Suriname
South America's smallest independent country and its most layered.
About Suriname
Suriname sits between Guyana and French Guiana on the northeast shoulder of South America and is the continent's smallest independent country by both area and population. Paramaribo, the capital, is a Dutch colonial wooden city on the bank of the Suriname River. Beyond the coast the country is more than 90 percent rainforest. Amerindian peoples have lived there for thousands of years, from the Kalina and Lokono near the coast to the Trio and Wajana in the far south. Maroon communities, descended from Africans who escaped plantation slavery, later built independent societies along the interior rivers, where they still live today. The cultural mix on the coast is Hindustani, Javanese, Creole, Maroon, Chinese, Amerindian and European, often in the same neighborhood. Suriname has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the historic inner city of Paramaribo, the Central Suriname Nature Reserve and the Jodensavanne archaeological site.
Highlights
- Paramaribo UNESCO World Heritage city
- Upper Suriname River, Maroon villages and jungle lodges
- Wildlife and Nature Resort, fly-in only, 240 km from the nearest road
- Pink belly dolphins, Bigi Pan birdlife and sea turtle nesting beaches
- Jodensavanne, the 17th-century Jewish savannah settlement (inscribed UNESCO in 2023)
Tours in Suriname
Paramaribo UNESCO Heritage Tour
Half-day walking tour of Paramaribo's UNESCO-listed inner city: Fort Zeelandia, Independence Square, the wooden Basilica, and the mosque and synagogue standing side by side.
Best of Paramaribo Full Day
Combined full-day tour covering the three essential Paramaribo experiences: the UNESCO World Heritage city tour, Peperpot Nature Park and afternoon dolphin spotting on the Suriname River.
Commewijne District Day Tour
Full-day boat and walking tour of Suriname's plantation district: dolphin spotting on the rivers, a former coffee-and-sugar plantation, an 18th-century coffee estate now restored as a heritage resort, with lunch at Frederiksdorp.
Bakkie Historical Plantation Day Tour
Full-day guided tour to Plantation Reynsdorp (Bakkie), a restored 18th-century coffee plantation on Warappa Creek in Commewijne, with the unique Museum Bakkie collection of original Stedman, Merian and Benoit prints.
Afternoon Dolphin Spotting River Tour
Late-afternoon boat tour on the Suriname River for sightings of the Guiana dolphin, locally known as the pink belly dolphin, on a traditional Surinamese tent boat. Departs at 4:00 PM.
Brownsberg Nature Park Day Tour
Full-day guided trek to Brownsberg Nature Park, a 12,000-hectare forested mountain reserve with waterfalls, primary rainforest hiking and panoramic views over the Brokopondo Reservoir.
Sea Turtle Nesting Tour
Evening boat tour to Braamspunt beach for observation of sea turtles nesting, a seasonal experience (late January to July) with three confirmed nesting species and minimal-impact viewing protocols.
Peperpot Nature Park Wildlife Tour
Half-day wildlife and history tour at Peperpot Nature Park, a former coffee plantation now returned to secondary forest, with sloths, howler monkeys, capuchins and over 270 bird species. Day or night options.
Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni Day Trip
Day trip from Suriname to French Guiana's border town of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, with the preserved penal colony complex (Camp de la Transportation) and the lively Marowijne riverfront and market.
Fishing Tours in Suriname
Full-day fishing on Brokopondo Reservoir for peacock bass and piranha, with optional multi-day expeditions (1–7 days) for trophy species. Arapaima (Wakama) tours are Guyana-only and not available in Suriname.
Bigi Pan Wetlands and Overwater Lodge
Two-day, one-night tour to Bigi Pan, a 68,000-hectare wetland reserve. Stay in a private overwater cabin with air conditioning, private bathroom and balcony. Birdwatching, scarlet ibis at sunset, night caiman spotting.
Two-Day Maroon Village Immersion: Jaw Jaw Atela
Two-day cultural immersion at Jaw Jaw Atela, a Maroon village on the Upper Suriname River, with overnight in a community-run lodge and choice of activities led by villagers.
Three-Day Upper Suriname River Lodge Experience
Three-day, two-night tour combining Upper Suriname River nature with structured Maroon cultural engagement. Choice of three resort options.
Three-Day Fredberg Mountain Jungle Expedition
Three-day, two-night expedition to Fredberg, a granite inselberg in central Suriname's interior. Hammock camping at summit, jungle treks, herping and panoramic forest views. For active travelers seeking remoteness.
Kasikasima Mountain Expedition (5 or 8 Days)
Five- or eight-day fly-in expedition to Mount Kasikasima, a granite massif in southeastern Suriname near the Brazilian border. Hammock camping at the Sawaniboto waterfall base camp, dugout canoe river travel and a 7-hour summit climb, run in partnership with the Trio and Wajana communities.
Kabalebo Nature Resort
Fly-in nature resort in southwestern Suriname, 240 km from the nearest road in primary rainforest. Choose four, five or eight days. Misty Mountain, Charlie Falls, Moi Moi Falls, BWKW Jungle Walk, Kilo 3 Creek and the Beechcraft Trail, drawn from a fixed daily program pool with Tuesday and Saturday flights from Zorg en Hoop.
Three-Day Guyana Highlights from Suriname
Three-day, two-night overland trip from Paramaribo into Guyana for the country's two signature sights, Georgetown's colonial center and Kaieteur Falls, with the Corantijn River ferry crossing and all border formalities handled. An easy add-on for travelers already in Suriname.
Three-Day French Guiana Highlights from Suriname
Three-day, two-night overland trip from Paramaribo into French Guiana for its three headline sights, the Saint-Laurent penal colony, the Salvation Islands by catamaran and the Guiana Space Centre at Kourou, with the border crossing and formalities handled. A natural add-on for travelers already in Suriname.
Beyond the tours above, we arrange tailor-made trips across Suriname: specialist birding, herping and wildlife photography trips, and journeys into the deep south with our Trio and Wajana community partners. Tell us what you want to see and we will build it around your dates.
Plan a tailor-made tripPackages that include Suriname
Seven-Day Three Guianas Explorer
A seven-day journey through Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. Kaieteur Falls, Paramaribo's UNESCO district, French Guiana's penal colony islands and the Guiana Space Centre, all logistics handled.
Nine-Day Three Guianas Immersion
Nine days through the three Guianas with two added nights on the Upper Suriname River for cultural immersion in a Maroon village setting accessible only by motorized pirogue.
Fourteen-Day Guianas Expedition
The full three-country circuit plus four days at the remote Wildlife and Nature Resort, a fly-in wilderness lodge in primary rainforest with no road access, capped with a final day at Jodensavanne and a contemporary Amerindian village.
Eight-Day Suriname Immersion
Eight days inside Suriname: Paramaribo's UNESCO district, the Upper Suriname River with overnight in a Maroon village setting, an overwater lodge in Bigi Pan wetlands, and the historic Jodensavanne and Redi Doti.
Ten-Day Four-Country Explorer
Ten days, four countries: from French Guiana's spaceport and penal colony islands, through Suriname's UNESCO district and plantation country, to Guyana's Kaieteur Falls and finally a Caribbean wrap in Trinidad with cocoa heritage.
Getting here and around
Most visitors fly into Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport, 45 minutes to an hour from Paramaribo, with direct flights from the Netherlands, the United States and the Caribbean. From Guyana, Surinam Airways and Gum Air fly between Georgetown and Paramaribo, or you can come overland on the Canawaima ferry across the Corantijn River. There are no direct flights from French Guiana, so the usual route is overland, crossing the Marowijne River between Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni and Albina, 2.5 to 3 hours from Paramaribo.
Paramaribo is the starting point for almost everything else. Much of the interior has no road access. The Upper Suriname River is reached by road and then motorized pirogue, while the Wildlife and Nature Resort can only be reached by small aircraft. We arrange every leg from the capital.
Suriname Airport Transfer
Meet and greet at arrivals (driver holds sign with your name), English-speaking driver, air-conditioned vehicle, complimentary bottled water. Direct transfer to any address in Paramaribo. For departure transfers, pickup is 3.5 hours before your flight. Larger vehicles available for groups.
Suriname ↔ Guyana (Private)
The comfortable way to cross between Paramaribo and Georgetown, a private vehicle for your party alone, in either direction. We arrange the whole journey: a dedicated air-conditioned car with driver, the Canawaima ferry across the Corantijn River and border crossing assistance, so you travel in comfort with no waiting on other passengers and no shared stops. The ferry runs once a day, so this is a full travel day, but a private and far smoother one. From USD 450 per vehicle.
Suriname ↔ French Guiana (Overland)
There are no direct flights between Suriname and French Guiana, so overland is the standard route, and we run it daily in both directions on our own company buses. The Marowijne River crossing is by ferry or pirogue, and we handle the border formalities and immigration stamping at Albina on the Suriname side and Saint-Laurent on the French Guiana side. The USD 450 rate covers up to 3 people in your party, one way, on the shared daily departure. If you would rather have the bus to yourselves on a time that suits you, add the private upgrade for USD 115.
Flight Paramaribo ↔ Georgetown
Small aircraft flights between city airports, offering a quick alternative to the 7-hour overland route. 19-seat Caravan, 45-minute flight time, operated by Gum Air (Suriname) and Trans Guyana Airways (Guyana).
Suriname: common questions
01Do I need a visa for Suriname?
Do I need a visa for Suriname?
02Do I need a yellow fever vaccination?
Do I need a yellow fever vaccination?
03Is there malaria in Suriname?
Is there malaria in Suriname?
04How do I get from Suriname to French Guiana?
How do I get from Suriname to French Guiana?
05Is Suriname safe to visit?
Is Suriname safe to visit?
06What should I know before arriving?
What should I know before arriving?
Ready to plan your trip?
Tell us what you want to see and how much country you want to cover. We will come back with a tailored itinerary within 48 hours.