16-Day The Best of Suriname Individual Roundtrip

Day 1: Arrival in Paramaribo Your “Best of Suriname Roundtrip” starts in Paramaribo, where an airport shuttle awaits to take you to your hotel (located in the heart of Paramaribo). All overnight stays in Paramaribo are at this cozy mid-range accommodation. For multi-day trips, you check out and can safely leave a part of your luggage here.

• Travel Distance: Approx. 50 km
• Meals: None
• Accommodation: Double room with air conditioning/private bath & toilet
• Special Notes: N/A

Day 2: Paramaribo Free Day (Optional Tours) Today, you have the entire day to explore Paramaribo independently. Stroll through the old town and admire the UNESCO-listed world heritage sites. Visit Fort Zeelandia and the St. Peter and Paul Basilica, and don’t forget to enjoy a Parbo beer at the waterfront or at ‘t Vat.

• Travel Distance: N/A
• Meals: Breakfast only (O)
• Accommodation: Same as Day 1
• Special Notes: For booking optional tours, you can visit our office in Suriname or send an email. Some optional tours on Day 2 include Plantation Peperpot bike tour, Commewijne river cruise, Warappakreek (all subject to availability). Booking is possible until one day in advance, preferably before 4:00 PM.

Day 3: Paramaribo – Nickerie After breakfast, you start your exploration of the districts located on the Atlantic Ocean, west of Paramaribo. In the agricultural district of Saramacca, you visit the main town Groningen, founded in 1845 by Dutch “boeroes.” You continue to the coconut district Coronie, known for numerous palm trees and original slave houses. The day ends in Nieuw-Nickerie, the capital of the rice district Nickerie, where your hotel for one night is located. During a walk along the Sea Dike, you will undoubtedly think about the Netherlands!

• Travel Distance: Approx. 250 km
• Walking Distance: 1 kilometer
• Meals: Breakfast (O), Lunch (L), and Dinner (D)
• Departure Time: Between 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM
• Accommodation: Double room with air conditioning/private bath & toilet
• Special Notes: You make several stops on the way to Nickerie and walk an average of 30 minutes, so the walks are relatively short and on flat roads/paths.

Day 4: Nickerie – Bigi Pan – Paramaribo Today, you explore the Bigi Pan area by boat, a particularly managed area 68,000 hectares large, literally translated as Big Lake. Bigi Pan is home to 122 species of coastal birds, including the famous scarlet ibis and flamingo. By boat, you discover this vast swamp with rich flora and fauna, experiencing this paradise for bird lovers firsthand. After lunch, you depart back to your base in Paramaribo where you stay for one night.

• Travel Distance: Approx. 270 km/4 – 5 hours drive with stops
• Meals: Breakfast (O) and Lunch (L)
• Departure Time: Around 1:00 PM
• Accommodation: Double room with air conditioning/private bath & toilet
• Special Notes: N/A

Day 5: Paramaribo – Galibi You depart by bus in the eastern direction to Albina (3 hours drive), located on the Marowijne River. Formerly a gold miners’ town, later a beloved resort for the community. Now it is mainly a transit port to French Guiana and/or surrounding villages. From Albina, you depart by boat (1.5 hours) to Christiaankondre. The Carib Indians living there sustain themselves with plots and mainly cultivate cassava. In the months from February to July, you (depending on the water level, either in the evening or early in the morning) visit the nearby sandy beach Bambusanti. Here, you can experience how the giant sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs.

You stay overnight in simple accommodation, beautifully located on the beach.

• Travel Distance: Approx. 160 km/Approx. 120 minutes drive and 80 minutes by boat
• Walking Distance: Approx. 1 km (to the turtle beach)
• Meals: Breakfast (O), Lunch (L), and Dinner (D)
• Departure Time: Between 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
• Accommodation: Double room without air conditioning (simple beds/mattresses), but with private bath & toilet
• Special Notes: During the boat trip to Galibi, there is a high chance of getting wet due to the turbulent river, so we recommend wearing a poncho.

Day 6: Galibi – St. Laurent (French Guiana) – Paramaribo After a leisurely morning along the beach, you will visit Saint Laurent du Maroni in the neighboring country of French Guiana. Here, driving is on the right, French is spoken, and the euro is the official currency. You will explore the infamous penal colony known from the book and film “Papillon”*. After lunch, you will return to your base in Paramaribo for an overnight stay.

*Entrance to the Papillon penal colony is not included.

• Travel Distance: Approx. 160 km
• Walking Distance: Between 1 and 2 km/120 min.
• Meals: Breakfast (O) & Lunch (L)
• Departure Time: N/A
• Accommodation: Same as Day 1
• Special Notes: N/A

Day 7: Paramaribo – Raleighvallen In the morning, you depart from Paramaribo on a bumpy laterite forest road to Witagron, the Maroon village of the Kwinti tribe. A canoe awaits you here, starting your boat journey on the rugged Coppename River to the Raleigh Falls. Raleigh Falls is located in the Central Surinamese Nature Reserve, the world’s largest Amazon reserve. The area is rich in unique plants, flowers, and various animal species. The Central Suriname Nature Reserve (CSNR) is the largest nature reserve in Suriname and one of the largest protected tropical rainforests globally. The reserve has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2000.

After arriving in the afternoon, there is an opportunity for hiking and swimming. You will spend the next 3 nights on Fungu Island in a simple hammock camp*.

• Travel Distance: Approx. 250 km
• Meals: Breakfast (O), Lunch (L), & Dinner (D)
• Departure Time: Around 8:00 AM
• Accommodation: Very simple double room with private bath & toilet
• Special Notes: The option to upgrade accommodation for an additional fee to a dormitory or private room is available. *Bring fishing gear.

Day 8: Forest Walk to Voltzberg After breakfast, the challenging hike through the pristine rainforest to the base of Voltzberg begins. During the walk, the guide shares information about the plants and animals in this area. There’s a chance to encounter various animals, from jumping monkeys to flying orange rock grasshoppers. You then ascend the 240 m high granite peak of Voltzberg. From the top, you have a breathtaking view of the Amazon rainforest. The walk and climb can take approximately 7 to 8 hours in total.

• Meals: Breakfast (O), Lunch (L), & Dinner (D)
• Walking Distance: Approx. 12 km/360 min.
• Departure Time: Around 9:00 AM
• Accommodation: Same as Day 7
• Special Notes: Good physical condition is required.

Day 9: Moedervallen After breakfast, you depart by boat to the famous Moedervallen. Here, you can spend the entire day swimming, fishing, or simply enjoying the powerful water mass flowing along the rocks.

• Walking Distance: Approx. 2 km/30 min.
• Meals: Breakfast (O), Lunch (L), & Dinner (D)
• Departure Time: Around 9:00 AM
• Accommodation: Same as Day 8
• Special Notes: Bring your own fishing gear if you plan to fish.

Day 10: Raleighvallen – Berlin Today, you travel to the town of Berlin in the Para district, where the well-known Sabakoe creek flows. As part of the journey, you enjoy another delightful boat trip on the rugged river and proceed by road to Jungle Camping, your destination for the day. By now, you already feel at home in the forest, and tonight and tomorrow night, you will have a pure jungle experience in your jungle lodge at the camp.

• Travel Distance: Approx. 210 km
• Meals: Breakfast (O) & Lunch (L)
• Departure Time: Around 9:00 AM
• Accommodation: Simple wooden lodge (no air conditioning) with shared bath & toilet
• Special Notes: Dinner is at your own expense (order in the afternoon).

Day 11: Free Day in the Savanna Today is a free day at the camp, allowing you to recover from the intense expeditions. The creek flowing through the camp is delightful for swimming and refreshing. You can also take a nature walk, for example, to the nearby village of Berlin or an optional trip to a nearby zoo.

The savanna area consists of tropical grasslands with scattered tree growth. This area is traversed by creeks with dark brown water (Cola-colored water). The water in the creek is invigorating and full of minerals, owed to the leaching of humus soil. There is plenty of wildlife to see, from parrots and toucans to deer and wild boars.

• Travel Distance: Approx. 210 km
• Meals: Breakfast (O)
• Departure Time: Around 9:00 AM
• Accommodation: Simple wooden lodge (no air conditioning) with shared bath & toilet
• Special Notes: Lunch is at your own expense (order in the early morning).

Days 12 & 13: Maroon Culture on the Upper Suriname River (Isadou) Today, you travel further into the jungle by motorized corial via the Upper Suriname River to the island of Isadou. In this area, many Maroon villages, inhabited by descendants of escaped slaves, are situated. The welcoming population takes great pride in its culture and is eager to introduce us to centuries-old traditions and customs. Due to the isolated life deep in the rainforest, these villages have remained untouched. In this part of the river, there are impressive rapids, and during low water, small sandy beaches form.

The next 2 days will be filled with adventurous activities such as intense forest walks, village tours, and exciting boat trips!

You will stay in a simple wooden lodge with a view over the Jaw Jaw rapids.

• Travel Distance: Approx. 180 km
• Walking Distance: Approx. 2 km/120 min.
• Meals: Breakfast (O), Lunch (L), & Dinner (D)
• Departure Time: Between 09:30 AM and 10:00 AM
• Accommodation: Simple wooden lodge (no air conditioning) with shared bath & toilet
• Special Notes: For both forest walks and village tours, you will first take a short boat ride before starting the walk.

Day 14: Upper Suriname – Paramaribo On this final morning at Isadou, you can enjoy swimming or try your hand at fishing. After lunch, you will travel back to Paramaribo, where you will spend the last night.

• Travel Distance: Approx. 200 km
• Meals: Breakfast (O) & Lunch (L)
• Departure Time: Between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM
• Accommodation: Same as Days 12 & 13
• Special Notes: N/A

Day 15: Departure In the morning, you are free to enjoy the pool or purchase some last-minute souvenirs. In the afternoon, you will take your airport shuttle to the airport for your return flight.

• Travel Distance: Approx. 50 km
• Meals: Breakfast (O)

Day 16: Arrival On this day, you will arrive at your home port.