Travel Tips Suriname

SURINAME TRAVEL TIPS
A collection of important information that can make your trip more enjoyable.

Suriname, formerly Dutch Guiana, is located on the Caribbean coast of South America, between Guyana and French Guyana. Suriname is covered by large areas of biological diverse, tropical forest with some areas of savanna. This culturally mixed nation is home to some of the most diverse people in the world. Its differing backgrounds can be seen in dress, food, music and just in the tempo of life. The interior of the country has not been inhabited well, so the jungle is as much as it has been for centuries. Tourist facilities are limited. The use of organized tours is recommended.

SURINAME GENERAL INFORMATION

Area: 163,265 sq km (63,037 sq miles). Population: 429,000 (UN estimate 2001). Population Density: 2.6 per sq km. Capital: Paramaribo. Population: 214,000 (2000). Language: The official language of Suriname is Dutch. In the higher-end hotels English is widely spoken. The local dialect is Sranang Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki) is native language of Creoles and much of the younger population. East-Indians communicate in Sarnami Hindostani (a dialect of Hindi) and Indonesians speak Javanese.

Government: Republic since 1987. Gained independence from The Netherlands in 1975. Head of State: President Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan since 2000.

Religion: Approximately 48 per cent Christian, 27 per cent Hindu and 20 per cent Muslim.

Electricity: 127 volts AC, 60Hz. European round two-pin plugs and screw-type lamp fittings are in use.

GEOGRAPHY: To the west of the country is Guyana, to the south is Brazil, to the east is French Guiana and to the north is the Atlantic Ocean. The highest point in the country is 4000 ft high Julianatop. The vast majority of the population lives along the coast and along some roads which go inland.

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SURINAME ENTRY REQUIREMENTS & DUTY FREE

A passport, visa and a return ticket for U.S. and Canadian air travelers are required for travel to Suriname. There is a processing fee for business and tourist visas. A business visa requires a letter from the sponsoring company detailing the reason for the visit.

There is an airport departure charge and a terminal fee. Travelers arriving from Guyana, French Guiana and Brazil are required to show proof of a yellow fever vaccination. for Visa Informations click here...

For further information, travelers can contact the Embassy of the Republic of Suriname

Duty-Free: The following items may be imported into Surinam without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 200 cigarillos or 20 cigars or 500g of tobacco; 1l of spirits, 4l of wine and 8l of beer; 50g of perfume and 1l eau de toilette, lotions and eau-de-cologne; other goods for personal use up to the value of US$500.

Prohibited items: Fruit (except a reasonable quantity from The Netherlands), vegetables, coffee, plants, roots, bulbs, cocoa, rice, fish, meat and meat products (unless a valid health certificate is shown).

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GETTING AROUND SURINAME

The main road (locally known as the Kennedy Highway) from the airport (Johan Adolf Pengel) to Paramaribo is paved and in generally good condition. The road from Paramaribo to Nickerie is also paved but apparently susceptible to flooding in the rainy season. Other roads are generally unpaved and bauxite topped making them dusty in dry season and in places difficult to negotiate.

Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport, often known as Zanderij, is located approximately 1 hour south of Paramaribo. The terminal is modern and has a limited selection of duty-free items available.

Air services to the interior usually operate on a charter basis. Medium-sized buses on the coastal highway are frequent and exceptionally cheap, but crowded; taxis, which are faster though more expensive, travel along the same routes. To visit the interior and some coastal areas, river transport is the least expensive (and often only) option.


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SURINAME DUTY FREE


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SURINAME COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 597. There are no area codes. Outgoing international code: 00.

Mobile telephone: GSM 900 network. Main operator is Telesur GSM. Coverage is mainly limited to Paramaribo.

Fax: Faxes can be sent from the Telesur offices on Spanhoec Street, Paramaribo, and some hotels.

Internet: ISPs include SRNet (website: www.sr.net).

Telegram: These can only be sent from offices of Telesur (Telecommunicatiebedrijf Surinam) in both Paramaribo and the districts.

Post: Post office hours: 0700 to mid-afternoon. Airmail to and from Europe usually takes about one week to arrive.

Press: Dutch-language dailies include De Ware Tijd and De West.

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SURINAME SOCIAL PROFILE

Food & Drink: The cuisine is as as varied as Suriname's population. Rice (farmed extensively in the Nickerie region) is the country's staple. Vegetables such as sweet potato, cassava, planatin and red peppers are commonly used.

Excellent Indonesian food can be found as can Hindustani dishes.

Don't miss the opportunity to have fresh pinepapple available at the Central; market or at stalls on the roadsides leading out of Paramaribo. Other fabuluos tropical fruits include maripa and awarra.

Local rum is tasty and good value. Black Cat is recommended. Stay away from the very cheap rum. The local beer - Parbo- a pilsner type brew is also excellent; a must for beer lovers.

Nightlife: There are several nightclubs in Paramaribo, often attached to a hotel, with live music and dancing. There are also a number of discos and several cinemas, including a drive-in. In general, it is best to stick to the hotels unless accompanied by locals who know the reputations of other nightspots, in particular those out of the town centre. The Local Events Bulletin lists all current activities and is usually available in hotels.

Special Events: For further details, contact the Surinam Tourism Foundation (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of special events occurring in Surinam in 2005:
Jan New Year’s Jam/End of Surifesta (top musicians welcome the New Year). Feb Carnival. Mar Holi Phagwa Hindu Spring Festival. Apr Evening March of Folkloric Groups, Paramaribo. Nov 1 Diwali Hindu Light Festival. Nov-Jan Surifesta (end-of-year festival). Nov 4-6 End of Ramadan.

Social Conventions: Informal dress is suitable for most occasions. Guayabera or safari outfits are increasingly worn in place of jackets and ties. Women should wear long trousers on trips to the interior. Beachwear should be confined to the beach or poolside. Photography: It is inadvisable to photograph public places, particularly of a political or military nature (including police stations). There is a general sensitivity about the taking of photographs – it is advisable to seek prior permission.

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SURINAME CURRENCY/MONEY

Banking: Banking hours are from 7 am to 2 pm.

Currency:Surinam Dollar (SRD) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of SRD100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of 250, 100, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents.

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SURINAME SHOPPING

Stores are open at 8 am to 4 pm on weekdays and are closed by 1 pm on Saturdays. Stores are closed on Sunday. Bargaining is a must in the markets but in the main stores it will get you nowhere. Woodcarvings, particularly from cedar, are works of art.

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SURINAME TIPPING

Tipping is not widely done in Suriname. Leaving loose change is sufficient.

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SURINAME PEOPLE

Suriname has a small population of about 400 000 people. The offical language is Dutch, but many other languages are also spoken. Most Surinamese, about 85%, live in the coastal area, and almost all of them in Paramaribo. The forest is occupied by Maroons and Amerindians who live scattered along its major rivers. The northern coastal plain is farmed, mined and logged, and the area along most rivers is heavily used for subsistence agriculture in the interior.

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SURINAME SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES

Watersports: Beaches are not of the highest standard and only a few are suitable for swimming (which is prohibited at some classified beaches within nature reserves). An unusual but popular location for swimming is Colakreek, a recreation area 50km (32 miles) south of Paramaribo consisting of numerous creeks with brown water in the small savannah belt behind the coastal plains. There are public pools in Paramaribo, Niew-Nickerie, Moengo and Groningen and most hotels have private pools. There are facilities for sailing at Jachthaven Ornamibo.

Ecotourism: Nearly 80 per cent of the country is covered with tropical rainforest, which is protected by an efficient system of national parks and protected areas. Guided trips to Raleighvallen/Voltzberg Nature Park or Natuurpark Brownsberg (Brownsberg Nature Park) can be booked in Paramaribo. Some offer accommodation in lodges. Visits to indigenous village communities can also be organised and frequently involve river tours. One of the most popular is the five-day river tour of Kumalu and the Awarra Dam region. Wildlife enthusiasts can observe numerous mammals (including jaguars, pumas and ocelots), birds (such as flamingos and eagles), rare flowers (including orchids and ixora) as well as the black and blue morpho butterflies. Giant Leatherback sea turtles can be watched laying their eggs in the Galibi Nature Reserve (accessible by boat only). Bikes can be hired. Further information can be obtained from the Foundation for Nature Preservation in Surinam, Cornelis Jongbawstraat 14, PO Box 12252, Paramaribo (tel: 427 102/3 or 476 597; fax: 421 850; e-mail: webmaster@stinasu.sr; website: www.stinasu.sr).

Golf: An 18-hole golf course is located 5km (3 miles) from Paramaribo on the airport road.

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SURINAME TIME ZONE

Suriname is in Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana. Suriname Standard Time is GMT -3. Two hours later than Eastern Standard Time (EST) in North America. Suriname does not operate Daylight-Saving Time

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