Suriname

Key facts

• Region: South America — Sovereign states
• Capital: Paramaribo
• Currency: Surinamese dollar (SRD)
• Languages: Dutch (official), Sranan Tongo (lingua franca) and English
• Main airport: PBM — Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport, about 45 km from Paramaribo
• Best time to visit: February to April and August to November are the drier windows; the country is tropical and humid year-round

Overview

Suriname is the smallest country in South America and the only one where Dutch is the official language, a legacy of Dutch colonial rule. It is culturally among the most diverse countries on the continent, with large Hindustani, Javanese, Maroon and indigenous communities. Most of its land area is untouched rainforest, and its capital has a UNESCO-listed historic centre.

Airports

Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport (PBM), also known as Zanderij, is the main international gateway, about 45 km south of Paramaribo. Zorg en Hoop Airport (ORG) is a smaller field in Paramaribo itself, handling domestic and regional flights to the interior. There is no regular passenger rail service, and interior destinations are reached by light aircraft or boat.

Main cities

Paramaribo is the capital and the only large city, with a historic inner city of Dutch colonial wooden architecture and a riverside waterfront. The Commewijne district across the river has old plantation sites. Nieuw Nickerie in the west and Albina on the French Guiana border are small river towns. Most visits are based in Paramaribo with trips into the interior.

Places to go

The historic inner city of Paramaribo and its wooden St. Peter and Paul Cathedral are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Brownsberg Nature Park offers forest and reservoir views within a few hours of the capital. The Central Suriname Nature Reserve protects a large tract of pristine rainforest, and the Upper Suriname River has Maroon villages and lodges. Galibi Nature Reserve on the northeast coast is a nesting beach for leatherback and green turtles, and the plantation area along the Commewijne River has colonial ruins.

Getting there

Cheapest cached round-trip fare into Suriname, refreshed every 6 hours:

Where to stay

Practical information

Frequently asked