Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Paramaribo
Your flight lands in Suriname in the afternoon or evening. After you touch down, a transfer takes you to your hotel so you can get settled for the night.
- Day 2
Paramaribo City Sightseeing Tour
Start with a morning bus tour through Paramaribo's city center, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You'll pass the Presidential Palace, check out Fort Zeelandia Museum, and see the unique Corner House. The tour then takes you to the synagogue that sits right next to the city mosque. From there, you'll drive through the central market, the working-class area of Abra Broki, and the upper middle-class neighborhoods. The afternoon and evening are yours to do as you like.
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour through Paramaribo city center
- Visit to Presidential Palace
- Visit to Fort Zeelandia Museum
- Visit to synagogue and city mosque
Landmarks Presidential Palace Fort Zeelandia Museum Paramaribo City Center - Day 3
Saramacca, Kokos Coronie, and Nickerie
Head west from Paramaribo through Saramacca and Kokos Coronie districts. Along the way, you'll see old houses built during the slave era, still in their original form. Continue on to the Nickerie district, known for rice farming, where you'll reach New Nickerie, one of the country's largest cities. Spend the afternoon walking around this quiet town and checking out its characteristic riverside walls.
Included Activities
- Guided tour through Saramacca district
- Guided tour through Kokos Coronie district
- Visit to New Nickerie
Landmarks Saramacca District Kokos Coronie District New Nickerie - Day 4
Bigi-Pan Nature Reserve
Start early and head to Bigi-Pan nature reserve near Nickerie for a morning boat tour. You'll travel through swamp areas where caimans rest on the banks, then move onto open water. From there, watch for birds like ibises, ospreys, and if you're lucky, scarlet ibis. By afternoon, the boat takes you back to Paramaribo.
Included Activities
- Boat exploration of Bigi-Pan swamp area
- Bird and wildlife viewing in Bigi-Pan Nature Reserve
Landmarks Bigi-Pan Nature Reserve - Day 5
Surinamese Cooking Course
Later in the day, you'll take part in a hands-on cooking course. You and a guide prepare two or three traditional Surinamese dishes, learning about the Javanese, Creole, and Indian influences in the cuisine. You'll work as both guest and chef, finding out where ingredients come from and how the cooking techniques work.
Included Activities
- Surinamese cooking course with preparation of traditional dishes
- Day 6
Maroon Culture and Moengo Art Experience
Take a bus from Paramaribo to Moengo, then hop in a boat for 30 minutes to reach a small village on the Cottica River where you'll get a real sense of Maroon culture. Watch local women bake cassava bread and make handicrafts using methods passed down for over 150 years. Grab a Creole lunch back in Moengo, then visit the Museum of Modern Art and browse local handicraft shops. A traditional dance performance by local students happens later, and then you head to Hotel The Plantation in Commewijne for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch (Delicious Creole dish with tasty side dishes in Moengo)
Included Activities
- Visit to Maroon village on Cottica River
- Observation of traditional cassava bread baking
- Observation of traditional handicraft creation
- Guided visit to Museum of Modern Art in Moengo
- Traditional dance performance by local students
- Visit to local handicraft store in Moengo
Landmarks Cottica River Village Moengo Museum of Modern Art Moengo - Day 7
Relaxation at Hotel The Plantation
Relax at Hotel The Plantation in the Commewijne district today. Walk around the old cocoa trees and see monkeys, or just listen to the birds. The views across the landscape are really nice from here. The hotel has comfortable 2 and 4 person rooms plus a pool. Breakfast comes with your stay, and the restaurant serves international food made with local Surinamese ingredients.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast included at Hotel The Plantation)
Included Activities
- Relaxation at Hotel The Plantation
- Walking around plantation grounds
Landmarks Hotel The Plantation - Day 8
Sugar Trail Heritage Tour
Follow the sugar trail through Commewijne's history. From Hotel The Plantation, a bus takes you upriver to the old Concordia sugar plantation where you can see the remains of an 1830 watermill and steam engine. Learn about what happened during the slavery period. Stop in Tamanredjo for Javanese lunch, and in the afternoon, visit the former Marijnburg Plantation factory. A former worker shares stories about the factory and what life was like for people who worked there. Return to Paramaribo by boat along the Surinam River, and while cruising, learn about sugar and rum production, even tasting some cocktails made with real Surinamese rum.
- Meals
- Lunch (Delicious lunch at Tamanredjo restaurant featuring Javanese cuisine)
Included Activities
- Guided visit to Concordia sugar plantation ruins
- Boat trip up the Commewijne River
- Lunch at Tamanredjo restaurant
- Guided visit to Marënburg Plantation factory site
- Boat trip along Surinam River returning to Paramaribo
- Rum and cocktail tasting
Landmarks Concordia Sugar Plantation Tamanredjo Marënburg Plantation - Day 9
River Cruise and Plantation Visit
Spend 3 hours on a relaxing afternoon river cruise with a drink of your choice, alcoholic or not. The captain looks for dolphins who might pop up and seem interested in playing. Visit the Johan and Margaretha plantations where you can sit on a wooden terrace and take in the view, the pace here feels like it stopped a long time ago. Grab some local snacks, then head back as the sun goes down.
- Meals
- Snack (Local snacks available during plantation visit)
Included Activities
- 3-hour river cruise with dolphin watching
- Visit to Johan plantation
- Visit to Margaretha plantation
Landmarks Johan Plantation Margaretha Plantation - Day 10
Brownsberg Nature Park
Leave Paramaribo for Brownsberg Nature Park, which sits near Lake Brokopondo and tropical rainforest. Hike the various trails, passing streams and small waterfalls. The mountainous landscape gives you a real look at the tropical flora and fauna. After the waterfall hike, have lunch at the restaurant on site. In the afternoon, transfer to Bergendal Resort, a luxury spot by the river where you'll stay the night.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant in Brownsberg Nature Park)
Included Activities
- Hike to waterfalls in Brownsberg Nature Park
- Guided exploration of Brownsberg Nature Park
- Lunch at local restaurant in park
Landmarks Brownsberg Nature Park Lake Brokopondo - Day 11
Bergendal Resort Relaxation
At Bergendal Resort, you'll be surrounded by peaceful nature. The luxurious lodges are tastefully furnished with river views. Spend your day using the swimming pool, bar, and restaurant, or head to the Adventure Center if you want to do something more active. Staff there can tell you about optional excursions. The people from the local community add to the warmth and hospitality here.
Included Activities
- Relaxation at Bergendal Resort
- Access to Adventure Center
- Access to river beach
Optional Activities
- Additional adventure activities available through Adventure Center
Landmarks Bergendal Resort - Day 12
Danpaati River Resort via Dugout Canoe
Leave Bergendal Resort and transfer to Atjoni. From there, you'll take a 2 hour dugout canoe trip to Danpaati River Resort on the upper Suriname River. Danpaati means 'the island by the village of Dan,' and it's a community resort focused on sustainability and supporting local tourism. When you arrive, staff give you a warm welcome and show you around. Meals at the bar include good quality food with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Relax in the peaceful setting, swim in the pool or the river. Optional traditional massage is available (not included), and there's a new yoga and meditation area. Your room is a comfortable 2 person space with a private veranda and hammock.
Included Activities
- Tour of Danpaati River Resort by staff
- Relaxation time at resort
Optional Activities
- Traditional massage (not included in tour price)
- Yoga and meditation sessions by the river
Landmarks Danpaati River Resort - Day 13
Maroon Village and Rainforest Exploration
Visit a traditional Maroon village near Danpaati to learn about Saramaccan culture and how people live there. After lunch, walk through the tropical rainforest with a guide who shows you plants and trees and explains what they're used for. In the evening, take a boat out to look for caimans and take in the distinctive starry sky. If you're interested, you can try traditional fishing or explore the area on your own by dugout canoe.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at or near traditional Maroon village)
Included Activities
- Visit to traditional Maroon village
- Guided rainforest walk with plant and tree education
- Evening boat trip for caiman spotting and stargazing
Optional Activities
- Traditional fishing participation
- Independent exploration by dugout canoe
Landmarks Maroon Village near Danpaati - Day 14
Return to Paramaribo
Spend the morning enjoying the nature around Danpaati Resort. Then travel back to Atjoni by dugout canoe before taking the bus back to Paramaribo.
Included Activities
- Morning nature time at Danpaati Resort
- Day 15
Departure from Paramaribo
Depending on what time your flight leaves, you might have the morning for some last minute souvenir shopping. A transfer picks you up from the hotel and takes you to the airport for your return flight to Europe.
Optional Activities
- Last-minute souvenir shopping (if time permits)
