UNESCO
An anomaly in South America, the continent´s only country where Dutch is spoken, and it’s also one of the continent’s smallest and least visited—roughly the size of the U.S. state of Georgia and a bit more than England and Wales put together — with a population of 630,000. Most Surinamese live along the Atlantic Ocean coast, especially in the capital Paramaribo, and the interior consists of vast Amazonian rainforest, sparsely populated and even roadless in many areas.
The region was explored by Europeans in the 16th century and became a Dutch colony in the 17th, developing plantation agriculture based on enslaved African labor. After slavery was abolished in 1863, indentured workers arrived from India, Indonesia, and China, shaping the country´s extraordinary cultural mix of today. Suriname gained independence from the Netherlands in 1975, and today it´s one of the most ethnically diverse societies in the Americas, with African, Indian, Javanese, Chinese, indigenous, and European heritage coexisting in a notably tolerant, multilingual culture.
Although Dutch is the official language, English is widely understood, especially in tourism and urban areas. Many people also speak Sranan Tongo, an English-based creole that travelers often find easier to follow than Dutch.
Suriname is considered relatively safe by regional standards, with petty crime the main concern in Paramaribo. Violent crime against visitors is uncommon, and the country lacks the cartel or gang violence seen in parts of the continent. Infrastructure can be basic outside the capital, so travel in the interior requires planning and guides.
Prices are generally moderate: cheaper than North America or Europe but not a backpacker bargain like parts of Southeast Asia (the currency is the Surinamese dollar). Lodging ranges from simple guesthouses to boutique hotels, and jungle lodges can be pricey due to logistics.
Air access is still limited but improving. Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport near Paramaribo has nonstop flights to/from Amsterdam, the Caribbean, Brazil, and a few regional hubs, with most long-haul visitors connecting via the Netherlands.
The country appeals to travelers seeking nature, culture, and off-the-radar experiences: rainforest expeditions, river journeys, wildlife viewing, and Paramaribo’s wooden colonial architecture, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It still attracts adventurous backpackers, but it’s increasingly drawing eco-tourists, cultural travelers, and niche luxury lodge visitors. Suriname is less polished than mainstream destinations, yet more accessible than a pure expedition frontier — a place for curious travelers who value authenticity over convenience.
These five destinations are the best “must-visits” for first-timers:
Paramaribo
Astride the Suriname River near the Caribbean coast, the capital city (pop. around 254,000) was founded by the Dutch in the 17th century, and its most distinctive feature is a compact, walkable historic core that fans out into newer suburbs and lively market districts. This district´s wooden architecture is a “tropicalized” Dutch-and-Creole mix of shuttered buildings , symmetrical facades, and verandas. Major city landmark include Fort Zeelandia on the riverfront (home to the Surinaams Museum), dating back to 1640, and the striking Roman Catholic Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral (above), built in the 1880s and notable for its largely wooden construction and bright interior. Stroll the central streets for photogenic heritage blocks; dip into local life at markets and along the river; and check out the Paramaribo Zoo, where you can get an up-close look at many of the country´s native flora and fauna, including several you´re unlikely to spot in the wild.
Meanwhile, the city’s dining scene is one of the Caribbean’s most interesting: Suriname’s multicultural population shows up in everything from Javanese and Hindustani flavors to Creole stews and Chinese-Surinamese dishes—often in casual warungs and family-run eateries rather than “white tablecloth” restaurants. Shopping is strongest for crafts, textiles, and small souvenirs in and around the center, while nights tend toward low-key bars, hotel lounges, and occasional live music rather than big-club energy.
Commewijne District
Just a half hour east of Paramaribo, the Commewijne River corridor is the easiest day trip for history and scenery: a landscape of waterways, mangroves, former plantations, and small towns. Nieuw Amsterdam (pop. around 5,600) sits at the confluence of the Suriname and Commewijne rivers and is best known for the early-18th-century Fort Nieuw-Amsterdam (above), now an open-air museum and heritage site. Instead of driving, some visitors go by boat cruise from the town’s riverside piers, combining the fort with stops at restored plantation sites such as Frederiksdorp and Mariënburg, along with dolphin-spotting on the river.
Jodensavanne
Dutch for "Jewish savannah," this is an interesting, 61-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site on the densely forested banks of the Suriname River, an hour-and-a-half drive from Paramaribo, which marks a settlement established in 1651 by Sephardic Jews fleeing persecution in Italy, the Netherlands, and Portugal, and a few years later Brazil. They developed sugarcane plantations worked by African slaves and battled the Kali’na people already living in the area. All that remains today are the remnants of of Berache ve Shalom Synagogue (above) and three cemeteries where the headstones are inscribed in Hebrew, Portuguese, and Dutch.
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Brownsberg Nature Park
For a big hit of nature without flying into the deep interior, head a couple of hours south from Paramaribo to the Brokopondo District town of Brownsweg (pop. 4,800) and the nearby Brownsberg Nature Park, perched above the vast Brokopondo Reservoir. Fairly compact at 46 square miles, It’s one of Suriname’s most popular hiking areas for panoramic lookouts and waterfall trails. On forest walks you may spot monkeys and hear a constant soundtrack of birds and insects; it’s a great “first rainforest” experience before tackling more remote reserves.
Galibi Nature Reserve
On Suriname’s far northeast coast at the French Guiana border, the country’s signature wildlife experience is a 2½-hour drive from Paramaribo to the town of Albina (pop. 5,200), then another hour to hour and a half by boat to Galibi. The highlight here is the nesting and hatching on the beaches of giant leatherback, green, olive ridley, and hawksbill marine turtles on the beaches. Other allures include other pristine beaches fantastic for chilling; visiting the villages of Christiaankondre (often referred to as Galibi) and Langamankondre to learn about the local Kali’na culture; taking a guided tour through the coastal mangrove forests; and spotting numerous bird species including herons, ibis, parrots, hummingbirds, harpy eagles, and game birds such as the white-headed piping-guan and black curassow. You can also overnight in Albina or in rustic lodges within the reserve itself.
Nieuw Nickerie and Bigi Pan
Over in the far northwest of the country some four hours from Paramaribo, agricultural town Nieuw Nickerie (pop. 13,000) is Suriname´s third largest town and the gateway to the nearby open-water wetland and mangrove landscapes of Bigi Pan. From Nieuw Nickerie, guides take visitors by boat into Bigi Pan, a protected coastal wetland famous for wide skies and some 70 species of birdlife such as flamingos, herons, egrets, and most notably of all, scarlet ibises, along with seasonal migrants and caimans. Many trips include overnighting at overwater lodges (some on stilts) like Akira and Mantje.
More info: Suriname.travel (official site), Discover Suriname.
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