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Suriname

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2025

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A tug pushes two barges filled with bauxite through the Commewijne river in Commewijne, Suriname. For more in this assignment visit: http://blog.kareldonk.com/aerial-photography-for-jp-knight/

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Overview

South America's smallest country, Suriname is a warm, dense convergence of rivers that thumps with the lively rhythm of ethnic diversity. From Paramaribo, the country's effervescent Dutch-colonial capital, to the fathomless jungles of the interior, you'll get a genuine welcome to the country – whether from the descendants of escaped African slaves, Dutch and British colonialists, Indian, Indonesian and Chinese indentured laborers or indigenous Amerindians.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Brownsberg Nature Reserve & Brokopondo

    Brownsberg Nature Reserve & Brokopondo

    Suriname

    Brownsberg Nature Reserve, named after the eponymous 560m peak at its heart, was founded in 1969 and is made up of 112 sq km of pristine jungle populated…

  • Palmentuin

    Onafhankelijkheidsplein

    Paramaribo

    Surrounding the centrally located Onafhankelijkheidsplein (Independence Square) are the contrasting stately 18th-century Presidential Palace – open to the…

  • Suriname, Paramaribo, old fort called Zeelandia.

    Fort Zeelandia

    Paramaribo

    Inside well-restored Fort Zeelandia, a star-shaped, 18th-century fort built on the site where the first colonists alighted, is the worthwhile Stichting…

  • Central Suriname Nature Reserve

    Central Suriname Nature Reserve

    Suriname

    Covering 12% of Suriname's land area, this epic 16,000 sq km nature reserve was established in 1998 with a US$1 million donation from Conservation…

  • Bigi Pan

    Bigi Pan

    Suriname

    Bigi Pan ('big lake') is a massive area of creeks, swampland, mangroves and jungle that is home to over 100 different species of migratory birds. Most…

  • Galibi Nature Reserve

    Galibi Nature Reserve

    Suriname

    On Suriname's eastern shoulder, Galibi Nature Reserve faces French Guiana across the Marowijne River. Here, hordes of sea turtles, including the giant…

  • Central Market

    Central Market

    Paramaribo

    The frenzied and fascinating central market is divided into distinct areas: the meat, fish, fruit and vegetable sections on the lower floor and a less…

  • Peperpot Nature Park

    Peperpot Nature Park

    Suriname

    Beautiful Peperpot Nature Park, about 10km from Paramaribo, stands in eerie dilapidation (with poorly maintained paths) across the Meerzorg Bridge. It is…

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