Highlights
Paramaribo historic inner city
A UNESCO-listed grid of white-painted wooden buildings along the Suriname River. See the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, one of the largest wooden buildings in the Americas, the Presidential Palace and the shaded Palm Garden behind it.
Fort Zeelandia
A star-shaped fort on the riverfront in Paramaribo, now home to the Suriname Museum. It is also a memorial site for the December murders of 1982, which are explained in the exhibits.
Commewijne plantations
Across the river from Paramaribo, former plantations such as Frederiksdorp and Peperpot can be explored by bicycle along a quiet loop. Look for capuchin monkeys in the trees, and the dolphins that are sometimes seen where the rivers meet.
Central Suriname Nature Reserve
A vast area of pristine rainforest listed by UNESCO, reached by small plane or long boat journeys. Raleighvallen's rapids and the granite dome of the Voltzberg, climbed for views over unbroken forest, are the usual destinations.
Brownsberg Nature Park
A plateau a few hours' drive south of Paramaribo with waterfalls, howler and spider monkeys, and views over the huge Brokopondo reservoir. It is one of the most accessible ways to see the interior.
Upper Suriname River
Boat trips upriver from Atjoni lead to Maroon villages founded by people who escaped slavery, where traditions of wood carving, music and village life continue. Lodges on the river offer guided visits.
Galibi turtle beaches
Near the mouth of the Marowijne River, leatherback and green turtles come ashore to nest, mainly between about February and August. Visits are arranged with guides from local Indigenous communities.
Interesting facts about Suriname
- Suriname is one of the most heavily forested countries in the world, with forest covering more than 90 percent of its land.
- In 1667 the Dutch and English agreed, in the Treaty of Breda, to keep the territories they had captured, so the Dutch held Suriname while the English held New Amsterdam, which became New York.
- On Keizerstraat in Paramaribo, the Neveh Shalom synagogue and a large mosque stand next to each other.
- Suriname became independent from the Netherlands in 1975 and is the only Dutch-speaking country in South America.
- Its population includes people of Hindustani, Maroon, Creole, Javanese, Chinese, Indigenous and European descent, and Sranan Tongo, an English-based creole, works as a common language across groups.
Best time to visit
Suriname is hot and humid all year. There are two drier periods, from roughly February to April and August to November, which are the best times to visit, especially for travel into the interior when rivers and trails are easier. The main rainy season runs from about late April to July, with a shorter one around December and January. Turtle nesting at Galibi peaks between February and August.
Practical information
| Capital | Paramaribo |
|---|---|
| Currency | Surinamese dollar (SRD) |
| Languages | Dutch (official), Sranan Tongo (widely spoken) |
| Plugs | Type C, F |
| Voltage | 127 V, 60 Hz |
| Emergency | 115 |
| Driving | On the left |
| Tipping | Around 10 percent in restaurants if service is not included; tips for guides and boatmen are appreciated. |
Getting around
Paramaribo's centre is walkable. Minibuses run on fixed routes to most coastal towns, and taxis should be agreed on price first or booked by phone. The coastal East-West Highway links Nieuw Nickerie near Guyana with Albina near French Guiana, and a hire car is fine for this road. The interior has very few roads, so travel there is mostly by river boat or small plane, usually arranged as a package with a tour operator. Bicycles are a good way to explore the Commewijne plantations.
Staying connected in Suriname
Mobile coverage is good in Paramaribo and along the coastal belt, with 4G in the capital and larger towns. In the interior, including the nature reserves and along the upper rivers, coverage is very limited or absent, and lodges may rely on satellite Wi-Fi or have no connection at all. Most hotels and guesthouses in Paramaribo offer Wi-Fi. Download offline maps and tell people you may be out of contact. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.
See Suriname eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Suriname
- Google Maps: Getting around Paramaribo and the coast; download offline maps before heading inland.
- Google Translate: Dutch translation, although English is widely understood in the capital.
- WhatsApp: The usual way to contact guides, lodges, taxi drivers and tour operators.
- XE Currency: Converting between Surinamese dollars, US dollars and euros, all of which you may come across.