustani, Javanese and Creole stalls.

Highlights : Fort Zeelandia — 17th-century Dutch fortress turned museum, Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul — the largest wooden church in the Americas, Central Market — crossroads of Surinamese cultures, Keizerstraat Mosque — mosque and synagogue side by side, a symbol of tolerance.

Raleighvallen Nature Reserve

The Raleighvallen Nature Reserve, at the heart of Suriname's Amazon rainforest, is accessible only by plane or canoe and offers one of the wildest ecotourism experiences in South America. Voltzberg and camping on the inselbergs (rocky hills rising above the canopy) allow visitors to observe jaguars, tapirs, monkeys and red-and-green macaws in their natural habitat. The Raleighvallen lodge welcomes travellers into a fully immersive setting.

Highlights : Jaguar and tapir spotting by canoe, Red-and-green macaw — a parrot endemic to Suriname, Raleigh rapids — powerful rapids in dense forest.

Maroon villages of the Maroni River

The Maroons are descendants of African slaves who fled Dutch plantations in the 17th–18th centuries to settle in the rainforest, where they recreated a unique African civilisation in the Americas. Their villages along the Maroni River, the natural border with French Guiana, are accessible by canoe from Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni on the French side. Maroon crafts — wood carvings, embroidered textiles, jewellery — are regarded among the finest in South America.

Highlights : Saramaka village — a matrilineal society of African origin, Canoe trip on the Maroni — a unique experience, Albina — the last village before the French Guiana border.

Brownsberg Nature Park

Brownsberg Nature Park, perched on a plateau at 500 metres altitude, offers spectacular views over the Brokopondo reservoir and the rainforest stretching to the horizon. Reachable in 3 hours from Paramaribo, it's the easiest gateway to Suriname's wild interior. Numerous trails let visitors observe howler monkeys, toucans and morpho butterflies in a preserved environment.

Highlights : Brownsberg plateau — panorama over Lake Brokopondo, Howler monkeys — nearly guaranteed sighting at dawn, Irene and Wiwo waterfalls — falls deep in the forest, Lake Brokopondo — artificial lake created by a hydroelectric dam.

Travel budget for Suriname

Suriname is an affordable destination for European travellers, with costs similar to its Guianese neighbours. Deep-forest ecotourism requires organised tours that increase the overall budget.

Practical tips for travelling to Suriname

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